Dog Days Bar & Grill, the Support Our Troops Poker Run & Boating Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks is 54,000 acres of winding water in the heart of Central Missouri — 1,150 miles of shoreline, more than the entire coast of California. It is one of the most popular boating destinations in the Midwest, and at the center of its summer social scene sits Dog Days Bar & Grill, a waterfront restaurant, pool bar, and live-music venue at the 19-mile marker near the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach. If you boat the Ozarks, you know Dog Days.
Dog Days Bar & Grill — The 19-Mile Marker
Established in 1993, Dog Days sits at 1232 Jeffries Road, Osage Beach, MO 65065, right off the Grand Glaize arm of the lake. It is accessible by both land and water — boaters pull into the spacious dock slips while land-side visitors park in the lot just off the road.
The menu runs deep: fresh seafood, gourmet burgers, jerk chicken tacos, buffalo chicken nachos, sweet potato fries, and a full bar featuring signature frozen cocktails. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. The kitchen is open Sunday–Thursday 11 AM–9 PM and Friday–Saturday 11 AM–10 PM.
What sets Dog Days apart from the dozens of lakeside restaurants at the Ozarks is the full resort atmosphere. The property features two swimming pools — one family-friendly and one adults-only with a swim-up bar — plus a massive outdoor patio with live music throughout the summer. It is also proudly dog-friendly, welcoming four-legged guests on the outdoor patio (hence the name).
Dog Days is part of the Barrett Restaurant Group, which also operates Wobbly Boots Roadhouse and Shorty Pants Lounge & Marina at the lake. If you are staying for a few days, the property also offers a five-bedroom luxury waterfront rental within walking distance of the restaurant, complete with a private boat slip.
Dock Tip: Arrive by boat before noon on summer weekends to grab a slip. Dog Days fills up fast during Shootout week and poker run weekends.
The Support Our Troops Poker Run — H.E.R.O.E.S. Care
Every summer, Big Thunder Marine — the largest boat dealership at Lake of the Ozarks — produces the Support Our Troops Poker Run, a charity event that benefits H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting active-duty military personnel, veterans, and first responders.
The 2026 edition (the 19th annual) took place on June 12, 2026, drawing more than 60 powerboats and hosting roughly 40 veterans and active-duty service members for a day on the water. The event raised more than $40,000 for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care.
The day starts with a captains’ breakfast and safety meeting at Dog Days Bar & Grill, then the fleet heads out on a route that hits multiple stops around the lake — Fish and Company, Backwater Jacks, Franky and Louie’s Bar and Grill, and Shady Gators. At each stop, participants draw a card. Best poker hand at the end of the run wins prizes.
Long-time Big Thunder Marine salesman Ed Champion is a key figure behind the event, helping coordinate logistics and rally the boating community to show up for veterans. This is not just a poker run — it is a genuine act of service by the Lake of the Ozarks boating community.
See It on the Water
@StangkilrProductions filmed this incredible video of his first poker run in his 42-foot Fountain — huge thanks for capturing the energy and scale of this event:
Video: First POKER RUN in my 42ft Fountain! It’s a BEAST! by Stangkilr Productions
2026 Sponsors & Supporters
The Support Our Troops Poker Run is made possible by sponsors who put their money behind veterans. Here are the companies that helped make the 2026 run happen:
Title Sponsors:
- Shady Gators — iconic Lake of the Ozarks restaurant and entertainment venue
- Tim Cline Helicopter Services, LLC — aerial support and photography
Silver Sponsors:
- Big Thunder Marine — event producer, largest boat dealership at Lake of the Ozarks
- Killer Performance — high-performance automotive and marine shop (run by the team behind @StangkilrProductions)
- Dog Days Bar & Grill — breakfast and safety meeting host at the 19-mile marker
- WIA Marine Insurance — specialized marine insurance brokerage, Lake Ozark, MO
- Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats — manufacturer of high-performance powerboats and center consoles
- Albers Real Estate Advisors
- Electric Line Builders
- Guild Mortgage
- HB Construction
- Poly-Lift Boat Lifts
Want to sponsor the 2027 run? Contact Big Thunder Marine for sponsorship details.
Boating Lake of the Ozarks — What You Need to Know
Lake of the Ozarks was created in 1931 when Bagnell Dam impounded the Osage River in Central Missouri. The resulting reservoir spans 54,000 acres with a main channel that stretches 92 miles and a total shoreline of 1,150 miles — more than the entire California coast.
The lake is shaped like a dragon with dozens of arms and coves branching off the main channel. Mile markers run from the dam (mile 0) upstream to the Truman Dam area (mile 92). Most of the restaurants, marinas, and entertainment are concentrated between mile 1 and mile 40, with the Party Cove area and quieter fishing waters farther up-lake.
Major Marinas & Launch Ramps
- Public Beach & Boat Ramp #1 — off Highway 54, free public launch, gets crowded on summer weekends
- State Park Marina — Lake of the Ozarks State Park, full-service marina with rentals, slips, and fuel. One of the best-maintained ramps on the lake.
- Big Thunder Marina — Big Thunder Marine’s own marina facility, offering slips, fuel, and service for everything from pontoons to 50-foot go-fasts
- Dog Days Dock — spacious slips at the 19-mile marker, open to restaurant patrons
- Shady Gators — massive dock system at the 7-mile marker, one of the busiest on the lake
Annual Boating Events
- Lake of the Ozarks Shootout (August) — one of the largest unsanctioned boat races in the country. Top speeds regularly exceed 200 mph. Charity event benefiting local causes.
- Support Our Troops Poker Run (June) — Big Thunder Marine’s annual charity run for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care
- LOMDA Spring In-Water Boat Show — held at Dog Days, one of the first boat shows of the season on the lake
- Aqua Palooza — massive on-water music festival and raft-up
- Lake of the Ozarks Poker Run — another major poker run event drawing hundreds of boats
Boating Tips for the Ozarks
- No-wake zones: The lake has numerous no-wake buoy lines near docks, marinas, and narrow coves. Fines are steep and enforced.
- Navigation hazards: Submerged trees and rock ledges are common, especially up-lake past mile 50. Stay in the marked channel if you do not know the water.
- Fuel: Fill up at the dock before heading out — fuel stations are spread across the lake, but lines can be 30+ minutes on busy weekends.
- Life jackets: Missouri law requires PFDs for all children under 7. The Missouri State Highway Patrol marine division actively patrols the lake, especially during Shootout week.
- Weather: Summer thunderstorms roll in fast across the Ozark hills. If you see dark clouds building to the west, head for a cove or dock. Lightning on open water is no joke.
Where to Eat on the Water
Lake of the Ozarks has more waterfront restaurants than almost any lake in America. Beyond Dog Days, here are the spots most boaters hit:
- Shady Gators (7-mile marker) — the biggest party spot on the lake. Massive dock, live music, swim-up bar. Title sponsor of the Support Our Troops Poker Run.
- Backwater Jacks (17.7-mile marker, Osage Beach) — a Lake of the Ozarks institution since 1975, Backwater Jacks is famous for its award-winning sushi bar, swim-up pool bar, tiki-style waterfront dining, and live music all summer long. The restaurant also offers vacation rentals steps from the dock. A poker run card stop and one of the most-visited spots on the lake.
- Franky and Louie’s (10-mile marker, Sunrise Beach) — Italian-American menu, big dock, family-friendly by day, lively at night
- Fish and Company (Mile Marker 31, Camdenton) — casual waterfront seafood, another poker run card stop
- Shorty Pants Lounge & Marina (21.2-mile marker) — same ownership as Dog Days (Barrett Restaurant Group), quieter vibe, full marina services, voted “Best Gas Dock” annually since 2009
- Wobbly Boots Roadhouse — also Barrett Restaurant Group, land-side BBQ and live music, short drive from the lake
Getting to Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks is in Central Missouri, roughly 2.5 hours from both Kansas City and St. Louis via US-54 and I-44 respectively. The nearest regional airports are Springfield-Branson (SGF) at 2 hours south and Columbia Regional (COU) at 1.5 hours north. Most visitors drive in and launch from one of the dozens of public and private ramps.
The main commercial strip runs along Highway 54 / Osage Beach Parkway through Osage Beach and Lake Ozark. You will find every marine supply store, trailer repair shop, and bait shop you could need within a few miles of the lake.
Peak season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, with the Shootout in late August drawing the biggest crowds of the year. Spring and fall offer excellent boating with fewer crowds, lower marina rates, and spectacular fall foliage along the Ozark hills.
Big thanks to @StangkilrProductions for filming such a great video of the Support Our Troops Poker Run. If you have not subscribed to his channel yet, do it.
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