Ozarks (Rural)
Lebanon is a boat-building town, not just a Route 66 stop
Lebanon has a long history of aluminum and other boat manufacturing tied to Ozark river and lake culture. State records confirm makers like Lowe, OMC Aluminum Boat Group, and today White River Marine Group, a Bass Pro Shops company.
Lebanon is known for Route 66 and the trout park. But it is also a boat-building town. For nearly fifty years, boat makers in Lebanon have built craft for rivers, lakes, and buyers across the country. Aluminum boats are a big part of that story. State records show plants in Lebanon under names like Lowe and OMC Aluminum Boat Group. Today the largest is White River Marine Group, a Bass Pro Shops company that the state says has worked in Lebanon for almost five decades.
The link to the water is easy to see. The same Ozark streams and lakes that draw anglers and floaters also gave the area a steady industry. So when you visit Laclede County, you are seeing more than a tourist stop. You are seeing a working town with a real trade. For current jobs or factory tours, check with the company or the county.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Laclede County. See every local note for the county on its page.