Sept. 4, 2009, KOMU-TV, JoBeth Davis.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS - Despite the recession, businesses at the Lake of the Ozarks said their books show little to no change.

You couldn’t tell the economy was in a slump by standing outside of the Osage Beach Premium Outlets on a rainy day.

People were donning boots and umbrellas and heading to the local businesses, money in hand - something business owners at the start of the summer season were worried wouldn’t happen.

Mark Brick, owner of the Village Marina in Osage Beach, thought his sales would be down with the economy in a recession.

“The spring was tough, I’d say challenging,” Brick said. “But after we got through that, it seems like now people feel a little more stable with their jobs and the economy, and they’re back out buying.”

Most businesses at the lake showed no change from last year’s records, and if they did show a loss, it was a very small one.

Kevin Unger, owner of the Golden Horseshoe Resort at Lake Ozark, said his records do show a loss, but only about 10 percent.

“We were a little concerned,” Unger said. “We’re down slightly for the year.”

Unger doesn’t blame his entire loss on the economy.

“Well, sure, it’s had something to do with business being down, but with the cool and rainy weather, people aren’t wanting to spend as much time outside,” Unger said.

However, Unger said he was confident about the future.

“This fall is looking pretty good. We’ve had two kind of tough years in a row. The economy’s starting to turn around a little bit. The Lake of the Ozarks is still a great, inexpensive vacation,” Unger said. “They’re going to come back. They’re not going to abandon the Lake of the Ozarks.”