Soaking in the Arts in Branson
 |
Soaking in the Arts in Branson
From world-class artisans to
Broadway-style productions,
this small Missouri town is
sure to please
By Philip and Krista
Miller
|
|
A local musician brings
the sounds of the Ozarks to life
at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. |
|
On a winding mountain road
amongst majestic limestone cliffs, serene wooded pastures and clear mountain
lakes, lies a small, American town unlike any other. Nestled in the heart of the
Ozark Mountains, the city of Branson invites its visitors with a bustling
thoroughfare of commerce, show offerings from bluegrass to Broadway, local arts
and crafts and a myriad of shopping opportunities.
Mix in a healthy dose of
patriotism, warm friendly people and beautiful surroundings, and you truly have
a city with something for everyone.
The Ozark Mountains, a
dissected highland
plateau
about 50,000 square miles (or 129,500 km²); lie in the American Midwest between
southern Missouri, northern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Located in
southern Missouri, Branson is just a short drive from the Arkansas border.
Being one of the major mountain ranges east of the Rockies, the views from the
mountaintops are breathtaking, and the endless landscape of trees and rocks
provides an awe-inspiring sense of seclusion.
Caves abound in the area
and intriguing tours are available for the adventurous. Fishing enthusiasts
flock to the pristine lakes. This blend of magnificent rustic scenery and big
city entertainment places Branson among the most diverse vacation destinations
in America.
Branson is quickly
becoming the entertainment capital of Middle America. The area currently offers
more than 100 shows of every kind of entertainment imaginable. There are
nostalgic reviews, comedy and magic shows, music offerings of every genre,
lavish spectacles and even Broadway musicals.
Well-known entertainers
have been drawn to Branson as a place to establish permanent performing venues,
as well, such as popular country artists like Mickey Gilley, Roy Clark and Larry
Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, in keeping with the musical heritage of the
area. But performers in other entertainment areas have seen the promise of
Branson: quintessential crooner Andy Williams and the Osmond family, violin
virtuoso Shoji Tabuchi, and Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff.
 |
|
From Broadway shows to
local talent, Branson
has plenty to offer music lovers. |
In addition, The Grand
Palace Theatre hosts a rotation of top-name artists throughout the year. One of
the newest productions in Branson is Neil Goldberg’s Cirque, an imaginative
European cirque-style show.
Mansion America Theater brings big budget Broadway
style shows right to the heart of the Ozarks. There is something for every taste
in entertainment, and the ease of availability allows you to step outside your
comfort zone and try something new.
You could spend your
entire time in Branson doing nothing but seeing shows, if that is your thing.
However, if you are traveling with children, they may grow weary of sitting in a
seat and need a little physical exercise. There are themed miniature golf
courses, go-cart tracks and arcades, all within walking distance from hotels
located on Branson’s main drive.
Branson boasts not one but
three major theme parks: Silver Dollar City, an 1890s-themed park; Celebration
City, a nighttime theme park with a laser-light, multi-media show as it’s
capstone each night, and White Water, an outdoor water park.
Silver Dollar City was one
of Branson’s first attractions, built around tours of Marvel Cave, an impressive
array of underground caverns, waterfalls and passageways. That Good Ole Day’s
atmosphere is retained today.
Even though thrill rides
on a par with any other top-tier amusement park are now a part of Silver Dollar
City, they are situated between original Ozark crafts shops and show venues that
still exude mountain charm.
The local craftspeople are
happy to talk to guests while they work, and the musicians performing in the
park’s shows are some of the finest to be found in the area. There is a
wilderness homestead that takes children and adults alike back in time, and the
landscaping, while beautifully cared for, feels as if the park owners found it
that way and situated their attractions among it.
A visitor walks down the
paths under canopies of trees, surrounded by greens and brilliantly colored
wildflowers overflowing their planting beds. Silver Dollar City has enough to
keep everyone in the family happy for a day.
 |
|
A craftsman at Silver
Dollar City
displays his wares. |
Not to be missed on a
visit to Branson is the opportunity to connect with the distinctive culture of
the Ozarks. This was what first attracted people to the area, piqued by the 1907
publication of Harold Bell Wright’s novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, a
fictionalization of the people and life he had encountered in his time in the
Ozarks.
The unique mountain
culture of the Ozarks stretches across several states, setting the region apart
with its customs, folklore and artistic tradition. Perhaps one of the more
peculiar attributes is that the inhabitants have self-named the local areas.
The
earthy, hardworking people who settled this area were famous for their handmade
furniture and crafts and passed their skills down through generations—making the
region an excellent stop for art collectors.
Numerous outlets offer the
opportunity to view the artists in action. Woodcarvings, art glass and beautiful
furniture materialize right before you as you watch these master craftsmen work.
Sit down and talk to one of the artists, and you’ll hear the stories of the
people who brought Branson to life.
Sitting in front of his
wood shop in the outdoor mall of Grand Village, Pete Engler’s skillful hands
turn a plain and unimpressive piece of wood into a striking Santa carving, all
while regaling his listener with stories of his life and the people he has met
while living in the Ozarks.
Engler has been carving
most of his life, and his work has gained an international reputation. But most
impressive is his dedication to preserving the charming past of Branson and
fostering young artists in these rural art forms. These passions led to the
founding of the Engler Block Artists, a collection of shops featuring local arts
and crafts.
Near the front of the
Engler Block an inviting window showcases the stained glass art of Kay O’Neil.
You can watch her pencil sketches that become beautiful windows and hear about
the various techniques used as she narrates her work for you.
Down the hall from the
O’Neil studio, you hear the sound of a skillfully played hammer dulcimer as the
artist puts the finishing touches on his latest creation. A crowd of people in
front of a large glass window tells you that you have made it to one of the most
popular artists in Branson.
 |
|
Branson glass artist
Wren Helwig at work. |
Glowing hot glass emerges
from a fire and is shaped into an assortment of mesmerizing pieces. Wren Helwig,
another long-time area resident, is hard at work creating his pieces of art. He
learned his glass blowing trade as an apprentice at Silver Dollar City.
Master glass blowers came
to exhibit their goods in the stores at the park. And Helwig absorbed all of
their various ideas and skills and added his own experimentation to grow a
thriving art glass business. His gallery includes inexpensive pieces like
ornaments and paperweights up to large ornate works of art.
Though musicians from all
over the world perform in Branson, the local musicians are second to none. Sit
down and listen to the Horsecreek Band at Silver Dollar City, a group that has
been together for 30 years, and you will quickly learn why the heart of
bluegrass beats in Branson. Complete with banjo, fiddle, guitars and bass, these
musicians play the local folk music with astounding speed and agility.
Numerous music festivals
are held in the area to bring the best of the world artists together with the
locals. A visit to Branson just might have you mingling amongst some of the
finest musicians America has to offer.
This town of 6,000 people
capably hosts more than 7 million tourists each year. With such diverse and
interesting offerings, you should be able to find things that interest you. Take
the time to enjoy the things you love, as well as tasting something new. Talk to
the local artists, and you will discover the love that keeps them living and
working in this area. You might just fall in love with it, too.
If You Go
Best Bets in Branson
There is so much to choose
from in Branson that it can be overwhelming. While you should spend some time
exploring your options, here are some of our tips:
Best Show
Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Tim Rice’s Broadway hit, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
performed at the Mansion America Theatre. This well-executed production offers
all the talent and spectacle theatres on the Great White Way do, but is more
accessible to many in the United States than New York City. The material is fun,
and the producers have kept the show family-friendly.
 |
|
An artisan at Silver
Dollar City
|
Best Way to Spend a Day
Silver Dollar City. A visitor can mix thrilling rides with entertainment shows
of high quality and relaxing strolls through the themed streets. Tours of Marvel
Cave are included in the price of the ticket, offering an opportunity to explore
this awe-inspiring creation of nature. Taking a few minutes at the beginning of
the day to plan helped us have a full, enjoyable, stress-free day.
Best Educational
Experience
Learning about Ozark culture. The Ozarks comprise a relatively small
area of the United States, but their history is rich with character and a
culture that is uniquely its own. This rural history is one that many who live
outside the area know very little about, and yet it is fascinating and sparks
the imagination. Branson offers the opportunity to mix big city entertainment
with experiencing a new culture.
There are many venues in
the area where one can learn about Ozark history; look for them, and include at
least one on your itinerary. Several suggestions in this area are the Engler
Block Artists, College of the Ozarks and the shops of the Grand Village.
Because Branson offers so
much, some planning can be helpful. We recommend researching your options of the
various activities available to you. There are no uniform curtain times or dark
days for shows, so knowing the days and times can prevent you missing something
you really want to see. Other entertainment options have different schedules,
depending on the season.
Branson has year-round,
season specific activities, so research for the time of year in which you are
going to travel. The accommodations range from economic to luxurious; from
hotels right on Highway 76 or The Strip, which allow easy access to many
entertainment options, to country Bed & Breakfasts that allow you to feel miles
away from civilization.
Branson/Lakes Area Chamber
of Commerce & Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.explorebranson.com
