via Nathan Bechtold, LakeExpo.com
May 24, 2024
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — Local businesspeople, elected officials, and project team members gathered at the site of the future Oasis at Lakeport family resort and entertainment district on Thursday, May 23, for an official groundbreaking ceremony.
Work on the project has been underway for some time, but the official groundbreaking event came with plenty of fanfare, along with speeches by investor and Big Thunder Marine owner Fred Ross, Missouri Senator Mike Bernskoetter, Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison, Bob Brinkmann of Brinkmann Constructors, and Jeff Tegethoff of Tegethoff Development.
St. Louis-based SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development hosted the official ceremony. The project’s first phase, which includes the construction of amusement rides and attractions, restaurants and marina, is slated to open in Summer 2025.
In his speech to the crowd, Jeff Tegethoff, founding principal of Tegethoff Development, ran down a list of projected numbers to contrast what the site would have brought in economic benefit to the community had it not been developed, versus what the developers expect it will bring over the next quarter-century.
Oasis at Lakeport – By The Numbers
• $420,000,000 in total development costs
• $100,000,000+ in public infrastructure
• 1,000+ construction jobs supported
• $150,000,000+ spent on skilled labor
• $100,000,000 in new annual revenue expected
• 350+ full-time jobs producing more than $20,000,000 in local payroll
• 600,000+ visitors estimated annually
“Without this development, there would only be $1 million in total taxes over the next 23 years,” Tegethoff said. “With this development there will be $25 million in real estate taxes received by the taxing districts over the next 23 years.”
Tegethoff also contrasted the sales tax generation on the site. Without any development, the site would generate no sales tax revenue (as has been the case). But he says with this development, the Oasis center is expected to bring in $45 million in sales tax revenue over the next 23 years.
In a similar vein, he pointed to the lodging taxes that are estimated to be received in the next 23 years: $27 million.
