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Hollywood is influencing the Lake of the Ozarks. But in a positive way.
Promoters of the lake are pursuing the idea of erecting a huge sign at the northeast entrance to the lake similar in design to the famous “Hollywood” sign in California — but would say “Lake of the Ozarks.”
Joe Roeger, chairman of the Lake Area Chamber Beautification Committee, is spearheading the campaign. He says the idea is similar to a “Lake of the Ozarks” sign at Highway 54 and Business 54.
“We want to make a statement for people coming to the lake,” Roeger explained. “We knew the Lake of the Ozarks sign near Denny’s would lose significance when the Expressway went in, so we started looking at alternatives.”
The location would be on a piece of state-owned property at the Y of The Expressway and existing Highway 54. The area has about three-eighths of a mile visibility to traffic coming into the lake on Highway 54 as it crosses the Osage River Bridge. Roeger says MoDOT has agreed in principal to the idea, but the Chamber must obtain a permit from the state agency before moving forward.
The original concept included directional signs pointing to “Osage Beach” and “Lake Ozark.” But committee members felt that was too restrictive since the Lake of the Ozarks involves more than those two communities. And, adding the names of those communities would add cost and engineering issues.
The LACC Beautification Committee has been working on the project about a year, and has met with Bob Lynch, area engineer with MoDOT, and Roger Schwartze, recently retired district engineer. Rocky Miller of Miller Companies in Osage Beach has been working on a design and specs.
The committee was to meet Friday to work out more details.
In its preliminary design, the sign would be approximately 70 feet wide with steel letters from six to eight feet tall. A reinforced footing would anchor the sign to the mostly rocky hillside. Roeger says the topography of the hill has presented some challenges, and notes the final project could differ slightly from the current concept once the final design is completed.
The goal is to have the sign in place by the time Highway 242 (Horseshoe Bend Parkway extension) opens in December of this year.
A rough estimate of cost is between $40,000 and $50,000, again depending on topography issues, materials costs and how much of the project is donated as in-kind work. The sign will be lighted either through conventional methods, or possibly through a solar LED (light-emitting diode) system. Lighting may have to be a Phase 2 project depending on how much money is raised from private sources.
Hollywood is influencing the Lake of the Ozarks. But in a positive way.
Promoters of the lake are pursuing the idea of erecting a huge sign at the northeast entrance to the lake similar in design to the famous “Hollywood” sign in California — but would say “Lake of the Ozarks.”
Joe Roeger, chairman of the Lake Area Chamber Beautification Committee, is spearheading the campaign. He says the idea is similar to a “Lake of the Ozarks” sign at Highway 54 and Business 54.
“We want to make a statement for people coming to the lake,” Roeger explained. “We knew the Lake of the Ozarks sign near Denny’s would lose significance when the Expressway went in, so we started looking at alternatives.”
The location would be on a piece of state-owned property at the Y of The Expressway and existing Highway 54. The area has about three-eighths of a mile visibility to traffic coming into the lake on Highway 54 as it crosses the Osage River Bridge. Roeger says MoDOT has agreed in principal to the idea, but the Chamber must obtain a permit from the state agency before moving forward.
The original concept included directional signs pointing to “Osage Beach” and “Lake Ozark.” But committee members felt that was too restrictive since the Lake of the Ozarks involves more than those two communities. And, adding the names of those communities would add cost and engineering issues.
The LACC Beautification Committee has been working on the project about a year, and has met with Bob Lynch, area engineer with MoDOT, and Roger Schwartze, recently retired district engineer. Rocky Miller of Miller Companies in Osage Beach has been working on a design and specs.
The committee was to meet Friday to work out more details.
In its preliminary design, the sign would be approximately 70 feet wide with steel letters from six to eight feet tall. A reinforced footing would anchor the sign to the mostly rocky hillside. Roeger says the topography of the hill has presented some challenges, and notes the final project could differ slightly from the current concept once the final design is completed.
The goal is to have the sign in place by the time Highway 242 (Horseshoe Bend Parkway extension) opens in December of this year.
A rough estimate of cost is between $40,000 and $50,000, again depending on topography issues, materials costs and how much of the project is donated as in-kind work. The sign will be lighted either through conventional methods, or possibly through a solar LED (light-emitting diode) system. Lighting may have to be a Phase 2 project depending on how much money is raised from private sources.
Getting electricity to the isolated hillside could be expensive, he noted. The committee’s preference is for a solar-powered LED system with a variety of color light options to coincide with special times of the year, e.g. red, white and blue for Fourth of July, green for St. Patrick’s Day, etc.
Regardless of the source of power, the sign will be lighted with an LED system.
Once the final design is approved, Roeger will apply for the MoDOT permit and send the project to bid. He anticipates a mid-summer bid letting.
A major part of the entire project will be a fundraising effort by the LACC Beautification Committee with a goal of $50,000. Area businesses and individuals donated toward the “Lake of the Ozarks” sign at Business 54 and Highway 54, which was completed in late 1998.
Committee members originally considered a highly durable foam product for the lettering, but learned that cost and possible problems with stability would be cost prohibitive.
Helping Roeger on the committee have been Jerry Hawken, chamber president; John Caran, Steve Naught, John Custer and Alan Sullivan, Ameren Missouri.
Involved in the sign project, including design and materials, have been Jeff Mister of Dam Steel, Rocky Miller of Miller Companies, Jim Jackson of Ozark Redi-Mix, Osage Beach Mayor Penny Lyons, Steve Siu of Sign Source and Lynch and Schwartze of MoDOT.
Anyone interested in making an early donation to the project can contact Roeger at First Title Insurance, joeroeger@firsttitleinsurance.com.
Contact FOCUS Editor Dan Field at dan.field@lakemediaonline.com.
