Well the Christmas shopping season is upon us and there is definitely a “nip” in the air.  This is the time of year that many people plan a winter trip to the Lake of the Ozarks to take care of their shopping needs.  Our business route features Target, Super Wal-Mart and a 100 store name brand outlet mall all within a couple of miles of each other.  In addition there is the Bagnell Dam Strip, Main Street and various other local shoppes in which to find that perfect Christmas gift for friends or family. 

We are offering our “Shop ’til you Drop” weekend special, now through Christmas.  You receive two nights in the property of your choice, a welcome basket, a discount coupon book to the Outlet Mall and a restaurant gift card to the restaurant of your choice!  Rent a one bedroom unit for two nights and receive a $20.00 gift card, rent a two bedroom unit for two nights and receive a $40.00 gift card, rent a three bedroom unit for two nights and receive a $60.00 gift card or rent a four bedroom unit for two nights and receive an $80.00 gift card.  You choose the property you want, the restaurant that you would like to dine at and we take care of the rest!  This offer is good now through the end of December, 2011 on new reservations only, excluding Holidays.  Cannot be combined with a discounted stay.  All other regular fees still apply.   

The new expressway is mostly open through Osage Beach and it can make things kind of confusing the first couple of trips.  There are still a few interchanges that are being completed but most of it has been completed and is open to traffic.  This should allow those travellers and big trucks that are just driving through to take the expressway and avoid a lot of traffic lights.  Now that there is a little less traffic on the “Parkway” it is easier to get in and out of the shoppes and other businesses.  Also the new road through Lake Ozark connecting Highway 54 and HH (which will be called Route 242) will be opening on December 13th.  This will also ease congestion in Lake Ozark and open up a whole new business corridor.

The project at Eagles Landing at the junction of Lake Ozark and Osage Beach it moving along.  CVS pharmacy is 99% completed on the outside and they are now preparing the inside of the store.  Kohls looks like it is pretty much finished on the outside and Menards had some of the roofing going on this morning.  They have begun paving some of the streets and parking lots within the project and it seems to be moving along at a good pace.  Kohls has a sign promoting an early March 2012 opening date.  CVS would appear to be on track for somewhere around the first of the year, but that is only a guess.  At the old High Pointe shopping center location, Dierbergs Grocery store had begun grading and leveling the lot to begin that complex.  That store is slated for a 2013 opening.  And finally at Prewitt’s Point, JoAnnes Fabric store is progressing and should be finshed with construction in the near future.

Merry Christmas from the staff of Al Elam Property Management and Your Lake Vacation.com!