Lake Life, Laughter & Labeled Towels: Our Week at the Ozarks
- 1nonblonde
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
May 2025: If you’ve ever wondered what happens when long-time friends, an updated Ozark cabin, and a temporarily grounded pontoon boat collide - well, pull up a hammock chair, friend. This past week, we cozied up in Warsaw, Missouri, at the lakefront haven of Steve and Pam, who scored a dreamy deal on a fixer-upper and turned it into an absolute gem of a getaway.
Let’s rewind. Darren and Steve (and Pam) go way back - college roommates, co-conspirators in various dorm debaucheries, and Steve even stood up in our wedding as a groomsman (his tux may or may not have involved shoulder pads and cummerbunds - we’ll never tell). Steve and Pam are now living the lake life dream in their weekend getaway: a renovated three-bedroom, two-bath slice of heaven on Lake of the Ozarks, lovingly designed to lure friends and family in and make them never want to leave.
And y’all — they NAILED it.
The Cabin: Rustic Chic Meets Pinterest Board Goals
You enter the house and immediately get hit with shiplap, charming tilework, and “we-caught-this-fish-ourselves-maybe” décor. The bunk room? Chef’s kiss. They turned their primary suite into a six-bunk slumber party zone - each bed numbered like a sleepaway camp from the Pottery Barn catalogue. Coordinating hooks and bins in the bathroom keeps everyone’s gear tidy, labeled, and so organized, even Marie Kondo would weep.
Backyard Bliss and Bird Brunch
The backyard? Massive. Perfect for yard games, early morning coffee, or attempting to read before getting distracted by the avian Cirque du Soleil happening around you.
Birdwatching was a full-time activity. We spotted:
Cardinals
Hummingbirds
Woodpeckers
Swallows
Blue jays
Robins
Orioles
And the ever-dramatic grackles
They’ve got a private 2-berth dock with a twist — the original third center berth was cleverly converted into a hang-out zone, giving you two primo boat spots and one sweet space to kick back between them. On it?
Hammock chairs ✔️
Picnic table ✔️
Kayaks ✔️
Fishing gear ✔️
A fishing boat that seats 9 ✔️
Occasional wildlife ✔️
A pontoon boat currently in “spa retreat” mode (aka out of commission) 🙃
Boating is a must, so we loaded up the fishing boat and set out for sun, scenery, and some karaoke that might still be echoing off the bluffs. We pulled into BuckNaked Restaurant, Bar & Marina—a real place with a real deck and really strong drinks. There was lakeside karaoke, cold beers, and lunch that hit the spot.
Trails, Towns, & Truman Time
When we weren’t floating, we were pedaling. The Warsaw Riverfront Trail gave us a scenic stretch along the water, with just enough uphill to make us feel like we earned our ice cream later. And we squeaked in a visit to the Harry S. Truman Visitor Center literally five minutes before closing time. (Pro tip: sprinting through exhibits counts as cardio.)
We hit the local antique stores in Warsaw and nearby towns, where I picked up some vintage wooden tiki-style masks for our back porch, and we saw at least three different ceramic owls we might regret not buying.
Downtown Warsaw had us chuckling outside Boring Drugs, which is, in fact, a pharmacy and not a disappointing rave. We lunched at The Yellow Deli, a beautifully restored historic building with seriously good food (and even better iced herbal tea).
Pam and Steve even drove us out to Cole Camp’s infamous "F U Junction", which, despite the name, is an innocent photo op where County Roads F and U intersect. Naturally, we took inappropriate photos and immaturely giggled for at least 15 minutes.
Easy Days, Hammock Hangs, and Neighborhood Strolls
The rhythm of the week was just right: a walk around the neighborhood here, a lazy afternoon in the breezeway tunnel there. Evenings meant stories on the back patio, cold drinks in hand, and laughter so familiar it felt like home. These kinds of friendships are rare, and we’re grateful for every belly laugh and bird sighting.
So, thank you Steve & Pam - for the hospitality, the fantastic water pressure, the endless birdseed, and the chance to soak up some Ozark magic. Y’all built more than a lake house - you built a memory factory. And we’re already dreaming of the next batch.
Cheers!
This looks like a real hidden jem. Wish we could’ve joined you guys on this one. Looks so beautiful.