In the mean time, we found our "perfect" RV in Independence MO. We were able cancel our hotel reservations in Springfield and Branson and make reservations at a campground near the Theater District of Branson.
Reuben Branson opened a general store and post office in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in 1882. The town that formed around his store was formally incorporated in 1912 as Branson, MO.
The first theater for live performances was built in Branson in 1934. Today Branson promotes itself as "The Live Music Capital of the World". Branson has over a 100 live shows running during the peak season. We were there during the off season, but there were still plenty of shows available (some of the shows only run once a week in the off season). Shows range from Broadway The Star Spangled Banner Celebration, which highlights New York's Broadway performances, such as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Miserables, Chicago and Grease to Country Tonite is for the die-hard country fan to Legends in Concert which features performances in the likeness of Elvis, The Blues Brothers, Liberace, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. There are tribute acts for the Eagles, Beatles, John Denver, Pasty Cline, and many more. Along with Parrotville, we saw the Abba tribute show.
At nearby Table Rock Lake there are opportunities to take in riverboat shows. There is also a resort near Table Rock Lake called Top of the Rock, not to be outdone by NYC. This Top of the Rock was built by the owner of Bass Pro Shops.
One day we took an Uber to the downtown area of Branson. The old downtown area has gone trough a revitalization process and there is a mix of old and new. We at at an old style diner and strolled through the old shops along the main drag. When we got to the riverfront, we found it was filled with newly built stores. We wove in and out of most of the stores, thankfully Theresa was just in a looking mood.
I saw somewhere in town (probably on a restaurant place mat) that Paul Henning drew on memories of a Boy Scout camping trip to the Ozark Mountains near Branson when he created the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies (is that really a bragging point???).
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| Musicland Kampground is within site of the Titanic Museum |
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| Welcome to Musicland Kampground |
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| Is that a bear? Don't worry, it is a concrete bear (even I can outrun this one). |
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| Map of Branson |
