The conversation around data centers at the Lake got heated fast. But behind the headlines, something bigger is happening.

In this episode of Take On The Lake, I sit down with entrepreneur and local developer James Rericha. And midway through the episode James revealed something: he’s part of a team that's helping rewrite the code on how data centers are regulated in Camden County.

James also was directly affected by how the whole "Data Center" and "Opportunity Zone" conversations got married... we get into that too.

Among the many topics:

• How new data center rules are actually being written
• The difference between data centers and opportunity zones
• What’s been misunderstood—and what hasn’t
• The real tradeoffs around growth, taxes, and development

The conversation around data centers, opportunity zones, and large-scale development at the Lake has gotten loud—and fast.

So we did what we do: invited the developer to come talk about it.

In this episode, Blake Hodits walks through his proposed 2,000-acre master-planned community near Camdenton—what it is, what it isn’t, how it doesn't have to include a data center... and how all the pieces fit together.

Blake is equal parts dreamer, tech guy, and systems engineer. And that all comes across in this marathon of an interview.

We cover:

• The role of a potential data center
• Why this project is much bigger than one single component
• 3D-printed homes and other unconventional ideas
• Water, power, and infrastructure questions
• Why he didn't reveal his plans sooner (and whether he regrets it)
• Where things actually stand right now

Whether you’re for it, against it, or just trying to understand it—this is a chance to hear directly from the person behind the proposal.

• (00:00:00) - Welcome/Intro to Developer Blake Hodits
• (00:03:09) - From Lake Kid to Tech Career (and Back Again)
• (00:10:55) - Buying Crypto, Losing It All, Risk & Thinking Long-Term
• (00:19:15) - Dreaming On Paper: 2,000 Acres at the Lake
• (00:27:06) - Losing the Deal… Starting Over
• (00:31:34) - 3D-Printed Homes & Rethinking Housing
• (00:38:40) - Phase One: What Would Actually Get Built First
• (00:43:30) - The Bigger Idea: Education, Innovation & Year-Round Economy
• (00:45:25) - Breaking Down the Master Plan Map
• (00:47:27) - The Data Center Question: What’s Real?
• (00:56:02) - Wild Ideas: Heat Reuse, Surf Park & Systems Thinking
• (01:02:56) - Water, Pollution & Environmental Concerns
• (01:07:37) - Public Reaction: Fear, Scale & Pushback
• (01:11:35) - Will It Use All The Water? The Closed-Loop, Rainwater Plan
• (01:18:33) - Will My Electric Bill Go Up? Power & Infrastructure
• (01:19:37) - The 30-Year Vision
• (01:26:01) - Opportunity Zones
• (01:33:42) - The Blow-Up: Ordinances, Public Pushback, & Fallout
• (01:37:36) - What Comes Next

In this episode, I begin with an apology and clarification on a recent video that... well, just didn't land quite right.

Then we jump into the questions people are asking about data centers, in the aftermath of a frenzied week in Camden County related to this topic. I lay out the background (what happened last week), and the biggest questions/concerns people have about them.

Where's the money?

In this episode of Take On The Lake, Camden County Presiding Commissioner Ike Skelton joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on local government, state politics, and the decisions that impact taxpayers every day.

We get into:

• Ameren’s reported $6 billion profit—and what that means for consumers
• How tax dollars are allocated (and where they sometimes don’t go)
• The realities of Jefferson City politics and how decisions actually get made
• Infrastructure challenges, budgeting, and transparency at the county level

Whether you follow politics closely or not, this conversation offers a clearer look at how systems work behind the scenes—and why it matters.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
Follow LakeExpo for more stories from the Lake of the Ozarks

#LakeOfTheOzarks #MissouriPolitics #Ameren #Taxes #LocalGovernment #JeffersonCity

Halt! It's the speech police!

The Missouri legislature just passed a bill that bans antisemitic speech in public schools and colleges/universities across the state. They keep forgetting Orwell's writings weren't supposed to be a playbook.

Here's why the bill is awful, and how their justification for it makes zero sense.

Most people at the Lake of the Ozarks have never heard of this place. But for the past 25 years Lighthouse Mission has helped more than 1,000 men transition out of prison, rebuild their lives, and rediscover purpose—and it’s happening right here in the Lake of the Ozarks community.

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Sanders, the Program Director at Lighthouse Mission. Chris went to prison 7 times before his life completely changed.

This is a raw one. Chris shares his story of failure, redemption, faith, and second chances.

Topics:

What it’s really like getting out of prison
How Lighthouse Mission works
Why structure (no phone, no car) matters
The moment that changed Chris’s life forever

If you enjoy stories like this, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

—
Lake of the Ozarks
️ Take On The Lake by LakeExpo

Got a guest idea? Message us on Facebook @TakeontheLake

What’s actually happening with the Osage Beach outlet mall redevelopment — and could Lake of the Ozarks outpace Branson?

In this episode of Take on the Lake, I had Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison in studio to talk about the biggest issues facing the city right now.

We discuss the proposed mall redevelopment, how the city evaluates tax incentives, and why the project has become one of the most talked-about developments at Lake of the Ozarks.

We also talked about everyone's favorite topic: the long-running sewer odor issue. Plus, new housing projects coming to the area, parks improvements, airport questions, and whether all growth is good growth.

Topics include:

• The Bass Pro / mall redevelopment proposal

• How TIF incentives work

• Sewer system improvements

• New housing developments

• Parks and recreation upgrades

• Airport discussions

• A potential sports and events complex

• The future growth of Osage Beach

Subscribe for more conversations about the future of Lake of the Ozarks.

I've been wanting to interview Justin Wagner for a long time, and we finally got together. He's the powerhouse behind Waves and Wheels, Blue Wave Audio, and now Doug Wright Powerboats, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Justin shares his incredible journey from arriving at Lake of the Ozarks with just $300, a cat, and a pregnant wife to becoming a Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Hall of Fame member and owner of one of the most iconic names in power-boating.

In This Episode:

- How Justin launched Waves and Wheels from a Chevy Astro van

- The legendary all-nighter that changed everything

- Building the Iron Man boat that put custom marine work on the map

- Surviving the 2008 recession by pivoting and innovating

- The stories behind Bluave Audio and Boardwalk Marina

- Acquiring Doug Wright Powerboats and the vision for its future

- Native Ridge development - bringing luxury motor coach resort living to Lake of the Ozarks

- Real advice for young people starting out: "Be passionate, work hard, and do what you say you're gonna do"

Key Takeaways:

- Why Lake of the Ozarks is the perfect place for the American dream

- How to build lasting success through dedication and integrity

- The importance of team, family, and community

Doug Wright Powerboats: dougwrightpowerboats.com