Thanks to the area's lake enthusiasts, Lake of the Ozarks has been named one of the best recreational lakes in the nation.
Lake of the Ozarks earned the title "Best Recreational Lake" in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards. After a four-week voting period, the public put Lake of the Ozarks ahead of some strong competitors, including Big Bear Lake in California (second place), West Okoboji Lake in Iowa (third), Lake Cumberland in Kentucky (fourth) and Lake Tahoe in California (fifth).
Rounding out the top 10 were: Lake Havasu in Arizona; Lake Michigan in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin; Lake Coeur D'Alene in Idaho; Flathead Lake in Montana; and Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah.
According to USA Today, nominees for all categories were chosen by a panel of experts, which included a combination of editors from USA Today and 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors, and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The expert panel narrowed down more than 39.9 million acres of lakes and reservoirs in the country to 20 nominees.
Tri-County Lodging Administrator Jim Divincen said he and his staff were thrilled to be able to use this recognition in their advertising and promotional efforts, encouraging all lake businesses to use the award in their advertising messages. He thanked everyone who helped make the award possible with their continued voting in the contest.
"A special thanks also goes out to many of the CVB's (Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau) 170,000 Facebook followers for assisting in the voting, as well," he added.
Earlier this year, Lake of the Ozarks was also highlighted in another 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest, with Ha Ha Tonka State Park placing fourth in the "Best State Park" category. Letchworth State Park in New York took first place in that contest.
View a full list of winners in the "Best Recreational Lake" contest online at 10best.com/awards/travel/best-recreational-lake/.