The year is nearly half over, and big stories have been pouring out of Lake of the Ozarks.
Taking a peek at our website analytics and our social media following, here are the stories LakeExpo readers have found the most compelling, readable, and shareable so far in 2026.
(Want the best of LakeExpo... without the unhinged comment section? Download the LakeExpo app here! Then again, if the comments are what you came for, make sure you follow us on Facebook - Instagram - TikTok - YouTube)
#1 at LakeExpo.com
Restaurant Damaged By Overnight Fire
A bad one. But the owners say they're keeping the party going by... moving outside!
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — A Camdenton area restaurant was seriously damaged by fire in the e…
#1 On Facebook
Crazy New Angle On Boat Crash
Because apparently the only thing better than the original video of a boat crash... is a new angle.
#2 at LakeExpo.com
Massive Fire Destroys Three Waterfront Homes
A headline we never thought we'd write, but this one was shocking.
![Massive Fire Destroys Three Waterfront Homes At Lake Of The Ozarks [VIDEO]](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/lakeexpo.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/28/e286d236-c583-4e79-af0c-42a780592764/69bda8d48c27a.image.jpg?resize=185%2C200)
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Three waterfront homes were destroyed in a massive fire, Friday af…
#2 On Facebook
Two Powerboats Crashed At The Weekend Races
It's all about the video on this one. It was a wild weekend at Shootout Offshore, and amazingly, despite multiple crashes (it turns out there were three, by the end of the weekend), no one was seriously hurt.
#3 at LakeExpo.com
Boats Were Dropping Like Flies At Lake Of The Ozarks Last Weekend
We didn't think so many people would read this one. It was simply a story about how we saw a huge uptick in the number of boats being towed, after one of the first nice-weather weekends of the year. Five tows in five days is a lot for March. Some boaters did join XTow after reading this... which was, admittedly, kind of our goal in writing it. Our children thank you.
With sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s, last weekend kicked off boating season at Lake…
#3 On Facebook
$2M Lake Home Destroyed By Fire
Turns out, everyone still wants to see fires and boat crashes.
There's plenty more — we've published 583 news stories and features already this year, and summer's not even half-over.
Get all the news — the good and bad, and some of the best stuff the social media audience misses — by:
Downloading the LakeExpo app
Subscribing to the Lake Alert daily e-newsletter
Signing up for our Breaking News Broadcast Channel on Facebook
![Mountain Lion Spotted Chasing Buck Through Missouri Creek [TRAIL CAM VIDEO]](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/lakeexpo.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/c3/9c323378-60d2-4b83-8cf9-d73af9f8aa2d/6aee1afd93d2b.preview.png?crop=1440%2C810%2C0%2C315)
