Bass Pro Shops Opens in Branson Landing on Jun. 7, 2006

Branson Landing’s second anchor, Bass Pro Shops will open at 6:00 p.m. on Jun. 7, 2006 with its Grand Opening Events scheduled for Jun. 8-11. . The 42,000 square foot outdoor store will be the southern anchor for the 1.5 million square foot, 95 acre Branson Landing development located on the Lake Taneycomo lakefront adjacent to historic downtown Branson.

Called the “White River Outpost,” the Bass Pro Shops store in Branson will serve as a specialized bass and trout fishing, hunting, camping, boating, water sports, clothing and outdoor tourist outpost to itsmain store in Springfield. The store will also feature an 11,255 square-foot floating “White River Fish Company” restaurant scheduled to open on the lake, adjacent to the store in August.

The architecture as well as the building materials used, such as aged and recycled beams and metal from old buildings, are designed to duplicate buildings that might have occupied the banks of the White River in earlier times. The vaulted space, heavy timber construction, and the quality of workmanship are consistent with the Ozarks tradition for craftsmanship.

The main feature is the Ozarks trout pool aquarium at the north end of the store and the dramatic display of cascading water and displayed wildlife surrounding it. The combination of the display, with its water cascading through the wildlife and scenery into the pool is simply breath taking. There are numerous Ozarks wildlife displays in natural settings, artifacts, a huge Ozarks outdoors mural, and historical photo displays through the store. The photo display on the Power Site Dam and the history of Lake Taneycomo is but one example of why a visit to Pass Pro Shops White River Outpost is a must for visitors to the Branson area.

At the ground breaking for the store in January Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer said, “I have known the Morris family for most of the 52 years I have lived in Branson, and Lake Taneycomo means as much to them as it does to me and the rest of the community.” He went on to say, “To have a Bass Pro Shops store and marina as part of Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo will be a great asset for our visitors and residents alike.”

In the opinion of an Ole Seagull, Bass Pro Shops White River Outpost speaks for itself as to how much Lake Taneycomo and the Ozarks means to those who built it. As an initial skeptic to just how much effort Bass Pro Shops was going to invest into its store at Branson Landing, the Ole Seagull would just say that the completed store and the obvious financial commitment, detail, care and concern that went into making it an integral part of the heritage of the White River and the Ozarks testifies as to just how unfounded his concerns were. The Mayor called it right on the money. It is a great asset, not only to Branson Landing but to our entire area, and a place that should be on every visitors list of places to visit while in Branson.