LINN — Hundreds of people attended the grand opening of State Tech’s Osage View on Thursday, April 11.   

Festivities began at 4 p.m., at which time the facility was open for the public to tour. Staff members were on hand to answer questions, and live music was provided by Adam Powell followed by the Cherry Pistols. An appetizer buffet was offered until 7 p.m.

The ribbon cutting took place at 5:30 p.m., followed by speeches by State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong and Board of Regents President John Klebba.

“We have a visionary board that believes in growth and going big,” said State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong. “Between the Board of Regents and student government, we really had the right leadership in the right place at the right time.”

The entertainment complex was designed by Paragon Architecture and built by Professional Contractors and Engineers (PCE). Dr. Strong also thanked the generous members of the Osage Country Club, as well as Mid-America Bank and First State Community Bank.

In addition to its golf course and driving range, Osage View features a 31,000 square foot clubhouse containing a pro-shop, restaurant and bar, simulator bays, movie theater, e-sports room, duckpin bowling, event space, disc golf, and a heated pool with a swim-up bar.

State Tech students golf and swim for free, but annual golf and pool memberships are available to the general public. The restaurant, bar, and movie theater are open to the public as well, although anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

“It’s hard for some to believe a community this size has an asset like this,” Strong said. “I love that it serves multiple roles. First, it serves the community. It is great to be able to give back to Linn and Central Missouri with a facility open to the public like this.

“Second, we get companies to campus every week. They can come to the Osage View and network, have leadership retreats, or bring prospective employees here to recruit. Third, and most important, we now have a better answer to the prospective student question that we always hear — what is there to do in Linn? The answer is pretty straightforward now.”