Summer Fun at the YMCA Trout Lodge

A weekend at the YMCA Trout Lodge in the Ozarks includes my son riding a pony, swishing down a waterslide, and making a tie-die shirt.

YMCA Trout Lodge is about two hours south of St. Louis in the Ozark hills and is all-inclusive including meals, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, pony rides, and much more.

Our Time at the YMCA Trout Lodge

We drove south from St. Louis on Missouri Highway 21 from the St. Louis Area. Our first stop was Potosi, Mo., where there are a few local restaurants and fast food options. We had lunch at Subway near the intersection of Highway 21 and Missouri Highway 8. You also have the option to have lunch at the resort for a fee that would be outside of the stay.

In front of the lodge — *In front of the YMCA Trout Lodge*

Next, we drove onto Trout Lodge. We arrived at the hotel around 1:30 p.m. Check-in time is 5 p.m., but they were able to get us into the room earlier. Although this was a handicapped room near the elevator on the first floor. This was fine since we spent a lot of time outside of the room.

Lake Time

My son wanted to swim so we headed to the beach that is near the lodge. We first went swimming. Then he wanted to do the slide. He had to wear a life jacket in order to use it. A rope swing that you swing into the lake requires a swim test. You have to swim from a floating dock to almost the shore and back and tread water for a few minutes. He tried It but was unable to do it. Although he came close.

Know that water activities on the lake and beach require different swimming abilities.

After the slide, we went to the trampoline that leads to a small slide. We both had to have life jackets for this. It takes some work to get onto the trampoline and the slide.

Following these two activities, we went to do the kayak. My son and I went on a two-person kayak to explore the lake.

Along with these activities, you can do a pontoon pirate cruise where you shoot water at each other. Paddleboards are by the kayaks and canoes. They don’t allow you to swim outside of the beach area.

Archery

Next, we went to the front desk where we signed up for archery. The front desk is where you sign up for some activities. Arts and crafts activities are in the arts and crafts building and the beach activity sign-ups are at the boathouse.

The archery instructor showed how to use the bow and arrow. They made sure to tell you to keep the bow and arrow pointed in the direction of the target and not toward people or away from it. Also, make sure to stay out of areas near the targets. Then she told us when you could pull the arrows out of the targets.

My son did better in the second round hitting the target. In this case, it involved balloons which he busted.

Mini-Golf

Near the archery range is the mini-golf, which is self-service. A bucket holds the golf balls and by it, a stand has the golf clubs. My son enjoyed doing the course more than once. The course involves some obstacles and not all the greens are level to make it more interesting.

Next, we headed to dinner. Service is cafeteria style. The main dish was ravioli. There is also a salad bar along with cake and pie for dessert. Drinks are self-serve and include soda, juice, milk, and water.

Luau Fun

After dinner, the YMCA had a luau. Kids could have different flavored snow cones as a treat. Along with dancing kids could go under a bar as part of limbo, and there were tug-of-war and other activities that my son enjoyed.

Finally, after a full day of activities, we went back to the room.

There are no TVs in the room, but my son had his tablet and there is wi-fi so he did that before bed.

SECOND DAY

Breakfast that morning included eggs, bacon, crispy French toast sticks, fruit, and cereal, along with a few other breakfast items. There was plenty to choose from and was a good meal.

I signed us up for a geology hike at the front desk. But first I checked us out since we are leaving today. You can still do activities on your last day and lunch is covered. Make sure to do checkout at 11:30 am. Otherwise, there is a fee for staying past checkout time.

Geology Hike

We met our hike leader at the front desk. The geology hike included a pickaxe that we borrow and give it back at the end. Use the pickaxe for cutting up rocks to find galena or lead.

Then we followed her out of the lodge. The walk went past the beach and towards the dam on the north side of the YMCA property.

We crossed the dam then went by a campground then head further into the woods.

We came to a rocky area where we saw other people had used their pickaxes to find the galena. She told us we were looking for a rock with blue crystals in it.

Andrew and I began to break rocks finding sandstone and quartz but not galena. We kept trying but did not find it that day.

Although he enjoyed using the pickaxe to break up rocks.

We walked back with the group through the camp but left to follow a service road to the ranch area since our next stop was pony riding.

Pony Riding

We signed up at the ranch to do a pony ride. You ride the pony with a helmet and you also get a free cowboy hat. We waited a few minutes for our turn.

The horse trainer led Andrew around the corral twice before it was over.

Crafts

Next, we went to the Arts and Crafts Center. Here we signed up to do tie-dye shirts. He chose a striped one. The shirts are $12.

Arts and crafts have a fee when it comes to materials.

First, the art director puts the white shirts in a tub of water for a few minutes.

Then she ties them up and then brings them to a table.

Andrew chose red, blue, and yellow, which will form other colors in between.

After finishing the shirt it is wrapped up in plastic and then we take it home where you need to let it dry for a few days to let the colors blend.

Last Part of the Day

Then we had lunch which included chicken and mashed potatoes and pie for dessert.

Afterward, we went back to swimming and then kayaking one last time before heading out.

Dinner was in Hillsboro, MO., at the local Dairy Queen.

Final Thoughts

My son enjoyed the activities so much that we plan to return in the future. He wants to do a different craft, ride more ponies and spend more time on the beach.

Teepee on a hill and statue near the lodge — Teepee on a hill and statue near YMCA Trout Lodge

DETAILS

Drive from St. Louis: Take Interstate 270 to exit 2 and make a right onto Missouri Highway 21 going south and stay on this highway until Potosi, Mo. In Potosi make a right onto Missouri Highway 8 then make a right onto Missouri Highway AA and look for the entrance road on the right.

Address: 13528 State Hwy AA, Potosi, MO 63664