Plans for increased amenities at Mozingo finally take shape

Jim Fall

When you are an “old timer” like I am, the version of the phrase that rings true to my ear is probably different from that of later generations.

Case in point:

In my day, the popular saying — usually urging patience — was quoted as, “All things come to those who wait.”

Now, it is usually repeated in the slightly moderated form, “Good things come to those who wait.”

What we are talking about in today’s language is most probably a combination of both, as in “All good things come to those who wait.”

President Abraham Lincoln had his own modified version, to wit:

“Good things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

And there have been numerous others since his time, most using vernacular not suitable for this family newspaper.

What we are talking about today, however, is the most pure of translations, to me anyway.

Admittedly, I had moved from Maryville to Helena, Montana, by the time the magnificent facility we now know as Mozingo Lake Recreation Park became reality with the opening of the 18-hole golf course in 1995 and the various stages of the RV park, cabins and other amenities slowly, but surely, since.

Well, folks, based on the announcement last Friday afternoon of the finalization of plans to construct a 40-room hotel — lodge — at Mozingo, our “little local lake” just took a giant step into the future.

I, for one, believe that development, coupled with additional improvements hopefully slated to follow in the very near future, will catapult Mozingo into the state park kind of recreational facility it was originally envisioned to become by early and more recent supporters.

Back in the early days of bringing the lake and surrounding acreage on line, there were verbal, and, if memory serves me correctly, written assurances from the Missouri Department of Conservation that when the 1,000-acre lake was completed, at least a portion of the adjoining land that the city owned could, would, be brought into the state’s park system.

Pretty much of a “you build it and we will come” sort of agreement, signed off of by the department.

Well, somewhere in the translation of that commitment into reality, another chuck of land strategically located between the Elephant Rocks and Johnson’s Shut Ins state parks became available to the state for acquisition — and Mozingo got brushed aside.

That turn of events was a dramatic disappointment at the time, but it may have actually been a blessing in disguise.

After several years of — neglect would be too strong of a word; relevant indifference might be better — by city officials, excluding, of course, former street, and later Mozingo, superintendent, David Middleton, the vast potential of the park was brought back into focus by the creation of an advisory committee, and increased interest from members of the city council.

Councilmen Glenn Jonagan and Jeff Funston, who had been a councilman when the lake was under construction, were prominent spokesmen for the city’s taking more advantage of the potential the park offered, especially through enhancements.

Administrative changes brought more interest, especially with the designation of Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland by City Manager Greg McDanel to have overall responsibility for Mozingo.

Talk to either of those gentlemen with an idea that they buy into, and then you had better get out of the way because things are going to start shaking.

Seemingly slowly at times, but methodically, and with all their ducks in a row, all the “i’s” dotted and all the “t’s” crossed.

By my recollection, it must have been four or five, maybe six, years ago that the topic of adding a lodge and adjoining conference center to the park’s offerings were broached.

The possibilities seemed endless, but at the same time, many of the obstacles seemed to be even more formidable.

First came a comprehensive plan for the city that included mention of that type facility at Mozingo. Then a subsequent feasibility study for the park reached a similar conclusion.

But there were steps to get there, like a rebranding of the park, the direct result of a marketing study done by students at Northwest Missouri State University.

That study resulted in, among other things, new signage in the park, promotional signage along highways leading to Maryville, and increased visibility at area fairs and outdoor and sporting shows.

Along about the same time, the fishery at Mozingo was recognized as one of the Top 100 in the United States, just as the Sechrest 18 had been singled out as one of the best public golf courses around.

And that did not even take into account the soon-to-be-open Watson 9 junior course.

And now come the folks from Boulders’ Development up in Denison, Iowa, with a plan to cooperate with local investors to launch a 40-room lodge at the lake.

Heiland had seen a TV news piece while visiting relatives in Iowa about Boulders’ opening a new facility and had envisioned, obviously correctly, that they could be the developer the city had long sought.

The next logical step will be to establish a moderately sized conference center, including meeting rooms, food service and probably a new pro shop for the golf courses.

The city will almost certainly be required to become involved financially to make that a reality, but it has to happen.

So, for those of us who have waited so long, good things are happening after all.

And if what I know about our current city leadership, and what I see and hear about Boulders’, is anywhere close to correct, we won’t just be getting “what’s left,” thank you, Mr. Lincoln.

What we’ll have is a first-class operation that will bring a whole new level of interest and excitement to Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.

And when those facilities do get up and running, Maryville will realize much more than we ever would have from a state park.