Imagine Bagnell Dam Strip at Lake of the Ozarks with a zipline, a family amusement center, a reptile garden or piano-playing chickens.
Those who frequented the historic downtown district of Lake Ozark in the past could imagine just that - visiting the Reptile Gardens near Dogpatch, enjoying hours of fun with an array of attractions in Two-Bit Town or watching the piano-playing chickens at the Larry Don.
Many children nowadays can only learn about these once popular attractions through pictures, in history books and from stories told by their parents, grandparents or longtime residents of the area. That's how about 45 School of the Osage Middle School students learned these bits of Bagnell Dam Strip history, and they took that information one step further.
On Thursday at Willmore Lodge in Lake Ozark, sixth-grade students shared video presentations and answered questions about ideas to better promote tourism year-round on Bagnell Dam Strip with the Lake Ozark Betterment Committee, city dignitaries and Bagnell Dam Strip business owners. Many of their ideas included renovating or bringing back once popular attractions, having more family-friendly businesses and entertainment, and expanding parking and pedestrian elements for visitors.
The students made up two World Geography classes, and the students' individual or group videos were compiled into two presentations shown at the meeting.
"I had an opportunity through my district to participate in creating a project-based unit of instruction," teacher Misti Maples said, noting project-based learning gives students opportunities to explore problems or ideas of an authentic nature. "The unit we were studying was Central America and ecotourism. I posed the question to them of what they thought the reasons were for some areas to maintain tourism year-round, while the Lake area seems to shut down in the winter.
"I then challenged them to analyze regions whose climates match ours and who also have robust year-round tourism. I then posed the question of, 'What about areas that have a climate similar to ours?'"
The students conducted research into the history of Bagnell Dam Strip and compared year-round tourism to similar destinations such as Branson and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They also looked at specific attractions to draw in visitors, pricing what it would take to bring those entities to the Strip.
"The plan was to create our original presentations and hopefully present them to Mike and BJ Page, owners of Dogpatch, Leatherman and Grandma's Fudge Shop. That presentation was scheduled in early December," Maples said. "They really wanted other business owners and city officials to see the ideas. They arranged for us to share our ideas with the Bagnell Dam Strip Association (and its Lake Ozark Betterment Committee) and city officials. So we went back to work."
The students took their research and ideas to compile videos, using green-screen technology, pictures and music. As Maples told guests Thursday, some of their ideas were funny, but many were serious. The range of ideas spanned from increased parking, a petting zoo and carnival games to a performing arts theater, concerts and coffee shops.
Following the presentation, guests asked a few questions. Ziplines, a water park, family-friendly cafes or restaurants, and the renovation of Two-Bit Town or a similar family amusement center were at the top of their list of desired attractions.
Sixth-grader Haley Spriggs and her family enjoyed visits to the parts of Two-Bit Town and the Rebel Arcade before it officially closed a few years ago. That is one idea she focused on during the presentation, which she thinks would draw in year-round tourism.
"I would like to see a lot of the same types of attractions and see some other new ones that they hadn't had before," she said.
The Lake Ozark Betterment Committee and city officials plan to discuss the students' ideas and keep in touch with the school in their own progress in bettering Bagnell Dam Strip. In recent years, the committee and city officials have added more than 50 parking spots for festivals and events and researched ways to include family-friendly entertainment for tourists and residents.
"Many of the business owners have done a lot to increase parking and organize some great events and activities," Lake Ozark Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos said. "If all the business owners could work together, a lot of things could happen."
The students' excitement to share their ideas didn't stop after their presentations. Maples said on the way back to school Thursday, several students brainstormed ways to get cash in the hands of the Bagnell Dam Strip Association to get started, including hosting a bake sale.
"My students are very vested in this project at this point," Maples said. "I truly believe that if we can find a way to involve them in seeing one of their ideas through to completion that it would have a lasting impact on them and hopefully their community."