Branson Courier

Month: March 2006

  • Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest Presents World-Renowned Moscow Circus


    New for 2006, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest presents a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the world-renowned Moscow Circus, with stunning acrobatics showcased in a show custom designed for Silver Dollar City, and the Zunyi Acrobats of China for their first U.S. performance. These shows premiere along with the Grand Opening of the all-new Grand Exposition with 10 new family rides on April 6 at the Branson, Missouri theme park.



    The Moscow Circus, with a 200-year tradition, produces the most talented acrobats and aerialists in the world. Supported by Russian Empress Catherine the Great in the late 1700s, the Moscow Circus is the world’s longest running and most prestigious circus organization, and has been a prized part of Russia’s cultural heritage for centuries. “Bringing this tradition of quality and excellence spanning generations of performers to World-Fest gives our guests a rare opportunity to see some of the very best in the world in acrobatics, trapeze, gymnastics and clowning,” said Rex Burdette, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest coordinator. The Moscow Circus performs throughout the entire festival, April 6 – May 7.



    In the tradition of the late 19th Century expositions that brought exotic performers from other lands and technological wonders to towns across the U.S., Silver Dollar City opens its all-new $8 million development for 2006 – the Grand Exposition, with 10 new family rides, the theme park’s biggest expansion ever for kids. The Grand Exposition, opening with World-Fest, nearly doubles the number of rides at the park and increases ride capacity more than 50 percent. From the five-story Magnificent Wave Carousel to the interactive twirling tea cups of the Royal Tea Party, the rides are designed for families to enjoy together in the historically themed setting.



    Also new this year, World-Fest presents the Zunyi Acrobats of China performing for the first time in the U.S., musicians from the Czech Republic, a mariachi band from Mexico and a new Irish show with dancers, musicians and storytellers. Some of the returning performers from countries around the world are the colorful German stiltwalkers of Zebra Stiltzentheater, a troupe of Swiss alpenhorn musicians, a steel drum band from Trinidad and pan flute musicians from Ecuador.



    Food and craftsmanship take on an international flavor too, as the park offers a pavilion of specialties such as Jamaican jerk chicken and Caribbean snapper, Mexican fajitas, oriental platters, Greek pies and salads, and desserts including Italian tiramisu and a Swiss chocolate fountain. The unique craftsmanship of talented artisans from 32 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including handcrafted baskets, jewelry, textiles, musical instruments and home décor, is featured in a showcase from Ten Thousand Villages, new this year for World-Fest.



    Each evening, the show Classic Country Nights is featured in Echo Hollow Amphitheatre, with guest performances during World-Fest by a bluegrass band from the Czech Republic.



    World-Fest runs April 6 – May 7, with the park offering Family Spring Break Days on select dates in March and early April. During World-Fest, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays (closed Easter Sunday, April 16). For festival information, schedules and tickets, call 1-800-831-4FUN. For season passes, call 1-800-888-PASS. Information is also available at http://www.silverdollarcity/


  • What are the odds of casino gambling ever coming to Rockaway Beach?

    Rockaway Beach’s initial attempt to bring casino gambling to the Branson area a couple of years ago initially evoked a “Ho hum, they’ll never do it” attitude from a lot of people in the area. That attitude changed dramatically however, as the attempt gained momentum, financial support, credibility, and approval to be on the ballot for a statewide vote on the matter.



    Little Rockaway Beach fought a gallant fight for that which they believed in as did their opponents and, at the end of the day, lost the fight. Some might say that it serves no useful purpose, at this point, to rehash why or how they lost because it can not change what happened or the impact on the future of casino gambling in Rockaway Beach. Although partially true, there are at a minimum, two reasons for its defeat and four present realities that might be of value in determining the odds on whether or not casino gambling will ever come to Rockaway Beach.



    The first and most important thing that defeated Rockaway Beach’s chance of getting casino gambling was the opposition of Branson. Under the leadership of Peter Herschend, and with the full support of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Branson, the majority of the Branson tourism industry, and a lot of members within the community, that opposition out maneuvered and out politicked the better funded Rockaway Beach effort at every turn.



    Another formidable factor that contributed to the issues defeat was that the other casino gambling destinations, for obvious reasons, did not support Rockaway Beach’s efforts. A local news paper article appearing at the time reported that Boonville residents wanted to protect their casino from competition and for that reason, the Boonville Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose Rockaway’s efforts. It’s not very likely that the voters in Kansas City, St. Louis, and other areas that have casinos felt very much different.



    The first present reality is that without substantial financial assistance from outside sources Rockaway Beach simply cannot mount another credible campaign to bring casino gambling to its city. For its’ initial effort, Rockaway Beach didn’t have a lot of its own money to gamble in the effort but it was able to obtain sufficient financial support from outside sources. It’s hard to imagine that Rockaway Beach today, has any more of its own money available to gamble on another try than it had for its original attempt.



    In attempting to obtain that outside financing the two reasons discussed above for its defeat become present realities two and three. In view of what happened last time and the fact that the resistance from Branson and other casino gambling destinations will not go away, what are the odds that Rockaway Beach can get the financial support it needs to try again? In an Ole Seagull’s opinion the odds of success are “too much to one,” and only a masochist would put money into such an effort without having at least the support of Branson’s city government and Branson’s local movers and shakers.



    As to the government of the City of Branson itself, can any reasonable thinking person, after watching the price it has been willing to extract from its neighbors, Taney County, and its school district for its own economic growth, possibly believe it will do anything that might put a dollar in another taxing entities pocket? Absent economic disaster to the economy of Branson what are the odds that Branson’s movers and shakers would support casino gambling in Rockaway Beach? Probably about the same as the tenants at Branson Landing paying for and supporting a trolley or other public transportation to take people from their businesses and restaurants up the Main Street hill to businesses in Historic Downtown Branson.



    Some might ask, “But what if the “new Branson” decides that it needs gambling to be successful, won’t it support casino gambling in Rockaway Beach then?” That involves the fourth present reality. The “new Branson” is only interested in making a buck for itself without regard for much else such as Branson’s history, traditions, quality of life, values, existing businesses, the financial health of the school district, and particularly, the economic development of areas other than itself.



    If the “new Branson” decides that casino gambling is needed, the odds of it being in Rockaway Beach are about the same as Target being built in Hollister. “But Seagull, Target is already built in Branson.” So the odds of it being built in Hollister are how much? In an Ole Seagull’s opinion about the same as Rockaway’s chance of ever getting casino gambling.

  • The Ole Seagull’s Small Five

    The Ole Seagull's Small 5
    The Ole Seagull’s Small 5
    click for a larger picture.

    Over the last two years, today is Mar. 17, 2006, The Ole Seagull has been expanding his fishing horizons by using midges more often. The reason is simple; on Lake Taneycomo midges are prolific year round and make up a large part of the trout’s diet. From a KIS perspective, Keep It Simple, on a day to day basis, the Ole Seagull uses only five midges which he refers to as “The Ole Seagull’s Small Five.

    Four out of the five are “zebra” midge patterns in size 18, the Copper Dun, Primrose and Pearl, Rusty, and the Ugly (Not to be confused with the “Big Ugly”). The fifth is a plain size 18 midge pattern, the Red Tungsten Bead Head. They are pictured immediately below.

    While recognizing that other very successful and better fishermen than he that use different patterns and colors, these are the midges that the Ole Seagull uses very successfully day after day. See the article “KIS fishing the midge on Branson’s Lake Taneycomo” for techniques etc. or the “The Ole Seagull’s Fishing Journal” as part of the Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report in the Branson Courier for more detailed information. For pattern recipes and current fly fishing information contact River Run Outfitters.

    Note: To contact Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull “click here,” select “The Ole Seagull” from the drop down menu in the “To- Please select a recipient” box near the top of the page, and submit your message.

  • Branson Chambers “most excellent” overview of what’s new in Branson for 2006!

    Branson, Missouri’s first boom in the early 1990s established the southwest Missouri town (population 7,000) as the Live Music Capital of America and this year, the world watches as Branson booms again.



    With more than 57,000 theater seats in 49 state-of-the-art theaters and over 100 live shows, many of them headlined by legendary stars whose Top 40 hits, movies and TV shows beckon the next generation of travelers, Branson’s popularity as an entertainment mecca sparked a record $173.5 million in new construction permits in 2005.



    This year, visitors will be treated to an unprecedented variety of live entertainment and vacation thrills. The $420 million Branson Landing shopping, dining, Hilton Hotel lodging and waterfront lifestyle development, the largest of its kind in the state’s history, is set to open beginning May 26. Silver Dollar City is developing a whole new area, The Grand Exposition, with 10 new family thrill rides, doubling the number of rides at the theme park. The new interactive Titanic: The World’s Largest Museum Attraction is set to open in March, with April openings to include Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex starring Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and other ’50s and ’60s rock legends.



    2006 marks the second boom in Branson’s phenomenal history as one of the country’s top family vacation destinations and promises to bring visitors more stars, more music, more shopping, dining, luxury accommodations, championship golf courses and vacation housing opportunities, according to Ross Summers, president and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau.



    “Branson’s first boom brought big stars to town for the first time, and this year our line-up reads like a who’s who of five decades of legendary stars,” Summers said.



    Big Stars, Big Music Shows



    Internationally-known entertainers appearing for limited engagements in 2006 include B.B. King, Martina McBride, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Regis Philbin, Petula Clark, Crystal Gayle, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Lee Greenwood, Mel Tillis, Ray Price, Ronnie McDowell, The Osmond Brothers, Debbie Reynolds, Neil Sedaka, Daniel O’Donnell and many more. These entertainers will join the likes of long-time Branson headliners such as Andy Williams, The Lennon Sisters, the Oak Ridge Boys, Mickey Gilley, Jim Stafford, Yakov Smirnoff, Dino Kartsonakis, Buck Trent, and Shoji Tabuchi.



    Baby boomers and their families will be treated to even more of the country, pop and rock n’ roll music they grew up with performed by stars like Pam Tillis, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Comets, Fabian, the new Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute show, and The Road to Rock show.



    Righteous Brother Bill Medley says, “Branson is an entertainer’s town. It’s like we’re in a playground designed for people who really love music.”



    Branson’s family shows are hotter than ever. The Baldknobbers Jamboree, open since 1959, has added three new 20-something cast members this year, all third generation members of the founding Mabe family. Their youthful enthusiasm promises to capture the heart of a new generation. The Duttons, the Hughes Brothers, the Presleys, the Braschlers, the Lowe family, the Haygoods, the Doug Gabriel family and many others continue the time-honored tradition of bringing wholesome family fun to Branson audiences.



    Yakov Smirnoff, America’s most famous Russian comedian, says, “All of the new shows enhance Branson’s musical diversity, which is already strong. Only in America can a Russian and a Japanese own a theater in the middle of the Ozarks!”


    Not only is Branson’s star power brighter than ever, but the diversity of entertainment is out of this world. Lizhi Zhao of the Acrobats of China said, “In Shanghai we describe Branson as the melting pot of entertainment.”



    Variety, Variety and More Variety



    Families of all ages find music, comedy, magic, Broadway-style production shows and more at places like the newly-constructed New Shanghai Theatre, which opened in 2005 to celebrate the Acrobats of China’s eighth season in Branson.



    Siegfried and Roy’s protégée Darren Romeo brings his unique style of magic, vocal talent and larger-than-life production numbers to the Welk Resort Theatre Complex again this year. Fans of Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show will be treated to the return of the stampeding buffalo, and an all-new surprise, “Dreams Take Flight,” highlighted by a breathtaking aerialist acrobatic display. Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest brings in the world-renowned Moscow Circus along with the Zunyi Acrobats of China and performers from around the world, April 6 – May 7.



    The Promise returns to Branson this year and joins Celebrate America at the Mansion America Theatre. The Magnificent 7 Show can be seen at the White House Theatre. Spirit of the Dance is back for the seventh season at the Branson Variety Theatre and will share the venue with Broadway! The Star Spangled Celebration starring Merrill Osmond, and a series of exciting guest star concerts by the likes of Frankie Avalon and Brenda Lee. Neil Goldberg’s Cirque is a sight and sound fantasy at the Remington Theatre. The line-up of ‘legends’ at Legends in Concert includes John Mellencamp, The Beatles, Toby Keith, Mick Jagger, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie and Ray Charles to name a few.



    Thrills, Chills & Cool Cars



    Thrill seekers of every age will be delighted to learn that the number of rides at Silver Dollar City is nearly doubling this year with the addition of The Grand Exposition, an $8 million two-acre expansion inspired by the world’s fairs and expositions of more than 100 years ago. From the high-flying swing ride to a family-sized coaster, there are seven new rides that parents can ride with their kids, and three new rides that smaller kids ride alone.



    Celebration City, the city “Built for Kids” partners with leaders in kids’ entertainment to present new adventures for 2006, including the extreme, cutting-edge “X” sport Mountainboarding, interactive Movie Magic that actually involves kids in Hollywood movies, a hands-on ultimate LEGO play area, and the introduction of two 2006 VeggieTales movies.



    Titanic, the World’s Largest Museum Attraction, opens March 8 with over 400 priceless artifacts, photos taken aboard the ship immediately before its fateful voyage in April, 1912, and a recreation of the Grand Staircase. Television star Regis Philbin will be in town to christen the Titanic on April 7 (he’ll perform live in concert at The Grand Palace on the same date).



    Roy “Dusty” Rogers, Jr., of the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theater says, “It looks like they’ve built the Titanic right there in the middle of Highway 76. It’s simply amazing!”



    The Patch Collection, a 1950s lifestyle exhibit featuring more than 50 fully-restored classic automobiles (all 1957) will be housed inside Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex.



    The new Butterfly Palace and Rainforest will offer guests the opportunity to walk among thousands of exotic butterflies, watch a 3D movie about their life cycle, and experience the sight and sound of a real rainforest.



    Spa Retreats, Golf Courses & Conventions



    In addition to the wide variety of live entertainment and attractions awaiting guests in Branson this year, the AAA four-diamond Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center is opening a newly-constructed 14,000-square foot, $5.5 million Spa Chateau in May complete with 10 treatment rooms, a highly trained staff, and a picturesque setting overlooking Table Rock Lake. The Spa will include a studio for yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi, a Barber Spa for men, and electric, hydraulic-operated massage tables. Signature treatments at Spa Chateau will include the nurturing Rhythm Massage and the Royal Shave.



    Two new championship golf courses will join Branson’s 11 other outstanding scenic courses over the next two years. The Tribute, a course honoring the memory of Payne Stewart will open in the new Branson Hills residential development. Murder Rock Golf & Country Club will join the highly-acclaimed Branson Creek Golf Club in the distinctive Branson Creek residential master-planned community, making it the only development in the area with two golf courses.



    Branson’s popularity as a vacation destination has spurred tremendous growth in the vacation housing, condominium, time-share and lakeside resort markets. Several new developments will offer guests enticing extended-stay options and the ability to bring larger groups to town for family reunions, military reunions and conferences. Scheduled to open in 2007, The Branson Convention Center (managed by Hilton Hotels and located across from the Branson Landing) will give meeting planners the opportunity to schedule events for groups as large as 4,500. When fully completed, the Branson Landing development on the Taneycomo lakefront will include a Belk Department Store, Bass Pro Shops, two Hilton Hotels, more than 100 unique shops and full service restaurants, and a new town square featuring a $7.5 million water, music and fire attraction designed by the makers of the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.



    $240 Million in New & Better Roads



    The City of Branson, Taney County and the Missouri Department of Transportation have spent over $240 million in new and improved roads and streets to and within the greater Branson/Lakes Area over the past 10 years. These roadway improvements were spurred by an influx of millions of new visitors following the 1991 60 Minutes television program that introduced Branson to the world. With several additional improvements planned for the coming months, government agencies are prepared for the next generation of travelers who will discover the exciting and dynamic Live Music Capital of America – Branson, Missouri.



    Editors note: Photos added courtesey of Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

  • Branson’s Branson Landing can not fail but will it be successful?

    The number one question the Ole Seagull is asked is, “Do you think that Branson Landing will be a success?” The answer depends on how “success” is defined but, in the final analysis, Branson Landing cannot fail! The politics, egos, money, and City of Branson support that have been, and will continue to be, invested in Branson Landing virtually assure its success. The only question is how that success is defined and obtained.



    Success can be defined as “Having a favorable outcome or achieving a desired or intended result.” Whether or not something is successful depends on what outcome or result is desired and the level of expectation.



    There are those who will define the success of Branson Landing strictly in terms of itself and its financial success or failure, can it pay its indebtedness, and are its tenants making a profit, etc. From an Ole Seagull’s perspective however, it is how that financial success or failure is achieved that counts.



    For what it matters, the Ole Seagull defines the success of Branson Landing in terms of what it does for Branson’s “stake holders.” They are the people currently working and living in and around Branson and the non tax payer financed businesses theatres, attractions, lodging establishments, restaurants, retail, and other businesses that are operating in Branson outside of Branson Landing.



    The measure of that success or failure is simple. If on Dec. 18, 2010, Branson’s stakeholders are enjoying a better quality of life and economic success because of Branson Landing then it is successful. If instead, Branson Landing has impacted the stakeholders quality of life or chances for economic success in a negative manner then it is unsuccessful.



    What are the chances of Branson Landing being successful under that definition? Pretty good if the results of a recent 24 hour on line poll mean anything. The poll asked the question, “Will the addition of the Branson Landing development make you more likely to visit Branson?” The results from 595 respondents were that 73 percent of the respondents said “No” and 27 percent said “Yes.”



    At this point some are probably thinking, “Why the old bird has finally lost it. How can about a three to one margin against something end up positive?” That logic is consistent with the comments that the Ole Seagull received this week about the poll. Yet, the actual marketing and statistical value of the poll aside, could one not use the same results and, comparing apples to apples, say that Branson Landing has the potential to be very successful for Branson.



    All this marketing stuff is confusing to an Ole Seagull but he was very impressed by the 2006 marketing program that the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB, the marketing agency for the City of Branson, is pursuing this year. It continues the proven methodology of coordinating various marketing tools, the internet, TV, radio, and print media with other marketing strategies into an effective integrated marketing plan that, if continued, will in and of itself be successful for Branson’s stakeholders.



    Let’s assume that a total of at least 50 million potential Branson Visitors are reached through that marketing each year. Applying the results of the poll literally, and without consideration as to its validity as a statistical marketing tool, about 73 percent of them will not be more likely to come to Branson because of Branson Landing. That leaves 27 percent that will. Isn’t 27 percent of 50 million about 13.5 million?



    If Branson Landing is even a small factor in 13.5 million plus people a year deciding to eventually come to Branson, let alone one that would make it more likely that they would come, doesn’t that put Branson Landing in a position to be one of the biggest successes in Branson history? Now there’s a great question for a poll!