Hot Winter Fun in Branson Heats Up!

Regardless of the season there are always lots of special and exciting things to do in Branson, Missouri and that’s what Branson’s Hot Winter Fun is all about. Even in January, when a lot of Branson’s shows and some attractions and activities that are weather dependent are closed there is always shows to see, loads of fun to be had and things to do, and memories to be made.

The majority of Branson’s shopping, major attractions, museums, movies, restaurants and a broad choice of lodging are open. If there’s one thing that doesn’t miss a beat during winter, or any other season, it’s the fabulous shopping that Branson is noted for. With the number and variety of stores in Branson there is a shopping experience to meet just about every shopping need or desire.

Branson’s premier shopping – attraction location, Branson Landing and its 100 plus shopping and restaurant venues are all open and offer a variety of shopping and dining conveniently located in one location. In addition, weather permitting The Landing’s spectacular free $7.5 million synchronized water, fire, and music show is amazing to see.

Branson’s other major malls, Tanger Outlet, Factory Merchants, Imax Shopping Complex and The Shoppes at Branson Meadows are all open. When the rest of the specialty shopping that Branson has to offer such as those available in historic downtown Branson are factored in, Branson just might be the perfect illustration of the place where a person can truly “Shop till they drop.”

The Grand Country Complex offers an indoor water park and miniature golf course and live shows including the Buck Trent, Grand Jubilee, and the Comedy Jamboree shows. Where else but Branson, MO can a person experience the ferociousness of dinosaurs at the Dinosaur Museum and the daintiness of thousands of White Butterflies at the unique “White Flight” spectacular in the Butterfly Palace?

Branson has a museum for just about every interest. Their size and exhibits are as diverse as the “Titanic - World's Largest Museum Attraction,” a huge one half scale replication of the Titanic dedicated completely to the memory of it, its crew and passengers, to the “The World’s Largest Toy Museum.”

Branson’s museums also include “The Veteran’s Memorial Museum,” dedicated to America’s Armed Forces; “The Hollywood Wax Museum” an action packed tribute to Hollywood’s stars and movies; “The Roy Rogers Museum” celebrating the “King of the Cowboys” and the lessons of a bygone era; “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” featuring unusual and unique exhibits from all over the world and housed in a building, Ripley’s says, is one of the most photographed in the world.

The month of January features two very special events at Branson Attractions. “White Flight” is finishing out a limited engagement at the Butterfly Palace, through Jan. 15. It features a blizzard of thousands of white butterflies flying in a rain forest lit with thousands of lights, and music that combine in a unique one of a kind spectacular.

On January 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the “Titanic - World's Largest Museum Attraction” will be presenting its Third Annual Ice Sculpturing Event. The competition features some of the world’s most accomplished ice sculptors as they create fantastic creations out of 250 pound blocks of ice. The event is free and is held at the bow of the Titanic located at the intersection of Gretna Road and State Highway 76 in the heart of Branson’s strip.

In keeping with Branson’s long standing tradition of honoring America’s Veterans, the signing of the Vietnam Peace Accord will be remembered on January 28. A special program will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Golden Corral to mark the day in 1973 when one of Amerioca’s most controversial wars came to an end. Please contact Barbara Linderer of the Branson Veteran’s Task Force for additional information on this even at 417-337-8387.

The Branson IMAX Discovery Theatre offers a full selection of IMAX Adventure films, shown in the giant IMAX format on its giant six story high IMAX Screen with 22,000 watts of digital surround sound. In addition to showing the latest Hollywood feature films in its three state of the art Elite Cinema theatres the IMAX also shows selected on the IMAX screen at selected times each day. The Branson Meadows Cinema also offers 11 screens showing the latest feature films.

The opportunities for outdoor activities from hiking, golfing, kayaking, fishing, boat riding, and even a dinner cruise on the Branson Landing Princess are, although weather dependent, boundless. Just a simple walk along the boardwalk at Branson Landing beside Lake Taneycomo with your family and the opportunity see a Bald Eagle in Flight will be unique and just might provide that special memory that could last a life time.

Information courtesy of The Branson Courier

Branson's Ripley's Believe It or Not Fascintates Visitors

Robert Ripley was a world traveler who visited more than 200 countries before his death at age 58. He was an artist, a reporter, an explorer and a collector.

The stories he gathered and illustrated would later appear as a popular newspaper cartoon feature, “Believe it or Not!” and are still enjoyed by readers around the world today.

“When you stop and think about it, Robert Ripley was the Internet of his time,” said Heather Cognito, marketing director of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Branson.

The museum has special interest to many who visit and the educational value is drawing teachers and students from around the area.

Cognito said teachers are taking advantage of the museum as a learning tool, showing their students there are things in the world other than the Internet.

“We have had teachers focus their curriculum for the year on world travel. It’s been a great way for students to see something of other cultures. Regardless of where they are in their studies, there is something that is related here at the museum,” she said.

Cognito said students like a good challenge and have found things in the museum that really make them think.

“They like a lot of the interactive things. The illusions gallery is all-visual challenging mind teasers, with a lot of riddles. They stay in there a long time,” she said.

Ripley was famous for showing people the odd and unusual from cultures around the world.

Whenever possible, he brought home artifacts from his journeys.

Cognito said she really enjoys seeing the expressions on children’s faces when they figure things out.

When students visit the museum Cognito challenges them to find the two displays that are not real.

She said the two pieces were exhibited in museums for years in other countries as legitimate. Ripley was the one who uncovered them as frauds.

“The kids are pretty savvy. They usually figure it out,” Cognito said.

What are the two exhibits? You’ll have to find out for yourself.

But one hint, they both have something to do with water.

Cognito said the giant ball of twine and the wax figure of the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow, are very popular and someone is always asking, “how did you get that giant limousine in here?”

The museum is full of many interesting treasures that make you think and scratch your head in amazement.

“It’s definitely a place that you will want to return to more than once,” Cognito said.

“Come and see the world, it will totally amaze you.”

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News

Country Music Capital Branson Turning into Top Golf Destination

A case could be made that Branson is sort of the mini-Las Vegas of the Midwest, just add corn bread and take away the casinos.

The little town south of Springfield, high in the Ozarks, has exploded in the last couple of decades into the gangly epicenter of live country music, country kitsch and country money.

It all started with a cave, believe it or not - they have Ripley's here, too by the way.

About 100 years ago, people came to see Marble Cave, which is actually limestone. Then they made a movie about the area from the best-selling book, "The Shepherd of the Hills," starring John Wayne, and people started flocking in.

A couple of brothers calling themselves the Baldknobbers began putting on shows, showcasing both country and western music - in case you're wondering, there is a big difference between the two. Slowly, musical acts began trickling in until they reached a flood, and in 1991, "60 Minutes" did a story on the town.

Then things really took off.

They're still going strong, and have only felt the country's economic woes mildly; the value of new construction in 2006 in Branson topped $200 million, breaking all previous records. People may be feeling the money pinch, but you can't keep them away from the Presley Country Jubilee.

And it ain't all country. You want to see Andy Williams, Tony Orlando, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Osmonds, Twelve Irish Tenors and Yakov Smirnoff, you come to Branson.

Or how about a Red Skelton impersonator? Come to Branson.

When a place gets this big, it often starts thinking about becoming a golf destination, because, let's face it, golfers spend a lot of money.

That's where Branson is at. They have about a dozen courses in the area now, and some of them are excellent.

"We're just starting to get to the point where we can call ourselves a golf destination," said Cliff Easum, the head pro at the Thousand Hills resort.

The area will get a huge boost when the Payne Stewart Golf Course opens some time in the fall.

Must-play Branson golf courses

• Branson Creek Golf Club isn't just the class of the Branson area, it's the class of Missouri, according to many golf publications.

The golf course plays up and down the hills of the high plateau that takes up most of southern Missouri. Those holes that play along the high, rocky ridges give off grand, misty views, and the holes that plunge down to the valleys are perhaps even more scenic, with purple-flowered hills rising gracefully above the fairways.

It is a dazzling layout in this part of the postcard-ready Ozarks, and its scenic beauty is matched only by the artistry of the Tom Fazio design.

"I've played all the nice courses in Missouri, and there aren't any that compare to this," said Easum.

You won't find many public, daily fee golf courses of this caliber. One beautiful hole flows from the next, and although there seems to be a plethora of dogleg lefts, every hole brings a separate adventure.

The scenery is everything you'd expect from a mountain course high in the Ozarks: Lakes, ponds, little mountain streams and rugged rock outcroppings to go along with the purple redbuds, white dogwood, and pine and cedar trees.

The green fees here are substantially cheaper than they would be for a golf course of this standing in certain other parts of the country.

• LedgeStone Championship Golf Course unfolds inside the ritzy Stonebridge Village, just outside Branson. The Ozarks aren't a mountain range in the typical sense, but LedgeStone is, for all intents and purposes, a mountain golf course with sweeping, distant views and steep, rocky hills rising above the fairways.

It is an excellent course, consistently ranked among the best in the state by golf magazines. The course was designed by Thomas Clark, who's done such courses as the TPC at Avenel in Maryland and Blue Ridge Shadows and the Woods Course at Kingsmill Resort, both in Virginia.

At LedgeStone, Clark let the surroundings showcase the course; it climbs up and down the steep terrain, with some serious elevation changes. LedgeStone is indeed a dramatic layout, 6,800 yards from the tips with a slope rating of 133, but it is also playable, especially if you don't get too bull-headed and play on the conservative side - at least on your first few trips around.

Golf Digest has described it as a "masterpiece of mountain golf architecture."

• John Daly's Murder Rock Golf and Country Club is 6,600 yards from the back tees. The next set of tees goes down to less than 6,200 yards, one of the few drawbacks to this lofty layout, high in the Ozarks and south of the live, country music capital of Branson.

In fact - gulp - it's been called "lady friendly" by Murder Rock officials, and we're not talking about Hooters girls. The course has few forced carries, and many of the greens are open in front, qualities many women enjoy.

"Obviously, it's not a long golf course," Assistant Golf Professional Mike Meade said. "But, it can be demanding as far as accuracy. The back nine, it can get breezy, and it's all about hitting the right spot on the green."

It gets breezy because Murder Rock occupies the highest place in Taney County, 300 feet above the neighboring Branson Creek, which itself is considered a mountain golf course. The view from the big window at Murder Rock's clubhouse bar is spectacular.

"I guarantee you this is the longest 6,600-yard golf course you'll ever play when the wind blows," Meade said.

The greens are excellent. They're Crenshaw bentgrass and have a very lush look and feel. Though slower and smaller than Branson Creek, the greens at Murder Rock have enough slope and undulation, but not too much, to make putting on them a pleasure.

Branson golf: Solid seconds

• Thousand Hills Golf Resort is a Bob Cupp design with fairways that dip, swoop and twist, falling off to rocky creeks and canyons. It has excellent elevation changes, despite being in the heart of the Branson strip.

The only factor holding this course back is its lack of length; it measures only 5,111 yards from the back tees with a par of 64. That includes nine par 3s. Thousand Hills is a good course to test your short game with all the par 3s.

• Holiday Hills Resort & Golf Club suffers from a myriad of problems. The fairways are too close together for one thing, and the course isn't in particularly good shape. It's a short course - none of the four tees measures over 6,000 yards with the longest being 5,625 with a slope rating of 115. It has a par of 68.

All that being said, the course does have its charms because it is busy; it's one of the locals' favorites. It does have history on its side. It is the oldest golf course in Branson - Charlton Heston used to play here. Also, there are some interesting green complexes and some of the mounding around the greens is imaginative, and the fairway mounding does what it can to keep wayward balls in the proper fairways.

Information & Image courtesy of Travel Golf

Hot Winter Fun in Branson, MO

The holidays are over, and some of us could be fighting a case of the winter blues in the upcoming months. Branson's promoters say they could have the cure - a little fun!

It's a common misconception that everything is closed in Branson this time of year but there is still some "Hot Winter Fun" during the cold winter months.

Christmas and New Years have come and gone again, and the excitement of the holiday season is behind us, but that doesn't mean all the excitement in Branson is gone.

"We are growing our winter season," said Ross Summers, president of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Summers says Branson used to have shows only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Not long ago, most shows shut down from January through March.

"This is the time they take their vacations. A lot of them revamp their shows every year, put new sets in, and get new songs together," he said.

But now, more shows than ever are open during the season known as "Hot Winter Fun." A few of the theatres that remain open during the winter months include the Grand Country Music Hall, the Dutton Theatre, and the Jim Stafford Theatre.

A lot of the branson shows that are open for hot winter fun will be showcased in one big show at the Jim Stafford Theatre on Feb. 11. It will give folks a sampling of what Branson has to offer.

"It may be harder for a lot of these shows to stay closed in January and February because, as we get more and more people into town, there's revenue there," Ross said.

One big reason for more people in town is Branson's new convention center that just opened in August. Ross says the facility has dates booked into the next three or four years.

"People don't spend all their time at the convention center. They want to get out and see what's available in the local community and, obviously, Branson has more than most local communities," said Ross.

Besides all the entertainment, he encourages people to visit Branson's many museums, including Ripley's Believe it or Not, The Titanic, and the Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks, and, of course, all the places to shop and eat.

Information courtesy of KY3 News

Image courtesy of Branson Chamber of Commerce