Obviously, I have grossly underestimated Mozingo

Phil Cobb

Chaundee and I were fortunate enough this past weekend to experience one of the most special moments that parents ever get to experience.

Kelsey, the middle of our three daughters, became the first to be married.

That’s a story all its own, and you’ve read some about it here already, so I won’t go into too much detail.

Except to say that the ceremony was nothing short of perfect.

As I mentioned in an earlier column, Kelsey and her new husband, Tyler Piveral, decided to be married at Mozingo Lake.

At first, and honestly right up until the rehearsal dinner, which was held on the same site, I was less than enthusiastic about the choice, imagining an outdoor wedding in August.

In my mind, it was going to be 115 degrees with no wind and mosquitos the size of Mozingo’s infamous buzzards.

Despite my whining and complaining, and numerous suggestions of changing the venue to that of our church, Tyler and Kelsey never waivered.

Obviously, the conditions could not have been better.

The temperature was right around 85 degrees.

The wind was just enough to keep the mosquitos away, but not enough to be an annoyance.

And it was cloudy enough to make for good photography and block out what would have been a glaring sun.

Forecast thunderstorms, and even a tornado watch, literally parted and went north and south of us.

Kelsey and Tyler must have some pretty good connections.

The point of this column, however, is not to brag (not too much, anyway) about my daughter and new son-in-law.

The point is to express some observations made while spending time at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park over the weekend.

I was more than thrilled to learn recently that plans are being made to create a hotel and conference center at Mozingo.

I readily understand that not everyone shares my optimism about the potential for such a venture.

Some people think Maryville can’t possibly support another hotel.

If I remember right, not everyone was enthusiastic about the lake in the first place.

You don’t hear much from those folks these days.

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the level of activity that takes place at the park, but I can now say I was way off.

While placing signs directing family and friends to the wedding site, I noticed pickups pulling boats, pickups pulling campers, and motor homes passing by at intervals which seemed like every 30 seconds.

Normally, my experience is pretty much limited to the southeast corner of the park, more precisely the Sechrest 18 Golf Course, where I have participated in numerous golfing events over the 15 years we’ve been in Maryville, and even before that as a golf coach for King City High School.

That golf course is really something special.

The condition of the fairways and greens are consistently exceptional.

We have visited The Point, the walking trails, MOERA, the beach, the RV campground, and have even spent some time on the water.

But those visits were few and far between and usually centered around special events like the annual 4th of July fireworks show and the haunted campground.

So, even though I thought I had a pretty good idea of what goes on out there on a day-to-day basis, I obviously had no idea.

That place is busy.

Very busy.

I was optimistic about the potential for development at the park before, but now, honestly, I’m trying to get my head wrapped around the possibilities.

There is no doubt in my mind that a hotel and conference center will be wildly successful.

And now I’m certain there needs to be a marina; boat and RV storage; a restaurant; an outfitter; and maybe even another hotel catering to outdoorsmen.

My aunts, uncles, and cousins, some of who live on and around Truman Lake near Warsaw, were up for the wedding.

They are very much outdoor types — RVs, ATVs, boats, trucks, guns — you name it.

Let’s call them sophisticated rednecks.

I think they would appreciate that description.

Not only do they make recreational use of Truman Lake, but they also frequent Table Rock Lake and other major fisheries throughout the region.

They loved Mozingo and quickly recognized its potential.

One cousin referred to it as “easy to get to from Kansas City.”

I think sometimes we get hung up on picturing ourselves as rural and remote.

We’re really not.

Not just from KC, but also from Omaha, Des Moines, Lincoln, etc., Mozingo is pretty handy — the perfect distance for a day-long getaway, but pretty tempting for an overnight or weekend-long stay if accommodations were available.

I imagine that over the next several years, Maryville will continue to realize Mozingo’s potential and gradually take advantage of its asset.

I think we’ve only just begun.

Call me crazy.

Not long ago there were a bunch of crazy people who wanted to dam up Mozingo Creek.