Like National Cemeteries and other cemeteries located in the historic areas of many other cities throughout the country, Branson’s cemetery has become a tourist attraction. At its June 17 work session meeting, the Branson Board of Aldermen (Board) heard an eloquent plea from Jim Fullerton, a sixth generation Branson resident, that the Branson Cemetery be closed to the public after dark.
Fullerton said that he has 10 immediate family members buried in the Branson Cemetery including his grandparents, four aunts, and four uncles and considers it sacred ground. He expressed concern over the fact that Ghost & Haunt Tours is running a business that involves taking groups of tourists through the cemetery after dark and that he considers such actions as degradation to the cemetery. He said, “I don’t feel that they have any business in the cemetery after dark” and asked the board to consider a regulation that would prohibit anyone from being in the cemetery after dark.
The Branson Cemetery is a small cemetery located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Oklahoma and Commercial Streets in historic downtown Branson. The cemetery is owned and maintained by the city. Its historical significance includes the grave sites of civil war soldiers and early Branson residents, as well as Ruben S. Branson, who owned the general store that contained the Post Office after which Branson is named.
Fullerton made it very clear that he was not asking that Ghost & Haunt Tours not be permitted to operate. He said, “I’m just asking that everyone be on the outside boundaries of the cemetery after dark.” Fullerton asked that the sanctity of the cemetery be maintained in a way that honors his ancestors and the other people who are buried there.
Fred Athay, General Manager, Ghost & Haunt Tours introduced some of their guides and explained their qualifications. Athay explained that the tours are only within the interior of the cemetery for about 10 minutes of a 90 minute tour. He stressed that the groups are kept together, are not permitted to roam through the cemetery on their own and said that the route sticks close to the outside perimeter of the cemetery and was chosen to avoid stepping on any of the graves.
Athay introduced Suzette Boutilier, one of the owners of Ghost & Haunt Tours, who reviewed the 16 year history of the company from its inception in Key West, FL. She stressed the professionalism of the company, the fact that their tours are historically based and don’t use gimmicks such as costumes and theatrics, and that they have a $2 million dollar liability policy.
Boutilier said that the company never meant to be disrespectful in any manner whatsoever and apologized to Fullerton. She also said that the company is glad to be in Branson, wants to be a good business partner, that the company had changed tour routes in other cities, and expressed concern that they were not contacted earlier so that the situation could have been taken care of earlier. She suggested that the route could be modified so that the tours didn’t go into the interior of the cemetery if they were able to go by and look in from the outside of the fence.
Alderman Bob McDowell asked Boutilier if in fact a perimeter tour of the cemetery could be a solution. She replied, “That is something that we could work out. That’s not an issue at all.” Fullerton said that the perimeter tour would be a good compromise. After pointing out that the Board would take no official action on the cemetery at the work session, Mayor Raeanne Presley asked Boutilier if they would consider moving their tour “onto the sidewalk.” Boutilier replied, “We can do that if that’s not a problem.”
The Board briefly discussed other aspects of the cemetery including historical signage, new fencing, the actual land owned by the city making up the perimeter, and establishing hours of operation for the cemetery. These matters were referred to staff for study and possible future action by the Board.
