Branson Revisited - 2007
Updated: 11/09/08
The above is a small file. Click Branson 2007 - HH Group Photograph for a printable file.
Because of the many shows (4), attractions (6), one dinner and one continental breakfast that were part of our tour, we made too many photographs for one page. Add to these the things we did on our own and it was a full schedule. Therefore, we have posted Branson 2007 - Shows on a separate page. We have placed the link to the show page where a show occurred in our schedule. After viewing the show page, click on your back button to return to this page.
In spite of some files being moved to the second page, this page may load slowly.
The HitchHikers may have been revisiting Branson, this was our first visit. We visited Silver Dollar City in 1968. If Branson existed at that time, we don't remember being there. More on that visit later.
Join us now as we remember our HitchHikers of America "Branson Revisited 2007" tour.
SUNDAY
Our day included: Parking and Registration Welcome Dinner and Orientation
The evening included: Jim Stafford Show or, go directly to Branson 2007 - Shows
Parking and Registration was rather easy for this tour. The campground
organized the parking and lead each of us to our site.
The tour included 53 fifth wheels. We say tour but we never moved our HHs.
Our Welcome Dinner and Orientation was held in a very convenient and nice building in the campground. Great food was prepared by a local restaurant and set-up by the campground staff.
Dolores announced that she was going to split us up for the buses based on our site location and its proximity to one of the buses. Every time we used a bus, it would load at that location in the campground and drop us off at that location. Anytime you separate a group into parts, the experiences vary to some extent. In this case, we had three different bus drivers during the tour. All of them very quiet. The other bus had the same driver for the entire tour who was entertaining during the rides to the various attractions.
After
dinner, we went to see the Jim Stafford Show.
Follow this link to the Branson 2007 - Shows page.
MONDAY
We had a lot of places to visit and people to see. The buses left the campground at 9:00am.
Our day included a visit to: Ralph Foster Museum at the College of the Ozarks ,
Stone Hill Winery and Inspiration Tower at Shepherd of the Hills
The evening included: Shoji Tabuchi Show or, go directly to Branson 2007 - Shows
Our first stop was at the Ralph
Foster Museum on the campus of the College of the Ozarks.
College of the Ozarks is a private, four year, Christian liberal arts college. The School of the Ozarks was founded in 1906 as a high school, became a Junior College in 1956, a four-year program in 1965 and College of the Ozarks in 1990. It is appropriate that a student is cutting the grass in our photograph of the front gate. All of the 1,400 students work at 'on campus' jobs to pay for their education.
The college is also known as the "Hard Work U", since being
so nicknamed by the Wall Street Journal in 1971.
The Ralph Foster Museum
The first thing we saw when we entered the museum exhibit area was the original vehicle from the TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies". It is a cut down 1921 Oldsmobile.
The first floor was very crowded with two bus loads of HitchHikers. So we headed for the second floor exhibit area. This area included a huge collection of firearms. They call the exhibit "Firearms Through the Ages".
Another
exhibit on the second floor included Native American Artifacts. In the left
photograph, some
HitchHikers are looking at bead work.
This elephant ear was in the African Animals exhibit.
We returned to the first floor to find many people had moved to the second and third floors. The collection on the first floor included a wide array of items. The following photographs are posted to give you an idea of the items displayed.
Fred particularly liked this display case.
We both like this decorated hide.
These HitchHikers talked about the plows they used on their farms.
This antique popcorn machine was from the Old Jewell Theater in Springfield, Missouri.
Mary Lou saw this case of stemware and remarked that Fred's mother's wedding gifts are as nice as these. We have her stemware stored in our basement.
The
Edwards Art gallery included some fine pieces.
In the Gift Shop, where you could buy 'stuff', all the staff members were college students.
This sign was posted in the clothing and quilt area. This was on the wall outside Ralph Foster's office.
After we left the Museum, student tour guides boarded each bus. They took us to the Williams Memorial Chapel.
The Chapel was an interesting place with an equally interesting story. Our student tour guides explained that the entire chapel was constructed by students with supervision from trades people. The students are particularly proud of the wood working which was done on campus. Only the stained glass windows were contracted off site, as they were to large for the facilities on campus. The chapel constructed between 1954 - 1956, measures 150 feet long and 80 feet wide, with 80 foot high vaulted ceiling.
As we enjoyed our beautiful surrounding, the tour guides answered any questions we had about the college.
The next stop on our tour was the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen, where students and supervisors bake more than 40,000 fruitcakes a year. Fruitcakes being baked on campus has been a tradition since 1934. In the photograph, students are wrapping samples to be handed out to visitors.
After sampling and purchasing goodies, we headed to Edwards Mill. Student workers grind the whole-grain meal and flour available for purchase inside the building. Upstairs was the weaving studio, where students design and produce items on traditional looms. This was the last stop on our college tour.
Just to the right as you entered the campus and across the road from the mill is beautiful Lake Honor with its fountain.
Lunch
was on our own, 'On our own' this day meant we paid for it at the pre-selected restaurant.
We felt sorry for the lone couples arriving and getting caught up in two bus loads of people. It was a long line at the 'pay first' cashier. The lines at the buffet were scattered and short. We had reserved seating in one section of the restaurant.
The Stone Hill Winery tour started with information about the winemaking process and stories from the days of prohibition.
Then we moved to the next room where we found out what Santa Clause does in the off-season. He pays for all the toys by working at the winery. He installs the stoppers and wraps each wine bottle neck with foil paper then puts the label on the bottle. He gave us a tip for opening sparking wine without making a mess.
We were all very good and watched him attentively. We did not want to get on his 'naughty list'.
But, we really didn't go to Stone Hill Winery to learn how to make wine. We had seen that before. The draw to a winery is the "tasting".
And, of course, buying some wine for a "taste" later was an option. We were given enough time to shop in the store part of the winery. After shopping, we re-boarded the bus and headed to the Shepherd of the Hills area.
Inspiration
Tower at Shepherd of the Hills could be seen from the road near our
campground.
The Inspiration Tower was built on the highest point in Southwest Missouri in 1989. The glass elevator takes you 230 feet to the top to two observations decks - one enclosed deck and the other open air.
At the tower and several other places we visited, the fall decorations are
giving way to Christmas decorations. The wires you see in this photo are strings
of colored lights.
The
view from the observation deck was impressive. If you were familiar with some of
the buildings in Branson, you could pick them out in the distance.
Some HitchHikers used it as a backdrop for a group photograph.
The clock in the garden below was
visible from the observation deck.
Mary Alice and Mary Lou hammed it up on the glass elevator for Fred.
At
every tourist attraction, there is an opportunity to spend some money on souvenirs.
Occasionally, something we really need is found.
The bus took us back to the campground. After a little over an hour of rest back at the HHII, we headed for the Shoji Tabuchi Show.
Follow this link to the Branson 2007 - Shows page.
TUESDAY
Our day included a visit to: Branson Landing
The evening included: Baldknobbers Jamboree Show or, go directly to Branson 2007 - Shows
In the morning, the buses dropped us off at Branson Landing. Well, not all of us - some went golfing instead of shopping. Others took in another show. The site occupies 95 acres including 1.5 miles of waterfront. There are 450,000 square feet of retail shopping, anchored by Bass Pro Shop and Belk Department Store. The landing offers living spaces, shopping, restaurants and waterfront entertainment opportunities. "Branson Landing, where the adventurous shop, dine, play and stay!" - the brochure says.
First
we took the trolley to Historic Downtown Branson. We were told we had to go to the 5
& 10 cent store in town.
The trolley followed a circle route between the Branson Landing and Historic Downtown. They were beautiful inside.
We shopped in the 5 & 10 cent store. We browsed through a few more along the street.
Lunch was really on our own. We ate at the place the trolley driver suggested. After lunch, we took the trolley back to Branson Landing. Starting at the opposite end from where the bus was picking us up, we mostly 'window shopped'.
We
did not go into many of the stores. One store had this wall hanging. They did
not care if Fred made a photograph of it.
A play area is available to give the children a rest from being dragged from store to store. It is located in the Town Square in the center of Branson Landing. It is an area designed to serve as the entertainment center of the complex. The fountains area showcases a nightly music, light and water show called The Water and Fire Show. During the day the water spray close to the road is on all the time. The fountain is working only occasionally and without much water.
You could view Lake Taneycomo from the boardwalk in front of Branson Landing. By Michigan standards it's a river, but because there is a dam at both ends, they call it a lake. From this elevated spot, you can see to the left, fishermen getting their lines wet. To the right, the water show can be seen. The yacht was available for rental. The structure in front is going to be a 'fountain room'.
Fishermen . .
.
Water and Fire Show . . .
We had a half-hour to spare before we were to meet the bus. So, we rode the trolley from one end to the other of Branson Landing and back. This guy spends the entire day driving the trolley back and forth the length of Branson landing pointing out stores and restaurants.
While we were on the trolley, we found out something very interesting . . . Delores and Don do get a little time to do something they want to do. We thought all they did was take care of us.
These HitchHikers shopped all of the five hours available and are still smiling.
Tonight we attended the
Pre-Show and Baldknobbers Jamboree Show.
Follow this link to the Branson 2007 - Shows page.
WEDNESDAY
Our day included a visit to: Silver Dollar City
Showboat Branson Belle or go directly to Branson 2007 - Shows
The bus departed from the campground for a full day at
Silver Dollar City.
It has been 40 years since we had visited Silver Dollar City. It was a special day for us in 1968 while Fred was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood with the U. S. Army. Living on $80 a month, there wasn't much money spent on fun. We have a newspaper from that visit to Silver Dollar City in our collection at home. We will add it to this page after we get home. We finally found it. We don't remember if it was yellow originally or if it is yellowed from age. Time has a way of yellowing paper and fogging memory.
2007 1967
Silver Dollar City is larger than it was during our earlier visit. This 1880's theme park offers something for all ages.
We were greeted by banners and an accordion player.
We
were just past the welcome area when we saw Al eating a cinnamon roll. Some of
you may remember Al from the Nova Scotia tour - he was the one with his hand in the
ice cream bucket.
Crossing a bridge we noticed a sign about Baldknobbers being chased across this bridge. We were at the Baldknobbers Jamboree Show last night. What a coincidence!
The baldknobbers was a band of 26 citizens who came together in the 1880's to rid the Ozark Mountains of criminals. This vigilante group named themselves baldknobbers after the high barren hill where they held their first meetings.
We took the train around Silver Dollar City as our first attraction.
Our expectation was that we could see where everything was located before we
used our feet.
We were underway only a short time when we were robbed by a local resident and his bumbling brother.
"Ma" was watching from ground level..
While
we stood in line for the show, Rex decided he needed a cup of coffee. And, we decided the
four of us would share a funnel cake.
Then, we attended the
show "Headin' West", part of Silver Dollar City's Salute to the
Great American Cowboy.
We
attended the show with a few of our closest friends.
It was a musical story about the challenges facing a young couple homesteading land west of the Mississippi.
After
the show. It was 'lunch on our own' time. Rex and Marilyn suggested the Mine
Restaurant. They remembered it from their last visit. Connie and Dale joined us for
lunch. It was an interesting place.
We found out why they recommended it.
While we were eating, the table slowly raised six inches.
The waitress brought Mary Lou a booster seat!
It was a strange feeling.
Crafts of all descriptions are display and for sale. The craftsmanship of the items is very evident. Walking on the hilly terrain could have been difficult for some people.
This cute little girl got
everyone's attention.
Glassblowers are always fun to watch. How they turn a ball of molten glass into a beautiful piece is amazing.
In
the glass shop, we found a glass engraver. It took Fred back to his childhood.
Many times when he was young his family visited his grandmother's cousin in
Corning, NY. He was a glass engraver. Because his mother always returned home
with boxes of engraved glass items, we and our family have several engraved
glass items in our
homes.
Beautiful wood carving . . .
Throughout the day we saw other HitchHikers. We were very fortunate. The rain threatened all day but did not begin until about an hour before our bus was to depart. Even then, it was light and scattered.
As we were walking toward the bus, a cowboy and a cowgirl rode up on their 'horses'.
We enjoyed our day at Silver Dollar City, but just scratched the surface of the many things to see and do.
After
a quick trip to the HHII to freshen up, we headed to the Showboat Branson Belle
for our Farewell Dinner and Entertainment.
Follow this link to the Branson 2007 - Shows page.
THURSDAY
Our
last event was our Farewell Continental Breakfast. On our bus last night, Don
told us the breakfast was going to be catered. Knowing what a continental
breakfast was . . . having in our minds what 'catered' meant . . . maybe we were
having a better breakfast than expected. No - it was a continental breakfast.
It was our last time to sit and talk before going our separate ways.
Thanks again to Dolores and Don.
They were great wagonmasters.
They gave us as much flexibility as they could.
They didn't lose anyone.