On the North Shore of Lake of the Ozarks, living in Rocky Mount is all about life on the water. Lakeside homes line the countless coves of Missouri’s second-largest reservoir. Meanwhile, much of inland Rocky Mount is forested, with main roads leading to gravel streets that take residents to their waterfront homes. Often, city dwellers from St. Louis and Kansas City have weekend and summer homes in the area, so they can enjoy lake life in peace. “We're nestled in a more country area,” says Realtor Vicky Rallo with Lake of the Ozarks Realty. Rallo bought a weekend home in 1995 and moved to the area permanently in 2005. “It’s not built up with a lot of stores, so there’s little traffic. During the summertime, traffic can be horrendous in Lake Ozark, Osage Beach and Camdenton. That’s why people will choose to live here.”
Lakefront houses and condominiums with boat docks
Lakefront homes in Rocky Mount typically come with private docks and a back deck that overlooks the water. Inland homes, meanwhile, tend to be smaller and less expensive. The median price for a single-family home is around $430,000, but several prime properties recently sold for $600,000 to $800,000, and a handful went for even more. “When the lake was made in the 1940s, it was mainly fishing cabins and little bungalows,” Rallo says. “Now, it has grown so much that we have multimillion-dollar houses, and big stars come to buy homes here.” Two-to-three-bedroom condos are also available, ranging from $220,000 to $500,000, usually with access to a shared dock.
Though many homes are right by the water, flooding is rarely a concern. "We're a dammed lake, so if heavy rain is predicted, they open the flood gates," Rallo says. "We only had high water once in the recent past because they flooded the Osage River and didn't want to let more out. As far as I know, it didn't affect lakefront properties."
Water sports and no boat size restrictions on Lake of the Ozarks
Locals who don't have a private dock can take their boat out from the ramp at Coffman Beach. Rallo says some locals suffer from “2-foot-itis” — the unquenchable desire for a bigger boat. “They keep increasing the size of their boats by 2 feet, and you start seeing boats that look like they should be out in the ocean,” Rallo says. “In the summer, our nickname is Lake of the Ocean because of the size of the boats and the big wakes they make. It can get pretty rough out there.” While there are no boat size restrictions, permits are needed for boating. Permits are obtained by Ameren Missouri, the utility company that owns the lake and uses it to generate electricity for the community. Aside from boating, locals also enjoy parasailing, kayaking, scuba diving and other water sports.
Limited stores and restaurants in town, more options within 10 miles
Rocky Mount isn’t known for having much commercial activity, so locals are happy to see when a new business opens up. “A few years ago, we got a Dollar General and that was big news,” Rallo says. “Manuel’s Cantina, a Mexican restaurant, opened up recently, and everyone was thrilled to see that come in.” The nighttime crowd heads to Hero’s Junction and Traffic Jam Pub & Grub, two dive bars featuring live music and karaoke. Locals can dock their boats at Jolly Rogers Grub & Grog, a vibrant pirate-themed restaurant. “They have a big pirate ship that takes people out for excursions,” Rallo says. “The owner has a parrot and he dresses up like a pirate. It’s a pretty fun place.” The North Shore Shopping Center is a local gas station and convenience store that sells groceries, fishing gear and other products. Big-box retailers are about 15 to 20 minutes away in Osage Beach and Lake Ozark.
Observing Memorial Day and Fourth of July on the water
On Memorial Day weekend, locals take part in a poker run on the lake. They’ll ride boats to different docks to get a playing card. The person with the best poker hand at the end wins a prize. Locals also celebrate the Fourth of July on the water. “You have volunteers that take donations and use that money to put on fireworks shows,” Rallo says. “You’ll see fireworks going off all around the lake. The best view is from a boat.”
Dual credit courses at Eldon High School
Most students are served by The Eldon School District. Kindergarten through second-grade students attend South Elementary School, which receives a B grade from Niche. They go on to Eldon Upper Elementary School, also graded a B. Eldon Middle School and Eldon High School are both graded a B-plus. High schoolers may enroll in a dual enrollment program to earn college credits through State Fair Community College and Missouri Baptist University.
Getting to and from major Missouri cities
Locals take Highway W to drive less than 15 miles to Lake Ozark, and it's another 5 miles to Osage Beach. Jefferson City, the state capital, is about 45 minutes away. It takes less than 2 hours to drive to Springfield, Missouri, while St. Louis and Kansas City are both about 2 and a half hours.
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Financing available for as low as $200 down and $200 a month! No credit checks, everyone qualifies.Located on Apache Lane in peaceful Rocky Mount, Missouri, this spot in Indian Creek Hills covers 0.20 acres and offers plenty of options.Living here gives you access to a 40-acre private lake, hunting grounds, a campsite, and a boat ramp. Plus, it's close to Lake of the Ozarks and
Financing available for as low as $300 down and $300 a month!Located on White Dove Lane in peaceful Rocky Mount, Missouri, this spot in Indian Creek Hills covers 0.39 acres and offers plenty of options.Living here gives you access to a 40-acre private lake, hunting grounds, a campsite, and a boat ramp. Plus, its close to Lake of the Ozarks and Coffman Beach Public Boat Launch.
Financing available for as low as $250 down and $250 a month!Located on Dakota Lane in peaceful Rocky Mount, Missouri, this spot in Indian Creek Hills covers 0.29 acres and offers plenty of options.Living here gives you access to a 40-acre private lake, hunting grounds, a campsite, and a boat ramp. Plus, it's close to Lake of the Ozarks and Coffman Beach Public Boat Launch. You'll
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,782
Median Age
53
Population under 18
18.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
30.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$53,983
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$81,373
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80.9%
College Graduates
16%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.9%
% Population in Labor Force
52.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
4''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
3/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
