Help me plan my Shootout Vacation 2019!

[akorcovelos]

I'm finally checking off the Shootout from my bucket list. Have some friends from the area that are renting us a house on a cove off MM32 and we're hauling the Cobalt down for a week. I want to head down a few days before the event so I can do some cruising/exploring before the crowds roll in. Thinking of getting into town on the Saturday before the event, and leaving the Tuesday afterwards to avoid the mass exodus.

I know we have a few LOTO locals here, so looking for some input on what to do, where to go, when things for the event start kicking in, and generally what my weeks agenda should look like. Maybe a CC raft up? Just want to make the most out of my time down there, super excited!

[tgrace98]

I'm finally checking off the Shootout from my bucket list. Have some friends from the area that are renting us a house on a cove off MM32 and we're hauling the Cobalt down for a week. I want to head down a few days before the event so I can do some cruising/exploring before the crowds roll in. Thinking of getting into town on the Saturday before the event, and leaving the Tuesday afterwards to avoid the mass exodus.

I know we have a few LOTO locals here, so looking for some input on what to do, where to go, when things for the event start kicking in, and generally what my weeks agenda should look like. Maybe a CC raft up? Just want to make the most out of my time down there, super excited!

I've been to the shootout a bunch. You are staying in a really good location close to where the shootout is.

My favorite part of the shootout is always the meet up Friday night before the shootout begins. The past few years it has been at Dog days and it is just insane the boats that show up and fly by. I've never been to any of the events during the week so I cannot comment on that.

On Saturday and Sunday the Water patrol puts up an idle only from MM 25 to past the shootout. They mark the course and everyone is welcome to tie up and watch the races from the water. This always ends up being one big crazy party with hundreds of boats tied up to one another. My suggestion would be to do this at least 1 of the 2 days. Then if you want to check out the boats at Captain Ron's (shootout host) then I would do that another. But you cannot see the actual boats run from there. It will be shown on TV's however. But you can walk around and look at all the boats as they are right there at the docks.

[akorcovelos]

great info! I'll have a couple jet skis so the plan at least one day of the shootout is to raft up in the AM and just use the skis to go to/from the house when needed.

We'll definitely hit up Capt. Rons, sounds awesome. Is there a parade as the boats come into town? I've seen videos of the highway into town with all the boats lined up on the shoulder.

Also should note, I'll have a 4 and 6 year old with us so we'll have to keep our activities relatively kid friendly. We do live on the Fox Chain O lakes so they've probably seen anything they'll see at the shoot out, lol.

Any good restaurants to hit up by water earlier in the week for dinner and drinks?

[tgrace98]

great info! I'll have a couple jet skis so the plan at least one day of the shootout is to raft up in the AM and just use the skis to go to/from the house when needed.

We'll definitely hit up Capt. Rons, sounds awesome. Is there a parade as the boats come into town? I've seen videos of the highway into town with all the boats lined up on the shoulder.

Also should note, I'll have a 4 and 6 year old with us so we'll have to keep our activities relatively kid friendly. We do live on the Fox Chain O lakes so they've probably seen anything they'll see at the shoot out, lol.

Any good restaurants to hit up by water earlier in the week for dinner and drinks?

Be very very careful on jetski's. Coming in and out of the no wake for the shootout you will easily see 4-6ft wake from all the big cruisers plowing down the main channel.

LOTO is famous for having TONS of bars and Restaurants on the lake. In fact most people can tell you where everything is by water but have the slightest of ideas how to get to it by land.

It has been 3 years since I have been to LOTO but I like Dog days, H toads, Millers pub.. those are all accessible by water. Then in town I like Rizzo's, and Domineco's.

And yes the parade is on the old highway 54 strip during the week. I love that week because I live right off I-70 so I see nothing but go fast boats being towed down to LOTO. Plus I live about 2 minutes from MTI so a lot of their boats are here that week for service before the shootout.

[akorcovelos]

Good info, I believe we are in the no wake area near the end of the course. The family I'm renting from said they use the skis to go to and from the house all day during the event. From my understanding they're cove is right off the course so it's a short idle to raft up well into the no wake zone.

I'll google those places and map it out to see what would give us a nice cruise leading to some good food.

I LOVE the MTI boats. Reallt looking forward to seeing the Wake Effects boat at the event.

[Patriot 8713]

You will be fine on the jet skis running back and forth as long as you stay in the no wake area.

You have to do the parade on the strip. It is a must see!

I really love hanging out at The Fish and Company restaurant (FishCo). It is very close to where you are staying (Linn Creek cove at the 31MM) and they have great food and live bands on the weekends. I don't really think it is very kid friendly, but on that weekend not much is!
http://www.thefishandcompany.com/index.html

Another great one that would involve a pretty long cruise is Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar and Grill. It is at the 7MM of the Gravois Arm, which is off of the 6MM of the main channel. This would be a 33 mile cruise one way, but you would see a pretty good portion of the lake.
http://www.coconutsatthelake.com/index.asp

Hope you have a great 2019 shootout weekend. I know in the past, the hangover that I had on Sunday morning made for a long ride home! lol

[Shawneetom]

You will have a blast at the shootout. Look at www.funlake.com for stuff to do and restaurants. Fish & Co is a great place. Be sure to check one of the places with a pool. With kids I would recommend Red Heads or Dog Days. Also, take the kids to the Ha Ha Tonka park. Have fun.

[akorcovelos]

Epic, thanks for all the great info! I’ll put an agenda together and post it here to make sure my activities and timing are right.