LAKE OZARK - Although Labor Day weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks usually brings boaters, shoppers and lots of traffic, this entire season at the Lake has been rough according local hotel managers and store owners.
Debbie Merrett claims the Shoreland Motel is usually booked solid through Labor Day.
"Business has been slow," she said. "It's about 30 percent down this year. We've come down a little bit in prices and offered better specials to try to keep people to stay a couple more days."
She said the hardest weekends have been the non-holiday weekends.
"We normally get a little business from people in surrounding states: Illinois and Iowa and places that don't have a lot of water like we do. But we haven't seen those people this year," says Shoreland Motel Owner Kenneth Merrett.
Carolyn Richards, manager of the Dogpatch General Store, said unique merchandise keeps her head above water during the downturn. The store has been in business for more 50 years.
"We have a give away program where they spend $5, they get a free dated mug or shot glass and we have people coming back since 1994 because they have to have that dated mug or shot glass every year," Richards said.
Other lake area business said sales were down as much as 50% from past years.
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