Mennonite farmland and Lake of the Ozarks in Barnett
Barnett blends the rural atmosphere of Morgan County’s countryside with the adventures that come with living by Lake of the Ozarks. “Barnett has a lot of rural areas with gravel roads that take you to homes on the lake,” says Vicky Rallo, a Realtor with Keller Williams Lake of the Ozarks, who has lived in the region for more than 30 years. “So, if you’re looking for lake life that’s more remote, this would be the place to live.” Mennonites settled in Morgan County in the mid-1800s and have had a lasting impact on Barnett. “There are a lot of Mennonite farms and businesses,” Rallo says, “They grow their own crops, build their own furniture and sell them to the community.”
Waterfront properties and homes with acres of land
Each waterfront home comes with a private dock and typically has a back deck that overlooks the water. Small one-to-two-bedroom houses by the water sell for around $145,000 to $170,000. A more average-sized home with two to four bedrooms ranges from around $350,000 to $530,000. And large houses with luxurious amenities sell between $640,000 and $1 million.
Inland homes have much more land. These houses don’t sell often, but in recent years, two to five-bedroom, ranch-style homes on 2 to 22 acres of land have sold between $170,000 and $390,000. Some upscale properties on more than 70 acres have sold for more than $1 million.
Water sports on Lake of the Ozarks
Those who don’t have waterfront homes can launch their boats at Coffman Beach in Rocky Mount, about 15 miles away. With 54,000 acres of water, Lake of the Ozarks is full of activities. The lake has no boat size restrictions, so it’s common to see both small boats and large vessels. People also enjoy parasailing, jet skiing, fishing and other water sports.
Dutch Country Store and other Mennonite businesses
Mennonite family-run businesses like Dutch Country Store and Sunshine Foods can be found along State Highway C on the far north side of town. Both offer similar experiences, selling locally sourced groceries and serving deli sandwiches. Just down the road, Hoover’s Surplus Outlet sells all kinds of surplus items, including household appliances, sporting goods and tools. Depending on where one lives, it’s about a 5 to 20-mile drive to Eldon, which has more restaurants and grocery stores. Those with lakefront homes can take a boat across the water and dock at Coconuts At The Lake, a tropical-themed restaurant and resort with swim-up bars and a waterpark.
Public schools in Eldon and Morgan County
Much of the east side of Barnett is zoned to the Eldon School District. Students attend South Elementary School and Eldon Upper Elementary School, both of which receive a B grade from Niche. They’ll go on to Eldon Middle School and Eldon High School, each graded a B-plus. The high school offers a dual enrollment program, allowing students to earn college credit through State Fair Community College and Missouri Baptist University.
Students on the west side are part of the Morgan County R-II School District. Morgan County R-II Elementary School and Morgan County R-II Middle School are graded a C-plus. Morgan County R-II High School is graded a B-minus. This high school also offers a dual enrollment program but through Missouri State University.
Navigating the countryside to Lake Ozark and Osage Beach
State Highways W and 52 run through the countryside leading to other nearby communities. It’s about a 20-mile drive to the cities of Lake Ozark and Osage Beach, which takes about 25 minutes. It takes about 45 minutes to drive 35 miles to Jefferson City, the state capital. St. Louis and Kansas City are both about two and a half hours away.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
