Lodge of Four Seasons Golf Resort, Marina & Spa

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what surprised me about the Lodge of Four Seasons? It’s actually way bigger than you’d expect tucked into this corner of Lake Ozark. I mean, when you’re driving down Four Seasons Drive (which is basically right off the main drag), you catch these glimpses of the sprawling complex through the trees, and then suddenly you’re pulling into this massive resort that feels like it’s been here forever – in the best way possible.

The whole place sits right on the lake, which honestly makes all the difference. I stayed here during shoulder season in October, and while the golf course was still gorgeous with all the fall colors, the marina was where I ended up spending most of my time. There’s something really satisfying about watching the boats come and go while you’re having coffee on one of the terraces. The spa building is sort of separate from the main lodge – you actually have to walk outside to get there, which was fine in decent weather but might be annoying if it’s raining. The rooms themselves are… well, they’re comfortable but definitely feel like they could use a refresh. Not bad, just that slightly dated resort vibe you get at a lot of these established Lake of the Ozarks properties. The beds were solid though, and honestly, the view from most of the lakeside rooms makes up for any decorating quirks.

What I really appreciated was how the staff actually knew the area – like, really knew it. The guy at the front desk steered me toward some great local spots for dinner (skip the resort restaurant for anything fancy and head into Osage Beach), and the marina folks were super helpful about boat rentals and which coves were worth exploring. The golf course is the real draw here if that’s your thing – it’s challenging without being punishing, and the maintenance is clearly a priority. I’m not much of a golfer, but even I could appreciate how well-kept everything was. Parking was never an issue, which is more than I can say for some of the busier resorts closer to Bagnell Dam. The pool area gets pretty busy during summer weekends according to the lifeguard I chatted with, but in October it was perfectly mellow. One thing to note – the WiFi in the rooms is a bit spotty, so if you’re planning to work remotely, you might want to camp out in the lobby areas where the connection is more reliable. Overall, it’s the kind of place that does what it does well without trying to be something it’s not, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a lake vacation.