Call us biased, but we think we live in the most interesting place in the country. The Lake of the Ozarks community is, in some ways, like any other: it has its highlights and its challenges. It has (too many) naysayers, Negative Nancies, and NIMBYs. And it has (never enough) problem solvers, leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

And while it's easy to predict what the naysayers, Negative Nancies, and NIMBYs will think, say, and do in 2024 (they only know one tune), what's far more exciting is considering the opportunities ahead for the Lake's leaders, problem solvers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

As we look at the many fascinating storylines that are already in motion around the Lake, here are a few things we're watching for in 2024, and a few predictions too.

Our Take: The Lake In 2024

1. The Lake's much-anticipated apartment complex, The Preserve, will open.

The Preserve at Sycamore Creek, on Nichols Rd. in Osage Beach, answers a real need at the Lake. It brings excellent quality, mid-range rental housing to a community that needs it. The first units will reportedly be available this summer, and we predict there'll be high demand, especially since the excellent location places it just across Highway 54 from Lake Regional Health System, one of the largest employers in the Lake area.

Takeaway: The ripple effect of these apartments at the Lake will be significant: more than 250 units available for singles, roommates, and families.

Watch LakeExpo.com for more information about The Preserve, and for leasing info too.

2. The starting-to-slow housing market will get fresh wind.

It's not news to say the Lake has a unique housing market. The waterfront creates dynamics that pose both opportunities and challenges to the Lake community. And in 2023, as the national real estate market slowed, the Lake felt it a bit, too. It's hard to compare anything to the dizzying market of 2021-2022, when sellers felt like the belles of the ball, as multiple offers above asking-price poured in, with many buyers even foregoing an inspection before buying.

While the Lake real estate market sales volume crested $1.285 billion in 2022, that number was down by 14.65% in 2023, with total sales volume of $1.097 billion. So 2023 certainly felt like a slowdown.

Takeaway: With signs pointing toward lower interest rates in 2024, we predict a more vivacious real estate market at the Lake.

(Shameless plug: Selling the Lake house and want to see it advertised on LakeExpo? List it with Lakefront Living Realty! Only sellers who list with Lakefront Living are guaranteed to have their home promoted to the best, most relevant buyers at the Lake: LakeExpo readers! Call Lakefront Living Realty at 573-693-1613 to learn more.)

3. The race for a casino will intensify

Just some clarification because it's confusing: there are two separate groups who hope to build a casino (one apiece) at Lake of the Ozarks. The Osage Nation (a recognized Native American tribe) has purchased land at the corner of Osage Beach Pkwy. and Bagnell Dam Blvd. in hopes of building one. And separately, a group of investors called Osage River Gaming & Conventions (ORGC) has for years been working on building one — they recently announced their site of choice would be on Highway 54, just west of the Osage River Bridge, in the area that is currently a rock quarry, also known as Phase 4 of the Eagles Landing Development.

Here's what is almost certain to happen this year, with each group:

a) The Osage Nation will continue working through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to get the federal boxes checked for them to build a casino here. The nation will continue making donations to Lake of the Ozarks area nonprofits and services like police & fire. And the big question will be: will Missouri's next governor sign-off on a tribal casino? We suggest each gubernatorial candidate should make their position on this clear, one way or the other.

b) ORGC will see a bill filed (at their behest) to put a proposed state constitutional amendment on the November ballot. Simultaneously, ORGC will be spending millions of dollars on the process of gaining enough signatures to put the proposed amendment on the ballot through the Citizens Initiative Petition process. The amendment — if passed by voters, would allow a casino to be built on the Osage River downstream of Bagnell Dam, and it would add an additional license to Missouri's current number of casino licenses (increasing it from 13 to 14), earmarking that license for an Osage River casino.

Here are our predictions:

a) There'll be no major movement (publicly) on the Osage Nation's casino plans this year. The gears of the federal government move slowly. But the nation will likely increase its marketing efforts at the Lake and throughout Missouri, hoping to make the case for their presence here if/when a Missouri governor ever signs-off on it.

b) The constitutional amendment will pass. ORGC's polling seems to indicate that it will. However, that does not mean a casino is guaranteed to be built at the Lake, as the Missouri Gaming Commission would still have final say over the issuance of that new license.

Takeaway: No casino groundbreakings in 2024, but the Lake community will be buzzing about the probably-someday-coming casino(s), all year long.

(Read more about the casino wrangling in the new 2024 issue of Shore Magazine.)

4. The Oasis project's effects will start rippling through the community.

In 2024, we'll see a ferris wheel go up, next to the Grand Glaize Bridge.

That's quite a thing to consider.

The Oasis at Lakeport project is humming along, and while nothing will be open in 2024, the visuals of the yes-this-is-really-happening project will start affecting things. You'll see marketing for the 2025 grand opening. Commercial real estate in the area will start selling to savvy investors who know the new influx of Oasis traffic will bring plenty of uplift for businesses nearby.

Takeaway: This year the Lake community will get to watch as a project that promises to change the Lake as much as — or even more than — the outlet mall approaches its opening date. And speaking of the outlet mall...

5. The outlet mall trouble will reach a tipping point.

First off: we don't know. We really don't know why no investor has yet been able to swoop in and save (or reinvent) the ailing, sprawling complex that was once the single-largest economic engine at the Lake (other than the Lake itself).

It's probably for a variety of reasons.

But what's clear is that despite two announcements in two years by two different investor groups hoping to buy and redevelop the outlet mall, there has been exactly zero visible progress on that front.

We'd like to say this can't go on much longer, but we know better.

Takeaway: The City of Osage Beach will become more aggressive in seeking a clear future for the outlet mall, whatever that may be.

6. Boat racing at the Lake will hit new heights

With the very recent announcement that the Shootout organization would be taking the reins for Lake Race, 2024's boat racing events at the Lake just got a lot more interesting.

The Shootout/Lake Race organization will be doing more, publishing more, and promoting the Lake of the Ozarks to the go-fast boating community more. That's great for the Lake, whether or not you care about powerboating.

Takeaway: With the newfound synergy, compounded by Shootout Director Leah Martin also taking the reins as Executive Director at the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, boating organizations at the Lake will likely be speaking with even more unity, and that means better marketing and better advocacy for the Lake as a whole.

7. Prediction: The Lake will get a Chick Fil' A

Hey, we can dream! (No, we do not know anything about the Lake getting a Chick Fil A, so don't even say we said it was coming.)

There'll be plenty more than all that. The City of Osage Beach will likely announce its master plan for the Lee C. Fine Airport (this is a big deal). Some lakefront hotspots will probably be sold (Bear Bottom Resort, anyone? Captain Ron's? Larry's on the Lake?) A few new restaurants will arrive on the scene... some will survive until next season. And so on.

We'll be here, doing our best to chronicle all of it, smiling as we consider the privilege of telling the stories of this unique place.

Thanks for reading — we'd be nothing without you! If you see/hear something interesting or just want to say hi, drop us a line at editor@lakeexpo.com. (All hate mail can be sent to editer@lakeexpo.com.)

Here's to an interesting 2024!

-LakeExpo Editor Nathan Bechtold & The Crew