Can someone tell me all about Branson?

Subject: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 02:31 AM

In the Box Car Willie thread I asked about a town called Branson (Missouri I think). It sounds an interesting place (or not), could someone give me it's history and there opinions please?

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: bbc
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 09:26 AM

My folks have lived close to there for the past few years. Branson is in the SW corner of Missouri, very close to Arkansas & is a big center of country music, similar to Nashville, TN. There are concerts/shows going on all the time. That's all I know for now. If nobody picks up on this thread, let me know by personal message & I'll see what I can find out from my folks.

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: Gene
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 10:34 AM

*TOUR BRANSON HERE*

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: Arkie
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 02:03 PM

For many years, Branson had been a major tourist attraction literally drawing people from all over the country. The earliest attraction was the lakes with fishing and boating. Then, Silver Dollar City, an 1890's themed park. The city began to prosper. Country shows developed for night time entertainment and proliferated. Branson drew in the Nashville stars of yesteryear as the hats and tight jeans and CPAs and lawyers took over Nashville. Then Las Vegas looked east, and in came Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, and magic shows and show girls. Outlet malls also began to spring up all over the place. Since there was only one road running through Branson and all businesses were located on Highway 76, Branson also became a massive traffic jam, often taking three hours to negotiate a six or seven mile strip. One joke making the rounds locally was the wife says let's go to Branson. The husband says lets get in the car, park it in the driveway and pretend we are in Branson. Then came side roads, traffic became managable and more restaurants, motels, shopping malls, and theaters went up. Then came gambling on the Mississippi and Myrtle Beach. Things began to decline a bit in Branson and the city raised $40 million to advertise. New massive structures grew up on hillsides housing theaters, but I suspect in anticipation of legalized gambling. That's Branson. People love it. But do not expect to hear any traditional or folk music or any bluegrass either for that matter.

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: Arkie
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 02:10 PM

I should add, that Silver Dollar City is constantly ranked as one of top theme parks in the country and rivals the Disney parks in its cleanliness and people services. You will find traditional music in the park, though less than in the past and there are two major festivals, one featuring American music and another featuring world music , crafts, and foods. Everything Silver Dollar City does is done well. Many traditional musicians in this area love to work at the music festivals.

Another thing, which grew up around Branson, in part due to Silver Dollar City is the handcraft industry. Branson has attracted many superb craft folks.

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 02:32 AM

A year or so ago, on my way to Great Smoky Mountain National Park (on the Tennessee-North Carolina border), I had to pass through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They're similar to what I hear of Branson - a beautiful mountain area filled with huge country music theaters, hotels, souvenir stores, and traffic - oh, and Dolly Parton's "Dollywood" theme park. I understand that was once a very impoverished part of southern Appalachia, but it sure was a disappointment to see so much touristy trash in such a beautiful area.
I was hoping to find the old music that the folk music collectors found in the area during the first part of this century, but I guess I got there about 75 years too late.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 04:54 PM

My thanks to bbc,Gene,Arkie and Joe.

Now there was this bird calling at the golf at Augusta...................... . . . . . .

Subject: RE: Can someone tell me all about Branson?
From: Philippa
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 05:34 PM

Like Joe Offer, I have been to the Smokey Mountain park via Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge is incredible; my reaction is similar to Joe's. I had a wonderful walk in the park. But everyone who lived on the land was compelled (with compensation) to leave when the park was created. I suspect that the towns at the edge of the park grew and developed in the way that they have because he park draws tourists. The irony is that creating the park brought more environmental degradation in the form of traffic and tinsel towns.