Rockwood Resort: A piece of Bagnell Dam history

The Rockwood has quite a storied past and has seen many ups and downs, but managed to survive all the changes over the past couple of decades. This resort keeps tradition and nostalgia alive.

Jeff and Donna Van Donsel bought Rockwood Resort in 2001.

Charis Patires

At the top of the Bagnell Dam Strip, exactly one mile from the Dam, is the oldest working resort and one of the very few Mom and Pop roadside Americana facilities remaining at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Rockwood has quite a storied past and has seen many ups and downs, but managed to survive all the changes over the past couple of decades.
Jeff and Donna Van Donsel bought Rockwood after looking for a place on the water and have owned the resort since 2001.
They were yet another corporate transplant who decided to retire at the Lake. Even though the 31-room facility requires a lot of tender loving care, Jeff says, they are able to preserve the nostalgia and give people the feeling of taking a step back.

Tell us about the history.
The Rockwood’s history starts in the late 1940s, when Cloyd and Clara Perrin purchased the property and built their new rock home. Because building materials were scarce after World War II, it was built with wood and materials from the disassembly of the barracks at Fort Leonard Wood. In 1952 and 1953, they built the three original native stone cabins on the property next to the rock house. Its original name was the Rock-Wood Court. In 1972, Cloyd and Clara retired and their grandson, Mike Sexton, took over ownership of the then called Rock Wood Motel. Over the years additions were made and in 1978 the owners purchased the Capri Motel, which was next to the Rockwood. With the consolidation, the name was changed to the “Rockwood-Capri Resort Motel”.

Why do you feel it is important to keep this type of business going at the Lake?
Tradition and nostalgia has always played a big part in the draw here at the Lake of the Ozarks.  It always reminds me of the old saying that “you can never go back home” and in a real sense, that is very true. But many, many times we have heard our guests remark about the area and the Strip as being “just like it was when I was a kid!” We all know it is not, but that is the feeling people get when they return to the area. Good family fun in a nostalgic and caring environment is what the Rockwood and the few remaining mom-and-pop facilities offer our Lake visitors and guests. Good old Ozark hospitality.

The Rockwood as it was being built in the 1940s.

What is your favorite part about being involved in this industry?
It would have to be the great people we meet from all over the country and the friendships that are formed. Mostly, we like helping to make fond memories that keep bringing them back. That’s the great part of owning a facility such as this. We are basically vacationing with them!