This community is quietly at odds as its future as a tourism hotbed carries feelings of expectation and exasperation.

There is a visible divide between residents who foresee a more stable, vibrant local economy with a growing entertainment industry and those who foresee coming social costs of criminality and vice, leaving their cherished community worse off for it.

The idea of gambling rolling into Lake Ozark is the most contentious idea by far.

This is a town known for its rowdiness in the summer months: Boat races, biker rallies, pool-side concerts, drinking excursions, fishing tournaments, car shows and the like bring in millions for summer fun — well over 9 million in 2020 alone, during a pandemic to boot.