Lake Viking turns 50, lot owners and guests will celebrate

The Lake Viking community will reflect on the past, look forward to a bright future, and commemorate the remarkable accomplishment of building the 630-acre lake, with a depth of over 70 feet and 19 miles of shore line. Today, the lake is home to 1,800 active lot owners and the entire community encompasses 2,300 acres of tree-covered hills and coves.

It’s difficult to estimate the impact of the lake on the surrounding community. Lake Manager Shad Mort says lot owners and visitors are likely to shop in Gallatin for food, gas, cigarettes, beverages, and other commodities.

The Friday and Saturday event will feature four musical groups, numerous food trucks, raffles, the annual 5K race, a bike race around the lake, the cardboard boat race, a talent competition, and a donation lunch to support the Wounded Warrior program.

Lake Viking‘s Got Talent

A talent show will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Lake Viking clubhouse on Saturday, Aug. 12. The show will be modeled after the popular television show, America’s Got Talent. Up to 12 contestants will have up to five minutes to show off their talent.

You do not have to be a Lake Viking member in order to enter. A panel of judges will determine who’ll take home cash prizes.

Send an email describing your family-friendly act to [email protected].  Include your full name and phone number. Questions should be directed to the email address or to David Sandy, master of ceremonies, at (816) 233-4177.

Lake Viking‘s Got Magic

Veteran entertainer, David Sandy, will present a show of magic and comedy at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the clubhouse.

David grew up at the lake, helping his grandmother, Roberta Sandy, every weekend at her real estate office for nearly nine years. Nearly 47 years after he checked out his first magic book at the Winston R-6 Elementary School library, his magical career has surpassed his wildest expectations. He’s performed professionally all over the world.

David has been featured on the CW Network’s Masters of Illusion television show and is a regular performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. Also, David has served as international president of the world’s largest organization for magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and incidentally, was the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity.

Lake Viking‘s Got Music

Four bands will perform over the anniversary weekend at the Clubhouse Patio area.

“Here for Beer” will perform from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, “Servants of the Most High” will perform from noon to 2 p.m.;

“Split Decision” will perform from 3-5 p.m.; and “Now and Then” will perform from 7:15 to 11:15 p.m.

Lake Viking‘s History

During the early 1960s, a Gallatin Rotary Committee composed of Charles Belshe, Charles Brandom, Junior Hockensmith, Hubert Tate and Floyd Tuggle, along with Gallatin newspaper publisher Joe Snyder and other civic leaders, were long looking to build a recreational lake in Daviess County. The lake was pursued in order to stabilize the economy and provide a source of water recreation.

Visions of a lake at Pattonsburg and a lake in the Honey Creek bottoms dried up under protest of landowners. Farmers were unwilling to part with valuable property that had been in their families for generations.

In 1967, a company called Development Services Incorporated (D.S.I.) had finished a lake near St. Louis and was looking for a location to develop another lake in the state of Missouri.

D.S.I., which had extensive experience and had already built 45 lake properties, took on the Lake Viking project. The company’s first move was to get together with landowners.

In early 1967, 2,500 acres of farmland was purchased from 23 landowners at a cost of one-half million dollars.

The lake floor was cleared of trees and construction of the community building, airport, beaches and campground commenced in 1967.

D.S.I. then began a sales and marketing campaign, offering lots first to Daviess County citizens and then to the general public. At one time 15 salesmen were employed to sell lots. And sell lots, they did. By 1972, D.S.I. had sold most of the lots and was ready to move on.

Ownership of the lake infrastructure was transferred from D.S.I. to the Viking Valley Association. The water system and water facility was sold to the Association in 1976.

Building the dam

Big Creek did not cooperate in the construction of Lake Viking’s dam; rain drained away initial efforts and impacted the construction of the dam. In the end, the cost of the dam and length of time taken for its construction more than doubled original projections.

The dam is 1,450 feet long, 85 feet high, with a width of 580 feet at the base and width of 20 feet at the top.

Amish do Nordic

The Viking ship near the lake’s entrance is an iconic landmark. Monroe Gingrich and his crew of Amish carpenters built the landmark, an authentic replica of an ancient Viking ship. The stone masonry was built by Don Fetters, who also built the fireplace in the community building. A time capsule was buried at the foot of the ship in 2000.

Binding realtor rights

Roberta Sandy, a farmer’s wife, got a job with the D.S.I. sales staff. Roberta made an arrangement with D.S.I. to buy the remaining 70 unsold lots at the lake, if in turn the company would give her exclusive realtor rights. A contract was signed and Lake Viking Sales was born.

Water, water everywhere

In late spring of 1970, Lake Viking was completely filled as water flowed through the lake’s spillway for the very first time. A water system was operational in 1971. As housing increased, more water was needed. A system upgrade allowed the organization of Public Water Supply District #3. In 2000, a revenue bond allowed for a state-of-the-art three-step filtration system installed in the water plant.

Famed pilot at the Lake

A 3,600 foot airstrip was among the first fixtures listed as completed at the lake in 1967. This along with other lake amenities helps attract people from all walks of life to Lake Viking, including nationally acclaimed John Testrake. Mr. Testrake was the pilot of TWA Flight 847 to Athens, a flight made infamous by Shi’ite terrorists who took criminal control of the jet on June 14, 1985. One passenger was executed, but the leadership of Mr. Testrake and other crew members was credited with saving the remaining hostages. The hostages were finally released on June 30, 1985. Mr. Testrake returned to a hero’s welcome at his home in Richmond, MO. At least two movies were based on Flight 847, and Mr. Testrake wrote a book, Triumph Over Terror, which can be found at the Gallatin library.