Bull Shoals Dam
The dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers over a four year period. It was dedicated by President Harry Truman and sits about 650 feet above sea level. While the lake contained by it is a fantastic recreation spot, the main purpose of the dam was to act as a means of flood control for the region. Bull Shoals Lake has a surface area of 45,000 acres and a wandering shoreline that meanders for nearly seven hundred miles. Around the lake are dense forests, untarnished nature, and chances to fish, hunt, and camp in the great outdoors.
In addition to helping with flood control, the dam provides hydro-electric power and creates a wonderful ecological environment for fish and wildlife. This in turn creates the outdoor opportunities for which the area is becoming famous. The dam is nearly half a mile long and stands more than 250 feet tall. It was built using almost four million tons of aggregate and three thousand tons of steel. More than one thousand workers built the dam in just over four years.
(Description continues after the featured listings, scroll down.)
Bull Shoals Dam -- Continue
The area where the dam was built was a quiet group of communities known as Mountain Home. In order to clear the way for construction seven cemeteries were removed and relocated. The community hasn't changed much since the creation of the dam and the residents still live the good, honest lives they always had led before Bull Shoals Lake was created. It's a lifestyle that functions in harmony with the outdoors and when you travel to Mountain Home you will see plenty of fishing poles, hiking boots, and of course boats.
There are nineteen parks around the shores of the lake and they provide ample opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, and all kinds of outdoor fun. Both above and below the Bull Shoals Dam is the Bull Shoals State Park, a 725 acre forested reserve filled with hiking trails, deserted meadows, and of course, plenty of places to camp or picnic.
Located only 43 miles from world famous Branson, Missouri the Bull Shoals Dam provides relief from the excitement of one of America's top tourist destinations while still being close enough that you can enjoy a show or an exciting night out. Of course, there are plenty of places to eat and things to do around Bull Shoals Lake too. From great country restaurants to amazing outdoor fun.