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| 60,0000 red, white and blue lights adorn the Enchanted Forest’s "Freedom Tree." |
Beginning in the 1980’s, Indian Point’s Enchanted Forest was the first drive-through holiday light display in the Branson/Lakes Area. Today, it is the only one that remains free to the public. In the early years, the display included only ground-mounted colored spotlights shining up into the trees. This year, the mile-long drive has hundreds of thousands of lights including tunnels, whimsical animated woodland creatures and a few new surprises.
The focal point is the now famous “Freedom Tree”. Just after the 9-11 terrorist attacks occurred, the volunteers decorating a crooked old Osage orange tree decided to wrap it in red, white and blue lights to express the Village’s patriotism and support for the country. A picture of the tree was put on the Indian Point Chamber of Commerce’s web site (www.indianpointchamber.com) and positive comments were received from across the nation and several foreign countries. The tradition continues this year as the tree’s 60,000 plus red, white and blue lights send forth visual support of our troops abroad and emergency workers here at home. An estimated hundred thousand people came to see the lights last year and this year promises to be even bigger and better.
This annual event is not a commercial enterprise however donations are gratefully accepted. The Forest is the annual “Christmas Card” from the Village (the largest resort area on Table Rock Lake) to the residents and visitors to this area. It is a partnership of the Village, the Indian Point Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the many volunteers, without whose help the event would not be possible.
The Enchanted Forest is located three miles south of Highway 76 on Indian Point Road (the entrance to the Silver Dollar City Theme Park) between Branson and Branson West. It will be open from dusk until midnight each evening from Nov. 11 through January 1.
For further information, visit the Indian Point Chamber of Commerce’s web site or call 800-888-3313.