Camdenton Community Center
The City of Camdenton is moving closer to opening its long-awaited community center, with new details and floor plans recently released. Currently under construction next to the Camdenton Aquatic Center at the city park, the 14,000-square-foot facility is designed to serve as a hub for recreation and community gatherings. The center will feature a full-size gymnasium with lined courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, as well as a walking track, reception area, and a large community room. Its flexible spaces will accommodate fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, and aerobics, while the gym will also be available for event rental, tournaments, and other activities. City officials say the center remains on schedule to open in June 2026, with membership and day-pass options currently in development as the project nears completion. Construction of the center is being handled by Nabholz Construction.
Missouri’s “Old Man” Lives Out Baseball Dream with Savannah Bananas
Robb Herrelson, an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran and longtime Little League coach from Gravois Mills, Missouri, made history on March 14, 2026, becoming the oldest person ever to play Savannah Bananas Baseball when he pinch-hit for the team at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The journey began when friends launched a Facebook campaign called “Let’s Get Old Man on the Savannah Bananas” to help Herrelson fulfill his dream. In his tryout video, Herrelson declared “I’m 81 years old, got a big white beard, and I’m about half crazy,” and demonstrated his plan to reach first base by bicycle, since a hip replacement prevents him from running.
The video went viral, and Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole personally called Herrelson to invite him to play.
Herrelson rode his yellow bike in from right field to take his at-bat. Though he struck out, he proudly foul-tipped one pitch, calling it “the experience of a lifetime.” Herrelson also appeared on the Today show, where he received a tour of the studio, a hug from Hoda Kotb, and was gifted a personalized Louisville Slugger bat and a pitching machine for his Gravois Gators Little League team.
Herrelson has been coaching baseball in Gravois Mills for over 30 years and says he has no plans to hang up his cleats anytime soon.
Lake of the Ozarks Enters Its Biggest Development Boom in Decades
The Lake of the Ozarks is in the midst of a historic transformation, with well over a billion dollars in new development reshaping the region for locals and visitors alike. From major entertainment destinations to luxury condos and long-awaited retail, the Lake’s future has rarely looked brighter.
Outlet Mall Reborn The long-dormant Osage Beach Outlet Marketplace is getting a blockbuster makeover. Developers submitted a Tax Increment Financing
application in January 2026 outlining a $650 million, multi-phase redevelopment expected to be completed by 2031. Anchoring the project is a 75,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops, slated to open in Spring 2027 and expected to bring more than 125 jobs to the area.
Oasis at Lakeport Thrill-seekers have a major reason to celebrate. The Oasis at Lakeport amusement park, featuring 12 rides including two roller coasters, a 200-foot climate-controlled Observation Wheel, an 8,000-square-foot arcade, and two restaurants, is showing lots of progress. This development will also include a Marriott Resort and indoor waterpark. Funding is now fully in place after a bond sale raised over $100 million, completing the project’s $495 million capital stack.
Chick-fil-A Finally Coming One of the most requested restaurants in the region is on its way. Construction has officially begun on the first-ever Chick-fil-A at Lake of the Ozarks, located on Osage Beach Parkway across from Steak & Shake and Outback Steakhouse. No opening date has been announced, but contractors have already begun excavation work on the lot.
Bagnell Dam Strip Getting New Life The historic strip is seeing a wave of investment. A massive five-level entertainment complex is taking shape right next to Bagnell Dam, developed by restauranteur George Tucker, the man behind Malted Monkey, Neon Taco, and Tucker’s Shuckers. The project features a huge pool, bars, and family-friendly entertainment on multiple floors, with an expected opening in late 2026 or early 2027.
Additionally, Reese Development received unanimous approval from the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen to redevelop a block of the Bagnell Dam Strip into a Western-themed façade, complete with a new wooden boardwalk, lighting, and outdoor improvements. The City of Lake Ozark also recently received a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant to support further demolition and revitalization work on the Strip.
Casino Race Heats Up Two separate casino proposals are advancing simultaneously. On the commercial side, the Lake of the Ozarks Community Gaming group is working to place a casino resort referendum back on the 2026 statewide ballot, after the original measure was narrowly defeated in November 2024. The business groups plans are to develop a premier resort-style casino, lodging and dining convention type resort. The Osage Nation’s tribal casino still awaits federal approval. Their plan includes a 40,000-square-foot casino, five restaurants and bars, a 150-room hotel, and an 8,000-square-foot convention center at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway.
