Tan-Tar-A Resort

We stayed the night of February 13^th. Parking to check in is ridiculously difficult. The congestion in front of the lobby is crazy. Front desk staff could have been friendlier. We we in room 697 in Building A. It was a crazy long walk to our room. We had out 7 year old daughter with us who of course wanted to enjoy the activities.
I had knee surgery a couple of months ago. Going to Tan-​tar-​a was a really horrible idea. It was about a 15 minute walk to get to the restaurants, bowing and water park. Lots and lots and lots of stairs. Miserable and painful for me.
The morning of Valentine’s Day we waited for over an hour for a table to get breakfast, then we gave up and went to pack up our room and leave to find a restaurant with service. The hostess (who had told us a 30 minute wait) was extremely rude when we asked, a full hour later, how much longer it might be.
From Black Bear Lodge (where we never got a take to eat) back to room 697 my Fitbit logged six flights of stairs.
It’s not a place I want to go back to. If you do go and take children with you I recommend at least a three day stay. There is too much to do, and it is far too spread out, to do everything in a day.
Our room was nice and mostly clean. There was some stray hair in the shower.

Summary:
— congested checkin parking area
— lack of parking
— hard beds and old/​stained towels
— everything closes early – some places may refuse service even before closing time
— food ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ and expensive
— pleasant but otherwise uncaring and slow wait staff
Full review: (based on my first hand experience and personal opinion)
In one word: Meh.
Experience so far. (Typing on a mobile phone so please keep that in mind with regards to typos and some grammatical short cuts)
Upon arrival the checkin parking area in front of the lobby was a mess. It is poorly designed so that incoming traffic has to make a u-​turn into the check in area. On top of that the area isn’t very wide so only one row of vehicles can get in single file. The rest of the space is taken up by poorly parked staff golf carts and busses. The poor design was compounded by the fact that some inconsiderate person decided to block access to the whole area and no one at the hotel seemed to care. As cars stacked up someone eventually got out of their car and asked that person to move.
Check in itself went fine.
Regular parking is just as bad as check in. The parking garage under the second building has maybe 20 spaces. There has to be at least 20 rooms per floor. People are parked randomly all up and down the streets. If there is space for a car there is a car jammed in it.
The rooms are OK. Standard hotel. Highway hotel that is. Not a proper downtown 3+ star hotel. Clean enough. Two beds. TV. Fridge. Seen one seen them all.
As others have described the beds are hard. I mean cheap hard not «hey Sealy I would like a firm mattress to support my back» hard.
We also had been given stained towels the same as others have described. Probably perfectly clean, but still…
Everything closes by 10pm on the weekend except the lobby bar (which looks kind of cheesy) and pizza delivery. This is a resort right? Apparently no one thought that perhaps people at the resort might be on vacation and perhaps they may plan on being active past 10pm? Things close much earlier on weekdays. I bet there is a disproportionate amount of pizza being eaten here in comparison to just about anywhere else not on the tan tar a grounds.
Anyhow. At 9 pm we went to the main restaurant down by the water. The name escapes me. Waldorf or Waldos or something like that. It’s dark and the streets are not well lit and the signage is old and not particularly specific. It will get you to the area you are looking for, but not to the place you were looking for.
After a bit of wandering around in the dark we managed to bump into the restaurant. It had a tiny barely lit sign. It is actually in one of the hotel buildings so you walk in to a bland white hallway and if you don’t give up because you believe you obviously must be in the wrong place you will eventually see the restaurant.
As I said. It is 9pm. We asked to sit outside. They said they weren’t seating anyone outside and plopped us down at the first table right inside the main door, even though there were plenty of tables available, and also ones with lake views. They put is in the middle of the floor at the door. Apparently it didn’t occur to them that people vacationing at a lake might like to see it?
The people working there were all pleasant. None seemed particularly happy but they were all pleasant.
At 9:35 pm a family came in to eat but was turned away because they weren’t seating anyone anymore. I know this because our table was, as I said, right inside the door – you probably have a more accurate picture of the horrible location of the table now. We can actually and quite clearly hear conversations with patrons who are at the door.
Anyhow, the family being turned away stated that the restaurant is advertised as being open until 10 and that’s why they made all efforts to get there in time. That they had in fact been able to get there earlier than expected and were looking forward to a meal after a long day of resort-​ing. The staff was unsympathetic and turned them away – but did so pleasantly.
So I suppose the places actually close at 9:30-ish on weekends instead of 10 as advertised.
Mixed reviews on the food.
The baguettes were very hard – but they made us new ones which were good.
Half the party liked their food – the other half not so much. Some of the food was over cooked and some under cooked. It otherwise tasted and looked fine.
Our wait staff was nice and very pleasant. She addressed the bread issues and brought new food to replace those items that were improperly cooked. She did leave us some for lengthy periods however and we found ourselves without drinks or sitting there with the improperly cooked food for .
In the end all was resolved and we finished and paid. It is a resort so prices are going to be high and I knew that going in, however, the prices were a bit high for the results witnessed.
In the end I wouldn’t recommend it.

Excellent, excellent, excellent! Military rate and exceptional room. My husband I got massages at the spa and took our kiddo to the water park. Great way to spend the weekend. Looking forward to going again soon.

This place gets 1 star, and they earned it with the lobby. Beautiful and comfortable! Clearly that is the ONLY place on this property that has been updated. The room smelled musty when I arrived, and stains on the decorative pillow. It might be clean, but it doesn’t feel that way because the place is so dated. Waiting to check in took a while, we were here in the off season and only 1 person working so maybe that’s par. It was missing a closet door, and cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling. This place was probably the ‘it’ place in 1970s but no updates since then.

My parents raved about this place and even came here on their honeymoon in 1979. We were recently in town for a wedding an the reception was held at this resort. The staff at the front desk were nice, but we got placed in building C and as soon as we entered the building, we smelled mildew. Our room was even worse, so we talked to the front desk staff and they switched us to a newly renovated room in the main building. Our 2^nd room was more what I had expected from my parents’ description and it had great views of the lake.
We didn’t have time to try any of the restaurants on-​site or even use the pool or gym. The reception hall was very nice and the food was good, especially the shrimp!

Our room was super musty and smelled like mold. Our blankets were damp and stayed that way the whole time. And our clothes became damp just from being in the room. Our toilet overflowed twice without actually being clogged. Everything we wanted to do cost extra, even though we had extra fees tacked on our reservations just for being in a resort. The only reason they even get one star is because the staff were very nice.

Really disappointed with the resort. This is the first time I have been back in a few years and the resort has really gone down hill. Our bathroom clearly has not been cleaned, dirt and hair on the floor. The beds were horrible! Very small double beds and lumpy. I woke up with my back hurting everyday! A few of the resort staff were rude and treated you as if you were extremely lucky to be staying on their property… not the Tan-​Tar-​A I remember.

I remember coming here as a child and not much has changed since then… But not in a good way.
This place could definitely use some major upgrades. we stayed at a room on the resort. The beds are uncomfortable and the wood appears to be rotting on the decks outside the room. The kiddie pool was filled with leaves and dirt, and in one of the hallways, there was a bucket catching water that was dripping from the ceiling. For over $ 160/​night I would expect more.
Also, staff was extremely hit or miss. There was an older man at the concierge desk that was so rude. Not a great first impression. Then the hostess at the black bear lounge… Also rude. Feels like maybe the staff isn’t paid enough and just don’t care.
Wish more effort was put into service and the facilities because this could be a great little getaway. But as it stands, we won’t be back.

Disgusting, VERY outdated, musty, dirty. I was first given a room in the estates that was very small, VERY outdated, dirty, musty, and in a very remote end of the estates that was too far and too remote for a female traveling solo. The door didn’t have a very secure lock either. After complaining, I was moved to building E. Better but the smell of mustiness and mildew is so strong, I’m afraid I will get sick from my severe allergies to mold and mildew. Terribly outdated and needs to shut down. Like stepping back into the 60’s and 70’s and not in a good way. Never again!

Let’s start with the misses:
The place is a little outdated. The rooms could use some updating along with exteriors. In addition our beds were horrible! We woke up hurting every morning! Housekeeping cleaned the rooms well but one morning they came and we told them we would be gone in 10 minutes but they came back 6 hours later. We did not eat at the resort so cannot comment on that but I saw the menu prices and they are proud!
The arcade and bowling alley need updated. Seems like they attract enough people to put some money back into it.
The hits: the main outside pool is great and they obviously maintain that well. The drinks in that area were affordable. The kids loved the slide and pool area.
The location is good but it takes a day or so to memorize how to find your room!
All in all, I think we would spend a bit more to stay somewhere else that is nicer, bigger and has a full kitchen. Those places have a pool too.

This is the first time in a few years that I have stayed on this side of the lake and it was a quite the fun time.
Tan Tar A is broken up into the Estates and the Resort side. We stayed in the Estates but because of the way the house is managed, we had rights to the resort side and got to partake in all the activities if we wished.
Its a very family friendly community and you could see that all over. There are 3 pools on property, one on the estates side, and 2 on the resort side which were hopping the entire weekend. There is a shuttle bus that you can call and they will pick you up wherever you might be staying and drop you off at shuttle stops so you don’t have to drive all over. That was a great thing to have.
The boys golfed at Hidden Lakes and their experience was very easy and they enjoyed the resort. It wasn’t crowded and they got to move through their holes at their own pace.
We explored the shops and main area of the resort, which is great to be able to grab a snack or a gift if needed. The posters around the resort are faded and outdated, it would be a great renovation if they changed them just so the colors show. There’s an arcade with games to satisfy any kiddo and the restaurants look amazing but we did not eat at a sit down one. There is also an indoor water park with an extra fee. I feel that if you’re staying somewhere within Tan Tar A, it should be included and that a fee be charged to those who come from the outside — the fees are pretty high per person as well but if I had kids with me, I’m sure we would have ended up there.
A great visit and I can’t wait to explore again!

I would recommend this place for a family with young kids, not a couple. We went and stayed in the «estate» rooms which are set pretty far back. This forced you to use their shuttle to most amenities. Not such a big deal, but I would prefer to walk. The food was pretty bad at the Black Bear Lodge and over priced. The room was decent and clean. The AC was so loud it kept me up most of the night and the beds were not that comfortable. The boat rental place sucked. We told them our boat had an issue with starting and they shrugged it off and immediately rented the boat to another family. I wouldn’t go back.

I’ve stayed here twice in the past 2 months. Both times I had a room in building“E” which is the newest building. The rooms were very nice both times except for the bed. There was no possible way to get a good nights sleep with the mattresses being like they were. I even got up in the middle of the night hoping the other bed would be better, no such luck. One of my colleagues had the same issue with his matress, we both had tremendous back aches every morning during our stay there. Overall it is a nice facility other than so many steps, people were very nice and friendly. They are in the process of updating the buildings lots of activity in that area.

Location… it’s on a very nice part of the lake, beautiful surroundings.
Check-in…very fast, friendly
Room…old, dated furniture dated, carpet dingy.
Staff care… the people who clean the rooms didn’t vacuum, left dirty towels in the bathroom, didn’t dump trash.
Activities…they have 3 swimming pools, putt putt golf, an ion indoor water park, spa with massage, facials, so it’s pretty nice.
Other…golf cart renting is $ 25/​hour…$ 150/day…vending machines are mostly empty. They do have Burger King and a on site pizza place that will deliver.
Overall…it’s not a horrible place to stay, rooms are dated, but activities are nice.
Note…also the place is huge and has several large buildings on site, they provide a map… but it’s not that great… got lost lots… No elevators.

Over all I’m pretty happy with our stay and probably stay here again. Check in was good and the directions to our unit was great. I love that they have a free shuttle for riding around on the property. The fridge needed to be leveled so it didn’t drag across the carpet. The TV should have been a little bigger and needs to be mounted to the wall up high so it can be seen while laying in bed. No one enjoys getting a kink in their neck just so they see the TV.

I have played this course every two or three years since the mid 1980’s
Used to be a really good course to play, but it has gone downhill over the years. Greens are in decent shape, but fairways and second cuts are in bad shape. Fairways have poor grass and have a lot of hard pack. Doesn’t look like they are aerated at all and haven’t been over seeded in years. It’s really a shame this used to be a great course to play. Shame on management.

Musty, old, and dirty described our room. The food was awful and i would never go back. So what, it has a water park. Go to Big Surf! Get a decent room somewhere else!!! This is just a has been place of yesteryears!!!

The estate area offers some great views of the lake. Parking is provided in front of your room. Amenities included a small refrigerator, iron, ironing board, and hair dryer.
The room itself was dated. Minimal lighting. Everything dark. Taller guests will not like the shower that is built for those 5’8″ or shorter. Carpet throughout the living room and bedroom. Tile in the bathroom. Water stain on bathroom ceiling from upstairs’ guests.
Safety concern: if you are not fully mobile, knee/​hips, this is not a place for you! Many stairs… MANY!
Security issue: In the living room of the lower level of the estate was a door with a thumb lock. The door led to stairs that led to another room… The living room for another guest’s room! There is no way for that room to keep someone from the lower room from entering. Must be fixed. This is dangerous !!

Like the other big resorts on the lake, they are all about 15 years over due for an update. Old, beat, musty etc. rooms seem to have taken the biggest abuse. The main lobby bar looks new as does the building across from the main lobby (newer I should say). They do have nice looking grounds and a nice lakeside marina with some pretty spectacular views of the lake.

I came here for 3 days on my last trip home to Missouri. It is very dated, but has a ton of potential. I remember growing up in Missouri and Tan-​Tar-​A was the place to be. I don’t think they have touched the rooms for at least 25 years. My biggest complaint: if someone is a single mother (at least on vacation) and they have a toddler how in the world are they supposed to carry all their luggage and bags with a toddler down a huge hill and up 2 flights of stairs. I have 2 options:
A) leave my child unattended in my room while I walk up and down huge hills and walk a great distance (still several times)
B) make 5 trips while carrying a toddler up and down a hill with all our bags, suitcases, blankets, toys, food, etc. (this took me an hour)
I chose option B because I am that type of Mom, but I was a very ticked off Mama only half way through the trip. If your not going to offer a place to unpack your bags to your room you either need Rent-​A-​Daddy service, Valet and someone to help with bags to your room, and elevators. Good lord!
Another thing I learned after 2 days of my room being cleaned. The do not disturb was apparently on the door handle (but not in the part you put your key) when I checked in. They said that’s why we didn’t clean your room. Hmm. Ok most hotels you have to actually put it in the card slot. The one day they did clean the room our patio wasn’t touched.
Room service closes at 10pm. Hmmm that’s really stupid. I checked into our room late (then add on an hour with carrying bags) and now I have to drag my exhausted toddler and myself back up the hill to my car and leave to feed her? Ugh!!!
Everything besides the pool is a fee. Horseback riding, mini golf, water park, obviously the restaurants and marina.
The best part of the resort? The pool. It’s gorgeous with waterfalls and the prettiest part of Lake of the Ozarks. They had a bar and snack place next to the pool. That place makes awesome spicy Bloody Mary’s with jalapeño juice! Definite perk!
Would I come back? If I knew there was some changes and of course had someone with me to help. The pool is fantastic you need to make changes on the rest of the place
By the way I had breakfast the last trip at the Black Bear restaurant with the omelet station and all that. Really good food!