OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – Organizers of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout have confirmed their plans for the 37th annual race are moving forward, scheduled to take place on August 23-24, 2025. The event, recognized as the largest unsanctioned boat race in the country, will be held at a new location along the Grand Glaize Arm, marking a significant shift from its previous venue at Captain Ron's Bar and Grill in Sunrise Beach.
Following months of planning and coordination with local and state safety officials—including the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division, Missouri Parks Association, and local police and fire departments—the Shootout Organization has secured a preliminary commitment for its regatta permit. While the final permit is typically granted mid-year, state safety officials that oversee the permitting process to ensure compliance with public safety regulations has confirmed that the permit will be granted to the 37-year old event.
The 2025 event will be hosted at Dog Days Bar & Grill at the 19-mile marker, with additional facilities provided by the ongoing development at new Oasis & Marriott Resort and Conference Center. Dog Days’ amenities, including multiple pools, expansive dock space, and ample parking, make it well-equipped to accommodate the high volume of spectators, participants, and sponsors. Future plans anticipate the Shootout evolving into a multi-venue event, utilizing various properties within Osage Beach.
Mark and Brian Barrett, co-owners of Dog Days Bar & Grill, were recently honored with the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau’s (CVB) Partners in Tourism Award for their contributions to local events and charitable initiatives. Mark Barrett expressed gratitude for the recognition and enthusiasm for hosting the 2025 Shootout, highlighting the event’s significance for the region’s tourism and economic growth.
"“My brother and I were honored to have received the CVB’s Partners in Tourism Award,” explained Barrett.“We have been here for 32 years, and we have worked on many events and with many local charities along the way. They didn’t tell us that we were winning it. To be present in a room with approximately 400 local business owners and people from across our community, and to be recognized for the years that we have put into it all, was such an unexpected gift. We cannot wait to see what the future will bring to the Lake of the Ozarks and to the Shootout."
To ensure optimal race conditions, longtime Lake of the Ozarks resident, Speedboat Magazine test team driver and shop foreman of the boating mega-facility Performance Boat Center, Myrick Coil has already conducted multiple test runs along the new track using GPS mapping. Coil, a multi-time National and World Champion offshore racer, reported that the new 3/4-mile course provides increased running room, allowing for safer navigation at high speeds. His findings will guide final adjustments to the overall layout in coordination with state safety officials.
"“When I tested the race course the other day, I remember thinking that it felt far more open and wider than what can be interpreted from simply looking at a topographical map,” Coil explained. “With each test run, I begin my pass at 40 miles per hour as I typically would while traveling through the Shootout’s ‘Start Box.’ Once I’ve completed the test run and let off of the throttles, there is more than enough distance for any vessel, no matter the speed, to safely slow down and exit the course–– just as it would have done at the previous 34.5-mile marker’s finish line, where you were disqualified if you passed beneath the Hurricane Deck Bridge. I am excited for the Shootout to come back to the City of Osage Beach for the proximity of the event, by both land and water, and the Grand Glaize Arm is normally a calmer portion of the Lake of the Ozarks. Overall, I am excited to see what this year’s Shootout races will bring to our community.”
The relocation is part of a broader strategic plan for the Shootout’s growth over the next three to five years. In addition to infrastructure improvements at Oasis, plans are underway for a second Marriott-branded hotel in Fish Hatchery Cove, set to open by spring 2028. This new development will feature an adventure park, zip lines, rock climbing walls, and outdoor entertainment venues, further enhancing the event’s appeal.
Jeff Tegethoff, owner of Tegethoff Development, has confirmed that 200 new dock slips before the 2025 event. While construction of a new parking garage remains weather-dependent, contingency plans are in place to secure alternative parking and transportation solutions for spectators and participants.
“With 100% percent certainty, our crews will have 200 operational dock slips available at no cost to the Shootout before this August’s races,” explained Tegethoff. “Hosting the Shootout will be a great honor, and we are thrilled to be a part of the next phase of growth and global recognition for this marquis event. The work that Shootout Executive Director Leah Martin and her team have done to elevate the Shootout aligns perfectly with the vision for Oasis—'Where Moments Become Memories’—and our future developments in that area.”
Leah Martin, Executive Director of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout since 2021, emphasized the extensive planning behind the event’s transition and the support from local businesses and sponsors. With interest peaking from national sponsors and even a global media production company, the Shootout’s future appears poised for significant expansion.
“The Shootout is incredibly excited to move forward with our plans for this August’s unsanctioned races, and each step of the way has been one step closer to our eventual three-to-five-year goals,” stated Martin. “Since the initial phase of our planning process, we have worked closely with Oasis & Marriott Resort and Conference Center to monitor their timeline of new docks and a parking garage, both of which are currently being built off-site. Should the timeline for the parking garage be delayed due to adverse weather conditions this winter and/or spring, then we are working on secondary parking options at the Osage Beach Outlet Mall with spectator shuttle buses running to and from the Shootout’s new host location. We have partnered with local businesses, including Lake Regional Hospital, to secure long-term parking for both vessels and trailers alike. We are working with all of our available assets in the area, going so far as securing nearby facilities for lodging while conducting extensive safety meetings with state and local safety officials. Since our relocation announcement last October, we have spoken with national sponsors who are eager to take part in the enormous growth of our event, including a national production company with 600 million subscribers across the world."
With its new location, expanded facilities, and commitment to growth and excellence, the 2025 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is set to deliver an exhilarating experience for participants, spectators and fans from around the world.