The History of Branson, Missouri

Branson is a tourist town in Missouri, famous for its live theaters, beautiful scenery, golf courses, resorts, and year round entertainment. There are over forty different theaters, with the ability to seat sixty thousand people, two hundred lodge facilities, five thousand camping spaces, three hundred and fifty restaurants, nine golf courses and three lakes. They boast they are the live music capital of the world, and offer diverse and varied entertainment, from golfing to camping to the sophistication of the theater. Truly, there is diverse entertainment in Branson, making it a great place for all travelers, from families to single adult men. Today Branson is a fulltime tourism and recreation town, with many different attractions. Despite this high level of growth and achievement, the town had humble beginnings.

The town is named after Rueben Branson, who started the general store which became the post office in 1882. Back then the largest industry was tomato canning. Settlers first began to move in in 1884, with the promise of free land for homesteads. By 1904 the first hotel and resorts popped up, made to accommodate travelers, trappers, and fishers. In 1907 Branson saw its first true tourists, after Harold Bell Wright published a nationwide best seller about the Ozarks and area immediately near Branson. This quickly launched Branson out of anonymity and into a national spotlight. In 1912 Branson was officially incorporated, as major industry came to Branson and Branson as a resort town slowly became fact. This was slowed down by the two world wars, slowing and halting most tourism.

By 1959, the first theater opened its doors in Branson. The year previous the Table Rock damn was complete, forming a new lake for Branson. Branson was re-growing its tourism trade and beginning to boom. By 1983, Branson’s tourism grew another notch and became even bigger with the opening of Swiss Villa Amphitheater, which attracted big name music groups such as Def Leppard, Lynryd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Steppenwolf, and Ozzy Ozbou
e. Also, Roy Clark, a famous country singer, opened up a theater of his own in Branson. This proved to be important to the theater scene in Branson, as it later became a launching point for many others to start their own theaters in Branson.

Today there is more excitement in Branson than ever. Between the nearby Ozarks, three lakes, and five thousand camping spaces there is plenty to offer any outdoorsman. They have fishing, camping, and hiking. They also are host to over forty different theaters, offering diverse entertainment. Live music, live plays, and all different types of social interaction. They have amusement rides and carnival like entertainment. They have golf courses, open air, and resorts. They have a brand new state of the art convention center, and a $155 million dollar airport opened just recently in 2009. Now is the time visit Branson, Missouri, and take advantage of all the local entertainment. Come see the small town with humble beginnings as it grows into a resort town of great proportions.