Friday, March 27, 2015

The Bagnell Dam Strip - a little history!

Tucker's Shuckers Oyster & Tap will be opening next Tuesday, March 31st on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip.  We are very happy to be located on probably the most well known place at the Lake of the Ozarks and we are looking forward to working with all of the businesses located in the area to make the Bagnell Dam Strip the place to go when visiting the Lake!
Photo from www.funlake.com

A little history...


Bagnell Dam Strip was created because of the immense traffic that was made necessary because of the Dam. Bringing visitors from all over the nation for barbecue, candy stores, ice-cream, gift shops, music and classic arcades. For over 80 years, Bagnell Dam Strip has delighted millions of visitors. Standing watch over the Strip are the “Muffler Men” – two towering fiberglass structures created in the 1960’s by a California company to lure owners of noisy automobiles to replace their mufflers. You know these figures today as the Indian and the Hillbilly.

Photo from www.funlake.com


Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the Ozarks is the nation’s LARGEST completely artificial lake. Construction began August 6th, 1929 but the idea was adopted as early as 1912. Funding was an issue in the early development of the site, but Union Electric Light and Power Company of St. Louis acquired all properties and rights of Missouri Hydro-Electric Power Company, the original contractor, in July of 1929. Four months after construction began, the stock market crashed, posing yet another setback in the development. However, Bagnell Dam brought growth and expansion in middle Missouri despite being developed during the Great Depression.

The project was divided into three categories: the Dam and Power house, the power transmission lines, and the reservoir – which is now known as the Lake of the Ozarks. On February 2, 1931, the Osage River was impounded and the lake began to fill. The lake was available to access on May 30, 1931, and backwaters extended up the Niangua, Grand Glaize, Grand and Pomme de Terre rivers. The dam site became a focal point for a resort industry as homes and businesses were establishing all over the lake. Summer homes and cabins became the norm and relocation of families was required, inevitably causing the cities of Camdenton and Linn Creek to be created. Lake area electric service began on December 24th, 1931. An incomprehensible completion time of only 18 and ½ months, four months ahead of schedule, was an incredible achievement.

Photo from www.funlake.com


Some facts about Bagnell Dam:
  • Bagnell Dam is 2,543 feet long
  • Has a 20 foot wide roadway and a three foot sidewalk
  • There were originally 6 generating units, 2 of which were added in 1953
  • The spillway section has 12 flood gates, 34 ft wide by 23 ft tall
  • Each flood gate weighs 27 tons and is capable of discharging 101,000 gallons of water PER SECOND
  • Two 70 ton capacity cranes operate the flood gates
  • During construction, 60,000 car loads of materials were hauled to the project site
  • 5082 cubic yard of concrete were poured each day
  • The water in the reservoir is enough to supply the daily needs of St. Louis for more than 12 years, about 650 billion gallons
  • Over 4,600 workers were employed during the construction of the Dam – The ONLY major construction site during the Great Depression in the nation
  • The Lake of the Ozarks is the largest man-made lake in the U.S.


Photo from www.funlake.com


The Bagnell Dam Strip plays hosts to numerous events throughout the year, such as the Lake Bikefest, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Annual Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals Car Show, Mardi Gras Pub Crawl, Spring and Fall Harbor Hop, Hot Summer Nights, The Great Bagnell Dam Duck Drop, Oma & Noma Heritage Festival, and the Lake of the Ozarks Offshore Super Series Race.



Tucker's Shuckers Oysters and Tap is the place to be this summer! With 30 beers on tap and the best live music at the Lake of the Ozarks, we've got everything you need for a great summer night. Don't forget that our oysters a fresh, never frozen and flown in just for us. Be sure to stop by and see us next time you're here at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Tuckers Shuckers Oysters & Tap: The BEST Oysters at the Lake of the Ozarks

1339 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-365-9769



Thursday, March 19, 2015

Summer Events on the Bagnell Dam Strip

The Lake has some great things happening on the strip this Summer. These annual events bring crowds from all over the area and the Midwest. While you're here for these events, it's the perfect time to stop into Tucker's Shuckers, the newest and best restaurant on the Bagnell Dam Strip! Here are some dates to get on your calendars now!

27th Annual Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals: May 1-3


Bring the entire family to the biggest car show in the Midwest, right here on the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip at Lake of the Ozarks. Whether you're a car collector, fan or spectator, you will enjoy the hundreds of spectacular show vehicles coming from across the United States. Event hours are as follows: Friday from 12 PM to 5 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 8 AM to 1 PM.

Hot Summer Nights: Starts May 8 



Join us on the Bagnell Dam Strip for Hot Summer Nights from 6-11 PM (rain or shine). Events are May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14 and September 11. Admission and participation are free. All makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles will line the Strip and cruise around. This kid friendly event also offers giveaways, helicopter rides, entertainment and more!

Lake Race 2015: June 5-7


Watch power boats from all over the country compete for their share of the money. The best viewing spot will be right here on the Bagnell Dam Strip! Boats will run from the 0 mile marker to the 6 mile marker. This is one of the most popular Lake events of the year and you don't want to miss it!

9th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest: September 17-20


Visit the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks this September for the ultimate Bikefest Event, including spectacular scenic rides, more than 200 biker friendly bars and restaurants, great parties, vendors and rockin' concerts at night! By attending, you'll also get your chance to win a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle!

Tucker's Shuckers Oysters and Tap is the place to be this summer! With 30 beers on tap and the best live music at the Lake of the Ozarks, we've got everything you need for a great summer night. Don't forget that our oysters a fresh, never frozen and flown in just for us. Be sure to stop by and see us next time you're here at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Tuckers Shuckers Oysters & Tap: The BEST Oysters at the Lake of the Ozarks

1339 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-365-9769

Thursday, March 12, 2015

How Do Oysters Make Pearls?

Unlike gemstones or precious metals, pearls come from live organisms below the surface of the sea. While oysters are not the only creatures to form pearls, it is extremely rare to find one in a clam or mussel. However, hundreds of oysters must be checked before a pearl is found. For this reason, most pearls today are made by culturing. Your Lake of the Ozarks oyster bar brings you a look at how pearls are made!


How an Oyster Makes a Pearl


A natural pearl is formed when a foreign object, such as a parasite or a grain of sand, gets lodged in an oyster's soft inner body. To avoid irritation, the oyster forms a "pearl sac" to contain the object. This sac is formed from a smooth, hard crystalline substance called "nacre." Layer upon layer will coat the object until eventually the object is completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings. The ultimate result is what we know as the lovely and lustrous pearl.  
While our oysters at Tucker's Shuckers may not contain pearls, they are flown in fresh just for us! Be sure to come by and check out the newest restaurant on the Bagnell Dam Strip. Opening day is set for Friday, March 27. See you soon! 
Tuckers Shuckers Oysters & Tap: The BEST Oysters at the Lake of the Ozarks

1339 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-365-9769

Thursday, March 5, 2015

8 FAQs About Oysters Answered

At Tucker's Shuckers, oysters are our specialty! With Missouri being smack dab in the middle of the country, many of you may have never eaten a fresh oyster. You might have some questions about oysters you want answered before taking the plunge and trying one at our Lake of the Ozarks oyster bar. Check out the answers to some FAQs about oysters from wtseafood.com below!

1. Are the oysters being eaten alive? 


While it might sounds odd, you definitely want to eat oysters while they're still alive. Eating a dead oyster could leave you feeling not so great afterward. Fresh oysters will be clamped tightly shut if they're alive. If they're not, they'll be gaping open with a pungent, not-so-fresh odor. Don't underestimate them though, some varieties can survive out of the water for up to two weeks if kept in properly chilled, moist conditions.

2.  What do these slimy things taste like? 


In the shell, an oyster tastes like the ocean. The "blood" circulating through is seawater, so your oyster will also be salty. However, oysters can take on a variety of flavors, from floral to melon, metallic to smoky. The texture of the meat can also vary from soft and pilant or crisp to full-bodied. The finish can leave you with a lingering sensation of fresh cucumber, herbal bitterness or musky fruit. Finding an oyster you like is similar to finding the perfect wine for your tastes. The more you explore, the more you will learn about the flavors different oysters can posses.

3. How else can you eat oysters besides totally raw? 


From grilled to fried, the ways to prepare oysters are endless. You can even drink your oysters at Tucker's Shuckers, via oyster shooters with vodka and Tabasco. The menu at our Lake of the Ozarks seafood restaurant will feature the following types of oysters:
  • Charbroiled Oysters - Six freshly shucked oysters grilled over an open flame with, garlic, butter and shredded parmesan cheese. 
  • BBQ Oysters - Six freshly shucked oysters breaded and fried. Tossed in sweet BBQ sauce. Served with ranch or blue cheese. 
  • Oysters Rockefeller - Oysters baked with butter, herbs, spinach & bread crumbs. 
  • Southern Fried Oysters - Served with blue cheese, celery and buffalo sauce. 
  • Oyster Sliders - Crispy fried oysters stacked on a sweet Hawaiian roll with crispy lettuce, dill pickle slice and Old bay aioli. 
  • Oyster Poor Boy - House shucked, battered and fried oyster on french bread, served with lettuce, tomato and mayo

4. Why are there so many different oyster names? 


As we mentioned in our previous blog, "5 Types of Oysters Found in the U.S.", there are 5 species commercially cultivated in North America. You can compare these to wine grapes; while the oysters will taste different depending on growing practices and region, there are some common threads between oysters of the same species. Oysters of each species are usually named after the bay or town they come from, for example Totten Inlet Virginicas or New Brunswick Flats. Oysters are affected by climate and much like wines express their region through the concept of terroir, oysters are said to possess a certain merroir. Tides, surrounding plankton, the depth of the bed and any number of other factors can change an oysters flavor dramatically. Farming techniques also have a large impact on the oyster's development.

5. Is oyster farming sustainable? 


Historically, oyster beds thrived on the coast, but due to over-fishing most of these beds were eliminated by the turn of the century. Today, 95% of oysters are cultured. Seafood aficionados may feel that wild oysters taste better, but the truth is that farmed oysters are raised under optimal conditions for growth, and bred for aesthetically pleasing shells and balanced flavors. These operations are one of the best boosts we can give the planet. Unlike other seafood farms, oysters do not need to be fed anything. The oysters simply soak up the nutrients around them, while also purifying the water they live in. One adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day! Since oyster quality depends on water quality, farmers tend to be good environmental stewards.

6. How do you tell the sex of an oyster? 


Oysters are actually hermaphrodites and contain the machinery to release both eggs and sperm. They can change sex from year to year, but cannot be both at the same time. A female can produce a million eggs while a male can produce over a billion sperm. Either way, oyster reproduction is a precarious business. In the wild, only one larva in a million will reach adulthood.

7. Are oysters high in fat or cholesterol? 


Oysters are one of the best foods you can eat! They are a great source of protein and contain very little fat, most of which is unsaturated. They are low in cholesterol, but very high in vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc and copper. Eastern oysters contain 5-10 times as much zinc and copper as Pacific oysters. This explains why many people perceive Eastern oysters to be more metallic and Pacific oysters sweeter.

8. How do you shuck an oyster? 


There are many methods to shucking oysters, but the general advice is to wrap a kitchen towel around the oyster, cup side down, so that the hinge is exposed. While holding the oyster firmly with one hand, take the oyster knife in the other hand and insert it into the hinge. The key is to use less force that you think you need. Once you've gently inserted the knife, rotate the blade to pry the shell up. Now slice across the oyster's adductor muscle to remove the top shell, taking care not to spill the oyster liquor. Be sure to cut the oyster's bottom muscle, located on the curved edge of the cup so that the oyster can be slurped in one smooth move!

Now that you know a little more about oysters, you're ready to enjoy some at Tucker's Shuckers Oysters & Tap. Our oysters are fresh, never frozen and flown in special for our restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks. Opening day is set for Friday, March 27. See you then!

Tuckers Shuckers Oysters & Tap: The BEST Oysters at the Lake of the Ozarks

1339 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049
Phone: 573-365-9769