Finding paradise near our landlocked Kansas City might be easier than you think. Just a few hours away, tucked away on the banks of the Lake of the Ozarks is the new Margaritaville Lake Resort, previously known as Tan-Tar-A. The new vacation spot, previously the Tan-Tar-A Resort, is the result of a multimillion-dollar makeover and features marine-inspired colors and a soothing ambiance that encourages leisure and relaxation during your stay. The Missouri Margaritaville joins the growing collection of hotels and resorts inspired by singer Jimmy Buffett.
When we first checked in, the lobby’s upscale beach décor and laid-back vibe caught our attention and set the mood. Our room had all-new everything: paint, bedding, shower, flooring and much more! Our crowd was hungry, so we unloaded our luggage and headed to the Windrose Marker 26 Lakeside Restaurant. This was one of Tan-Tar-A’s resort staples, serving exceptional seafood and steaks with phenomenal lake views. My favorite, for sure, was the mushroom ravioli appetizer—I should have ordered two and had it as my main dish. We then headed to the putt-putt golf course right on site. Actually, everything is right on site: a water park, tennis, bowling, arcade, swimming pools, a marina with all boating activities, horseback riding and five restaurants, including a brand new waterfront restaurant with a swim-up bar called LandShark. I love vacations where we never have to get in our car to go somewhere!
The next day our teenage son headed to the Oaks golf course and reported the links were in great shape! We all enjoyed a really delicious breakfast at JB’s Boathouse Grill. This was not your typical hotel restaurant with average food; they had a lovely breakfast buffet with an omelet and waffle bar plus a diverse menu, which offered a unique breakfast skillets. We then hit the fun coffee shop—always a must with teenagers—that’s right in the lobby. Fully caffeinated, we headed to the marina and spent a few hours taking in the incredible views of the lake from our pontoon boat. That night we grabbed a pizza at Frank & Lola’s, played tennis and turned in a bit early after hours of fresh air that made us tired and satisfied. Sunday morning we enjoyed another great breakfast and played retro video games at the arcade. To top off the fun, we rented paddle boats at the marina.
This family-friendly resort was really a hit with our four teenagers. More than a decade had passed since I’d been to the old Tan-Tar-A Resort, and I was a bit skeptical of whether a national resort chain could successfully take over a local fixture in the Ozarks. Well, they did, and it works well! Margaritaville’s breezy, laid-back atmosphere felt like paradise without having to break the budget to travel very far. I was really impressed with how Margaritaville blended the “no worries” vibe with the lake atmosphere—and that Kansas Citians now have a resort-style, waterfront oasis to visit just a few hours away.
Susan Gimotty lives in Overland Park with her four teenagers and loves escaping the business of daily life to make travel memories with the family!