The year was 1989, and something was evolving at the Lake of the Ozarks that remains an iconic part of the Lake history today. That was the start for the long-loved iconic Lakefront establishment that entertained for nearly two decades. That was the year Shooter’s 21 Restaurant was established, and Osage Beach resident Don Campbell remembers it well.
“I worked for Fran Steingrubey Sr. and Fran Steingrubey Jr, the original builders of Shooters 21,” he explained. “They sold the restaurant, but stayed on as the contractors to do the expansion. It was modeled after Shooters in Florida.”
Located at the 21 mile marker of the main channel, the restaurant went on to become a two story venue, a nightclub, and the first lakefront pool bar. It also became the location that originated the Shooter’s 21 boat races.
“At first I worked doing minor construction and clean up,” Campbell recalled. A graduate of Camdenton High School, Campbell went on to work the gas dock at Shooters 21 when he was 17 years old.
“It was so fun,” he said. “What boy that age doesn’t want to work on a gas dock all summer? It was the most fun I had working. Spending the day on the dock, fast boats, pretty girls, and I wore swim trunks and Sperry topsiders the entire time.”
Campbell recalls the Steingrubey family being the nicest people to work for. “All the family members were involved in running the place,” he explained. “Grandpa would bring us dinner at night. Grandma Adele helped take care of the books. I remember one Saturday asking if we were working the next day, and the answer was: Donny, does the bank charge interest on Sunday? I guess we better work.”
Campbell is an architect today and owner of Donald Campbell Design Build in Osage Beach. He said helping build Shooters 21 catapulted him to become an architect. “It was such a great place,” he added. “Shooters 21 was an immediate hit at the Lake.”
Ed Hamm worked for Carmelo(Carm) Natoli, the business owner who purchased and made improvements to the original Shooters 21. “I worked for him for 24 years, doing different jobs,” Hamm explained. “For Shooters I took care of getting liquor licenses, setting up the accounting system, and things like that. I would stay at Tantara resort during the time I did that.”
When Natoli bought the establishment, it was just one small building. “He wanted to create the biggest thing to happen at the Lake,” Hamm said. “He added the nightclub and the pool. He was a good guy and great to work for.”
John Rogger, the well-known voice from KRMS Radio, had been going to Shooters 21 since he was a child. “It was a vibrant, fun, laid-back kind of place,” he explained. “The vibe and food was good, it was done in vibrant colors like Key West. You went during the day for the food and at night for the club scene. Everyone who was anyone wanted to go to Shooters 21.”
Valerie Raylene has lived at the Lake her entire life, and worked at Shooters 21 the last two years it was open. She spent her time as a bartender in Martini’s, the upscale restaurant that offered fine dining. She recalls it being the perfect place to make friends with co-workers and people who came to eat and drink.
“Shooter’s had so much to offer,” she said. “Lakeside dining, the sports bar to catch a game, and we also had the nigh club which was always packed. My children enjoyed coming to teen night at the club during the week with their friends.”
Her fondest memories of Shooter’s 21 includes working with a great crew that became family. “We would jump on a boat after work on the weekends and head to Aqua Pizza. That was always entertaining to say the least. I miss the great friends I made working there and our many crazy adventures during and after work. It was crazy and wild back then. I miss all the madness of Shooter’s.”
Today the Shooter’s 21 property is home to a luxury lakefront community comprised of million dollar plus homes. Named Shooters Paradise at the 21, the entrance to the development features the Shooters 21 sign that decorated the restaurant.
SHOOTERS 21 BOAT RACE
Before there was a formal race, boaters at the Lake of the Ozarks would gather in coves. They would brag about their potential speed, and the bragging would result in a race. Crowds would show up to watch the jet boats get up to an impressive 100 mph. As the Lake grew, Missouri Water Patrol put an end to this.
Fran Steingrubey Sr and Jr both raced boats back in the day. While working for him at Shooter’s 21, 16 year old Don Campbell would repeatedly ask Steingrubey if he was going to host a race. That was the birth of the Shooters 21 Boat Race. It was originally named The Lake Rescue Shootout, and its organizers were Carmen Netoli, Fran Steingrubey, John Page, and Kevin Hurtubise.
“Sr. bought a 33 foot Fountain the first year it came out,” Campbell recalled. “The boat topped off at 85 mph.” Typical top speed for boats back then was much less, but Fountain boats were relatively lighter. In fact, Campbell noted that radar guns back then weren’t even calibrated for speeds over 100 mph or so. Only a few boats would come close to that speed. Sr’s boat had two 800 hp motors on it.
Originally, the event lasted two days, Saturday and Sunday. Racers would run to the end of the designated course, turn around, and race back. As the caliber of boats grew, so dd the speeds. The event began attracting top-tier racers and manufacturers. The Shootout attracted racers and enthusiasts from across the country, and even internationally. The winner of the first shootout event, held in 1989, was Randy Scism with a speed of 101 mph. In 2024, Don Onken won the race with a speed of 221 mph. The American Ethanol Mystic catamaran time secured their tenth Top Gun victory.
John Rogger was an on-air talent with KRMS Radio at the time. He worked doing the original broadcast for the final two years it was held at Shooters 21.
“It was packed,” he recalled. “You could watch the race from all locations at the venue then. That’s what made it so cool. That and watching the Miss Budweiser boat and what it could do on the water.”
“We did the Shootout because we cared, we didn’t get paid to do it,” Rogger said. “Any revenue went right into what we needed for the broadcast. It was all about how we could make it better for the Lake.”
The original purpose of the race was to raise funds for Lake area local fire departments. The race continued to grow, went through a number of name changes, and sponsors. The location changed and the two day event eventually evolved into a week-long festival. After 20 years at Shooter’s 21, the demolition of the venue resulted in the race being moved to Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill.
The event became all about pushing the limits, in terms of speed, spectator attendance, and donations raised. It is hailed as the largest unsanctioned boat race in the United States. In 2024, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout raised a record breaking $730,000 for local charities and fire departments.
