A Pedacito of Mozingo Lake, Missouri

Not to hate on the city I live in, but there isn’t a whole lot to do here. We have 5 or 6 fast food places here and maybe three fine dinings ( and I use the term very loosely) restaurants. I cried tears of joy when we had a new doughnut place opening up here.

But what we do have is a very particular set of skills, skills that we have acquired over a very long career… I kid, I kid. What we do have is a really beautiful reservoir cum lake that not only provides the city its water supply but is also home to a myriad species of birds and animals and a lovely place to go for a walk.

Long shot of Mozingo Lake and the surrounding area

Mozingo Lake was built in 1993 to ensure against drought and to provide flood control. The 1,000-acre lake has 26 miles of shoreline. It has been stocked with bluegill, catfish, bass, and various other types of fish. Fishing enthusiasts from the entire Missouri state come here to fish and consider it one of the best fishing lakes.

Closeup of Mozingo Lake, the branches of tree stick out at odd angles

The recreation area around the lake also boasts of a giant golf course, stretching at 5,242 yards at its shortest and 7,135 yards at its widest points. The 18-hole course is spread across various kinds of terrain, and people visit from far and wide to play.

Fishermen from all over Missouri travel to the lake to fish

There is an organic restaurant at the recreation center called William Coy’s Farm to table restaurant that serves really scrumptious food at quite reasonable prices. It has been in business for a few years it was hit quite hard by the pandemic but has seemed to have gotten its bearings back since the beginning of the year.

The lake is a prime location for rafting, water skiing, and boating. Many people bring their own water sports equipment. If you do decide to get in some quality time on the water, remember to get a boat pass from the Mozingo Lake admin.

Trees reflecting in the water of Mozingo Lake, Missouri

The most recent addition to the lake site was an Equestrian Recreational Vehicle campsite in 2012. The campground has the capacity for up to 13 RVs. The site has a bathhouse and provides drinking water and hitching posts. Lots of people set up tents and camp in the nearby tree enclosure. You can smell food cooking on an open bonfire as you walk by.

A cute little bird around the Missouri Lake, Missouri, delicately perched on branch amidst purple flowers

Every year on the 4th of July, the lake site holds an independence day festival with popcorn, ice cream cones, candied apples, funnel cakes, and corn dogs being sold. There are games and rides for the kids. Make sure to find yourself a comfortable place to sit because the best part is watching the fireworks show. Traffic is intense, so make sure to get in and out before others so you don’t get stuck in a jam.

Bald eagles perched near the Mozingo Lake, Missouri

My absolute favorite part of the lake is how much wildlife there is. We go there to bird-watch often; there are hawks, eagles, mallards, geese, flamingos, egrets. We’ve seen squirrels, rabbits, deer, beavers, capybaras, and muskrats.

This was where I learned to drive, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Do you find someplace special because of the memories associated with it?

---

Want to know more? Are you interested in becoming a contributor for Pedacitos? We'd love to hear your stories! Send me a message and I will get back to you!