Not since the boom in the late 1990s has Branson seen such tremendous growth and expansion as it has in the past couple of years. From its humble beginnings with just a few seasonal shows dotted here and there along the “76 strip,” Branson has evolved into “the live music capital of the world” and one of the country’s top travel destinations. Ever expanding its offerings for fun and excitement, this year proves to be no exception.
It’s official...the Osmond Brothers are back in town this year. Returning to the original Osmonds Theater for a limited engagement from September-December, Jay, Jimmy and Wayne will thrill audiences as only these talented brothers can do. Also performing there this year is the Magnificent Variety Show.
With all of the focus on what Branson has become, it’s only natural to ask the question, “How did it all start?”
Legends in Concert, a staple in Branson for 12 years, performs this season at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater. From Garth Brooks and Elvis to the Blues Brothers and Marilyn Monroe, your favorite music stars come together for a power-packed show that delivers outstanding entertainment and great value.
The Haygoods, Tony Roi and Red, Hot & Blue perform this year at the newly renovated New Americana Theatre. The Haygoods, a must-see in Branson for 17 years, also add a new show – Cassandré - The Voice of an Angel, which features pop, Broadway and classical songs backed by a full 10-piece orchestra.
Andy Williams, the beloved music icon, has been a cornerstone and crowd favorite for years. Now in his 17th season, Andy’s Moon River Theatre welcomes Righteous Brother Bill Medley, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Original Comets.
Back for its second successful season in Branson, the remarkable Sight and Sound Theatre again presents its faith-based production, Noah - The Musical, the tale of Noah and the Ark. For the holiday season, the Miracle of Christmas portrays the thrilling story of Christmas – Jesus, the Messiah, coming to earth in human form.
The Mansion Theatre adds a new show this season, Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan, the Emmy Award-winning, Tony Award-nominated Broadway production, from May-December. The theatre’s guest star series presents big name artists in limited engagements.
This fall, Welk Resort Theatre presents a brand new show featuring Lee Greenwood and The Bellamy Brothers. Back for the holiday season are Tony Orlando and the Lennon Sisters.
Wedding Italiano, a hilarious interactive comedy, opens at Branson Landing. As “invited guests,” the audience witnesses the nuptials and then participates in a rousing reception.
Starlite Theater, home to the Liverpool Legends show, opens the nation’s only Beatles Museum this year. Louise Harrison, George Harrison’s sister and founder of the Beatles tribute band, is curator of the museum.
While we celebrate the new in Branson, we also remember the numerous veteran performers always in demand, such as Jim Stafford, Shoji Tabuchi, Mickey Gilley, and Moe Bandy, just to name a few.
Branson’s two original shows remain and are always top attractions. The Baldknobbers and the Presleys are two talented families whose colorful histories are entwined with this entertainment mecca. They feature comedy reminiscent of the early years, as well as sophisticated musical productions.
And no place recounts the past while highlighting the present any better than Silver Dollar City, with its craftspeople demonstrating skills necessary for life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and its periodic festivals emphasizing everything from bluegrass to gospel, barbecue to international cuisine. Another place that depicts Ozarks’ history well is Shepherd of the Hills, with its authentic structures and live production from the book that started it all, The Shepherd of the Hills.
Entertainment and outdoor activities aren’t the only draws for visitors. Opportunities to “shop until you drop” abound with retail outlets such as the Factory Merchants Branson Outlet – the “Red Roof Mall,” Tanger Outlet Mall, The Shoppes at Branson Meadows, Branson’s IMAX® Entertainment Complex, Historic Downtown Branson shops, the Grand Village Shops, the Branson Landing, complete with trolley transportation, shopping, restaurants, and street entertainers along the shores of Lake Taneycomo, and many others. For easy access to Branson, the new Branson Airport, the first privately financed and operated commercial service airport in the United States, offers national carrier service with AirTran Airways, ranked number one in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating study.
With all of the focus on what Branson has become, it’s only natural to ask the question, “How did it all start?”
It seems to have been a confluence of coincidences. Just a few miles from what was to become Branson, Marvel Cave opened in the late 1880s. The wild natural beauty of the area was already becoming known to sports enthusiasts who liked to hunt, fish, and try their hands at rafting the challenging White River. Turkey Creek, where Hollister is located now, was a popular place as well.
Then around 1900 a young minister, Harold Bell Wright, journeying to the Southwest for his health, was stranded in the area and found shelter not far from where Branson is now. He was so moved by the people and the countryside, he returned year after year. The result was his famous novel, The Shepherd of the Hills. The book generated waves of visitors who longed to see the magical place and the people Wright described.
The wildness of the White River and its tributaries, along with the expanding demand for electricity, would soon lead to development of the Ozark Beach Dam, popularly known as Powersite Dam. Another result of the dam was Lake Taneycomo (Taney County, Mo.). Perfect for fishing and boating, resorts quickly sprang up along it.
Then in the 1940s, a Chicago family, the Herschends, leased Marvel Cave. About 1960, the widowed Mary Herschend and sons, Jack and Peter, added a stretch of shops featuring the crafts that settlers used. The modest “settlement” became known as Silver Dollar City, after the silver dollars given in change. A year before, Table Rock Dam, a second dam on the White River, was finished, providing even more opportunity for recreation. People of all interests soon discovered the beauty and entertainment offered here.
In a few short years, this once small rural town became a media darling, gaining television, newspaper and magazine attention around the world. And just look at Branson now! . |
