When grandparents, siblings, cousins, and in-laws congregate to celebrate family ties, some of life’s most cherished moments are created. Choosing Table Rock Lake as your next gathering is a surefire way to ensure every member of your extended clan will be rewarded with an exciting, fulfilling experience. Check out options for accommodations below, and start dreaming up your next getaway.
Comfortable, flexible accommodations are key to any reunion’s success, and Table Rock Lake’s stellar variety of resorts, campgrounds, inns, and lodges includes the ideal complement to your group’s preferred activities. If fishing and watersports are on the agenda, Port of Kimberling Resort & Marina is an excellent choice for experiencing, first hand, Table Rock’s reputation as one of the Midwest’s best, and cleanest, aquatic playgrounds and fresh water fisheries. In addition to bass boats and access to professional guide services, Port of Kimberling Marina (the lake’s largest full service marina, open mid-March to mid-November) rents ski and pontoon boats, waverunners, and houseboats, while the resort shines with a luxury hotel, restaurant, cabins, and a shaded campground with hook-ups for RVs of all sizes and primitive sites for tent camping enthusiasts.
Clockwise from top left: Port of Kimberling Resort & Marina in Table Rock Lake, Port of Kimberling Resort & Marina’s pools are great for family reunions, Private Decks at Alpine Lodge Resort, Alpine Lodge Resort cottages
If it’s rustic charm you’re after, Alpine Lodge Resort or Mill Creek Resort could be just what Grandpa ordered. Family owned and small-pet friendly, Alpine Lodge has individual kitchenette cottages (1, 2, and 3 bedrooms) with scenic lake views and a private dock for those who bring their own boats. The pool at Alpine Lodge is a special treat! Mill Creek is open year-round and features classic log cabins that can sleep up to 14, with a party deck for happy hour, pontoon rentals for lake excursions, and a grassy playground area for the kids. Numerous other tried and true family resorts—offering private boat ramps, pavilions for family feasts, and other amenities—are nestled in the landscape along the lake’s 800 miles of Ozarks shoreline. The choices are practically unlimited. Click here for a complete list of accommodations.
An exceptional Table Rock adventure, especially for golfing families, can be based at Big Cedar Lodge. The brainchild of Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, this sprawling masterpiece of stone and timber architecture echoes the great lodges of early 20th century America while setting new standards for eco-friendly design. Touted as America’s premier wilderness lodge, all Big Cedar accommodations include access to multiple swimming pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, Wi-Fi, paddleboats, canoes, paved trails, and a smorgasbord of other amenities. With large multiple-room cabins, Big Cedar Lodge has the staff and resources to meet the needs of any size group and any interest.
Spectacular mountaintop views from every tee and green are the hallmark of Big Cedar’s Top of the Rock golf course. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this working marriage of golf and nature was built with emphasis on fostering native wildlife habitat. Top of the Rock is the first-ever Par 3 course to host an official PGA Tour event: the annual Legends of Golf stop on the PGA Champions Tour. And both Top of the Rock and its companion 18-hole championship course, Buffalo Ridge, are open to public play!
Said to have more live performance theater seats than either New York City or Las Vegas, Branson’s renowned 76 Country Boulevard is alive year-round with A-list entertainment. From contemporary headliners to traditional family shows, country music remains a perennial mainstay, but Branson entertainment includes all types of high caliber showmanship—amazing Acrobats of China, nightly Showboat Branson Belle lake cruises, the Titanic Museum, and world-class illusionists, comedians, touring rock stars, and much more. Plan ahead to see who’s going to be in town during your stay and find the perfect show for everyone to enjoy.
Clockwise from top left: Charter the Spirit of America, Rent scuba equipment at State Park Marina, State Park Marina
Another unique family outing Table Rock Lake offers is the Spirit of America, a 48-foot sailing catamaran with comfortable seating for 49. Passengers can assist the crew in hoisting the sails and keeping the boat underway, or just relax and enjoy a refreshing, scenic experience. Sailing from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Spirit embarks on two cruises daily from its berth at State Park Marina, where you can also rent scuba gear for an exciting descent into the lake.
A family fun must during the summer season is White Water, a family-oriented water park described as “2 million gallons of fun and 13 acres of water rides and attractions.” But, the fun doesn’t end when traditional peak season attractions go into hibernation, check out the other events that keep Table Rock Lake lively.
In addition to all the recreational aspects that make Table Rock Lake such a popular destination for families, another big plus is its location. Situated in the middle of the country, the lake is reachable by air via commercial airports in Branson and Springfield, Missouri (45 scenic minutes away); and drivable via I-44, I-35, US 65 and other major roads. For kinfolk coming from all over the map, Table Rock Lake provides an ideal, central meeting place, with good times and treasured memories in store for all. There’s a place for everyone at our table…Table Rock Lake!