General manager: Lake-side businesses working to stay sanitary despite tourists
LAKE OF THE OZARKS Mo. (KMIZ)
As tourists rush to the Lake of the Ozarks for Memorial Day weekend, businesses are doing what they can to follow the state's health order.
On Saturday a video of people packed into a pool at Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill went viral. People on twitter went into a frenzy about tourists disregarding the state order.
Adam Shields, the General Manager at Lake Escape said he had seen the viral videos and thinks it's important for people to see more than what is buzzing on social media.
"I know that from the employee standards, every single employee around the Lake of the Ozarks is making sure they're staying clean they're staying healthy, even if there's a little bit of a case of sniffles, they're going to make sure that they're taken care of and they're not spreading anything," Shields said.
Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill declined our request for comment.
Franky & Louie's Beachfront Bar & Grill, however, was packed with people on Sunday. We spoke with a couple of tourists in the parking lot who said if people are worried about the Coronavirus they should stay home.
"We kind of just need to get over it and if you're scared of it, stay at home, if not, you got to get back out," said Gavin Cullour, who is visiting from Kansas.
Brady Cutter, who is visiting the lake with his family from St. Louis says everything is back open at the lake and he is not worried about the virus.
"I'm not worried about catching anything. I haven't been going around my grandparents or nothing like that so all this stuff's over and good," Cutter said. "I mean if you're worried about it stay home if you don't want to catch it stay home."
Still, Shields said businesses by the lake have put in the work to make sure they are staying sanitary for the rush of Memorial Day weekend tourists.
"I think it's been a huge wake-up call," Shields said. "I mean this is the best I've ever seen this place, and it goes for all the other bars that are around here and everyone is making sure everything looks brilliant shiny clean nice."
The state's health order is expected to be lifted on May 31.
