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The Biggest & Wildest Stories Of The Summer At Lake Of The Ozarks

  • Updated
  • 4 min to read
Lake Summer Wild Times

Summer at Lake of the Ozarks means fun in the sun, making memories with family and friends, and plenty of time on the water.

The Lake sees an estimated 2.5 million visitors per year, by one estimate. And the influx of visitors inevitably creates an abundance of news. LakeExpo.com's website traffic spike says it all.

So here are some of the most-read stories from Lake of the Ozarks this summer, along with the approximate number of views each story received:

#1. Boat Circles Wildly, As Bystanders Watch, Confused

The operators of this pontoon became the viral sensation no one wants to be. They lost control of the boat, as it became stuck in a perpetual, low-speed donut pattern. Occupants leaned over the side, trying to keep the boat from capsizing. One person leapt from the boat (extremely dangerous, considering the propeller) and swam to shore. And bystanders watched in amazement. Eventually, a firefighter borrowed a PWC and used it to board the boat. Once aboard, he turned off the key, and the boat righted itself (when all else fails, just turn it off!)

It's not exactly clear how or why this whole episode happened, but what is clear: this was the most-read article and most-watched video on our site all summer.

The boat leans in the water to one side and slowly makes small circles in a cove on July 25, 2023. 

Views: 433,100

#2. Blake Shelton Has A Lake Day

The dude knows God's country when he sees it. When Blake and Gwen came to Lake of the Ozarks in 2020 to enjoy some fresh air amid the stifling nationwide Covid lockdowns, our article about it became our most-read story of all time.

So when Blake returned to the Lake for a boating weekend — and especially after posing for a photo with security at a local Lake hotspot — readers loved to hear it.

Views: 117,000

#3. Boat Stuck On Underwater Ridge Sinks, Owner Abandons It

That ridge really shouldn't be there. The infamous boat-killer ridge in the channel in front of the Lodge of Four Seasons claimed another vessel. A large, older-model Formula boat ran aground on the ridge.

The boat was badly damaged, and the Highway Patrol says the owner abandoned it. Lake Tow dragged the boat to the shoreline and secured it there. And as of now, there is where it sits still.

Views: 77,400

#4. Powerboat Crashes Into House

A late-night crash at a relatively high speed, according to the Highway Patrol, resulted in a huge center-console NorTech powerboat crashing into the side of one of the more recognizable homes on Lake of the Ozarks. The home sits on a peninsula that juts out into the Lake around the 1 Mile Marker.

Of the boat's occupants, eight were injured, and driver Adam Ramirez now faces multiple charges related to alleged Boating While Intoxicated.

Views: 107,300

In a related story, the Good Boy Vodka boat racing team announced a new cockpit team after one team member, Alex Pratt, was injured in that boat crash.

Views: 67,500

#5. Mark Cuban Swings Through The Lake

It was just a quick stopover to drop someone off, but news of the billionaire hopping out of his Bombardier BD-700 Global Express jet and chatting with Lee C. Fine Airport staff before jetting off to who-knows-where made it into the top stories of the summer.

Views: 60,000

#6. 42-Foot Boat Crashes Into The Shoreline

That's a big boat, but it's no match for the shoreline.

Views: 47,200

#7. Two People Untied All The Rental Boats At A Marina

In an extremely uncool prank, two people untied all the rental boats at Pointe Oasis. Thankfully, none of the boats wandered off before they could be re-secured. The security camera video and story of these shenanigans was read by thousands of indignant boaters. #SMH.

Views: 41,600

#8. Jesse James! The Filmmaking Accident At Lake Of The Ozarks You Never Knew About

Netflix's Ozark might have put Lake of the Ozarks on the map for many folks. But the first-ever film shot at Lake of the Ozarks was about a different outlaw — one who gave Marty Byrd a run for his money. The 1939 film Jesse James, one key scene was shot at the Lake, and because of what went wrong, it changed filmmaking forever. Here's the full story:

Views: 33,085

#9. We're Gonna Need A Bigger Net: Monster Catfish Catch

You never know what's gonna be on the other end of that line. And in this case, it was a catfish that broke the scale! Classic Lake of the Ozarks fishing story! What dock owner doesn't have a fun fish story or two about a kid or grandkid catching "the big one" off the end of the dock?

Views: 29,900

#10. Naked, Shouting Woman Bursts Into Conference At Margaritaville

Sometimes the headlines just write themselves.

Views: 27,155

Summer may be officially over, but Lake news happens every day!

Stay connected to Lake of the Ozarks through LakeExpo.com. Here are the best ways to never miss a headline:

-Download the Lake Expo app! On the App Store and Google Play.

-Sign up for the Lake Alert! Our daily eblast with headlines, boats & homes for sale, upcoming events and more.

-Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Not the best way, because so much never makes it through the algorithm... but it's better than nothing.

Thanks for reading Lake Expo!


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