Vacation at Home on Table Rock Lake

Owning a boat is essential living here. We natives say that if you live here without a boat, you might as well move! And if your coming brings a boat or if you don't have one, there are plenty here for rent. No matter how you get out on the water, you'll just want to get out there, because once you gaze at the beautiful, deep-blue waters of Table Rock Lake, you won't be able to resist being out on it. Not only will you love Table Rock, but only 30 minutes from the Lake in Kimberling City is Branson, MO, the most happenin' country music town and family fun town in the U.S. We've got Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, White Water - three great theme parks set in the hills of the Ozarks that will keep you and your family coming back for more. But if you're like me, most of your time will be spent on the lake, maybe cruising over to the Swing, a party cove on the lake where you can tie up with hundreds of other boats and swing off of a suspended ski rope off some massive cliffs into the lake! So much fun! Try your hand at wakeboarding, waterskiiing, kneeboarding, barefoot skiing, or the newest sport - wakesurfing. But I'll talk more about that in another section! Anytime you come to Table Rock is a good time. Come in the winter and get some excellent guided fishing tours. Come at Christmas for the Port of Kimberling drive-through light display - so pretty. Come in the fall and see all the leaves on the trees in an array of different and exotic colors. But my favorite is summer, because that's when the lake feels like bath water, and sun doesn't stop shining, and there is no end to the fun you can have, be it in Branson, on the lake, at the theme parks, or wherever!

Quick Tips:

For rentals, head on down to Port of Kimberling Marina! They've got all your rental needs in one spot. Once there, head to What's Up Dock for ski boat rentals or to gas up your own boat, or for a rockin' houseboat party, go see Steve at Tri-Lakes Houseboat Rentals. Once you have the boat, then you need the toys, so come on over to where I work at Skier's Wharf, and we'll hook you up with the latest wakeboard, ski, tube, kneeboard, and surfboard rentals! Come find me there, and I'll give you a free wakesurf lesson on my boat! Once you have your rentals, head out to play and sun your buns on our beautiful lake, and when you get hungry, you can boat over to Ahoy's for some great and entertaining lunch.

Best Way To Get Around:

Flying into Springfield? You'll probably need a rental car. Everywhere you go around here is pretty spread-out. There are taxis in Branson, but they seldom come out this direction to Kimberling City. Camp out down at the Port of Kimberling, and everything is at your doorstep. Walk to all the rental places and even a restaurant!

Best Things Nearby:
Silver Dollar City theme park is about 10 minutes away, Branson about 15 miles away, Eureka Springs about 45 minutes away, and Springfield about 35 miles away.

Best Things About the Resort:
All the great people you'll meet when you come down! Everywhere is very friendly, especially everyone at Skier's Wharf, where I work! It's like one big dock party all day long at our dock!

Resort Experience:
I know this campground like the back of my hand, since I live right next to it! I jog it every day, and it's beautiful (my husband's lawn business mows the whole park, and that's part of its beauty!). Set right exactly on Table Rock Lake, you can't get any better lake view than this. From full RV sites to tent sites and even some cabins currently being built, this place is the only place you want to stay when you come back again (because once you come here once, you'll wanna come again--that's why I live here). You get full hook-ups, pull-throughs, day use, a swimming area, lighted tennis courts, and a basketball court, and you're only 15 miles from Branson, or "Family Fun Town", as I like to call it. It's nicely laid out, spacious, and there are lots of sites to choose from. But book early, because this place is always full, it seems.

• Campground Type: Private
• Campsite Type: Tent
• Price Range: $10 - $20
• Cleanliness: Excellent
• Campground Facilities: Very Good
• Recreational Facilities: Excellent
• Campsite Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Excellent

I'm not a big bar person or drinker, but I like this place because they have great bands that play on the weekends, and they have really great food! Come by water or come by land, because Ahoy's sits right at the water's edge, with ample parking for your boat or your car. Nice and open setting inside, and outside on the patio is tons of fun, with a heck of a lake view! I recommend the Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich - YUM EEEE!

I know the owners, and they are awesome! Lonnie and Lisa know their pizza, and you'll love it! There is gourmet pizza, and you can pick your sauces and your crusts. There is also to-die for garlic cheese bread and sub sandwiches!! It has an open and airy atmosphere, with a great view of the lake. It’s situated in a great location in Kimberling City. It’s not on the lake, but it’s only about a 3-minute drive from it! It's a must-dine!!!

Coming to Table Rock Lake, you better be ready to have some fun on the lake, because that's where it’s at, from waterskiing to wakeboarding to barefoot skiing to knee boarding to tubing to water trampolines to my personal favorite, wake surfing! Yes, ladies and gents, whoever says you have to have any ocean to surf is full of poo! Now, as long as you have an inboard boat, a bunch of friends, and a wake surfboard, you can rip up the waves! Just load a bunch of your friends on one side of the boat and hop in water with your board. Holding onto a short rope where the handle is only about 4 to 5 feet from the boat, the boat takes off slowly and holds out at about 9mph as you come up, and because all your friends are on one side of the boat, you've got a nice wave building on one side, so you find the rip curl where the wave pushes you and throw the handle back in the boat, and ba-da-bing! You’re surfing!