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| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
WONDER WORKS BRANSON
What’s
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TABLE OF Contents 6 12 22 42 54
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What’s New In 2020 Live Shows Outdoor Adventure Family Fun Historic Downtown
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LISTINGS Shows & Theatres Attractions Shopping Dining Golf
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Ozark Mountain Christmas Day Trips Flying to Branson Veterans and Active Duty Local History
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Resorts Condos Real Estate Hotels & Motels
134 | Marinas 136 | Vacation Services 136 | Airport/Transport Service
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Calendar of Events Theatre Line-Up City Park Locations/Map Branson/Lakes Area Map Table Rock Lake Map
PHOTO CREDITS: Vince Cook, Beckie Fairchild, Aaron Fuhrman, Bekah Goodwin , Jim Lersch, Bob Linder, Nate Luke, Clear Marketing, Jeremy McGraw, Marshall Meadows, Zach Pumphery, Shann Swift ADDRESS ALL INQUIRIES TO: Branson/Lakes Area CVB • P.O. Box 1897 • Branson, MO 65615 • 417-334-4084 © 2020 by the Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication strictly prohibited. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy in the information provided. The CVB assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions. Made possible with funds provided by Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED).
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Connect WITH US WWW.EXPLOREBRANSON.COM WHAT YOU’LL FIND • Book show and attraction tickets • Find up-to-date show and attraction schedules • Find events taking place during your visit • Find special offers for lodging, shows and attractions by visiting our Deals page • Get trip ideas from articles and detailed itineraries • Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter, packed with trip ideas, events and travel deals
VIRTUAL GUIDE
The Official Branson Vacation Guide is also online and available to view via your favorite device at www.ExploreBranson.com
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WHICH COVER DID YOU GET? LIVE SHOWS COVER The Haygoods OUTDOOR ADVENTURE COVER Table Rock Lake FAMILY FUN COVER Mystic River Falls at Silver Dollar City
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What’s
NEW IN 2020
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A Q U A R I U M AT T H E B O A R D WA L K
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What’s
NEW
IN 2020 M E L LO W M U S H R O O M
ANTHEMS OF ROCK
MYSTIC RIVER FALLS AT SILVER DOLLAR CITY is the tallest raft ride drop in the western hemisphere; a nearly halfmile trek ascending an eight-story tower then plummeting down a four-and-a-halfstory waterfall. It’s the wettest splashdown in Silver Dollar City’s 60 year history! SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS ADVENTURE PARK, voted #1 Aerial Adventure Park by USA Today readers, and home to the 1907 novel and drama, a classic piece of Ozarks history. Experience the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider, Inspiration Tower, ATV rides, guided homestead tours, rock climbing, a petting farm, fishing pond, ropes course, restaurant and more.
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PAYNE’S VALLEY GOLF COURSE at Big Cedar Lodge pays tribute to Ozarks native and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Payne Stewart. It will be the first publicaccess golf course by 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods design firm, TGR Design. Payne’s Valley, with its inviting layout, pristine water features, large fairways and greens, and a spectacular 19th hole, the Big Rock, is a course not to be missed.
creatures, some you can touch. Designed for all ages, come experience the wonders of the coral reef and so much more.
AQUARIUM AT THE BOARDWALK brings the ocean to the Midwest. Explore a Jellyfish Infinity Room, underwater tunnels with a Mermaid Palace, and all the twists and turns of a submarine adventure. Get close to thousands of incredible sea
BEYOND THE LENS and behind the camera lies an exciting trip through pop culture with a combination of conspiracy theories and cutting-edge gaming systems all in one of the newest, fun-filled attractions. A family friendly adventure
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WONDERWORKS, the upside-down adventure on 76 Country Blvd., is a science-focused, indoor amusement park for the mind. Four floors of non-stop “edutainment” for all ages, with over 100 hands-on interactive exhibits. Plan your child’s birthday party here for lots of fun.
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What’s
NEW IN 2020
N O A H AT S I G H T & S O U N D T H E AT R E S
that’s loaded with interactive exhibits, escape rooms, virtual/augmented reality games, crazy fun photo ops and more. NOAH at Sight & Sound Theatres returns for one season only. This landmark production takes you on board one of the world’s best-known voyages as live and animatronic animals fill the stage and the aisles. Set sail inside the enormous ark as this extraordinary Bible story comes to life all around you! BILLY YATES’ SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND A true Nashville experience. Two different songwriters join Billy Yates each week to perform their hits and share the stories that inspired them. No two shows are alike. See this star-studded show at the newly remodeled Lyrics Theatre located in the Lodge of the Ozarks, very intimate theatre allows you to be up close to the performers.
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1984 ARCADE at The Shoppes at Branson Meadows is where retro vibes and arcade classic unite to challenge your family’s gaming skills. There’s nothing more satisfying than crushing your competitors score. Do you have what it takes to win? BIG AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK at Branson Mill features over 65 fun attractions including Dodgeball, a Mechanical Bull, Battle Beam, Ninja Warrior Course, and many more fun activities the whole family will enjoy. With a Big Air all-day pass you won’t run out of fun! MELLOW MUSHROOM at Branson Landing – Serving fresh, stone-baked pizzas to order, in an eclectic art-filled and family friendly environment will, satisfy your taste buds and make for the perfect Instagram photo op. ANTHEMS OF ROCK Are you ready to rock? A spectacular new show at Kings Castle brings the number one hits from some of the most famous bands
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of the 20th century, including Queen, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Journey, Aerosmith and many more. The show also features wonderful tributes to Elton John’s film “Rocket Man” and Queen’s award winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody” showcasing the greatest hits of these legendary performers. This exciting high energy production will have you singing along to the greatest Rock Anthems of all time in this magnificent Rock experience. THE BRANSON BUZZSAW, at the newlynamed Branson Sawmill, is the former Branson Mountain Coaster. A thrilling new swing ride raises guests to the top of a 123-foot tower where riders spin at 10 revolutions a minute for a heart-pumping, unforgettable view. BRANSON TOP OPS is a patrioticthemed experience that offers an interactive outdoor maze, indoor laser tag and family-fun adventures.
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B R A N S O N ’ S FA M O U S B A L D K N O B B E R S
Live SHOWS
Branson is known as the “Live Music Show Capital of the World”
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LEGENDS IN CONCERT
S H OJ I TA B U C H I S H O W
RICK THOMAS – MANSION OF DREAMS
H OT R O D S & H I G H H E E L S
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Live SHOWS A M A Z I N G A C R O B AT S O F S H A N G H A I
PRESLEYS’ COUNTRY JUBILEE
Since the Baldknobbers played the first notes on the banks of Lake Taneycomo, live shows have been the mainstay of a vacation in Branson. Today, with so many acts to choose from, Branson is truly the Live Music Show Capital of the World! There is music from every era and style performed by both rising young entertainers and legendary stars. The wide variety of music includes Pop, Country, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Gospel, Patriotic, Broadway, Western, Big Band, Swing, Bluegrass, Jazz, Classical and more. Music made famous by baroque composers, cowboy poets, cinematic blockbusters, ’50s heartthrobs, ’60s pop bands, and today’s Top 40 artists can be enjoyed from early in the morning
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throughout the afternoon, evening and late at night. Several internationally famous performers call Branson home, as do scores of ensemble production shows featuring large casts of singers, dancers and musicians. State-of-the-art productions, world-class tribute shows and famous national touring acts add to an eclectic mix of entertainment. We like to say that we have “more stars per square foot in Branson than anywhere else in the universe!” Entire families of entertainers headline shows in Branson and continue a timehonored tradition of more than 60
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years, pioneered by the Mabe family of Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers and more than 50 years of Presleys’ Country Jubilee. Comedians are a Branson staple, both as headliners and specialty acts in zany variety shows and opening acts. Peals of laughter can be heard throughout Branson with clean comedy the whole family can truly enjoy and that tickles everyone’s funny bone. International shows broaden the scope of entertainment diversity. These shows inject cultural flavor through their music, dance, acrobatics, costuming and sets. Each April, Silver Dollar City presents the Festival of Wonder, bringing
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Live SHOWS hundreds of performers from around the world. Branson is truly a melting pot of international entertainment. From Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction to the multi-million dollar Sight & Sound Theatre, where the Bible comes to life with performances including “Noah,” several shows are presented in unique venues that add to your vacation experience. Billy Yates’ Songwriters in the Round brings the best in performing and songwriting experiences to the stage. Host, Grammy-nominated, singer/ songwriter Billy Yates, introduces the audience to the world of performing songwriters, where two hit writer/artists from Nashville join Billy onstage to tell the stories behind the songs they play. This different style of relaxed and unscripted show allows you to enjoy the spirit of what makes acoustic performances so special and the ones who wrote them, so great. Throughout the year, a number of major touring artists such as the The Oak Ridge Boys, Bellamy Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Gene Watson and others perform limited dates in concert. New stars are booked on a frequent basis, so check www. ExploreBranson.com often.
T H E H AYG O O D S
It’s easy to meet the stars in Branson, and many of them welcome the opportunity to sign autographs and pose for photos. Most performers live here and are often seen enjoying shows and attractions, dining in restaurants, shopping in one of our many stores, playing golf and fishing – just like you and your family. The beautiful seasons of Branson offer different opportunities for everyone to enjoy a variety of shows year-round. Each Spring, student performance groups, families on spring break, adventurous travelers and returning show lovers enjoy the debut of many new acts, segments
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C L AY C O O P E R
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Live SHOWS and production numbers.
Sisters, America’s Sweethearts of Song. “They told us Branson is exactly what America needs, where families really matter. With the different generations of Lennons performing here, it truly is a family matter, and we love it!”
Summer keeps the action going with everything under the sun: magic, music, acrobats, dance, Broadway-style productions, exotic animals and our families entertaining your family.
For many in Branson, show business is the family business. The Baldknobbers and Presleys feature generations of family members who perform together nightly.
Fall for the Ozarks with a visit to Autumn Daze, an arts & crafts festival in Historic Downtown Branson followed by a hike in the Ozark Mountains, and then take in a national touring act or music show.
The Haygoods, The Lennon Sisters, SIX, The Hughes Brothers, The Duttons, The Osmonds, The Bretts, Doug Gabriel, The Petersens, the Hamners, Clay and Tina Cooper, Shoji Tabuchi and other shows feature family members performing daily, and nightly, on stage together.
During Ozark Mountain Christmas, many of the shows in Branson devote at least half of each performance to holidaythemed music, sets, costumes and production numbers. Some shows offer New Year’s Eve entertainment packages complete with hors d’oeurves, party favors and special dinners at the venue or at a nearby restaurant. Be sure to make your reservations early to celebrate 2020 with the stars. LET BRANSON’S FAMILIES ENTERTAIN YOUR FAMILY “When half of the Lennon family considered moving from California to Branson in 1994, we called the Osmonds,” said Kathy Lennon, one of The Lennon
THE PETERSENS
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These talented families will inspire and wow every member of your family with their dazzling musical, comedic and vocal talents. Many shows in Branson exclusively feature family members; they are fine examples of incredibly talented performers endowed with musical gifts. They have also mastered the art of presenting full-scale production shows complete with elaborate sets, high-tech laser light systems, costumes, props, audio/video elements and pyrotechnics. Fun is what Branson’s show business families are all about—fun for their families and yours! STUDENTS LOVE SHOWS Branson is the fastest-growing student
# 1 H I T S O F T H E 60 S
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
performance destination in the country. Student groups can perform onstage at many of the shows and attend customized educational workshops led by local entertainment professionals. On your group’s visit to Branson, students may end up singing for a packed house in a 2,000-seat theater or giving a show choir performance for 100 in a smaller venue. More than that, Branson offers an immersive experience for young travelers, giving them the opportunity to find exciting and memorable experiences and to share the very stages that the city’s top performers call home. These educational trips include backstage tours and technical presentations by the professional staff at each venue. Students have a chance to ask questions and learn. Branson’s entertainment district has been the center of family vacations to the area for over 50 years. You’ll find a wide variety of live shows in Branson, from comedy and country to acrobatics and Broadwaystyle productions. There’s a show for every taste! For a full list of shows, see pages 80-85 or visit www.ExploreBranson.com. Branson shows no signs of slowing in its commitment to being a vacation destination with something for everyone. As it has for decades, it still draws visitors because of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, live music shows and family attractions, and it continues to grow.
DOUG GABRIEL #1 HITS TRIBUTE SHOW
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BRANSON
101 SHOWS
Live shows in Branson have been drawing visitors to this area for over 60 years. As you explore more, you will find performance venues offering live shows in the morning, afternoon and evening.
While our heritage is country, bluegrass and gospel music, today Branson offers all genres of music and performance styles. There are so many types of shows, it’s easy to find one that’s in tune with you while exploring Branson. VARIETY SHOWS: Combining singing and dancing with humor and storytelling, variety shows are a staple on Branson stages. These familyfriendly shows include giant production numbers, tender ballads and comic relief that will keep you chuckling well into the night. These include SIX, Doug Gabriel’s #1 Hits Tribute Show, The Duttons, Hughes Music Show, The Haygoods and Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show.
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DECADE SHOWS: Make your show experience a timetraveling affair when you see one of the decade shows. Enjoy rock hits of the 1950s through 1980s, tributes to pop and country music legends, and iconic moments in music when you see shows that shine a spotlight on musical history. Check out Legends in Concert, Motown Downtown, and Pierce Arrow to see the best of the decades. GOSPEL SHOWS: Many Branson shows have a spiritual component, where musicians take time to reflect on the blessings in their lives and share their stories of tragedy and triumph. They’ll wow you with rousing
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
gospel numbers and help you find a moment of peace with powerful hymns. Ozarks Gospel, New South and NOAH are must-see shows. UNEXPECTED SHOWS: The talented magicians and illusionists found on many Branson stages will amaze you with their elaborate and jawdropping talent. Offering family fun for ages 2 to 102, magic is in the air at many Branson shows. You never know what to expect when you see REZA ‘Edge of Illusion’, Amazing Pets or Illusionist Rick Thomas’ Mansion of Dreams. Janice Martin is the world’s only aerial violinist and her work on the silks will astound you as she performs.
SHOW LOVER’S WEEK OF ENTERTAINMENT
There are literally hundreds of fun, family-friendly things to do in Branson. We talk to a lot of folks who are planning their first trip here, and frequent visitors who are looking for new ideas. Here is a sample Branson Vacation! SUNDAY • Arrive and check in to hotel • Attend a dinner show or lake cruise MONDAY • Shopping in the morning in Historic Downtown Branson • Lunch at a downtown cafe • Attend a 2 p.m. afternoon show • Dinner at a restaurant on 76 Country Boulevard, Branson’s Entertainment District • Attend an 8 p.m. show TUESDAY • Catch a 10 a.m. morning show • Lunch at a Branson Landing restaurant • Watch the Branson Landing Fire and Water Fountain show • Shopping all afternoon at Branson Landing • Dinner at a lakeside restaurant • Attend a 7:30 p.m. show
DINNER SHOWS: Consider this Branson spin on the old “dinner and a movie” date night. Many Branson performances serve up great entertainment at dinner time, which is a win-win situation for you! A savory meal always pairs well with world-class entertainment. Find a place at the table when you see shows like Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction and Showboat Branson Belle. Branson has a variety of shows to choose from and this is just the tip of the iceberg! Visit www.ExploreBranson.com for a list of all the Branson shows.
WEDNESDAY • Sleep in • Shopping at an area craft mall • Lunch at a deli or diner • Attend a 4:30 p.m. dinner/attraction show (meal included) • Attend an 8 p.m. music show THURSDAY • Spend the day at Silver Dollar City, including a “Show Lovers’ Pass” to get priority seating for the shows FRIDAY • Catch a 10 a.m. morning show • Lunch at a buffet • Outlet mall shopping all afternoon • Dinner at a steakhouse or seafood restaurant • Attend an 8:00 p.m. evening show SATURDAY • Grab a filling breakfast at an area diner • Head home www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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O Z A R K O F F - R O A D AT V A D V E N T U R E S AT S H E P H E R D O F T H E H I L L S A D V E N T U R E PA R K
Outdoor
ADVENTURE
Every day is a great day for hiking, exploring in an ATV or casting a line from the lake shore.
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L A K E TA N E YC O M O
O Z A R K M O U N TA I N S
TA B L E R O C K L A K E
B R A N S O N Z I P L I N E AT W O L F E M O U N TA I N
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE D O G W O O D C A N YO N
L A K E TA N E YC O M O
Within minutes of the neon lights of Branson’s entertainment district, outdoor enthusiasts may enjoy ziplining, hiking, biking, riding a motorcyle, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, trout and bass fishing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, spelunking, rock climbing, as well as recreational and competitive sporting activities. Public parks, beaches, resorts, campgrounds, national forests and recreational facilities abound.
Visitors can hike trails at the 1,574-acre Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area. In addition, there are three hiking trails, a cave and a view of Lake Taneycomo within the 130-acre Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area on Fall Creek Road.
The Branson/Lakes Area has three pristine lakes with hundreds of miles of natural shoreline and more than 100,000 acres of city, state, federal and privately owned forest, conservation, wilderness and park areas available to visitors.
TOPOGRAPHY The Ozark Mountain terrain of caves, streams, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, grasslands, forests, steep rocky hillsides, bottomland and glades make up the breathtaking topography of the area.
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Missouri’s 1.5-million acre Mark Twain National Forest offers outdoor recreational opportunities in and around the nearby towns of Kimberling City and Forsyth.
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BALDS Although hardwood forests cover much of the Branson/Lakes Area, one of the most intriguing features is the “glades,” frequently referred to as “balds” by locals because of their characteristically sparse terrain of semi-desert soil, ledge-rock, scattered cedar trees and prairie plants amidst rolling seas of oak and hickory trees. You’ll most often see glades on the south and west-facing slopes of hills where intense and prolonged sunlight, coupled with fires started by lightning, keep the flora at a minimum. Native Americans or early settlers kept them relatively clear of trees to allow them to “see who’s coming” for long distances.
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE The area’s balds served as important meeting spots for the 1880s vigilante justice gangs that organized in Taney County after many years of lawlessness immediately following the Civil War. Started by upstanding citizens, the Bald Knobbers, as they became known, concealed their identities for fear of retribution by criminals and eventually lost popular support due to their increasingly ruthless and seemingly indiscriminate (and sometimes murderous) tactics. You can still see “Baldknobbers” in Branson, the musical instrumenttoting kind, at the Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers show – well past their 60th year of bringing live music and good, clean family entertainment to audiences. DOGWOOD CANYON The 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park offers the best outdoor experience in the region for visitors of all ages. Miles of paved trails allow for walking and biking alongside cool spring-fed streams with rainbow trout and waterfalls. Guided tram and jeep tours offer a ride-along trek into pastures where herds of bison, elk and longhorn cattle roam. One-of-a-kind experiences include Segway nature tours, fly fishing for trophy rainbow trout and horseback riding alongside towering limestone bluffs. You won’t want to miss exploring the Nature & Conservation Center, with live animal and fish displays, hands-on crafts and wilderness survival demonstrations. Journey to the treetops for a birdseye view of the park and experience a treehouse built by Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters that offers even more to explore! A working gristmill with live demonstrations and an extensive artifact hall offer a look into what life was like in the Ozarks hundreds of years ago. The Canyon Grill restaurant rounds out your experience with a full lunch menu of locally sourced dishes and indoor/outdoor seating with stunning waterfall views.
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WOLFE MOUNTAIN Wolfe Mountain, just seven miles north of Branson, is home to Branson Zipline Canopy Tours. An authentic zipline canopy tour, plus SnowFlex Tubing Hill, has visitors soaring through the trees while traversing a series of ziplines, sky bridges and platforms or tubing down the slope. The guided eco-adventures include third-party, safety-certified guides sharing topographical, ecological and historical information. Guests choose from four different canopy tours or take the Blue Streak Fast Line with Freefall Xpress – a thrilling zip with a 100-foot freefall. TABLE ROCK LAKESHORE TRAIL The two-mile Table Rock Lakeshore Trail connects the Dewey Short Visitor Center to the Showboat Branson Belle and Table Rock State Park. The eight-foot-wide paved trail is open from dawn to dusk and can accommodate foot traffic, motorized wheelchairs, bicycles, skateboards,
R U T H A N D PA U L H E N N I N G C O N S E R VAT I O N A R E A
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D O G W O O D C A N YO N
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE Segways and scooters. The Ozark Mountain Nature Trail Association hopes eventually to extend the trail into a 12-mile hiking and biking trail reaching from Lake Taneycomo in Historic Downtown Branson to the town of Reeds Spring. Visit www.ExploreBranson.com or call the Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877-BRANSON for information on watersports, swimming, fishing, boating, golfing, mountain biking, hiking and backpacking, camping, resorts, scenic drives, public and private parks and wilderness areas, sporting events, shooting facilities and wildlife watching. OZARK MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE Every day is a great day for hiking, and there are some beautiful valley views and vistas. Sometimes you may see wildlife scurrying about: deer, foxes, squirrels, opposum, skunks and a few armadillos.
It’s not uncommon to see wildlife within the city limits of Branson. If you visit one of the area’s lakes, rivers, city parks or campgrounds, you may see birds on the flyway to summer or winter grounds. The woods are teeming with deer, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, wild turkeys, great horned owls, great blue herons and pileated woodpeckers. Look for quail, songbirds, red fox, squirrels, otters, beavers, minks, armadillos, opossums, roadrunners, coachwhip snakes, garter snakes, skunks, eastern collared lizards and box turtles.
RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS Are you planning an RV or camping trip? If you are, you’ll be happy to know that Branson offers a variety of camping sites and RV parks for you to enjoy. You may want to stay lakeside or on top of the Ozark Mountains, but wherever you stay, you are just minutes away from great live shows and exciting attractions; neon and nature beckons you.
In the Branson/Lakes Area, there are 35 RV Parks with 2,870 sites: 2,000 with full hookup (electric, water, sewer), 735 water/electric or just electric and 135 tent sites. You can enjoy the comforts of a full-service 20/30/50-amp RV site or unplug and reconnect with your family in the backwoods near one of three pristine lakes in the area. Most of the area’s RV Parks and campground sites are located on or just minutes away from Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake and are close to nearby Branson shows and attractions. Many offer WiFi and Internet access to help you keep up with family and friends, and most are very pet-friendly. Some Branson/Lakes Area RV Parks and Campgrounds are Good Sam awardwinners and are often featured in Trailer Life magazine. RVing is definitely a family affair. Kids, parents and grandparents benefit from time spent together. And you cannot beat s’mores around the firepit.
TA B L E R O C K L A K E S H O R E L I N E
TA B L E R O C K L A K E S TAT E PA R K
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LAKESIDE WILDERNESS AREA
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SEVEN Get Active Ways to
ON YOUR vacation
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| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
If you are more inclined to get up, get out, and get active than to luxuriate by the pool with a good book and a cold drink, make Branson your next vacation destination. With excellent trails, three lakes, natural areas, outdoor attractions and worldclass golf courses, there are numerous locations for getting active in Branson.
ONE | OUTDOOR TRAILS There are miles upon miles of trails around Branson. About 35 or so minutes east of the city, near Forsyth, the Hercules Glades Wilderness Area has 32 miles of trails, with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet.
TWO | NATURE PRESERVES Enjoy the natural beauty of the Ozarks and some incredible man-made features when you visit the Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve near Ridgedale. Activities include bicycling, fishing and a ride-thru cave tour.
THREE | CONSERVATION AREAS There are more than a dozen Missouri Department of Conservation areas around Branson, with activities ranging from fishing to bird-watching. The Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area near Saddlebrooke is open for camping and horseback riding.
FOUR | FISHING SPOTS The lakes around Branson are prime destinations for anglers and those seeking activities such as swimming, boating and skiing. Table Rock Lake is known for bass fishing; trout abound in Lake Taneycomo; walleye are ample in Bull Shoals Lake.
FIVE | GOLF COURSES Golf is more than a game in Branson, it’s a way to connect with the outdoors. Rolling hills, water features and beautiful views make Branson’s courses must-see and must-play attractions.
SIX | INDOOR ACTIVITIES Sometimes you need to take the fun indoors and there’s no better place to find fun and excitement than at Fritz’s Adventure, which is designed for the younger set but brings out the kid in everyone.
SEVEN | ZIPLINES It’s hard to top the adrenaline-pumping rush of riding a zipline. Whether you’re zipping through the trees, over a body of water or taking off from atop the highest point in the area, there are a variety of zipline experiences for visitors in Branson. Add these sights and others to your active Branson itinerary.
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE GOLF
The Branson/Lakes Area is the fastestgrowing golf destination in America. Four courses have opened in the past five years, and golfers cannot wait to play them. And they’re not just any courses. They’re mind-blowers, with some recently opened ones designed by Nicklaus, Fazio, Tiger Woods and Player. Big Cedar Lodge redefines the perception of golf in the Ozarks recently unveiling Ozarks National Golf Course, designed by architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Carved into the Ozark Mountains with incredible vistas, this 18-hole course is fully walkable and capable of hosting future PGA and USGA tournaments. The Mountain Top course designed by Gary Player opened in 2017, with Tiger Woods’ first public-access course opening in 2020. Payne’s Valley, named after southwest Missouri native, Payne Stewart. There are 10 courses in the Branson area. Top of the Rock course is part of the Big Cedar Lodge resort. A Jack Nicklaus designed, 9-hole, par 3 golf course, one of only eleven courses in the nation recognized by the Audubon Signature Cooperative Sanctuary Program. These area courses are so good that two of them – Buffalo Ridge and Top of the Rock – were played annually as part of the PGA Tour Champions Legends of Golf. Top of the Rock includes Arnie’s Barn (yes, it’s from Latrobe, Penn.), the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, and the Lost Canyon Cave tour (in a golf cart which is included in the greens fee). The new and planned courses join an existing collection of good to great ones. The Buffalo Ridge Springs course has a growing reputation as one of the top public courses in the nation. It ranks as the best public course in Missouri. A Tom Fazio design utilizing the natural features of the landscape, formerly Branson Creek, now has a herd of bison looking on.
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TIGER WOODS
Branson Hills Golf Club is a tribute course honoring Legendary Missouri golfers. Natural rock outcroppings, waterfalls, creeks and wooded areas are incorporated. The course was designed by Chuck Smith with design consultant, and PGA Tour Professional, Bobby Clampett. Thousand Hills Golf Resort was rated 4-stars by Golf Digest magazine. This course has gained popularity due to its unique ability to cater to all golf skills levels. From novice to professional, the three separate sets of tees ensure a challenging, fair game for all. LedgeStone Country Club at StoneBridge Village was described by Golf Digest
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BRANSON HILLS GOLF CLUB
as a “masterpiece of mountain golf architecture.” The 18-hole, par 71 championship course is just minutes from downtown Branson. Pointe Royale is a true “shot-maker” course with lush bent grass greens and Bermuda fairways, eight water holes, sand and grass bunkers and tees for all levels. Holiday Hills invites you to “play a round” with them. The scenery alone is breathtaking. A round of golf at Branson’s first golf course, built 1938, is an adventure.
TO P O F T H E R O C K G O L F C O U R S E
Courses
Par
Course Designer
Length
Golf Pro
Tee Time Policy
Restaurant, Snack Bar, or Clubhouse
Driving Range
Total Sq. Ft. of Function Space
Branson Hills Golf Club 417-337-2963 www.bransonhillsgolfclub.com
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Chuck Smith & Bobby Clampett
5,323 7,324
Dan Davis
Call or book online
Yes
Yes
3,810 sq. ft.
Buffalo Ridge Springs 417-339-5430 www.golfbigcedar.com
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Tom Fazio
7,036
Greg Thomas, Kevin Roepke
Book 60 days in advance
Yes
Yes
800 sq. ft. with an additional 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor patio space
Holiday Hills Golf Club 417-334-4838 www.holidayhills.com
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Don Gardner
5,798
Josh Bowlin
Book 7 days in advance
Yes
No
1,100 sq. ft.
LedgeStone Country Club 417-335-8187 www.ledgestonegolf.com
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Tom Clark
6,754
Phillip Drips
Call in advance
Yes
Yes
5,375 sq. ft.
Mountain Top Golf Course 417-339-5421 www.golfbigcedar.com
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Gary Player
1,927
Greg Thomas, Landon Steele
Book 60 days in advance
Yes
No
3,000 sq. ft. with an additional 1,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space
Ozarks National 417-339-5421 www.golfbigcedar.com
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Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
7,036
Greg Thomas, Joey Johnson
Book 60 days in advance
Yes
Yes
3,000 sq. ft. with an additional 1,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space
Payne’s Valley 417-339-5420 www.golfbigcedar.com
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Tiger Woods
7,308 + 19th hole at 202
Greg Thomas
Book 60 days in advance
Yes
Yes
3,000 sq. ft. with an additional 1,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space
Pointe Royale Golf Village 417-334-4477 www.pointeroyalegolf.net
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Ault Clark
6,501
Evan Bradley
Call in advance
Yes
No
3,300 sq. ft.
Thousand Hills Golf Resort 417-334-4553 www.thousandhills.com
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Mike Riley and Robert Cupp
5,111
Pat Shay
Up to 60 days in advance
Yes
No
4,300 sq. ft.
Top of the Rock Golf Course 800-225-6343 www.topoftherock.com
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Jack Nicklaus
1,420
Greg Thomas, Jeff Johnson
Call in advance
Yes
Yes
5,560 sq. ft.
www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE LAKES
TA B L E R O C K L A K E
THREE PRISTINE LAKES The Branson/Lakes Area is well known for its three pristine lakes: Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. Water sports enthusiasts can swim, water ski, wakeboard, tube, boat, sail, scuba dive, jet ski, parasail, kayak and, of course, fish. The lakes’ waters never freeze, welcoming visitors’ activities year-round. All three lakes offer resort lodging, camping and picnicking facilities and easy access to the water at a number of public marinas and boat dock/launch areas. Several commercial docks offer fishing guide services and a wide range of boat rentals, including ski boats, pontoon boats, bass boats and wave runners. Many of the resorts on the three lakes offer guide service, rental boats, snack bars and private dock facilities for visitors’ boats.
since it was formed by the damming of the White River in 1959. While visitors can find dozens of places to stay and play along the banks of Table Rock Lake, the area’s commercial developments have placed a high priority on preserving the scenic beauty of the Ozarks’ natural shoreline, bluffs, forests and wildlife.
TABLE ROCK LAKE Accessible from multiple public and privately owned locations just minutes west of Branson, Table Rock Lake has been delighting visitors and residents alike
Many area resorts and marinas can connect you with an experienced fishing guide, and there are hundreds of national, regional and local tournaments held throughout the year.
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FISHING TABLE ROCK LAKE Missouri’s deepest (200 feet) and clearest reservoir, Table Rock is nationally recognized as a top bass fishing lake. Large numbers of largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky spotted bass and white bass thrive in its diverse underwater structure and immense forage base. Bass, crappie and large bluegill are caught in abundance. Catfish of all sizes also roam the bottom of the lake.
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TABLE ROCK LAKE FACTS • 43,000 to 52,300 acres of surface area (depending on the water level) • 857 miles of shoreline • Table Rock Dam was completed in 1959. • The dam is 6,423 ft. long and 252 ft. high. For more information: Branson Chamber of Commerce & CVB (417) 334-4084 or (800) 214-3661 www.ExploreBranson.com Indian Point Chamber of Commerce (417) 338-2772 or (800) 888-3313 www.IndianPoint.org Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce (417) 739-2564 or (800) 554-4444 www.VisitTableRockLake.com Table Rock State Park (417) 334-4704 www.MoStateParks.com/tablerock.htm
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE LAKES
LAKE TANEYCOMO Accessible from many points, including downtown Branson, Rockaway Beach, Forsyth, Powersite, Hollister and the Fall Creek area, Lake Taneycomo was formed with the completion of Powersite Dam in 1913. Originally a section of the White River, Taneycomo is now technically a lake, yet retains the look and feel of a river. When Table Rock Dam was completed at Taneycomo’s headwaters in 1959, the nature of the lake changed. Taneycomo’s water now comes from the bottom of Table Rock Lake, making it a cold water lake. The cold, clear water, stocked annually with approximately 750,000 rainbow trout, makes Lake Taneycomo a world-class trout fishery.
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Resorts and full-service public marinas offer canoeing, kayaking, fishing boats, motorboats, guides, tackle and pontoons for relaxing and fun-filled lake activities. FISHING LAKE TANEYCOMO The uppermost portion of the lake is reserved for artificial lures only, such as tiny jigs and crankbaits. These headwaters are also ideal for fly fishing with flies that imitate the freshwater shrimp and other natural bait that trout feed upon. The locals say the best way to catch trout is by drifting salmon eggs or angleworms. Affix the eggs or worms to a small hook and cast into holes with an ultra light rod and reel. This method used from a drifting boat or dock will yield a nice stringer.
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Lower Lake Taneycomo harbors a wellkept secret. The downstream area closer to Forsyth offers considerably warmer water and many other species of fish, making Taneycomo a versatile and challenging destination for anglers who are aware of its changing character from one end to the other. Fishing guides are available to help you make the most of your Lake Taneycomo experience. LAKE TANEYCOMO FACTS • 2,000+ acres of surface area • 40+ miles of shoreline • 58 degrees - average water temperature • 750,000 + rainbow and brown trout stocked annually
L A K E TA N E YC O M O
FISHING LICENSES A fishing license is required to fish in the state of Missouri. Residents under 16 and over 65 are not required to have a basic fishing license, and daily fishing permits are available. Military serving in the armed forces of the United States, and all former members of the United States armed forces and their immediate families stationed and residing in Missouri, may receive resident permit privileges. More information may be found at mdc.mo.gov Check Missouri’s trout fishing permit requirements from the Department of Conservation by calling (417) 895-6880 or www.missouriconservation.org prior to your fishing trip on Lake Taneycomo. You can also consult a local guide service,
marina or resort for up-to-date fishing regulation information. Area merchants also offer fishing licenses.
Forsyth Chamber of Commerce (417) 546-2741 www.ForsythMissouri.org
For more information: Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery – The largest trout-rearing facility in Missouri produces more than 80 percent of the fish released into Lake Taneycomo. More than 220,000 people visit each year. Call (417) 334-4865
Hollister Chamber of Commerce (417) 334-3050 www.HollisterChamber.net
Branson Chamber of Commerce & CVB (417) 334-4084 or (800) 214-3661 www.ExploreBranson.com
Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce (417) 739-2564 www.VisitTableRockLake.com
Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce (417) 561-4280 www.RockawayBeach.net
BULL SHOALS LAKE Bull Shoals begins where Taneycomo ends and flows eastward from Forsyth
Indian Point Chamber of Commerce (800) 888-3313 www.IndianPoint.org
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Outdoor
ADVENTURE LAKES
into Arkansas. Bull Shoals Dam, the fifth largest concrete dam in the United States, is located seven miles north of Cotter, Arkansas. The lake’s shoreline is relatively undeveloped and features steep bluffs and rock ledges. The lake has many areas within 20 ft. of the shoreline measuring 50 ft. deep or more. Its crystalline water makes the lake an ideal spot for scuba divers. Light tackle and line are the best choice for anglers. Bull Shoals also provides a variety of public access points and a selection of quaint fishing lodges that offer privacy and a chance to explore surrounding Ozark Mountain scenery at its finest.
FISHING BULL SHOALS LAKE Bull Shoals Lake is popular for its white, largemouth and spotted bass. It is a popular tournament lake and has a reputation for producing lunker fish of several varieties, including stripers that weigh in at more than 50 pounds. Record catches on this lake include a 5-pound, 5-ounce white bass, a 13-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass and a 21-pound, 1-ounce walleye. Crappie, bream and catfish of all sizes can also be found in Bull Shoals Lake. BULL SHOALS LAKE FACTS • 45,440 to 71,240 (approx.) acres of surface area (depending on the water level) • 1200+ miles of shoreline • Bull Shoals Dam was created in 1951. • The dam is 2,256 ft. long and 256 ft. high.
TA B L E R O C K L A K E
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TA B L E R O C K L A K E
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BULL SHOALS LAKE
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DESCRIPTION
S H O OT F O R T H E S TA R S M I N I - G O L F
B R A N S O N J E T B O AT S
S N O W F L E X AT W O L F E M O U N TA I N
B I G F O OT F U N PA R K
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A E R O D I U M AT F R I T Z ’ S A D V E N T U R E
Family
FUN
Get your fill of major thrills, there’s plenty of action in Branson.
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Family
FUN
S I LV E R D O L L A R C I T Y
SILVER DOLLAR CITY Celebrating the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee with the all-new rafting adventure Mystic River Falls featuring the “Tallest Drop in the Western Hemisphere” and the new Rivertown Smokehouse. SPRING RIDE DAYS (Mar. 17-22, 24-29, and Apr. 3 & 5) Travel through time during spring break on the revolutionary, record-breaking roller coaster Time Traveler. Or board your own out-of-control stagecoach on Outlaw Run, a Guinness World Record-holder for the steepest drop on a wooden coaster. Enjoy these two rides and 40 others during Spring Break. YOUNG CHRISTIANS’ DAY (Apr. 4) A special teen-focused event with top Christian artists, workshops and rallies.
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FESTIVAL OF WONDER (Apr. 8-26) “A Most Amazing Entertainment Experience,” presents “The Passing Zone,” with Jon Wee and Owen Morse whose juggling and balancing act include roaring chainsaws, flaming torches and flying knives. The new “Russian Bar Trio” with high-flying aerials and the new “Roller Duo” high-speed roller skate acrobatics headline the festival’s CirqUnique show. All-new card throwing stunts with threetime Guinness World Record-holder Rick Smith Jr. and all-time favorite songs and movie themes played on glass bottles by the “Bottle Boys.” Returning acts include the curious One Man Band with Eric Haines and speed painting with Paint Jam.
Dollar City on May 1, 1960 with special entertainment including a Special Opening Ceremony on May 1, a High Noon Event in Echo Hollow on May 2, evening fireworks finale and praise concert May 3 with Grammy-nominated artists The Martins.
60TH JUBILEE HOMECOMING (Apr. 30-May 3) Celebrating the grand opening of Silver
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES (May 29-June 31 and June 5-7) Two back-to-back weekends of special
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BLUEGRASS & BBQ (May 5-25) One of the world’s best bluegrass events with performances by IBMA 2019 Entertainer of the Year award-winner Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Grammynominated artist Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Balsam Range and many more, plus plenty of award-winning tasty BBQ.
S I LV E R D O L L A R C I T Y
headlining acts, one of Praise & Worship and the other Rock ‘n Roll. STAR-SPANGLED SUMMER (June 13-July 26) The focus is on family during Star-Spangled Summer with the park’s 40 rides and attractions, plus the return of Reuben’s Swashbuckling Adventure, winner of Amusement Today’s 2019 Golden Ticket Award. Audiences join young Reuben in the 1880s as he searches for his destiny in this huge original production, created exclusively for Silver Dollar City complete with a colorful cast, flying characters, state-of-the-art sets and special effects. MOONLIGHT MADNESS (July 25-Aug. 9) Brave the park’s rides and attractions IN THE DARK during this last blast of summer celebration until 10 p.m. (and open until
midnight on select days) along with nightly street dances on Town Square and a fireworks finale in Echo Hollow. SOUTHERN GOSPEL PICNIC (Aug. 27-Sept. 7) Southern Gospel’s 12 biggest days and nights with top Southern Gospel artists including The Isaacs and The Hoppers, plus the House of Chicken & Fixin’s. COUNTRY MUSIC DAYS (Sept. 11-20) This NEW event presents eight days of iconic country music, classic country stars and up-and-coming new country acts. HARVEST FESTIVAL featuring CRAFT DAYS & PUMPKIN NIGHTS (Sept. 23-Oct. 31) Silver Dollar City transforms into a glowing-orange wonderland during
Pumpkin Nights, with thousands of pumpkin creations and larger-thanlife scarecrows, cats, owls and other characters shining in the dark. Pumpkin Pathway leads to Pumpkin Plaza with a dance party and fall activities, along with autumnal-focused foods and treats. Craft Days welcomes visiting artisans, with select new crafters each week joining the park’s resident crafts colony, 100-strong. AN OLD TIME CHRISTMAS (Nov. 7-Dec. 30) One of the nation’s most acclaimed holiday festivals, An Old Time Christmas features Joy in Town Square with an 8-story LED special effects Christmas tree, the Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular, Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade, two Broadwaystyle Christmas productions and nearly seven million lights.
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Family
FUN B U T T E R F LY PA L A C E
LA B RK AEN TA S ON NEFYC E RORMI SOW H E E L
Showboat Branson Belle is America’s Most Entertaining Lake Adventure featuring 3-course meals and amazing live shows. Cruises aboard this authentic paddle wheeler offer scenic tours on pristine Table Rock Lake. The 700-seat dining room spans three stories and the ship’s cast delivers on the promise of “most entertaining” with a variety show of singing and dancing plus a live band. Enjoy a meal, a cruise and a show – all in one experience! At White Water, dive into 13 acres of water rides and slides filled with over 2-million gallons of fun for all ages! From mild-towild and relaxing to full-out exciting, it’s a tropical adventure right in America’s Heartland. Palm trees and lush foliage
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greet you as you wander the park’s paths, leading you to adventures from 10-story slides, drop-down towers and raging waters to a relaxing river float and wave pool. More than one dozen themed attractions offer something for most every age, including immersive play areas for the little ones. Outfitted cabanas let you watch TV, enjoy the shade and have your own special family meeting place (upgrade option). Don’t miss Night Water where riding and sliding goes from day into night during starry summer nights. Fritz’s Adventure is a dynamic family attraction that brings the excitement and challenges of outdoor adventure into a multi-dimensional indoor environment.
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Experience three stories and 80,000 square feet where you can experience elements of the world around you that, anywhere else, would be prohibited or discouraged. Just opened is America’s first Aerodium Outdoor Flying Adventure: a vertical, open-air, 140 mph wind tunnel. The thrill of skydiving in a safe, controlled environment, for guests young and old. Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead tells the story of the lives, hopes and dreams of the Ozark Mountain people from Harold Bell Wright’s classic tale “The Shepherd of the Hills.” At the Historic Homestead, guests enjoy an off-roud ATV adventure, crafts displays, live music, Ozark dining, cowboy music shows
PROMISED LAND ZOO
L A K E Q U E E N AT M A I N S T R E E T L A K E C R U I S E S
and a 230-foot Inspiration Tower with breathtaking views of the Ozarks. The world’s most visited dinner attraction, Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Branson presents its largest, most high-spirited adventure ever. Featuring a rousing overture highlighted by 32 magnificent horses and a cast of top-notch riders, The Stampede will thrill you with daring feats of trick riding and competition. Experience the Stampede of the Buffalo, hilarious racing pigs, fan favorite competitions, and a Grand Patriotic Finale of red, white and blue. All of this pageantry is proudly served with a fabulous four-course feast.
S H O W B O AT B R A N S O N B E L L E
Branson’s IMAX® Entertainment Complex presents original IMAX® and first-run movies in a state-of-the-art stadiumstyle theater. The complex also includes McFarlain’s Family Restaurant, a food court, a live music theatre, shops and three 35-mm movie screens. Branson Jet Boats is the first of its kind in the area. The tour departs from the Branson Landing and combines thrilling maneuvers with local history, stories and natural beauty along Lake Taneycomo. Grand Country Square is home to Splash Country, the 40,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor water park, Grand Country Music Hall, Grand Country Buffet, indoor
mini golf, indoor go-karts, gift shops and features the world’s largest banjo. Welk Resort offers families an indoor/ outdoor water attraction called “The Splash-A-Torium!” Open year-round, it features an outrageous 100-foot indoor water slide, indoor/outdoor pool and “Splash-Zone” where staying dry is next to impossible. Branson Scenic Railway takes passengers on a narrated trip from historic downtown Branson through the rugged Ozarks into Arkansas or north to Galena, Missouri. You can set sail and relax onboard the Spirit of America catamaran on Table
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Family
FUN
Rock Lake for an open-air, open water experience the whole family can enjoy. Water adventure in Branson also includes gliding over the sparkling waters of Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo with Kayak Branson across from Table Rock State Park and at Branson Landing. You can “See It All” with Chopper Charters helicopter rides and tours departing from the downtown Taney County Airport, M. Graham Clark Field and Branson Helicopter Tours located on Highway 76.
B E YO N D T H E L E N S
The Escape Branson® is a simple and fun live escape game, designed for small groups of 2-6 people. You get 60 minutes to climb a mountain of puzzles and mysteries in a room. The goal is simple yet challenging: get out in time! Parakeet Pete’s Steampunk Balloon offers the thrill of a balloon ride that is sure to delight everyone in your family with a 360-degree view of Lake Taneycomo and Branson as it rises above Branson Landing. Bigfoot Fun Park is the centerpiece of the $10 million attraction with a 200foot free-fall tower. Two of the rides are extreme rides for serious thrill seekers, while indoors is a state-of-the-art arcade. Bigfoot Discovery Expedition™ searches for evidence at Branson Bigfoot Farms, a working Scottish Highland cattle farm, with some of the most incredible sites in the Ozark Mountains.
B I G F O OT D I S C O V E R Y E X P E D I T I O N
Runaway Mountain Coaster on Hwy. 165 is a family-friendly thrill ride over 5,000 feet of track. Gravity pulls you down hills, around corners and through two 360° horizontal loops as you race to the bottom at speeds up to 30mph or choose to travel at a more moderate pace and enjoy the natural beauty and views. The Branson Coaster begins with a quick descent after departing loading area on Highway 76. The tracks twist and turn so close you’ll think you are going to collide
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R U N AWAY M O U N TA I N C O A S T E R
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B R A N S O N S C E N I C R A I LWAY
with other carts. As you reach the bottom, a chain-driven system will catch your cart and begin to bring you back up to the top. Parakeet Pete’s Waterfront Zipline at Branson Landing allows guests to sit sideby-side and zip across Lake Taneycomo with a great panoramic view. Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain offer authentic eco-adventures in the Ozark Mountains. Thrilling options include a variety of guided canopy tours with treks across numerous zip lines, over sky bridges and high atop platforms. The largest synthetic snow tubing hill in the US is at the Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain. This unique year-round attraction uses the high-performance snow sports surface Snowflex®. Phase one of Snowflex® tubing will allow up to eight tubes to run down the slope. The Shepherd of the Hills Vigilante ZipRider is an exciting thrill ride launching from the open-air deck of the 230-foot tall Inspiration Tower, whisking guests on an adrenaline-pumping downhill ride over the 160-acre homestead. Adventure Ziplines is just minutes from most of the hotels, shows and attractions. Your heart will leap as you zip through the air with a beautiful view that usually is only seen by soaring birds and other Ozark treetop dwellers. Big Cedar Lodge’s Fun Mountain has a 4,000-sq.-ft. arcade and an augmented climbing wall that creates interactive games to excite any climbing skill level. You can bowl in the ocean on 16 full lanes with a unique underwater-like experience. The full swing golf simulator is the closest thing to being out on the course. Little ones can enjoy the Kids’ Climbing Area and Sky Tykes Ropes Course with a giant suspended pirate ship and ropes course for guests less than 48” tall. Check out the Flip Zone and turn your world upside down on this radically different bumper car ride that rotates 360 degrees.In the Spin Zone, send your friends into a tail spin with bumper cars that rotate 360 degrees horizontally.
Wilderness lovers will be transported to Fort Big Cedar, a Laser Tag arena that hosts up to 24 players at a time. Uncle Buck’s Grill offers a full-service menu of tasty treats like burgers, salads, sandwiches, pizza and fountain treats. Thrill rides are at the NASCAR-themed Thunder Alley go-karts at Big Cedar Lodge, designed by 2017 NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Cole Pearn. Thunder Alley delivers high-speed fun for the whole family with powerful “turbo boosts” to blast past the right-hand lane competition. Bass Pro Shops’ Shooting Academy is a world-class training facility, ideal for families, group outings and private events, with 920-acres of activities set against the stunning backdrop of the Ozarks. WonderWorks, the upside-down adventure, is a science-focused, indoor amusement park for the mind. Four floors of non-stop “edutainment” for all ages, with over 100 hands-on interactive exhibits to learn about our world. A new kind of thrill at Track Family Fun Parks. The Skyscraper has a base tower that stands 80 feet tall, and the windmillstyle propeller arms extends to 160 feet tall at their maximum height, with a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. Enjoy high-rise go-karts, classic go-karts, bumper cars, arcades and The Branson Ferris Wheel. New celebrity dining experiences come to Branson Landing Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen – a one-of-a-kind, family-style dining experience featuring the Deen Family’s own recipes. Jimmy Buffet’s Landshark Bar & Grill lights up the night with a taste of the tropics, live entertainment and a 2000-sq.-ft. fountain-side patio. Andy B’s Bowl Social – a unique mix of boutique bowling, attractions and dining at Branson Landing. Modern American cuisine, local craft brews, wine and craft cocktails, plus lots of social games to bring everyone together.
Aquarium at the Boardwalk brings the ocean to the Midwest. Explore a Jellyfish Infinity Room, underwater tunnels with a Mermaid Palace, and all the twists and turns of a submarine adventure. Get close to thousands of incredible sea creatures, some you can touch. Designed for all ages, come experience the wonders of the coral reef and so much more. Beyond the Lens and behind the camera lies an exciting trip through pop culture with a combination of conspiracy theories and cutting-edge gaming systems all in one of the newest, fun-filled attractions. A family friendly adventure that’s loaded with interactive exhibits, escape rooms, virtual/augmented reality games, crazy fun photo ops and more. 1984 Arcade at The Shoppes at Branson Meadows is where retro vibes and arcade classic unite to challenge your family’s gaming skills. There’s nothing more satisfying than crushing your competitors score. Do you have what it takes to win? Big Air Trampoline Park at Branson Mill features over 65 fun attractions including Dodgeball, a Mechanical Bull, Battle Beam, Ninja Warrior Course, and many more fun activities the whole family will enjoy. With a Big Air all-day family pass, you won’t run out of fun! The Branson Buzzsaw at the newly-named Branson Sawmill is the former Branson Mountain Coaster. A thrilling new swing ride raises guests to the top of a 123-foot tower where riders spin at 10 revolutions a minute for a heart-pumping, unforgettable view of the entertainment district. Branson Top Ops is a patriotic-themed experience that will offer an interactive outdoor maze, indoor laser tag and familyfun adventures. Mellow Mushroom at Branson Landing is now serving fresh, stone baked pizzas to order in an eclectic art-filled and family friendly environment will satisfy your taste buds and make for the perfect Instagram photo op.
www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Pet-Friendly Places For Your Best Friend In Branson
It’s hard to imagine life without your best friend by your side, so why would you try to plan a vacation without them? You and your furry friend can say goodbye to the “see you laters” by exploring Branson’s extensive list of pet-friendly options provided below. From lodging to shopping, we offer exactly what you need to make your vacation full of smiles and wagging tails for you and your furry friend!
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LODGING There are many lodging options in Branson that will be just as excited to greet your pet as they are to welcome you. Below are a few places of the many pet-friendly lodging opportunities available: • Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa, & Convention Center • Antler’s Resort • Village at Indian Point Resort & Conference Center For a full list of pet-friendly lodging, please visit www.ExploreBranson.com.
PARKS You know how excited your pet becomes when you mention the word “walk”? Well imagine if they get to experience that walk in the middle of the Ozarks! We recommend these locations: Elmo & Rosalea Marrs Memorial Dog Park is a 1.5-acre, open-air facility where your dog(s) can roam freely. The park provides separate areas for small and large breeds. Daily admission for visitors is $5 for one dog, and $2 for each additional friend. Three-day passes for one dog are available for $10, and $5 for each additional friend. The park is open from sunup to sundown, weather permitting. Table Rock State Park has many walking trails, activity fields, and water fronts to offer. A great place to begin your adventure at Table Rock is the Dewey Short Visitor Center. Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area provides many shaded walking trails and gorgeous views of the Branson area.
PEOPLE FOOD One of the best parts of a vacation is the food you get to eat! By providing you with outdoor seating areas, the following locations encourage you to bring your friend along to taste the food only Branson has to offer. • Billy Bob’s Dairy Land • Danna’s BBQ & Burger Shop • Sugar Leaf Bakery & Café Visit www.ExploreBranson.com to view a list of 25 additional pet-friendly dining options. PUP FOOD Drive through one of these locations for a special pup treat: • Starbucks • Culver’s • Dairy Queen SERVICES If you decide to explore a little more of what Branson has to offer for humans only, we have several options for pet daycare and boarding! Branson Pet Resort believes in treating all pets like a part of the family. They offer both day-boarding and over-night boarding.
ATTRACTIONS When it comes to unforgettable attractions, Branson has something to offer for all, even your furry friend! Buster’s Old Time Photos encourages you and your pet to step back in time and have a family portrait created from a different era. You can choose from themes such as Wild West, Victorian and Southern Belle for a unique memory from your time in Branson. National Tiger Sanctuary provides another unique and entertaining experience for the whole family. Leashed pets are welcome to enjoy an up-close and personal tour of many exotic animals and big cats. Branson Landing offers an outdoor shopping opportunity for you and your pet. Because the Landing is found on the Taneycomo Lakefront, it offers a perfect walking area. If your furry friend is not sensitive to loud music or bright lights, the Branon Landing fountain show provides an exhilarating spectacle involving lights, water and music.
Camp Little Paws provides a unique spin on the traditional boarding house by creating a camp-like feel. They offer both day-boarding and over-night boarding. If your furry friend is feeling a little blue, we have a pet hospital available. Branson Veterinary Hospital has an onsite staff dedicated specifically to the care and needs of your family members to ensure that the best care is taken for each pet boarding there. SHOPPING Our pet stores would love to provide your furry friend with all their wants and needs. Stop in and see what special treasures you can find! • Don’t 4 Get About Me • Dog Naturals Grooming • Petco We’re paws-itive Branson will be the destination you and your pet will remember fur-ever!
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Family
FUN MUSEUMS
VETERANS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
BONNIEBROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM Rose O’Neill’s famous Ozarks home houses Kewpie dolls, mementos and more. BRANSON CENTENNIAL MUSEUM See what Branson looked like in the early days of tourism! Rotating exhibits include veterans celebrations and the Christmas adoration scene. Free admission. GOLDEN PIONEER MUSEUM A private museum (admission is free) in Golden, Missouri, with an assortment of collections; among them are many points, blades, etc. found locally. HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM You’ll see 170 life-like celebrity figures, from actors to world leaders and Hollywood Wax Museum’s own version of “Mount Rushmore.” RALPH FOSTER MUSEUM AT COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS The “Smithsonian of the Ozarks” contains over three stories of large collections with a history of the region.
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RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! The only place in Branson where you’ll find shrunken heads, a Transformer sculpture made of car parts, tons of hands-on interactives and a spinning vortex tunnel! TITANIC MUSEUM ATTRACTION Walk through first-class staterooms, thirdclass accommodations and the Grand Staircase. Experience an iceberg, feel the icy water and see 400 artifacts that tell the stories of its passengers. VETERANS MEMORIAL MUSEUM A national tribute to the brave men and women who defended our liberties during the 20th Century. You’ll be captivated by the stories of these men and women. The museum is filled with a collection of wartime exhibits covering the heights and depths of human experience. WHITE RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Located in Forsyth, a museum of rotating themes representing the entire area history and genealogy, as well as a research library. Free admission.
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WORLD’S LARGEST TOY MUSEUM Remembering your childhood has never been so much fun. The World’s Largest Toy Museum is like Christmas morning every day. It contains the toys we had and the toys we wish we still had. ANCIENT OZARKS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Created to celebrate the fascinating history and natural beauty of the Ozarks, the museum features artifacts, images and interactive exhibits that chronologically walk you through the development of the Ozarks. You will learn about the people and animals that have inhabited the region for over 12,000 years. SHIPWRECKED TREASURE MUSEUM More than 500 authentic artifacts and treasures recovered from historically significant shipwrecks, as seen on National Geographic and Discovery Channel, are on display at Branson’s newest museum attraction. Located at Branson Landing, filled with recovered deep sea artifacts, priceless treasures, and seafaring lore, you’ll learn how shipwreck treasures are found.
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FUN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Historic Downtown Branson, east of US 65 along the shores of Lake Taneycomo, is where Branson got its start around 1888. Incorporated in 1912, fires and floods couldn’t stop the community from growing along the banks of the White River. Start at the Centennial Museum, located at the corner of Commercial St. and Pacific St., for the best tour information. Historic Downtown Branson’s Liberty Plaza occupies half a city block and is located at the corner of Veterans Blvd. (Bus. U.S. 65) and Pacific Street. With a large public restroom and a performance stage with a fountain backdrop, suitable for selfies. Branson is known for its many shows and Historic Downtown is home to the Owen Theatre, headquarters of the Branson Arts
Council. It was the first theatre in town and was constructed in 1934. A variety of affordable shops and stores are all within an easy stroll. Free trolley rides offer an excursion through historic downtown with its flavor of an oldtime Main Street. You will also find a mid-20th century train and depot, live entertainment, Ozarks music and choices of restaurants that offer homemade meals, from the eclectic fine dining at Level 2 Steakhouse at the Hilton Convention Center Hotel to the downhome 110-year-old Branson Café. Fudge, homemade candy, ice cream, snacks and more are all within easy walking distance. The 1906 restored railroad depot is now home to Branson Scenic Railway, which offers picturesque rides through the Ozarks countryside in authentic 1950s luxury passenger cars. Visitors from near and far find great shopping opportunities in historic downtown where you will find dozens of “mom and pop” stores offering unique merchandise. Dick’s 5 & 10, a Historic
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Downtown Branson landmark, celebrates more than 57 years. This one-of-a-kind, family-owned and operated store offers hours of shopping and browsing through its more than 75,000 select items and unique collections. Lake Taneycomo is a premier fishing locale that offers visitors the opportunity to spend a relaxing day sightseeing or fishing. The lake forms the easternmost and southernmost borders of the downtown district. Its chilly waters were created with the building of Table Rock Dam more than 50 years ago and provide a perfect environment for rainbow and brown trout. Scotty’s Trout Dock, near the lakefront campground, serves anglers and recreational boaters the entire year. The 47th annual Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival will be held in the Fall. Experience artisans selling crafts, tempting treats and mouthwatering fare, along with talented Branson performers. For information: Downtown Branson Betterment Association at 417-334-1548 or www.ExploreBransonDowntown.com
Family
FUN SHOPPING
Branson is a shopper’s paradise with a major outlet center featuring over 70 brand name stores and hundreds of area galleries, boutiques and specialty shops. Other shopping destinations offer namebrand clothing, jewelry, shoes, appliances, leather goods, glassware, home decor, electronics, music, cosmetics and more. You can find Alaskan and African art, ’50s memorabilia, gourmet coffee, decorative
candles, books, grandfather clocks, handmade quilts and other gifts.
instruments, home décor, clocks, multiple gift shops and restaurant.
BRANSON CRAFT MALL A 16,000 sq. ft. building with arts, crafts, and the best food at Pickin Porch Grill. One-stop shopping with 200 vendors, artisans and crafters offering apparel, quilts, leather goods, jewelry, baskets, rugs and more.
BRANSON LANDING Situated on the Taneycomo lakefront in downtown Branson, the Branson Landing blends exciting shopping and dining, two marinas and a town square on the water’s edge to create an experience unlike any other in the Midwest. National brand retail stores are mixed with galleries and specialty shops, Bass Pro Shops, and Belk department store.
BRANSON HILLS Clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, pet needs, Best Buy, Target, Home Depot, Kohls and Walmart. BRANSON’S IMAX® ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX Quilts, fudge, clothing, jewelry, musical
DICK’S 5 & 10
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COFFELT COUNTRY FLEA MARKET & CRAFT VILLAGE Home décor, dolls, quilts, antiques, jewelry, shoes for the whole family, specialty soaps and souvenirs.
THE BRANSON LANDING
TA N G E R O U T L E T S
COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS Homemade fruitcakes, jams, jellies, dry goods, orchids and other nursery plants, pottery, hand-made woven items, stained glass, homemade ice cream and mill products with a seasonal farmer’s market. GRAND COUNTRY SQUARE Unusual and hard-to-find gift items, fudge, clothing and home decor. Be sure and see the world’s largest banjo. THE GRAND VILLAGE SHOPS Two dozen unique specialty shops: Kringles Christmas Store, Mulberry Mill, Sugar Leaf Bakery, Grand Glitz and Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, known for singing waiters. Unique local shopping.
THE GRAND VILLAGE SHOPS
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BRANSON Art, antiques, clothing, musical instruments, leather, jewelry, quilts, flea markets, galleries and more. Dick’s 5 & 10, a Branson landmark for over 50 years, has over 75,000 different items. Headquarters for stocking stuffers. HISTORIC DOWNING STREET Located in nearby Hollister, this unique setting offers Elizabethan-style buildings (circa 1912) and eclectic browsing in the antiques and crafts shops. SHOPPES AT BRANSON MEADOWS Outlets, a restaurant, specialty stores and Cinema 11 in a quaint village setting.Touch of Class, Tuesday Morning, VF Outlet,
furnishings, kitchenware and clothing. TANGER OUTLETS More than 75 brand-name and designer outlets, Nike, Coach, Old Navy, Kate Spade, offering great shopping experiences year-round. From footwear and apparel for all ages to affordable and fasionable accessories and more, there’s something for everyone on your list. Treat yourself to something nice (or find that perfect gift for someone else). It’s a positive thing and you’ll feel great. They don’t call it “retail therapy” for nothing. Check out www.ExploreBranson.com for new stores coming to town in 2020.
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FUN THE ARTS
Branson’s artistic side includes paintings, sculptures and other art forms. Visitors can see many of these displays throughout the area. East of the entrance to The Shoppes at Branson Meadows off Gretna Road, a small pavilion shelters a bronze eagle resting atop a four-sided monument. A tribute to all veterans, the exhibit was dedicated in 1995 by Bob Hope and The Children of the Ozarks. The centerpiece at Central Bank, in historic downtown Branson, is “Flight,” an impressive sculpture portraying four geese in take-off by artist Gary Price. Inside Branson City Hall hang Townsend Godsey’s vintage photographs including “These Were The Last,” depicting life in the Ozarks in the 1930s and early 1940s, and “Stewards of Freedom,” a gold-laden eagle sculpture presented to the city by the National Flag Foundation in 1999. Located in front of the Post Office in historic downtown Branson, the “Circle of the Waters” sculpture by Lee Robertson is included in the Smithsonian’s survey of public sculpture. Reflections at The Grand Village is the late painter Thomas Kinkade’s exclusive signature store where visitors can admire and purchase some of his work. Don’t miss local Branson artists in their galleries: Tim Cherry, Tom Crain and Mitch Yung. Edwards Art Gallery and Boger Art Gallery, both located at College of the Ozarks, house dozens of paintings. Edwards Art Gallery, part of the Ralph Foster Museum, displays Ozarks painter Thomas Hart Benton. His “Departure of the Joads” painting was used as the frontispiece for John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath,” and his lithographs are part of the museum’s permanent collection. Just north of Branson is Bonniebrook, home of famous artist, illustrator, sculptor,
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writer and creator of the Kewpie Doll, Rose O’Neill. On the grounds are two of O’Neill’s very imaginative Sweet Monster sculptures, “Embrace of the Tree” and “The Fauness.” The Kewpie Museum houses O’Neill’s original works. For generations, residents of the Ozark Mountains made what they needed including quilts, pottery, baskets, glassware and wrought iron and today, craftsmanship still is an integral part of the area’s culture; celebrated with festivals, events and permanent exhibitions. Autumn Daze is held downtown each fall, showcasing arts & crafts created by local and regional artists. At Silver Dollar City, the internationally award-winning theme park, visitors can watch craftsmen demonstrate the arts of basket weaving, glass blowing, ironworking and woodcarving, among other talents. Each fall, at the Harvest Festival, dozens of additional artists and craftsmen come to demonstrate their skills. Park guests can purchase one-of-a-kind, heirloomquality items handmade by the artisans just in time for Christmas giving. Old-time crafts can also be seen at the Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead where turn-of-the-century works of traditional Ozarks art are on display daily. The Branson Craft Mall features the work of more artisans from our area showcasing their wood, textile, glass, leather art, soap, jams, jellies and other traditional Ozark Mountain crafts.
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S I LV E R D O L L A R C I T Y
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Wineries
B E A R C R E E K W I N E C O M PA N Y
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Discover some of Missouri’s finest wines during your next trip to Branson. These destination wineries offer visitors a chance to experience quality spirits produced right here in the Ozarks.
LINDWEDEL WINE GARDEN
S T. J A M E S W I N E R Y
ST. JAMES WINERY St. James Winery and restaurant is the winemaker’s first full-service venture outside their of St. James, Mo. location, a company founded by Italian immigrants in the late 1800s. Wine tastings, a gift shop, stocked with wine-related merchandise, and restaurant with a delicious array of gourmet and casual dishes, including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, meat and cheese trays, and brick oven-fired pizzas. There’s a lovely courtyard, seating for dining, or drinks with friends, and bocce ball courts, along with live music. MOUNT PLEASANT WINERY Mount Pleasant Winery award-winning wines offers another reason to learn more about oenology. More than just a terrific place to enjoy great wines, it has a wine shop, an art gallery and interesting handson bottling experiences, all rolled into one. Visitors to Mount Pleasant have the unique opportunity to bottle their own dessert wine from a specially designed 600-gallon French oak barrel. Be sure to visit the tasting galleries, where more than wine is on display. The tasting galleries also feature
CURLING VINE WINERY
the works of renowned Missouri artists — from folk artisans to painters and sculptors. CURLING VINE WINERY Newcomers to Branson may be surprised to find Missouri’s oldest and mostawarded winery as one of the town’s most popular attractions. With 12,000 square feet of space, Curling Vine Winery’s Branson location has been receiving and entertaining visitors since 1986. The winery delights hundreds of tourists daily with a free, fun-filled hour of touring. Tasting the many award-winning wines completes the experience. Guests are invited to soak in the delightful aromas of maturing sherry and watch the actual bottling process of one of Curling Vine’s famous wines. LINDWEDEL WINE GARDEN Lindwedel Wine Garden features wines produced in the state of Missouri. The Lindwedel staff provide “a relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy some of God’s most precious gifts, for any occasion, or none at all.” The idea of a wine garden began by thinking of a way to
tie together a chemistry background with a love for the “farm,” and a wish to enjoy family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere. With outdoor decks and picnic areas overlooking an Ozark panorama, indoor sitting rooms and an event hall for larger groups, the wine garden offers a beautiful location for weddings, parties, reunions and other social gatherings. BEAR CREEK WINE COMPANY We are a locally owned and family operated winery just 10 miles north of Branson. Swing by and experience a true taste of the Ozarks. We offer complimentary tastings daily with nine wines that range from dry to sweet and you may taste as many as you like. Live music from local musicians each weekend and great rustic pizza, smoked meats, cheeses, local chocolate and local beer from Mother’s Brewing available as well. Stroll our beautiful property featuring ponds, stream and garden space and take a peek in our onsite bed and breakfast and chapel in the woods. We look forward to your visit to our neck of the woods.
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Ozark Mountain CHRISTMAS It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
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K R I N G L E ’ S C H R I S TM A S S H O P
S H O W B O AT B R A N S O N B E L L E – PJ S A N D PA N C A K E S C R U I S E
BRANSON LANDING
C H R I S TM A S W O N D E R L A N D
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Ozark Mountain CHRISTMAS
A D O R AT I O N PA R A D E
DESCRIPTION
L ABKREETA A T T NFA E YC M IO LYMC OH R I S TM A S
As Ozark Mountain Christmas approaches, Branson turns into a winter wonderland with events, festivals and a blanket of holiday decor. Cheer and goodwill are in the air as the town becomes America’s Christmas Tree City. The miles of lights extending out of the heart of Branson act as a warm beacon to travelers across the nation. Once here, visitors will find decorations glowing from nearly every shop door while enjoying friendly smiles on every street. Branson is truly a magical place to be during the Christmas season. Not to brag, but Branson has received a few accolades. Named one of the best Christmas destinations in America by
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NBC’s Today Show (Best Holiday Travel Deal); USA Today, A&E Network, Travel Channel and The Wall Street Journal. SHOWS It’s time for an Ozark Mountain Christmas, and Branson’s star performers are ready to share the holidays with you and your family. With dazzling, star-filled Christmas shows, many of Branson’s entertaining families celebrate the reason for the season in a variety of song and dance: The Baldknobbers to the Presleys, Osmonds, Lennons, Duttons, Haygoods, Bretts, Clay Cooper, Doug Gabriel, The Petersens, SIX and the Hughes Brothers. The Hughes Family Christmas show stars not only
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the five guys, but their entire family of close to 50 people. When you get them all on the stage, USA Today says they are “the world’s largest performing family.” And there’s so much more – Branson showcases the holiday’s finest talent. DRIVE-THROUGH/WALK-THROUGH LIGHT DISPLAYS LIGHTS OF JOY Branson’s Lights of Joy will be shining super LED bright this Christmas season at the drive-through display. Hundreds of scenes will be featured at the Expressway Lane location, just off of Shepherd of the Hills Expressway near Sight & Sound. Open Nov. 1 - Dec. 31.
LET THERE BE LIGHTS AT PROMISED LAND ZOO The same interactive zoo you love by day, changes in November and December to become a sparkling winter wonderland by night! Come and enjoy the added holiday hours of 5-11 PM and explore Santa’s Safari Village as you drive your own car through the 2-mile drive-through lights display. With VIP admission you may also enjoy a magical Santa’s Safari tour through the Christmas lights from the comfort of a climate-controlled tour bus to meet and feed animals on the Safari. Promised Land Zoo has the largest drive-through lights display in the Ozarks and a Living Nativity with real live animals to pet and feed. SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS NORTH POLE ADVENTURE Celebrate the season of Christmas at Shepherd’s North Pole Adventure. This magical family walk-through experience takes you on a journey through thousands of twinkling lights, hot chocolate stands and artisan crafts. Visit Santa’s Workshop, see the lights below from Inspiration
Tower, Doc’s Toy Box and much more. Make it a new family tradition this Christmas season at the North Pole Adventure, only at Shepherd of the Hills. ADORATION PARADE The 72nd Annual Celebration will take place on Sunday, December 6 at dusk. It is our chance to stop and reflect on the beauty of the Christmas story that still inspires people today. Branson celebrates keeping Christ in Christmas on this special night. No one is in the limelight and no particular organization is promoted, only an overwhelming outpouring of love from our community and celebration as we come together to honor the story of Jesus’ birth. SILVER DOLLAR CITY AN OLD TIME CHRISTMAS (Nov. 7-Dec. 30) One of the nation’s most acclaimed holiday festivals, An Old Time Christmas features Joy in Town Square with an
8-story LED special effects Christmas tree, the Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular, Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade, two Broadwaystyle Christmas productions and nearly seven million lights. Awarded “Best Theme Park Holiday Event” four years in a row by USA Today. NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN It’s New Year’s Eve and your resolution is to start on a memorable note. But how? We have a variety of entertainment options that are family-friendly, or, if you’re wanting a romantic getaway with your special someone, we have that too. There are plenty of shows taking the stage this New Year’s Eve in Branson. With dozens of star-filled Christmas music shows, an Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City and a glittering array of drivethrough light displays, there’s more “yule” enjoy in Branson with your family during the most wonderful time of the year.
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Ozark Mountain CHRISTMAS
AMERICA’S CHRISTMAS TREE CITY Traditional – Decorating an evergreen (real or artificial) is a beloved holiday tradition. These beautiful trees represent the best of our treasured Christmas heritage that has endured for hundreds of years. Natural – Real trees, either still growing, with root balls for future plantings or freshly cut. It is not easy to improve on a tree created by God, but we try. Adding a bit of light and color for the season makes these perfectly lovely creations even better for our Christmas celebration. Lights – Trees made mostly from lights are a brilliant and dazzling display of holiday spirit. These colorful, bright and shimmering trees always sparkle and sometimes even “dance” for joy during this special time of year. Creative – Christmas trees formed from unusual objects, shaped in unique ways or created as one-of-a-kind displays demonstrate amazing creativity and inspire others to share their talents this holiday season.
repurposed wine bottles that debuted at their Convention Center property with two more added this year. And the creative Christmas tree at Ripley’s Odditorium simply “must be seen” to be believed – it is covered with eyeballs! One of the tallest trees in Branson is located in front of Sight & Sound Theatre, on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, and it’s both massive and spectacular. The 46’ tree has a 6’ star on top, more than 4,300 LED lights and 1,260 ornaments. It’s a definite selfie spot each season. The area’s largest tree is the 80’ Christmas tree at Silver Dollar City featuring hundreds of thousands of dancing high-res lights with infinite ability for color, music, light and animated imagery. In addition to those counted for the trees 25’ and taller list, is the collection at Silver Dollar City, which is a Christmas tree category all its own. Silver Dollar City has five more lighted trees that are 40’ or taller. No surprise the theme park was voted the nation’s top holiday celebration by the readers of USA Today four years in a row. These amazing trees, and many, many more are aglow throughout Ozark Mountain Country this Christmas season.
Many cities around the country have one impressive Christmas tree that is the center of their holiday celebrations. Branson, however, “America’s Christmas Tree City” has more than two dozen trees 25’ or taller. The Branson Christmas Coalition, working year-round to inspire, encourage and facilitate Christmas tree displays throughout the area, puts a special emphasis on “landmark trees,” and the community responded. The Track Family Fun Parks have constructed a tree made from 500 upcycled go-kart tires that is 25 feet tall. Branson has its first floating Christmas tree at the Paddlewheel restaurant on Lake Taneycomo at Branson Landing. Hiltons of Branson have added to their spectacular “Vintage” tree, made from
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BRANSON FERRIS WHEEL
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Day TRIPS T H E H I S TO R Y M U S E U M O N T H E S Q U A R E
The Branson Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau represents a primary service area referred to as the Branson/Lakes Area. The cities and towns within the primary service area are located in Stone and Taney Counties, and include, but are not limited to: Blue Eye, Branson, Branson West, Forsyth, Galena, Hollister, Indian Point, Kimberling City, Kirbyville, Notch, Reeds Spring, Rockaway Beach and Taneyville. Branson is centrally located in the lakes area and serves as a great home base for ventures into neighboring towns. We encourage you to check out all of the opportunities for fun and exploration surrounding the Branson/Lakes Area. Springfield and Carthage, Missouri, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas, make great day trips from Branson. SPRINGFIELD Springfield is home to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World -- the first and largest Bass Pro store in the world -- where visitors can explore a mega store of outdoor gear, aquariums, museums and exhibits and enjoy a meal at Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe. The third-largest city
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HAMMONS FIELD - SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS
in Missouri also is home to Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, voted the best aquarium and best new attraction by USA Today readers. Also enjoy the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the Springfield Cardinals AA baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jordan Valley Ice Park, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, the Springfield Conservation Nature Center and the historic Landers Theater. Other notable sites include Fantastic Caverns (a 50-minute tour in a Jeep-drawn tram following an ancient underground
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
riverbed filled with massive formations), Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield for Civil War buffs, Dickerson Park Zoo, The History Museum on the Square featuring a permanent Route 66 exhibit and the Discovery Center. Nearby is Smallin Civil War Cave in Ozark, Wild Animal Safari in Strafford and The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield. SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU (800) 678-8767 www.SpringfieldMo.org
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WALNUT SHADE Copper Run Distillery is the first legal moonshine distillery in the Ozark Mountains since prohibition. Free tours daily and space for private events. National Tiger Sanctuary, a non-profit rescue organization, offers educational programs to foster a love and appreciation for nature. Visit Bear Creek Wine Company, a family operated winery just 10 miles north of Branson. Swing by and experience a true taste of the Ozarks. We offer complimentary tastings daily with nine wines that range from dry to sweet and you may taste as many as you like. HOLLISTER The historic town of Hollister shares the banks of Lake Taneycomo with its sister community, Branson. Once a major train depot stop for early visitors, the Old English feel of the town’s main thoroughfare on Downing Street is also home to the annual Grape Festival. www.HollisterChamber.net
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FORSYTH The Taney County seat is popular with those who enjoy fishing, boating and hiking, offering a variety of camping facilities, lake access, resorts, shops and restaurants. www.ForsythMissouri.org
in 2001, James River Outfitters offers a wide range of services including full RV hookups, outfitting for canoeing, fishing, tent camping, floating, swimming, nature photography, bird watching or just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
ROCKAWAY BEACH Rockaway Beach, the first “Family Resort Community” west of the Mississippi River, was founded in 1917. The small, friendly lakeside town, known for its speedboat racing, is 10 miles northeast of Branson. With a one-and-a-half mile shoreline stretching along Lake Taneycomo, fly fishermen come to enjoy one of the top Rainbow and German Brown Trout fishing lakes in America. www.RockawayBeach.net
BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER The Buffalo River begins as a trickle in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, and the first national river flows 150 miles to the northeast through the Ozarks and into the White River. Buffalo River National Park offers hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and canoeing and has designated trails and wilderness areas. Horseback riding is also permitted in small groups and on the owners’ horses.
JAMES RIVER In the 1800s, several of our earliest pioneer settlements were located along the river, drawn by abundant fishing and wild game. In the 20th century, the locals invented the “jon” boat, a long, narrow wooden boat that was stable, yet easy to maneuver in the shallow, swift current of the Ozarks’ rivers. Established
HOLIDAY ISLAND, ARKANSAS Just minutes from Eureka Springs, Arkansas and less than an hour from Branson. A wide variety of recreational amenities, including marina, RV park and 9 and 18-hole golf courses; with beautiful wooded hillsides, scenic valleys and the recreational bonanza of Table Rock Lake.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
COPPER RUN DISTILLERY
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Southwest of Branson, 52 miles into Arkansas, is the only town in America where the entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are 63 springs within the city limits, miles and miles of limetone walls and it was originally founded because of the belief in the healing powers of the springs. A Victorian village with more than 230 streets that wind around the hills leading to gourmet restaurants, wedding chapels
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B E A R C R E E K W I N E C O M PA N Y
and scenic public parks, the town is home to 250 Victorian painted lady houses, bed & breakfasts and historic hotels. More than 400 local artists and crafters offer a wonderful array of paintings, sculptures, mobiles, fountains and jewelry inside dozens of downtown shops and galleries. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge provides lifetime care for abandoned, abused and neglected “Big Cats” with an emphasis on tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars.
The Great Passion Play, named “America’s #1 Attended Outdoor Drama,” presents the epic story of Jesus Christ’s last three days on earth. GREATER EUREKA SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (479) 253-8737 www.EurekaSprings.org
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BRANSON AIRPORT (BKG) Fly to Branson with low cost fares on Frontier Airlines. Make connections from across the country. The list of routes and carriers are growing. Visit www.FlyBranson.com for the most up-todate air service options available. Located minutes from Branson, the airport is convenient to everything the Ozarks have to offer, and it’s easy to get in and out. Upon arrival, you will find a terminal with a comfortable, rustic atmosphere, convenient amenities such as the Airport Diner, a Bass Pro Shops General Store, Kids Port Play Area and FlyBranson Travel, our on-site full-service travel company, offering customized group and individual vacation packages. Enterprise, National and Alamo are the official rental car providers located conveniently in terminal next to baggage claim. Rental car representatives are available until all reservations from the last flight of the day have been picked up. Lyft, UBER and a host of ground transportation providers are also available for your convenience. Branson Jet Center is the fixed based operation (FBO) of choice for private and corporate aviation travel to Branson and the surrounding area. This facility provides a comprehensive list of services with exceptional customer service and specializes in chartering flights for individuals and groups. For the current commercial flight schedule and Airport information, please visit www.FlyBranson.com or call 1-888-FLY-BKG1. (888-359-2541)
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BRANSON AIRPORT
SPRINGFIELD-BRANSON N AT I O N A L A I R P O R T
SPRINGFIELD-BRANSON NATIONAL AIRPORT (SGF) About 50 miles north of Branson, serving all of Southwest Missouri, SGF offers 13 nonstop flights on: Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. For more information, call 417-869-0300 or visit their website www.FlySpringfield.com. NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT (XNA) 90 miles southwest of Branson near Bentonville, AR. For more information,
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NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT
call 479-205-1000 or www.FlyXNA.com. There are also two general aviation airports: • Branson West (FWB) 417-272-3921 which is northwest of Branson in Branson West • Boone County Airport (HRO) 870-741- 6954 which is 35 miles south of Branson in Harrison, AR
BRANSON AIRPORT
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V E T E R A N S D AY PA R A D E
Branson salutes our veterans and active duty armed forces year-round. Their service, commitment and ultimate sacrifice is honored with multiple special events, warm welcomes and VIP treatment. Men and women veterans and active duty personnel from all branches and from all wars, conflicts and peacetime service are appreciated in Branson every day of the year. In keeping with a long tradition of gratitude, many of the area shows recognize veterans, active duty military personnel and their families through special patriotic musical tributes. Frequently the entire audience gives a resounding round of applause to say “Welcome Home” and “Thank You.” This commitment to honoring veterans can be seen at area attractions, city parks, many restaurants, memorial museums and other businesses in a variety of ways. Military reunion groups come back often and say that Branson is their number-one destination of choice.
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VETERANS MEMORIAL
VETS FOR VETS Branson area veterans groups work together to present commemorative events throughout the year that mark historically significant military achievements and occasions. VETERANS HOMECOMING (NOV. 5-11) Each year, Branson hosts America’s largest Veterans Homecoming celebration. Tens of thousands of veterans, their friends and families arrive for a week
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ALL HANDS ON DECK! SHOW
of camaraderie. From Nov. 5 through Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Branson is filled with commemorative events, special appearances by high-ranking military personnel, tribute shows and reunions. The Veterans Day parade is held in historic downtown Branson, always at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and marks the conclusion of Veterans Homecoming Week each year.
Veterans INFO ANNUAL EVENTS HOSTED BY LOCAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS April 16-19 Purple Heart Recipient Recognition May 11-16 Armed Forces Week May 18 VVA Benefit Show at Hamner Variety Theater May 25 VVA Memorial Day Ceremony at Ozarks Memorial Cemetery June 13 VVA 5K/Half Marathon at Dewey Short Visitor Center June 28 Honor America Day at College of the Ozarks September 11 Remembrance Ceremonies at several locations September TBA CAF AirPower History Tour Vintage War Planes Rides Festival at Branson Airport October 24 VVA Fishing Tournament at Scotty’s Trout Dock November 5-11 Veterans Homecoming Week November 5-10 (Daily) Veterans Village at Ballparks of America November 5 Opening Ceremony of the Traveling Wall at the Welk Resort Vets For Vets Celebration Show TBA Shindigs Welcome Home Celebration at Jim Stafford Theatre WWII Veterans Mini Reunion at Jim Stafford Theatre
November 6 POW/MIA Service of Remembrance at Welk Resort Vietnam Wall
VETERANS GALLERIA 866-279-3415 www.VeteransGalleria.com
November 6-9 (Daily) Military Film Festival at IMAX Complex
VETERANS MEMORIAL MUSEUM 417-336-2300 www.VeteransMemorialBranson.com ____________________________________
November 7 Sandbox Veterans Party at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner
LOCAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS
Homefront Heroes: Spouses Luncheon TBA
AMERICAN LEGION 417-334-2296 www.Legion.org
November 8 24th Annual Military Gala & Banquet at Chateau on the Lake
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS 417-243-2324 www.dav.org
November 9 Navy Memorial Services at Westgate Resort
MOZARK CHAPTER, MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOC. OF AMERICA 417-230-9187 www.mozarkmoaa.com
Women Veterans Rose Petal Ceremony TBA Medics, Nurses & Combat Veterans Reunion at Westgate Resort
OZARK MOUNTAIN BLUE STAR MOTHERS 417-272-0630 www.bluestarmothers.org
Korean War Mini Reunion at Stone Castle
P.O.W. NETWORK 417-336-4232 www.POWNetwork.org
November 10 Walmart Tribute to Veterans Show at Mansion Theatre Lunch TBA
VETERANS MILITARY COALITION OF THE OZARKS 417-699-8145 www.vmco1.org
November 11 Veterans Day Parade Branson Landing Blvd. and through Downtown Branson
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 417-336-6017 www.VFW.org
____________________________________ LOCAL VETERANS SERVICES
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA 913 417-294-0728 www.BransonVVA913.com
VA BRANSON CLINIC 417-243-2300 FayettevilleAR.VA.gov
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA 1119 417-872-8072 www.vva1119.com
BRANSON VETERANS TASK FORCE 417-337-8387 www.BransonVeterans.com BRANSON VETERANS EVENTS & REUNIONS 417-230-2278 www.BransonVeteransEvents.com
ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CALL 417-243-2117 FOR UPDATES. Check out www.ExploreBranson.com/Veterans
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A MARVELOUS BEGINNING For more than 100 years, the Branson/ Lakes Area has been attracting visitors to the Ozarks, lured by natural beauty and outdoor recreational activities. The first family attraction to draw visitors was Marvel Cave (beneath the property where Silver Dollar City theme park is currently located). First called Marble Cave because its limestone walls were thought to be marble, the cave was described by geologists in the 1860s and explored in the 1880s by adventurers who lowered themselves on ropes 200 feet into the main chamber. Scientific American magazine described the cave in 1885, and word of the natural wonder spread throughout the continent. Canadian mining expert William Henry Lynch read of the cave, purchased it sight unseen, traveled to the Ozarks and, with his two daughters, opened the cave for public tours in 1894.
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On the advice of his physician, minister Harold Bell Wright traveled from his home in Kansas to the Ozarks in 1898 to seek a more suitable climate for his health. He stayed at the homestead of John and Anna Ross, whom Wright later immortalized as the characters Old Matt and Aunt Mollie in his bestselling novel “The Shepherd of the Hills.” Published in 1907, the book told the story of the self-reliant and stoic hill people he encountered in the area and of the wooded valleys, the mountain “balds” and the incredible cave he had seen. The book was a huge success. Millions of copies were sold in several languages, and four movies were filmed, including a 1941 version starring John Wayne, his first Technicolor film. Wright’s novel has become the fourth most widely read book in publishing history. Following the publication of “The Shepherd of the Hills,” local residents began noticing a great influx of visitors. Many came to the Ross homestead. The Rosses eventually sold their homestead to Miss Lizzie McDaniel of Springfield, who began presenting the very first dramatization of Wright’s story, right on the front lawn. When Ozark Beach Dam (also called Powersite Dam) was built in 1913 near
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Forsyth, and Lake Taneycomo was created, the area became quite a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who came to fish, boat, swim, hunt and enjoy the rugged beauty of the Ozark Mountains. Travelers flocked to the Ozarks on the newly built White River Line railroad that stopped in the neighboring town of Hollister. TV SHOWS & HYDROELECTRIC POWER The area first gained national prominence in the entertainment industry in 1954 when Red Foley, a legendary country singer with 38 top-ten hits, moved to Springfield, Missouri, from Nashville, Tennessee, to host “Ozark Jubilee,” one of the first successful network television shows from our area. In 1959, the area was changed forever with the completion of Table Rock Dam. This brought much-needed power to the area, spurring the growth of many area businesses. Until 1959, Rockaway Beach, located just a few miles east of Branson on the banks of Lake Taneycomo, had long been a playground for America’s rich and famous with movie stars and U.S. presidents among those who retreated to the small resort community.
Construction of a dam created Table Rock Lake, nationally renowned for bass fishing and water sports. In addition, the cold water from the bottom of Table Rock Lake that was now flowing into Lake Taneycomo changed it into one of the country’s most popular trout fly-fishing lakes.
direction of Mary, with her son Mark, it grew into one of the nation’s most popular outdoor historical dramas. In 1985, Gary Snadon, teacher and former cast member, purchased the homestead. The tradition continues with Jeff Johnson, grandson of one of the original performers, who took ownership in 2017.
BALDKNOBBERS JAMBOREE In 1959, Mabe brothers Bob, Bill, Lyle and Jim began performing twice a week in a converted roller skating rink on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront in downtown Branson. The brothers combined popular country tunes with Ozark Mountain music and threw in a dash of comedy to entertain audiences. In 1969, the Baldknobbers, as the brothers called themselves, built a theater on Highway 76, making their act the longest continuously running show.
SILVER DOLLAR CITY In 1960, the long-term plans of Hugo and Mary Herschend came to fruition with the opening of a small, old-time Ozarks village attraction atop the long-popular Marvel Cave, about 10 miles west of Branson on Hwy. 76. They called it Silver Dollar City, and it offered an 1880s steam train ride, demonstrating craftsmen, themed shops and music. The first year, it drew 125,000 people. Following Hugo’s death, Mary and her sons Jack and Peter continued to direct the growth of the family business, and by 1963, Silver Dollar City was Missouri’s top tourist attraction. In 1967, Silver Dollar City received national exposure when the “Beverly Hillbillies” TV show filmed five episodes at the Branson theme park.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS HOMESTEAD & OUTDOOR DRAMA A few miles east of Silver Dollar City, Dr. Bruce Trimble and his wife Mary, began staging an outdoor pageant in 1959 based on the best-selling novel “The Shepherd of the Hills.” The amphitheater was located on the site where author Harold Bell Wright’s characters lived. Under the
The company later expanded to include other popular Branson attractions: White Water water park and the Showboat Branson Belle. Today, Silver Dollar City
has grown into a multi-million dollar entertainment complex. The park also hosts six festivals each year. In 1998, Silver Dollar City was given the Applause Award by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions as the top theme park in the world. The family-owned company, Herschend Family Entertainment, currently owns, operates or partners in 21 properties in nine states. In 2004, Jack and Peter Herschend were inducted into the Hall of Fame of the amusement industry’s largest organization worldwide, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. PRESLEYS’ COUNTRY JUBILEE In 1963, the Presley family began a music show at The Underground Theater near Talking Rocks Cavern with special guests from “Ozark Jubilee,” including Red Foley. They made history in 1967 when they built the first music theater on Hwy. 76. Today, Presleys’ Country Jubilee stars three generations of Presley family members including two original members of the show: Gary and Steve Presley, Lloyd and Bessie’s sons. Together with other family and cast members, each night they perform a variety of music on a wide range of instruments and a much loved array of comedy skits.
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Calendar OF EVENTS Branson Shootout Futsal Tournament January 10-12 Branson Convention Center www.fclegacy.org Branson Bridal Show January 19 Branson Convention Center 417-334-0303 www.bransonbridalshow.com
Branson Elvis Festival April 5 Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater 417-339-3003 www.bransonelvisfestival.com Festival of Wonder April 8-26 Silver Dollar City - 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com
Hot Winter Fun Big Show February 5 Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater 417-339-3003 www.showsinbranson.com
Branson.com Honors Purple Heart Recipients April 16-19 417-334-8325 www.bit.ly/2qi4byt
Branson Classic Gymnastics February 21-23 Branson Convention Center www.destinationmeets.com
Branson Collector Car Auction April 17-18 Branson Convention Center www.bransonauction.com
Adventure in the Great Outdoors March-May Big Cedar Lodge 417-335-2777 www.bigcedar.com/events
60th Jubilee Homecoming April 20-May 3 Silver Dollar City 800-888-7277 www.silverdollarcity.com
FLW College Fishing Tournament March 6 Table Rock State Park/State Park Marina www.flwfishing.com
Branson Market Days May 1-2, November 14-15 Branson Convention Center 406-513-3200 www.bransonmarketdays.com
FLW High School Fishing Open March 7 Table Rock State Park/State Park Marina www.flwfishing.com Spring Ride Days March 17-22, 24-29, April 3 & 5 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com MoNASP State Archery Tournament March 19-21 Branson Convention Center www.mdc.mo.gov Tanger Boulevard Bazaar March 20-21 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson KVD Big Bass Classic April 3-5 Table Rock Lake www.bit.ly/34KSCP7
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Shepherd of the Hills Friday Farmers Market Fridays in May-October 417-334-4191 www.bransonfarmers.com Bluegrass & BBQ May 5-25 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com Costa FLW Series Tournament May 7-9 Table Rock Lake www.flwfishing.com American Cornhole Organization (ACO) Major’s Tournament May 22-24 Branson Convention Center www.americancornhole.com
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Branson Blast Pickleball Tournament May 22-25 Branson Convention Center www.pickleballblast.com Tanger Outlets Memorial Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale May 22-25 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson Chateau on the Lake Memorial Day Celebrations May 25 417-334-1161 www.chateauonthelake.com Best Summer Ever June-August Big Cedar Lodge 417-335-2777 www.bigcedar.com/events National Law Enforcement Week June 6-13 All around Branson www.bransonsalutes.com Star-Spangled Summer June 13-July 26 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com Princess & Pirate Cruises June 14-August 16 Showboat Branson Belle www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson Stage One National Dance Finals June 15-20 Branson Convention Center www.stageonedance.com Tanger Outlets Father’s Day Fun - Glad for Dad Event June 20 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson Branson Landing’s Liberty Light Up Concert & Fireworks July 3 417-239-3002 www.bransonlanding.com/entertainment.html Tanger Outlets July 4th Weekend Summer Sale Event July 3-6 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson
Chateau on the Lake 4th of July Celebration July 4 417-334-1161 www.chateauonthelake.com
Chateau on the Lake Labor Day Celebration September 7 417-334-1161 www.chateauonthelake.com
Branson Landing’s Annual Safe Street Trick or Treat October 31 417-239-3002 www.bransonlanding.com
USSSA Girl’s National Championship’s July 6 – 11 and July 15 – 19 Branson Rec Plex/Branson and Hollister High Schools www.usssa.com
Shepherd of the Hills Fall Craft Festival September 11-13 417-334-4190 www.shepherdofthehills.com
Trick-or-Treat TangerStyle October 31 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson
FASA’s Girl World Series Tournaments July 20-25 and July 27-August 1 Branson Rec Plex www.playfasa.com
Bass Pro Shops/KY3 Outdoor Autumn Celebration September 12-13 Table Rock State Park www.KY3.com
IMAX Military Film Festival November 6-9 www.bransonimax.com
Moonlight Madness July 25-August 9 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com
Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival September 17-19 Commercial St. in Downtown Branson 417-334-1548 www.downtownbranson.org
Cal Ripken Major70 World Series August 6-15 Ballparks of America 417-986-3395 www.major70worldseries.org
Cedar Fest September 22 – October 31 Big Cedar Lodge 417-335-2777 www.bigcedar.com/events
Tanger Outlets State Tax Relief Shopping August 7-9 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson
Harvest Festival: Craft Days and Pumpkin Nights September 23-October 31 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com
Branson Grand Prix of Missouri Powerboat Nationals Race August 22-23 Branson Landing 417-243-2121 www.powerboatnationals.com Southern Gospel Cruises August 27-29 Showboat Branson Belle www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson Southern Gospel Picnic August 27-September 7 Silver Dollar City 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com
Home for the Holidays November 6 – December 31 Big Cedar Lodge 417-335-2777 www.bigcedar.com/events An Old Time Christmas November 7-December 30 800-831-4386 www.silverdollarcity.com Santa’s Pancakes & PJs Cruise November 8-December 20 Showboat Branson Belle www.bit.ly/380Wiyl Tanger Outlets Branson Moonlight Madness & After Thanksgiving Sale November 26-29 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson
12th Annual TangerFit 5K Run/Walk and Silent Auction September 26 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/race
Where Is Elfie? November 27-December 24 Branson Landing 417-239-3002 www.bransonlanding.com
Shepherd’s Spooktacular Weekends October 417-334-4191 www.theshepherdofthehills.com Run Grand Country Half Marathon and 5K October 4 Grand Country Square 417-335-3535 race.grandcountry.com
Salute to Heroes September 1-21 Big Cedar Lodge 417-335-2777 www.bigcedar.com/events
Branson Collector Car Auction October 16-17 Branson Convention Center www.bransonauction.com
Tanger Outlets Labor Day Weekend Sale September 4-7 417-337-9328 www.tangeroutlets.com/branson
FLW’s T-H Marine BFL Regional Championship Table Rock State Park / State Park Marina October 22-24 www.flwfishing.com
Adoration Parade December 6 Downtown Branson www.explorebranson.com/family-friendly/ adoration-parade Showboat Branson Belle New Year’s Eve Cruise December 31 417-336-7100 www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson
FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF EVENTS IN THE BRANSON/LAKES AREA, VISIT WWW.EXPLOREBRANSON.COM/CALENDAR
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Theatre LINE-UP #1 Hits of the 60’s Clay Cooper Theatre www.1HitsOfThe60s.com 3 Dog Night Road to Shambala Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com A Neil Diamond Tribute Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Acrobats of China featuring New Shanghai Circus Acrobats Theatre www.AcrobatsOfChina.com Alabama Rolls On Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com All Crazy ‘bout Patsy Branson Hot Hits Theatre www.BransonHotHits.com
A Shepherd’s Christmas Carol Shepherd of the Hills Homestead Adventure Park - Old Mill Theater www.theShepherdOfTheHIlls.com
All Hands on Deck! Show The Dutton Family Theater www.AllHandsonDeckShow.com
A Tribute to John Denver IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre www.AmazingAcrobats.com
Abba Tribute - Thank You For The Music Hamners’ Variety Theater www.TYFTM.com
Amazing Pets Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Andy Williams Ozark Mountain Christmas Show Andy Williams Performing Arts Center and Theatre www.AndyWilliamsPAC.com Anthems of Rock Kings Castle Theatre www.KingsCastleTheatre.com Beach Boys California Dreamin’ Hamners’ Variety Theater www.CaliforniaDreaminShow.com Best of Neil Sedaka and Friends Variety Show Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com Billy Yates’ Hit Songwriters in the Round Lyrics Theatre inside Lodge of the Ozarks www.HitSongWritersintheRound.com The Blackwoods Branson Famous Theatre www.TheBlackwoods.com
BUCKETS ‘N’ BOARDS
GRAND COUNTRY’S GRAND JUBILEE
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D U B L I N ’ S I R I S H T E N O R S & T H E C E LT I C L A D I E S
The Blues Tribute Tribute Theatre www.PlattersInBranson.com
A Brett Family Christmas Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater www.TheBrettsShow.com
Clay Cooper’s Country Express Clay Cooper Theatre www.ClayCooperTheatre.com
Branson Country USA Late Show Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Broadway ~ The Greatest Hits King’s Castle Theatre www.KingsCastleTheatre.com
Comedy Hypnosis Show Majestic Theatre www.jecobiesmindplay.com
Branson Famous Baldknobbers Branson Famous Theatre www.Baldknobbers.com
Broadway to Buble Starring George Dyer Americana Theatre www.AmericanaTheatreBranson.com
Comedy Hypnosis with Austin Singley Yakov Theatre www.bransonhpnotist.com
Branson Famous Baldknobbers Christmas Branson Famous Theatre www.Baldknobbers.com
Buckets N Boards Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater www.BucketsNBoards.com
Comedy Jamboree Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Branson Murder Mystery “Murder On 76 Trail” Majestic Theatre www.BransonMurderMystery.com
CJ Newsom’s Classic Country & Comedy Americana Theatre www.PatsyClineAndFriends.com
Conway Remembered Hamners’ Variety Theater www.ConwayRemembered.com
Carpenters Once More Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Country Legends Jackie B. Goode’s Uptown Café www.BransonUptown.com
Chicago – Color My World Tribute Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute Tribute Theatre www.BransonTributeTheatre.com
Branson’s Christmas Wonderland Kings Castle Theatre www.KingsCastleTheatre.com
B I L LY YAT E S ’ H I T S O N G W R I T E R S I N T H E R O U N D
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Theatre LINE-UP Cont. Daniel O’Donnell Show Welk Resort Theatre www.WelkBranson.com
Dublin’s Irish Tenors & The Celtic Ladies Kings Castle Theatre www.KingsCastleTheatre.com
George Jones and Friends IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Decades presented by Pierce Arrow Pierce Arrow Theater www.PierceArrow.com
The Duttons The Dutton Family Theater www.TheDuttons.com
George Strait Country IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction www.DpStampede.com
Eagles Tribute Show Tribute Theatre www.BransonTributeTheatre.com
George Strait Show Jackie B. Goode’s Uptown Café www.BransonUptown.com
Dolly & Friends a Tribute Americana Theatre www.SweetheartsOfBranson.com
Fleetwood Mac Dreams Concert Tribute Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
The Glen Campbell Songbook IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Doo Wop Show Branson Hot Hits Theatre www.DowWopAndDrifters.com
The Gatlin Brothers The Mansion Theatre www.TheMansionTheatre.com
Golden Sounds of the Platters Tribute Theatre www.BransonTributeTheatre.com
Doug Gabriel’s #1 Hits Tribute Pierce Arrow Theater www.DougGabriel.com
Gene Watson The Mansion Theatre www.TheMansionTheatre.com
Grand Jubilee Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Down Home Country Show Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
George Dyer “From Broadway to Bublé” Americana Theatre www.GeorgeDyer.com
T H E D U T TO N S
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Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show Hamners’ Variety Theater www.HamnersUnbelievable.com
James Taylor & Friends Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Legends in Concert Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater www.LegendsInConcert.com/branson
The Haygoods Clay Cooper Theatre www.TheHaygoods.com
Jim Stafford Show Jim Stafford Theatre www.JimStaffordTickets.com
Leroy New Dutton Family Theater www.LeroyNew.com
Hot Rods & High Heels 1950’s Show Clay Cooper Theatre www.ClayCooperTheatre.com
Jerry Presley Elvis Live! Concerts Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Liverpool Legends Caravelle Theatre www.LiverpoolLegends.com
Hughes Brothers Christmas Show Hughes Brothers Theatre www.HughesBrothersChristmasShow.com
Jerry Presley Elvis Live! Christmas with Elvis Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Magic & Comedy of Taylor Reed Dutton Family Theater www.TaylorReed.com
Hughes Music Show Hughes Brothers Theatre www.HughesBrothersTheatre.com
John Denver Starring James Garrett IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Magnificent 7 Show Hamners’ Variety Theater www.Mag7Show.com
Illusionist Rick Thomas “Mansion of Dreams” Andy Williams Performing Arts Center and Theatre www.AndyWilliamsPAC.com
The Johnson Strings Americana Theatre www.TheJohnsonStrings.com
Marvin Gaye & Friends Branson Hot Hits Theatre www.BransonHotHits.com
Larry’s Country Diner Clay Cooper Theatre www.ClayCooperTheatre.com
C L AY C O O P E R ’ S C O U N T R Y E X P R E S S
A JANICE MARTIN CIRQUE SHOW
PIERCE ARROW
SIX
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Theatre LINE-UP Cont. Mickey Gilley & Johnny Lee, Country Music Legends Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre www.AmazingAcrobats.com/urbancowboy-reunion Mike Walker Lasting Impressions Hamners’ Variety Theater www.MikeWalkerMTH.com Motown Downtown A Tribute Branson Hot Hits Theatre www.BransonHotHits.com Murder by Eggnog Majestic Theatre www.BransonMurderMystery.com Nathan Carter Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre www.AmazingAcrobats.com Neal Diamond Gold IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Neil Sedaka Tribute Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Parrotville Jimmy Buffett Tribute Jim Stafford Theatre www.JimStaffordTickets.com
New Jersey Nights Kings Castle Theatre www.KingsCastleTheatre.com
The Petersens IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.ThePetersenBand.com
New South Gospel Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Pierce Arrow Pierce Arrow Theater www.PierceArrow.com
Noah Sight & Sound Theatres www.Sight-Sound.com
Presleys’ Christmas Jubilee Presleys’ Country Jubilee www.Presleys.com
The Oak Ridge Boys The Mansion Theatre www.TheMansionTheatre.com
Presleys’ Country Jubilee Presleys’ Country Jubilee www.Presleys.com
Ozarks Country Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Raiding the Country Vault Americana Theatre www.AmericanaTheatreBranson.com
Ozarks Gospel Grand Country Music Hall www.GrandCountry.com
Reza | Edge of Illusion Branson Famous Theatre www.RezaLive.com
T H E H U G H E S C H R I S TM A S S H O W
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Sanders Family Christmas IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Smoke on the Mountain IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Tribute to Southern Rock Tribute Theatre www.BransonTributeTheatre.com
Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama Shepherd of the Hills Homestead Adventure Park - Old Mill Theater www.theShepherdOfTheHIlls.com
The Sons of Britches IMAX Little Opry Theatre www.BransonIMAX.com
Waylon, Willie, & The Good Ol’ Boys Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Statler Brothers Revisited Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Yakov, Famous Russian Comedian Yakov’s Theatre www.Yakov.com
Temptations Motown Legends Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
Years of Kenny Rogers Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theatre www.GodandCountryTheatre.com
The Shoji Tabuchi Show Clay Cooper Theatre www.Shoji.com Showboat Branson Belle Lunch & Dinner Cruises Showboat Branson Belle On Table Rock Lake www.SilverDollarCity.com Silver Dollar City Shows Silver Dollar City’s many stages and Echo Hollow Amphitheatre www.SilverDollarCity.com The SIX Show Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater www.TheSIXshow.com
The Texas Tenors Andy Williams Performing Arts Center and Theatre www.AndyWilliamsPAC.com The Toby Dinner Show Shepherd of the Hills Homestead Adventure Park - Old Mill Theater www.TheShepherdoftheHills.com
As the vacation guide went to press in December 2019, the information for the above shows was received before deadline. The following shows were still finalizing details for their 2020 season: Buck Trent, Janice Martin, Prince Ivan and Hank Williams Revisited. For up-to-date shows and theatre listings, visit www.ExploreBranson.com
T H E H AYG O O D S
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#1 Hits of the 60’s Clay Cooper Theatre 3216 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-339-1968 • 877-339-1960 amcamproductions@yahoo.com www.1hitsofthe60s.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 2:00 pm Branson’s 2019 Show of the Year! 100 costumes, 100 hits from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. It’s the most fun you’ll have in Branson!
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The All Hands on Deck! Show Dutton Family Theatre 3454 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2772 •888-388-8661 ahod@gmail.com www.allhandsondeckshow.com
Open: Oct. – Dec., call for additional details Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM America’s favorite big band road show! This show reminds Americans how it feels to be united!
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Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre 3455 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-0888 boxoffice@amazingacrobats.com www.amazingacrobats.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM Labeled and awarded Branson’s Best Acrobat Show/Best Children Show. 23 years of thrilling, daring, colorful, energetic, new experiences!
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Amazing Pets Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Showtimes: 10:00 AM Enjoy an indoor circus of magic, comedy and an entourage of performing pets!
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Show & Theatre LISTINGS
Branson Country USA Late Show Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:30 PM Branson’s premier late-night show featuring a rotating roster of Branson talent.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers Branson Famous Theatre 645 State Hwy. 165, Branson, MO 65616 417-231-4999 • 866-565-4487 groupsales@baldknobbers.com www.baldknobbers.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM The show that started it all. Family-friendly country music and comedy variety show. Celebrating over 60 years in Branson.
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Clay Cooper’s Country Express Clay Cooper Theatre 3216 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2529 • 877-317-2604 info@claycoopertheatre.com www.claycoopertheatre.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM (varies, please call) Live music, singing, dancing, and comedy! Our 24 entertainers perform old and new country, current hits, rock, gospel, patriotic, and more!
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Comedy Jamboree Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Showtimes: 3:00 PM From hilarious comedy to country favorites, this show is a hot ticket!
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Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction 1525 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-3000 • 800-520-5544 salesmo@dpstampede.com www.dpstampede.com/branson
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: 5:30 PM, 8:00 PM; 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM matinées on select dates Dolly Parton’s Stampede is the World’s Most Visited Dinner AttractionTM, featuring 32 magnificent horses and a fabulous four-course feast.
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Show & Theatre LISTINGS
Down Home Country Show Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Apr. – May, Sept. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:00 AM This show offers the best of classic country, western swing and gospel music.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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The Duttons The Dutton Family Theatre 3454 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2772 • 888-388-8661 judith.dutton@gmail.com www.thedduttons.com
Open: Apr. – Dec. Showtimes: 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM Branson’s most musical family – The Duttons! Instruments, dance, vocals, and comedy. At the Duttons’ – amazing entertianment just doesn’t stop!
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Grand Jubilee Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Showtimes: 7:30 PM Starring Branson’s best quartet, New South. Enjoy Branson variety at its best!
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Hot Rods & High Heels 1950’s Show Clay Cooper Theatre 3216 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2529 • 877-317-2604 info@claycoopertheatre.com www.claycoopertheatre.com
Open: Apr. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM (varies, please call) Celebrating poodle skirts, sock hops, soda shops, and teenage love, our 8 singers/dancers and live band are sure to stir up some fond memories of “the good ol’ days” from the 1950’s!
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Hughes Brothers Christmas Show Hughes Brothers Theatre 3425 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-0076 info@hughes-brothers.com www.hughesbrotherschristmasshow.com
Open: Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM (check schedule) 11x awarded Branson’s Best Christmas Show. (Brammys. Branson Show Awards) Season’s best harmonies, festive surprises, family traditions. “It’s a triumph of everything you want to feel at Christmas time!”
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Hughes Music Show Hughes Brothers Theatre 3425 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-0076 info@hughes-brothers.com www.hughesmusicshow.com
Open: Feb. – Oct. Showtimes: 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM (check schedule) Branson’s #1 show for great music features the Hughes family, the largest live on-stage performing family in the world – all born to entertain. Voted “Live Music Show of the Year” and “Branson’s Best Variety Show.”
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Legends in Concert Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre 1600 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-339-3003 infobranson@legendsinconcert.com www.legendsinconcert.com/branson
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM World’s greatest live tribute show, featuring tributes to the stars of yesterday and today. Beer and wine available for purchase.
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The Magic and Comedy of Taylor Reed The Dutton Family Theatre 3454 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2772 • 888-388-8661 marketing@theduttons.com www.taylorreed.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM The illusionist for families! Taylor’s performance is so out of the ordinary – no wornder he is one of Branson’s longest running shows!
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The Mansion Theatre The Mansion Theatre 189 Expressway Lane, Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2000 • 866-707-4100 kadams@themansiontheatre.com www.themansiontheatre.com
Open: Apr. – Dec. Showtimes: 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM (varies, please call) The Mansion Theatre is a 3,000 seat, state-of-the-art concert and event facility located in the heart of the Ozarks. Shows featuring The Oak Ridge Boys, The Bellamy Brothers and Gene Watson.
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Mickey Gilley & Johnny Lee, Country Music Legends Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre 3455 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-3210 www.amazingacrobats.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Showtimes: Varies, call for details Real country music legends, The Mickey Gilley (17 #1 Hits) and The Johnny Lee (13 #1 Hits) sing/dance hit songs with Live Band & Urbanettes.
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New South Gospel Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 3:00 PM Branson’s best quartet, New South, sings all of your gospel favorites!
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Show & Theatre LISTINGS
The Oak Ridge Boys The Mansion Theatre 189 Expressway Lane, Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2000 • 866-707-4100 kadams@themansiontheatre.com www.themansiontheatre.com
Open: Apr., Sept. – Nov. (check schedule) Showtimes: 8:00 PM Grammy Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Oak Ridge Boys performing live at the Mansion Theatre.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
Returning to Branson for one season only, this landmark production takes you on board one of the world’s best-known voyages, as live animals fill the stage and aisles. Set sail inside the enormous ark as this extraordinary Bible story comes to life all around you!
MARCH 7 – DECEMBER 31, 2020 Branson, MO
RESERVE SEATONLY! BACK FOR ONEYOUR SEASON sight-sound.com | 800 -37 7-127 7
March 9 – October 12, 201
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Ozarks Country Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 tate@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 7:00 PM Featuring Branson favorites, Tonya & Tammy Bilyeu, this show celebrates country classics of yesteryear combined with today’s hot country hits!
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Ozarks Gospel Grand Country Music Hall 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2484 reservations@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 2:00 PM It’s just not Sunday without the sweet harmonies and handclapping excitement of some good old Southern Gospel music!
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Presleys’ Country Jubilee Presleys’ Theatre 2920 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4874 • 888-894-9548 info@presleys.com www.presleys.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 8:00 PM, Mon. – Sat. Branson’s first family of entertainment on stage featuring country favorites, southern gospel and hilarious comedy. Presleys’ Country Jubilee… Branson’s original show on The Strip.
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The Shoji Tabuchi Show Shoji Tabuchi Theatre 3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-7469 • 800-677-4022 tickets@shoji.com www.shoji.com
Open: See website for schedule Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 7:30 PM World-renowned entertainter Shoji Tabuchi, along with wife Dorothy and their daughter Christina, present their high-energy sparkling, family variety show.
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Showboat Branson Belle 4800 State Hwy. 165, Branson, MO 65616 417-336-7171 • 800-775-2628 info@silverdollarcity.com www.silverdollarcity.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:30 PM Cruise, dine and be entertained aboard America’s most entertaining lake adventure featuring a 3-course meal and live shows on Table Rock Lake!
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Sight & Sound Theatres 1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO 65616 417-335-7900 • 800-377-1277 customerservice@sight-sound.com www.sight-sound.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM Where stories from the Bible come to life on stage. This year, NOAH returns for one season only!
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Show & Theatre LISTINGS
A Tribute to Marty Robbins by Leroy New The Dutton Family Theatre 3454 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2772 • 888-388-8661 www.marketing@theduttons.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Showtimes: 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM Outstanding guitar picking by amazing musicians and a tribute show that shouldn’t be missed! Leroy New is Marty Robbins!
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www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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200’ Action Tower – Bigfoot Fun Park 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily Two adrenaline-pumping rides. Super Sling: you’re launched into the heavens, spinning your way back to earth. Gravity Bomb: 200’ free-fall drop from the highest point in Branson!
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7D Dark Ride Adventure 709 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 (417) 203-4149 customerservice@faceamusement.com www.7dadventure.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM A state-of-the-art, interactive, first-person game with seven dimensions of fun!
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8Di Theatre & Action Ride – Bigfoot Fun Park 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily Hop on mini-bikes, grab your gun and start shooting images on screen. Immersive 8-dimension gaming experience. Lights, wind, sounds, smells, moving bikes, play guns, make a sensory explosion.
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Adventure Mini-Golf – Bigfoot Fun Park 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily 18-hole Bigfoot-themed mini-golf adventure. Ozark woodlands, waterfall, cave with black light activated murals, desert, and frozen tundra. 9-holes ADA accessible. Fun and challenging.
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Andy B’s Bowl Social 405 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-213-8631 www.bowlandybs.com
Open: Year-round, 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (hours vary by day and time of year) Think top-notch restaurant and bar meets games, bowling, and more – that’s us. Now that’s family done right.
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Arcade City 715 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-203-4150 marketing@faceamusement.com www.arcadecity.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Sun. – Thurs.; 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Fri. – Sat. At Arcade City, you’ll find all the most exciting games, whether you’re competing against your friends or just yourself!
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Bigfoot Adventure Tour 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, call or check website for tour departures Get out to unspoiled Ozarks wilderness in 4x4 safari vehicles. Interactive themed adventure. Scottish Highland cattle. Original music. Extremely surprisingly twist ending. Experience Branson’s greatest show on wheels!
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Bigfoot Fun Park 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily Family fun for everyone! Mini-golf, offroad 4x4 safari tours, 8Di movies, arcade/best prizes, maze, Monkey Jump, 200’ Action Tower, Gravity Drop, Super Sling, more.
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Bigfoot Games & Entertainment Arcade 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily State-of-the-art games with the most unique and high-end prizes. The prizes include rare items, collectibles, fashion accessories (think Coach), NASCAR collections, new items added constantly.
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Branson Jet Boats 7A 4503 North Boardwalk, Branson Landing 417-334-7683 • 877-441-3727 info@bransonjetboats.com www.bransonjetboats.com
Open: May – Oct., 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, daily, seasonal Experience the beauty and history of Lake Taneycomo on this thrill ride that performs maneuvers such as bow dunks and 360s.
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Attraction LISTINGS
Branson Landing 100 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-239-3002 • 855-339-3002 marketing@bransonlanding.com www.bransonlanding.com
Open: Year-round, hours vary per attraction Where shopping, dining and entertainment take center stage, with over 100 specialty stores, restaurants, attractions, water and fire fountain show and Hilton Promenade Hotel.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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The Branson Sawmill 2115 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-544-8068 tobyt@faceamusement.com www.thebransonsawmill.com
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Branson Scenic Railway 206 E. Main St., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-6110 • 800-2TRAIN2 (800-287-2462) ikamp@bransontrain.com www.bransontrain.com
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Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain 2339 US Hwy. 65, Walnut Shade, MO 65771 417-561-0699 • 800-712-4654 groupsales@bransonzipline.com www.wolfemountainbranson.com
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Branson’s Promised Land Zoo 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-9453 info@plzoo.com www.plzoo.com
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The Butterfly Palace 4106 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2231 brittney@thebutterflypalace.com www.thebutterflypalace.com
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Castle of Chaos 3030 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8700 branson@hollywoodwax.com www.5dadventure.com
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Dick’s 5 & 10 103 W. Main St., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-2410 kathe@dicks5and10.com www.dicks5and10.com
Open: Year-round, 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM; seven days a week “One of the last five and tens in America.” See Dick Hartley’s famous collections, WWII aviation prints and models, baseball wall of fame, White River arrowhead collection, collector trains, and more.
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Dogwood Canyon Nature Park 2038 State Hwy. 86, Lampe, MO 65681 877-459-5687 info@dogwoodcanyon.org www.dogwoodcanyon.org
Open: Year-round, weather permitting, 8:30 AM – (4:00 – 6:00 PM seasonaly) daily 10,000 acres of Ozarks wilderness with trout streams, waterfalls and wildlife. Enjoy Segway and tram tours, horseback riding, walking or biking.
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Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction 1525 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-3000 • 800-520-5544 salesmo@dpstampede.com www.dpstampede.com/branson
Open: Feb. – Dec., 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily Dolly Parton’s Stampede is the World’s Most Visited Dinner AttractionTM, featuring 32 magnificent horses and a fabulous four-course feast.
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Farm Mini-Golf at Grand Country Resort 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2454 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Players will feel back at home on the farm while playing 36 holes of this animated Farm Mini-Golf course.
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Attraction LISTINGS
Fritz’s Adventure 1425 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-320-6138 info@fritzsadventure.com www.fritzsadventure.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (check website for the most up-to-date hours of operation) Fritz’s Adventure is an indoor amusement park featuring 80,000 sq. ft. of climable, exporeable space.
| 2020 Branson Vacation Guide | www.ExploreBranson.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Home of The Branson Buzzaw and The Branson Coaster!
Open: Mar. – Dec., 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM A 40-mile excursion into the backwoods of the Ozark foothills aboard vintage railroad equipment. Dinner train: Apr. – Nov.; Polar Express: Nov. – Dec.
Open: Year-round, hours vary Explore the Ozarks on our world-class guided adventure while soaring through the trees on ziplines, sky bridges and more!
Open: Year-round Branson’s #1 animal attraction. Home to hundreds of animals. 75 acres. Animal encounters. Natural Ozarks topography. Foot safari. Two mile drive-thru. Parakeet paradise. Animal adventure building. Tram tours. Live animal shows. More! Open: Year-round, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day) Explore live butterflies and more with your three-day wristband. All five exibits are included. Plus you can hand-feed the butterflies!
Open: Year-round, 8:00 AM – late Grab your 3D goggles and laser blaster for nonstop, shootem-up fun. This seated, virtual quest is great for all ages!
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Grand Country Fun Spot 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2454 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Fun Spot arcade and entertainment center boasts a two-story laser tag arena, arcade games, bumper cars, blacklight minigolf and more!
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Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors 3030 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8700 branson@hollywoodwax.com www.hannahsmazeofmirrors.com
Open: Year-round, 8:00 AM – late Are you the chosen one? Find your way through hundreds of mirrored walls and archways on a gallant journey that is sure to make you smile!
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Hollywood Wax Museum 3030 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8700 branson@hollywoodwax.com www.bransonwaxfun.com
Open: Year-round, 8:00 AM – late Walk the red carpet and strike your best poses with your favorite stars in a self-guided romp with Hollywood’s elite.
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Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center 3030 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8700 branson@hollywoodwax.com www.bransonwaxfun.com
Open: Year-round, 8:00 AM – late Best value in Branson! Enjoy Hollywood Wax Museum, Shoot For The Stars Mini-Golf, Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors and Castle of Chaos for one great price.
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Attraction LISTINGS
Indoor Mini-golf at Grand Country Resort 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-3919 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Grand Country Indoor Mini-golf is a 36-hole, Ozarks forest themed course that is completely indoors for guests to enjoy rain or shine!
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www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium 500 W. Sunshine St., Springifeld, MO 65807 888-222-6060 info@wondersofwildlife.org www.wondersofwildlife.org
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (peak hours); 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (non-peak hours) A tribute to conservation world-wide through immersive wildlife galleries, historic collections, and a 1.5-million gallon aquarium adventure showcasing 35,000 animals.
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“Let There Be Lights” Drive Thru at Promised Land Zoo 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson, MO 65616 info@plzoo.com www.plzoo.com/lights
Open: Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM Zoo by day! Lights by night! Largest drive-thru light display in the Ozarks. Santa and his reindeer. Candy Land courtyard. Musical dancing trees. Two mile drive-thru. More.
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Lights of Joy 700 Expressway Lane, Branson, MO 65616 417-233-1769 steve@lightsofjoy.com www.lightsofjoy.com
Open: Nov. – Dec., 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM Experience an all LED Christmas light drive-thru that weill dazzle the senses. Over 250 light displays to discover.
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Mirror Maize 713 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson Landing 417-203-4158 customerservice@faceamusement.com www.themirrormaize.com
Open: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM A fantastical maze of mirrors that will test your ability to see what’s real and what’s merely an illusion.
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Attraction LISTINGS
The Runaway Mountain Coaster 935 State Hwy. 165, Branson, MO 65616 417-334-7337 • 800-371-7027 smiller@bransonmountaincoaster.com www.runawaybranson.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; summer hours 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM Zoom through the woods or take a mild ride on the longest, tallest and fastest mountain coaster in the midwest.
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www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre 5586 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4191 info@theshepherdofthehills.com www.theshepherdofthehills.com
Open: May – Oct., hours vary Based on Harold Bell Wright’s book, this show is an actionpacked live reenactment of the 1800’s in the Ozarks.
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Shepherd’s Adventure Park 5586 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4191 info@theshepherdofthehills.com www.theshepherdofthehills.com
Open: Year-round, hours vary This new attraction park includes a multi-level ropes course, a scenic canopy zipline tour, a fast Vigilante Ziprider and more!
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Shepherd’s North Pole Adventure 5586 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4191 info@theshepherdofthehills.com www.theshepherdofthehills.com
Open: Nov. – Dec., 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM This magical walk-through experience takes you on a journey through thousands of twinkling lights, hot chocolate stands and artisan crafts. Santa’s Workshop, Inspiration Tower, Doc’s Toy Box and more. Make it a family tradition.
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Shoot For the Stars Mini-Golf 3110 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8700 branson@hollywoodwax.com www.shootforthestarsminigolf.com
Open: Year-round (weather permitting), 8:00 AM – late Putt your way to fame! Shoot through Hollywood landmarks, parties and paparazzi as you take the 18 steps to becoming a star.
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Attraction LISTINGS
Silver Dollar City 399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-7100 • 800-831-4386 info@silverdollarcity.com www.silverdollarcity.com
Open: Mar. – Dec., hours vary (visit www.SilverDollarCity.com for details.) Celebrate Silver Dollar City’s 60th Anniversary with new Mystic River Falls – the tallest raft ride drop in the western hemisphere!
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www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Snowflex at Wolfe Mountain 2339 US Hwy. 65, Walnut Shade, MO 65771 417-561-0699 groupsales@bransonzipline.com www.wolfemountainbranson.com
Open: Year-round, hours vary Tube down a 400-foot slope in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, designed for maximum thrills for people of all ages!
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Splash Country Indoor Waterpark at Grand Country Resort 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-3535 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Splash Country Indoors is Branson’s best indoor waterpark experience with 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, lazy river, tube slides and more!
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Shipwrecked Treasure Museum 505 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson Landing (across from Paula Deen’s) 417-635-5041 shipwreckedtreasuremuseum@gmail.com www.bransontreasuremuseum.com
Open: Year-round, 10:000 AM daily Interactive attraction features authentic recovered artifacts and historically significant treasures from deep sea shipwrecks. As seen on Discovery Channel and National Geographic.
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Talking Rocks Cavern 423 Fairy Cave Ln., Branson West, MO 65737 417-272-3366 • 800-600-CAVE (2283) info@talkingrockscavern.com www.talkingrockscavern.com
Open: Year-round, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Feb. – May; 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, June –Aug.; 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Sept. – Dec.; 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Jan. Guided, walking cave tours depart frequently all day. Large gift shop, gemstone panning, mini-golf, nature trails and picnic areas.
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Attraction LISTINGS
The Track Family Fun Parks 3 Branson Locations 417-334-1612 info@bransontracks.com www.bransontracks.com
Open: Check website for operating schedule Enjoy high-rise go-karts, classic go-karts, bumper boats/cars, arcades and more! Chicago’s Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, now named The Branson Ferris Wheel, stands 150 ft. tall and a NEW Thrill ride – The Skyscraper, towering 170 ft.
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Top of the Rock 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, MO 65739 417-339-5306 bigcedar@big-cedar.com www.topoftherock.com
Open: Year-round, 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM World-class restaurants and attractions situated at the highest elevation in Taney County overlooking sparkling Table Rock Lake.
AD ON PAGE 9
White Water 3505 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-7100 • 800-831-4386 info@silverdollarcity.com www.silverdollarcity.com
Open: May – Sept., hours vary (visit www.SilverDollarCity.com for details.) Dive into 13 acres of rides, slides and waves for all ages filled with 2-million gallons of fun!
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Wonder Works Branson 2035 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 info@wonderworks.com www.wonderworks.com
Open: May – Sept., hours vary (check website for details) WonderWorks, a science focused indoor amusement park, contains four floors of fun to challenge the mind and spark the imagination.
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Attraction LISTINGS
Yeti Fun Zone & Monkey Jump - Bigfoot Fun Park 3608 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 800-562-2416 info@bransonbigfoot.com www.bigfootfunpark.com
Open: Year-round, 10:00 AM – late, daily 3-story, multi-level maze (above ground and below) Tunnels, spiral slide, Yeti treehouse and more. Option to “chicken” exit or take a daring leap into a huge inflated bag, just like in the movies!
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MAIN STREET LAKE CRUISES
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Branson Landing 100 Branson Landing, Branson, MO 65616 417-239-3002 • 855-339-3002 marketing@bransonlanding.com www.bransonlanding.com
Open: Year-round Where shopping, dining and entertainment take center stage, with over 100 specialty stores, restaurants, attractions, water and fire fountain show and Hilton Promenade Hotel.
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Dick’s 5 & 10 103 W Main St., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-2410 kathe@dicks5and10.com www.dicks5and10.com
Open: Year-round, seven days a week Branson landmark for over 58 years. One of the last remaining 5 and 10’s in America. No trip to Branson is complete without the Dicks 5 & 10 experience.
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Grand Country Shoppes 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-3919 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Your vacation shopping awaits you at Grand Country Shoppes. Find the perfect gifts to take home to friends and family. From souvenirs to nostalgic toys and homemade fudge, Grand Country Shoppes has it all!
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The Grand Village Shops 2800 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 pamcritchfield@gmail.com www.grandvillageshops.com
Open: Year-round A variety of shops, restaurants, artisans and more. Home of Branson’s singing waiters at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, awardwinning Sugar Leaf Café & Bakery. Known for hundreds of works by artisans throughout the center, don’t miss this unique shopping destination in the Entertainment District.
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Shopping LISTINGS
The Shoppes at Branson Meadows 4740 N. Gretna Rd., Branson, MO 65616 pamcritchfield@gmail.com www.theshoppesatbransonmeadows.com
Open: Year-round A variety of shops including VF Factory Outlet, Tuesday Morning, Branson Meadows Cinema, Escape Code, restaurants and Branson Event Center.
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Andy B’s Bowl Social 405 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-213-8631 www.bowlandybs.com
Open: Year-round Approx. cost: $5.00-$20.00 + tax Types of cuisine: Updated-American Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and cocktails. Also features full-service menu and meeting facilities. Taking reservations.
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Branson Landing 100 Branson Landing, Branson, MO 65616 417-239-3002 • 855-339-3002 marketing@bransonlanding.com www.bransonlanding.com
Open: Year-round Approx. cost:Starting at $6.00 + tax and up Type of cuisine: All-types Serving lunch, dinner, snacks and cocktails. Also features full-service menu, gift shop, live entertainment and meeting facilities.
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Branson’s Pasghetti’s Restaurant and Attraction 3129 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 Local: 417-335-0690 www.bransonsbestrestaurants.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Approx. cost: $10.00-$30.00 + tax Type of cuisine: Italian Serving lunch, dinner and cocktails. Also features full-service menu, gift shop and meeting facilities. Taking reservations.
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Chateau Grille at Chateau on the Lake 415 N. State Hwy. 265, Branson, MO 65616 417-243-1777 chateauonthelake@atriumhospitality.com www.chateauonthelake.com
Open: Year-round Approx. cost: $11.00-$32.00 + tax Type of cuisine: New American Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Also features full-service menu and buffet. Taking reservations.
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Fall Creek Steak & Catfish House 997 State Hwy. 165, Branson, MO 65616 417-336-5060 steakcatfishhouse@gmail.com www.bransonsbestrestaurants.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Approx. cost: $10.00-$25.00 + tax Types of cuisine: American Serving lunch, dinner and cocktails. Also features full-service menu, gift shop and live entertainment.
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Dining LISTINGS
Grand Country Buffet 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-2434 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Approx. cost: $5.99-$13.49 + tax Types of cuisine: American buffet Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also features a buffet.
BLACK OAK GRILL
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The Great American Steak & Chicken House 2421 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-6699 bigchickenhouse@gmail.com www.bransonsbestrestaurants.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. Approx. cost: $10.00-$25.00 + tax Types of cuisine: American Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Also features full-service menu, buffet and gift shop.
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Celebrity Bistro inside Hughes Brothers Theatre 3425 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-0076 info@hughes-brothers.com www.hughesbrothersteatre.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Offers soups, sandwiches, smoothies, desserts, salads and more in Bistro above the lobby. Elevator access. Serving lunch, dinner and snacks. Also features gift shop and meeting facilities.
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Hughes Brothers Theatre 3425 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-0076 info@hughes-brothers.com www.hughesbrothersteatre.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Enjoy the unique dining atmosphere inside the theater. Fine table-top dining in the balcony before the show with 3-course meal from culinary Chef Reggie. Elevator access. Serving dinner. Also features gift shop, meeting facilities and live entertainment. Taking reservations.
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Papa Grand’s Pizza at Grand Country Resort 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-6709 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
Open: Year-round Types of cuisine: Pizza and pasta buffet Serving lunch, dinner and snacks. Also features buffet.
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Pizza Ranch 1464 State Hwy. 248, Branson, MO 65616 417-337-5060 branson@pizzaranch.com www.pizzaranch.com
Open: Year-round Approx. cost: $8.00-$14.00 + tax Types of cuisine: Pizza and chicken buffet Serving breakfast and lunch. Also features buffet.
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Dining LISTINGS
Whipper Snappers Seafood Restaurant 2421 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-3282 humanresourcesbbr@gmail.com www.bransonsbestrestaurants.com
Open: Feb. – Dec. Approx. cost: $19.99-$69.99 + tax Types of cuisine: Seafood Serving lunch, dinner and cocktails. Also features buffet and gift shop.
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all the rolls you can catch and eat 997 hwy 165 1 mile south of titanic attraction 417.336.5060 fallcreeksteakhouse.com
world's largest meatball
family friendly
3129 w. hwy 76 country blvd. across from clay cooper theatre pasghettis.com open daily at 11AM 417.335.0690 www.ExploreBranson.com | 2020 Branson Vacation Guide |
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Big Cedar Golf 1001 Branson Creek Blvd., Hollister, MO 65672 417-339-5430 bigcedar@big-cedar.com www.golfbigcedar.com
Open: Year-round, weather permitting Golf carts, rental clubs, pro shop, lodging and dining on property. Big Cedar Lodge, America’s next great golf destination, has five courses designed by some of the biggest names in golf.
AD ON THIS PAGE
Branson Hills Golf Club 100 N. Payne Stewart Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-337-2963 ddavis@bransonhillsgolfclub.com www.bransonhillsgolfclub.com
Open: Year-round Approx. fees: $60.00-$120.00 + tax Golf carts, rental clubs, pro shop, lodging and dining on property. This 18-hole championship golf course offers a driving range, club rentals, a full-service restaurant and banquet facilities.
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Golf LISTINGS
Thousand Hills Golf Resort 245 S. Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-5873 • 800-864-4145 dwertz@thousandhills.com www.thousandhills.com
Open: Year-round, weather permitting Approx. fees: $59.00 + tax Golf carts, rental clubs, pro shop and lodging on property. Located in the center of Branson, Thousand Hills Golf Course is just 2 blocks off Highway 76, 2 blocks behind the Grand Village Shops.
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LISTINGS
N = Nearby
Months Open (range) Approx. cost (per night, dbl. occ.) Total number of units Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Spa/Hot tub Health club/exercise room Arcade/Game Room 24-hour office Full-Service Restaurant Laundry facilities Meeting/business facilities Packages a/o Ticket Service Pets allowed Elevator Access Handicapped access Kitchenettes available Suites available Connecting units Non-Smoking available In-room Safe Microwave Refrigerator Tennis Golf Childrens Playground Park/picnic area RV/Camping Facilities Dump Station Marina Boat Rentals Ad on Page
Resort
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275 • •
$250
Thousand Hills Golf Resort 245 S. Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-243-2201 • 877-262-0430 dwertz@thousandhills.com www.thousandhills.com
Year-round
GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE / THOUSAND HILLS
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$99 - $139
The Suites at Fall Creek 1 Fall Creek Dr., Branson, MO 65616 800-438-2929 • 800-438-2929 keith.bielski@diamondresorts.com www.diamondresortsandhotels.com
Year-round
HWY. 165 AREA
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Year-round $159
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Holiday Hills Resort 2380 E. Hwy. 76, Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4443 • 855-441-2618 reservation@holidayinnclub.com www.bit.ly/2QdBKgF
Year-round
Grand Country Resort 1945 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-3535 info@grandcountry.com www.grandcountry.com
319 • • •
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200
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The Village at Indian Point Resort & Conference Center 24 Village Trail, Branson, MO 65616 417-338-8800 • 800-984-7847 info@villageatindianpoint.com www.villageatindianpoint.com
$99
Still Waters Resort 21 Stillwater Trail, Branson, MO 65616 417-338-2323 • 800-777-2320 info@stillwatersresort.com www.stillwatersresort.com
$175
INDIAN POINT
RIDGEDALE, BLUE EYE, BRANSON
Rent Branson Amazing Branson Vacation Rentals 245 Freund Dr., Ridgedale, MO 65739 417-779-5880 info@rentbranson.com www.rentbranson.com
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301 • • • •
Camp Long Creek 1368 Long Creek Rd., Ridgedale, MO 65739 417-334-4860 bigcedar@big-cedar.com www.bigcedar.com/attractions/camp-long-creek 42 N • • N N •-N N N N • •
RIDGEDALE
30
Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center 415 N. State Hwy. 265, Branson, MO 65616 417-334-1161 • 888-333-5253 nathan.wood@atriumhospitality.com www.chateauonthelake.com Months Open (range) Approx. cost (per night, dbl. occ.) Total number of units Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Spa/Hot tub Health club/exercise room Arcade/Game Room 24-hour office Full-Service Restaurant Laundry facilities Meeting/business facilities Packages a/o Ticket Service Pets allowed Elevator Access Handicapped access Kitchenettes available Suites available Connecting units Non-Smoking available In-room Safe Microwave Refrigerator Tennis Golf Childrens Playground Park/picnic area RV/Camping Facilities Dump Station Marina Boat Rentals Ad on Page
N = Nearby
Year-round
LISTINGS
Year-round
Resort
TABLE ROCK LAKE DAM
S I LV E R D O L L A R C I T Y
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Ad Page Number
Boat Rentals
Marina
Park/picnic area
Childrens Playground
Tennis
•
Golf
Non-Smoking available
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N
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Handicapped access
Time Share
Pets allowed
Packages a/o Ticket Service
•
N
•
Meeting/business facilities
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Laundry facilities
Full-Service Restaurant
N
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Snacks/vending
N
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Complimentary Breakfast
N
24-hour office
Health club/exercise room
Spa/Hot tub
Outdoor Pool
Indoor Pool
N = Nearby
Total number of units
Months Open
LISTINGS
Approx. cost (per night, dbl.occ.)
Condo
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•
•
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N
•
•
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80
N
Original Branson Vacation Rentals 417-832-9991 bransonvacationcabins@gmail.com www.bransonvacationcabins.com
$200
Year-round
STONE & TANEY COUNTIES
•
•
N
•
N
124
N
•
N
N
N
123
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•
•
N
• •
•
275 68
•
$250 $175
Thousand Hills Golf Resort 245 S. Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-243-2201 • 877-262-0430 dwertz@thousandhills.com www.thousandhills.com
Year-round
GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE / THOUSAND HILLS
The Village at Indian Point Resort & Conference Center 24 Village Trail, Branson, MO 65616 417-338-8800 • 800-984-7847 info@villageatindianpoint.com www.villageatindianpoint.com
•
INDIAN POINT
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Real Estate LISTINGS Whisper Cove 231 Sante Fe Ave., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-COVE (6835) www.whispercove.com
H I S TO R I C D O W N TO W N B R A N S O N
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Commercial - investment, Residential/Homes, Lots and Land. Table Rock lakefront development opportunties. Close to Branson and Branson schools.
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LISTINGS
N = Nearby
Months Open (range) Approx. cost (per night, dbl. occ.) Total number of units Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Spa/Hot tub Health club/exercise room Arcade/Game Room Gift Shop 24-hour office Complimentary Breakfast Full-Service Restaurant Cocktail Lounge Room Service Laundry facilities Meeting/business facilities Packages a/oTicket Service Pets allowed Elevator Access Handicapped access Exterior Corridors Interior Corridors Kitchenettes available Suites available Connecting units Non-Smoking available In-room Safe Microwave Refrigerator Ad Page Number
Hotel & Motel
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Mar. - Dec. Year-round
Year-round $75
Rosebud Inn 1415 Roark Valley Rd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-4000 • 800-767-3522 reservation@rosebudinn.com www.rosebudinn.com
Mar. - Dec.
Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing 3 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-5500 • 866-568-0890 hrobr-salesadm@hilton.com www.promenadebransonlanding.hilton.com
$50 - $90
Hilton Branson Convention Center 200 E. Main St., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-5400 • 866-442-0959 hrobc-salesadm@hilton.com www.bransonconventioncenter.hilton.com
Year-round
Comfort Inn & Suites Branson Meadows 5150 Gretna Rd., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-4731 • 877-7HOTELS (877-746-8357) info@myerhotels.com www.myerhospitality.com
102 •
DOWNTOWN / NORTH / BRANSON MEADOWS
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• • • •
201 • • • •
Grand Oaks Hotel 2315 Green Mountain Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-6423 • 800-553-6423 info@grandoakshotel.net www.grandoakshotel.net
$119
Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills 203 S. Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-4727 • 877-335-4727 info@myerhotels.com www.myerhospitality.com
Feb. - Dec.
Angel Inn – Central 2350 Green Mountain Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-6500 acentral2350@gmail.com www.angelinncentral.com
Feb. - Dec.
GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE / THOUSAND HILLS
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LISTINGS
N = Nearby
Months Open (range) Approx. cost (per night, dbl. occ.) Total number of units Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Spa/Hot tub Health club/exercise room Arcade/Game Room Gift Shop 24-hour office Complimentary Breakfast Full-Service Restaurant Cocktail Lounge Room Service Laundry facilities Meeting/business facilities Packages a/oTicket Service Pets allowed Elevator Access Handicapped access Exterior Corridors Interior Corridors Kitchenettes available Suites available Connecting units Non-Smoking available In-room Safe Microwave Refrigerator Ad Page Number
Hotel & Motel
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Mar. - Dec.
472 • • • •
Radisson Hotel Branson 120 S. Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-335-5767 • 888-566-5290 d.williams@combshospitality.com www.radisson.com/bransonmo
Year-round
Holiday Inn Express Green Mtn. Drive 2801 Green Mountain Dr., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-2100 • 800-321-7275 info@myerhospitality.com www.myerhospitality.com
120 •
GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE / THOUSAND HILLS CONTINUED
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162 • • • • • • • • • • $69.99
150
Feb. - Dec. $50 - $90
The Dutton Inn 3454 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-332-2772 • 888-388-8661 duttoninn@gmail.com www.duttoninn.com
Year-round
Best Western Center Pointe Inn 3215 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-1894 • 877-334-1894 info@myerhotels.com www.myerhospitality.com
Mar. - Dec.
Angel Inn – by the Strip 3029 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 417-336-5151 res@letsgotobranson.com www.angelinnhotels.com
Mar. - Dec.
76 COUNTRY BOULEVARD
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Best Western Music Capital Inn 3257 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO 65616 417-334-8378 • 877-334-8378 info@myerhotels.com www.myerhospitality.com
93 •
Angel Inn – near IMAX 3311 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO 65616 417-334-2300 frontdesk@angelinnnearimax.com www.angelinnnearimax.com
Feb. - Dec.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EXPRESSWAY
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Quality Inn West 3601 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO 65616 417-334-8694 • 800-443-8694 info@myerhotels.com www.myerhospitality.com
La Quinta by Qyndham Branson/Hollister 291 Financial Dr., Hollister, MO 65672 417-239-0066 lqfd@ohospitalitymanagement.com www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/hollister
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$60 - $140
Year-round
Branson Towers Hotel 236 Shepherd of the Hills Expy. Branson, MO 65616 417-339-4000 groups@letsgotobranson.com www.bransontowershotel.com
Mar. - Dec.
Months Open (range) Approx. cost (per night, dbl. occ.) Total number of units Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Spa/Hot tub Health club/exercise room Arcade/Game Room Gift Shop 24-hour office Complimentary Breakfast Full-Service Restaurant Cocktail Lounge Room Service Laundry facilities Meeting/business facilities Packages a/oTicket Service Pets allowed Elevator Access Handicapped access Exterior Corridors Interior Corridors Kitchenettes available Suites available Connecting units Non-Smoking available In-room Safe Microwave Refrigerator Ad Page Number
N = Nearby
$119
LISTINGS
Year-round
Hotel & Motel
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EXPRESSWAY CONTINUED
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Baxter Marina, LLC 4667 State Hwy. H, Lampe, MO 65681 417-779-4301 www.baxtermarina.com
Open: Apr. – Oct. General store, fuel, restaurant, pontoon boats, personal watercraft, ski/tube rental, boat slip rental and live bait.
AD ON PAGE 135
State Park Marina 380 State Park Marina Rd. 417-334-2628 • 888-993-BOAT info@stateparkmarina.com www.stateparkmarina.com
Open: Mar. – Dec. General store, clothing boutique, fuel, restaurant, snack shop, hunting/fishing licenses, live bait fishing boats, cruise boats, ski boats, pontoon boats, personal watercraft, ski/tube rental, boat slip rental and diving equipment. 600 boat slips.
AD ON PAGE 135
Marina LISTINGS
Table Rock Lake Pontoons, Inc. 4667 State Hwy. H, Lampe, MO 65681 417-779-1270 • 800-662-9984 www.pontoonrentals.com
Open: Apr. – Sept. Pontoon boats.
TA B L E R O C K L A K E
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Packages, accommodations, group services, itinerary planning, entertainment and meals.
BransonMissouri.com 269 State Hwy. 248, Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8455 • 877-ENTERTAIN info@bransonmissouri.com www.bransonmissouri.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accommodations, local ticket delivery, itinerary planning, entertainment, meals, specialty service/publication and attractions. Book online, in person or over the phone. Local experts.
Branson Show Tickets 2005 76 Country Blvd., Ste. 206 Branson, MO 65616 417-213-8955 • 877-688-3179 social@saveonbranson.com www.bransonshowtickets.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accommodations, local ticket delivery, group services, itinerary planning, entertainment, meals, specialty service/ publication, free coupons, guides, discounts, online booking and no booking fees.
AD ON INSIDE BACK COVER
iBranson Ticket Services 269 State Hwy. 248, Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8455 • 877-ENTERTAIN info@ibranson.com www.ibranson.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accommodations, local ticket delivery, itinerary planning, entertainment, meals, specialty service/publication and attractions. Servicing Branson for over 25 years. Seven area ticket locations to help you.
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iBranson.com 269 State Hwy. 248, Branson, MO 65616 417-337-8455 • 877-ENTERTAIN info@ibranson.com www.ibranson.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accommodations, local ticket delivery, itinerary planning, entertainment, meals, specialty service/publication and attractions. Servicing Branson for over 25 years.
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Save on Branson 2005 76 Country Blvd., Ste. 206 Branson, MO 65616 417-213-8955 • 877-375-6306 social@saveonbranson.com www.saveonbranson.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accommodations, local ticket delivery, group services, itinerary planning, entertainment, meals, specialty service/ publication, free coupons, guides, discounts, online booking and no booking fees.
The Village at Indian Point Resort & Conference Center 24 Village Tr., Branson, MO 65616 417-338-8800 • 800-984-7847 info@villageatindianpoint.com www.villageatindianpoint.com
Open: Year-round Packages, accomodations and itinerary planning.
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Branson.com 220 Branson Hills Pkwy., Branson, MO 65616 417-334-4400 • 800-785-1610 info@branson.com www.branson.com
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Vacation Services LISTINGS
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Airport/Transportation LISTINGS
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Branson Airport 4000 Branson Airport Blvd., Hollister, MO 65672 417-334-7813 • 888-359-2541 / 888-FLY-BKG1 info@flybranson.com www.flybranson.com
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Branson Airport is the first privately developed and operated commercial service airport in the United States. Located just a few minutes south of Branson.
L A K E TA N E YC O M O
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Camping
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IN BRANSON
Enjoy the great outdoors on a camping trip to Branson. From RV parks and campsites to hiking trails, find out everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable family excursion in the great outdoors. Fresh air, a cozy campfire, the sweet taste of s’mores — there’s no better way to enjoy a fun getaway than camping in the Ozarks. Add to those attributes the beautiful natural surroundings and three pristine lakes and you’ve got yourself one awesome outdoor adventure! Of course, there’s more to camping than just pitching a tent and stoking the fire. A great camping trip includes exploring hiking trails, a little fishing and did we already mention s’mores? One of Branson’s most popular camping destinations is Table Rock Lake, which features two campgrounds – Viney Creek Recreation Area and Table Rock Lake Campground. Trails around Table Rock State Park give your camping crew a great environment to explore the outdoors. Trails of varying lengths are open to hiking and biking, while popular Table Rock Lake is one of Missouri’s top fishing destinations and nearly 800 miles of shoreline to enjoy. The marina also has plenty of options for boat and jet ski rentals. And if you get tired of hot dogs and beans, there are plenty of dining options in the area. The Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area north of Branson, off of US 65, is another great spot for camping, though sites are limited and must be reserved in advance. Busiek has 18 miles of trails; take your bike or your horse, the trails are open for mountain biking and horseback riding. In addition, Busiek is a haven for bird-watchers, as 138 species have been recorded in this area.
Spring in Branson, often referred to as “Ozark Mountain Spring,” offers mild temperatures with abundant dogwoods, redbuds, wildflowers, tulips, daffodils and forsythia in bloom. March, April and May are some of the best months to explore Branson’s many hiking trails. Bring a warm sleeping bag and extra warm socks for the evenings after enjoying beautiful temperatures throughout the day exploring the Ozarks. And for the fishing enthusiasts, Branson hosts several fishing tournaments on Table Rock Lake. Longer days of sunshine make summer ideal for getting the most out of camping in Branson. Take a swim in the lake, rent water sports equipment, spend the day relaxing with a fishing pole – all in warmer, but not unbearable, temperatures. Even when fall is in full swing, cooler temperatures won’t dissuade you from camping in Branson for plenty of outdoor activities and exploration opportunities. While you’re en route and after you’ve set up camp, you’ll be wowed by the brilliant colors Mother Nature produces during the fall season in Missouri’s Ozarks. And if there’s a little chill in the air at night, just throw an extra log on the fire and bundle up for a cozy and comfy night’s sleep. With so much beautiful nature to enjoy, camping in Branson is the perfect way to truly relax and take advantage of all the Ozark Mountains have to offer. So, grab your camping gear and get ready for a trip to the Missouri Ozarks, where fun beckons outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
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City Park Locations & FACILITIES Skate Park
Acreage
Pavilions
Alexander Park 901 Hawthorn 417-335-2368
6.9
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Branson Lakeside RV Park 300 S. Box Car Willie Dr. 417-334-2915
15
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Branson North Park Woodridge & Westwood 417-335-2368
.5
Branson RecPlex 1500 Branson Hills Pwky. 417-335-2368
35.6
Cantwell Park Sunshine & Mockingbird 417-335-2368
1.4
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Eiserman Park 201 Compton Dr. 417-335-2368
1
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Elmo & Rosalea Marrs Memorial Dog Park 524 Stockstill Lane 417-335-2368
1.5
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Epps Park 201 Long St. 417-335-2368
.1
John Nygard Memorial Park 201 Long St. 417-335-2368
1.3
Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area 412 Owen Lane 417-335-2368
140
North Beach 50 N. Boardwalk 417-335-2368
4.2
Old School Park 1515 W. Hwy. 76 417-335-2368
1
Parnell Park 257 Mayden Lane 417-335-2368
1.6
Stockstill Park 625 Stockstill Lane 417-335-2368
60.8
Sunset Park 869 Sunset Rd. 417-335-2368
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Murphy Park 499 Neihardt Ave. 417-335-2368
Soccer Fields
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Caudill Park 792 Caudill Way 417-335-2368
Liberty Plaza 114 W. Pacific Street 417-335-2368
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CITY PARKS
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STAGE YOUR
FAMILY REUNION IN BRANSON
Branson is the perfect destination for family fun to get all your relatives together for a reunion. Reminisce and reconnect with those special people you don’t see often enough. And of course, Branson is a great place to make new memories! Midwest Living magazine says Branson with its “music shows, Silver Dollar City theme park and lakes” is their top pick for family reunions. Other praise for holding family reunions in Branson: • Named to “Best Family Vacations” and Top Ten Great Places to Discover by TripAdvisor • Named to Top 10 Family Destinations by Fodors • Best Value Destination in the US by Trivago Branson’s mix of wholesome entertainment, live music shows, attractions, theme parks, museums, outdoor activities, lodging, and dining choices make all your family members happy. Branson has lodging accommodations, meeting and recreational facilities for just about any type of family event. Three area lakes offer an abundance of recreational opportunities from jet skiing,
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parasailing, and scuba diving to fly fishing or catching that big lunker. In addition, a lineup of kid-friendly live shows and attractions gives families affordable fun at water parks, minigolf courses, and go-karts. High-tech magical illusions, Chinese acrobats, comedic characters and a variety of musical styles create high-energy live shows for the entire family. Branson is centrally located in the United States, less than a day’s drive for one-third of America. For current flight information at the two closest airports, check out the Branson Airport (BKG) and the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF). Branson is the place for a fun and memorable family reunion!
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 4100 GRETNA ROAD BRANSON, MO 65616