Evolution of Branson

The Grand Staircase in the Titanic Museum.

Branson Landing water show along Lake Taneycomo.

WildFire ride at Silver Dollar City.

One of 12 waterfalls in Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.

Sisters June and Joan stretch peanut brittle at Copper Kettle Candies in Silver Dollar City. June, 71, has worked here since 1968.

Story & Photos By Stan Wawer

Branson, MO, once known as Disneyland for Seniors, has evolved into a destination with something for all ages. It has become a pretty cool place with lots to see and lots to do.

   “When Branson opened, the average age of visitors was 65,” said Lynn Berry, director of communications for Branson’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Today, the average age is 57; in June, July and August it’s 41.”

   During my stay in Branson in early May, I saw more families than I did seniors. Branson was way more than I expected. Branson offers live shows, outdoor adventure and family fun. It all starts with Branson Landing along Lake Taneycomo and reaches out to the theater district, Silver Dollar City and the stunning Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.

   Branson Landing has a variety of high-end shops, including Bass Pro Shops White River Outpost on the south end of Branson Landing. Bass Pro Shops Inc. corporate office and headquarters are located in nearby Springfield.

   I spent an exciting day at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park following a morning of ziplining the eight-stage Branson Zipline Canopy Tours. Dogwood Canyon is waterfalls heaven. The park covers 10,000 acres of pristine Ozark Mountain landscape. There are miles of crystal-clear trout streams, dozens of cascading waterfalls, unique hand-built bridges and bottomless blue-green pools. The park continues into Arkansas where I saw elk, bison and Texas longhorn steers. I even got to scratch a female elk behind the ear and under her chin.

   Bass Pro Shops’ founder Johnny Morris acquired the land in 1990. The Dogwood Canyon Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the canyon’s natural plant and wildlife environment, manages the park. The park offers trail rides, biking, wildlife tram tours, private guided jeep tours, Segway tours, fishing and a cattle drive. A new working gristmill, with general store, restaurant, bike barn and patio area will open later this year. Hope Wilderness Chapel, which hosts weddings, is a replica of churches from the 1800s.

   Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-style theme park much like Southern California’s Knott’s Berry Farm. The park features a dozen restaurants, 40 live shows daily, 60 unique shops and 30 rides and attractions, several rides of the white-knuckle variety. Craftsmen demonstrate the art of woodcarving, glassblowing, pottery, blacksmithing and candy making.

  In June, Silver Dollar City features the Harlem Globetrotters headlining and performing in an exhibition of basketball expertise. They will star in 30-minute performances presented three times daily for six weeks.

   Branson’s theaters will host a number of big names in 2015, including Charlie Daniels, Johnny Mathis, Little River Band and the Oak Ridge Boys in the Oak Ridge Theatre. Andy Williams Moon River Theatre hosts Rick Springfield, B.J. Thomas, Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley. Moon River also hosts regulars the Osmond Brothers, the Lennon Sisters, illusionist Rick Thomas and Mary Wilson of The Supremes.

   Acrobats of Shanghai is one of Branson’s biggest attractions. I saw them perform on a trip to Shanghai in 2006 and the smaller group in Branson. They will leave you spellbound.

   The Titanic, the world’s largest museum attraction, is a must see. This is an incredible museum and one I highly recommend. The museum has more than 400 artifacts, 20 galleries and 2,208 stories to share. Since the venue opened in 2006, it has received more than 5.5 million visitors. If you love history, this place is going to make you drool.

   The museum is a half-scale replica of the original ill-fated cruise ship that hit an iceberg south of Newfoundland and sank on April 25, 1912. Of the 2,223 passengers on board, 1,517 died. Boarding daily starts at 9 a.m. The Titanic Museum is open year round.

   There are many excellent restaurants in Branson. I dined at the magnificent Chateau on the Lake Restaurant overlooking Table Rock Lake. It started out with a great sunset over the lake, a filet mignon dinner, excellent malbec wine and a chocolate dessert to die for. The hotel’s atrium with waterfalls is another stunner. Branson also offers camping, boating, the Branson Scenic Ozark Zephyr Railway (www.bransontrain.com) and golf.

   As I said earlier in this story, Branson isn’t just for seniors anymore, it is now an every age go-to destination.

   If you go

   Most visitors to Branson fly into Springfield-Branson National Airport. It is about 50 miles north of Branson. It offers dozens of daily flights connecting to eight international airports via five airlines — Allegiant Air, American, Delta, Northwest and United. Branson Airport opened in 2009. It is where many private planes land. Check at FlyBranson.com. I flew American to Springfield, with a plane change in Dallas-Fort Worth. Rental cars are available at both airports.

Where to Stay

There are a number of hotels, motels, inns and resorts in the Branson area. I stayed at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing ((hiltonsofbranson.com). It is across Main Street from the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel (hiltonofbranson.com). Chateau On The Lake Resort & Spa is four diamonds, with an excellent restaurant a breathtaking view of Table Rock Lake (ChateauOnTheLake.com).

   All information is accurate at the time of publication but prices, dates and other details are all subject to change. Confirm all information before making any travel arrangements.

   Travel Editor Stan Wawer is a La Verne resident, a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and editor of his own travel blog, www.travelwithstan.blogspot.com. Address all travel related questions to his blog. His travel Facebook page is www.facebook.com/TravelWithStan.