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Welcome to Branson

About Branson Missouri

Branson's live music entertainment industry turns 50 this year! And 2009 also marks the 50th anniversary of Branson's first show, The Baldknobbers. In 1959, the Mabe brothers started entertaining visitors in downtown Branson that came to the Ozarks to enjoy the outdoors and the lakes. Little did they know that Branson would become the "Live Music Show Capital of the World!"

Truly a remarkable vacation destination, Branson is an incredible value with more than 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums, shopping galore, a full range of dining options, and a host of hotels, motels, resorts and meeting and conference facilities.

Branson is less than a day's drive for one-third of Americans, and with low-cost flights to the new Branson Airport, as well as Springfield-Branson National Airport, it's never been easier for your family or group to get to Branson.

Flying To Branson Missouri

Flying to Branson has never been easier, with several nearby airports offering commercial service. The newest is the Branson Airport, which is now open and providing low-cost flights to Branson on AirTran Airways and Sun Country Airlines. Additionally, low-cost fares are available on Allegiant Air and other airlines flying into Springfield-Branson National Airport, just 50 miles north of Branson.

Branson Airport is 10 miles south of the world-famous Branson Strip and has the capacity to handle more than 1 million enplanements annually. Families and groups flying to Branson have dining and auto-rental services on-site, as well as taxi and shuttle service into Branson. AirTran Airways and Sun Country Airlines are providing flights to Branson from Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Dallas-Fort Worth, hubs that connect Branson with most major U.S. cities, as well as international destinations.

Springfield-Branson National Airport opened its new 275,000 sq. ft., $117 million Midfield Terminal on May 6. The new terminal replaces the old facility on Kearney Street, which the community had outgrown. The new facility has 10 airline gates and room to add 50 more if needed. Accessibility has been improved as well: flyers can walk from their car to their airplane without climbing a single stair. Allegiant Air and American Airlines are among the carriers providing low-cost flights to the airport. Springfield-Branson National Airport is roughly 50 miles north of Branson.

Lodging In Branson

Live Shows and Attractions

Shopping and Dining Activities

The Branson/Lakes Area offers visitors of all tastes and preferences a wide selection of family dining options. You'll find eclectic eateries, gourmet fine dining, chain restaurants, fast food, buffets, lounges and banquet facilities capable of seating up to 400 for conferences, weddings and other special events. Choose from American, Italian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Mediterranean and more. You can enjoy barbeque, seafood, steaks, pasta, ice cream, homemade pastries, and pizza at sit-down establishments, at one of the area's buffet restaurants, or have it delivered right to your hotel, campground or resort. The area offers a number of lodging properties with full service restaurants and catering options.

Outdoor Activities

Within minutes of the bright lights of Branson, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, kayacking, horseback riding, trout and bass fishing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, spelunking, rock climbing and other recreational activities. Area public parks, beaches, resorts, campgrounds, forests and recreational facilities abound. The Branson Lakes Area has three pristine lakes with hundreds of miles of shoreline, as well as more than 100,000 acres of city, state, federal and privately owned wilderness areas open to visitors. The Branson Lakes Area features more than 200 miles of hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails. Also, the high-tech sport of geocaching is alive an well in the Ozarks, with dozens of caches hidden throughout the Branson Lakes Area.

Whether you're looking for primitive camping, or developed campsites for your tent or RV, Branson has many options, including many privately operated campgrounds and RV parks. The nearby 1.5 million acre Mark Twain National Forest offers a wealth of outdoor opportunities and a natural setting for your camping trip, while providing level campsites, picnic tables, drinking water, grills or fire rings, and toilet facilities in many locations.

Throughout the Branson/Table Rock Lake Area visitors can find outlet centers, shops and galleries focused on arts and crafts, as well boutique and specialty stores offering themed experiences for collectors, gift buyers and bargain hunters alike.

Our Lakes, Fishing and Boating

The Branson/Lakes Area is so known because of its three pristine lakes: Table Rock Lake, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. Water sports enthusiasts can swim, water ski, wakeboard, tube, boat, sail, scuba dive, jet ski, parasail, kayak, and of course, fish. The lakes' waters don't freeze, welcoming visitors' activities year round.

All three lakes offer camping and RV parks, and easy access to the water at a number of public marinas and boat docks/launch areas. Several commercial marinas offer fishing guide service and a wide range of boat rentals including ski boats, pontoon boats, bass boats and wave runners. Many of the resorts on the three lakes offer guide service, outfitters, rental boats and private dock facilities for visitors' boats as well.

Information regarding lake levels is available at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil.jhjg

Table Rock Lake Information

Accessible from multiple public and privately owned locations just minutes to the west of Branson, Table Rock Lake has been delighting visitors and residents alike since it was formed by the damming of the White River in 1958. While visitors can find dozens of places to stay and play along the banks of Table Rock Lake,the area's commercial developments have placed a high priority on preserving the scenic beauty of the natural shoreline, bluffs, forests and wildlife that inhabit the shoreline.

Quick Facts

43,000 to 52,300 (approx.) acres of surface area depending on the water level
750+ miles of shoreline
Table Rock Dam and Powerhouse was completed in 1959.
The dam is 6,423 feet long and 252 feet high.

Fishing Table Rock Lake

Table Rock is nationally recognized as a top bass fishing lake. Large numbers of largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky spotted bass and white bass thrive in its diverse underwater structure and immense forage base. Bass, crappie and large bluegill are caught in abundance. Catfish of all sizes also roam the lake bottom. Many area resorts and marinas can hook you up with an experienced fishing guide to help make the most of your Table Rock Lake fishing experience. If you enjoy tournament fishing, there are hundreds of regional and local tournaments held on Table Rock Lake each year including a major B.A.S.S. tournament.

For a map of Table Rock Lake, obtain a printed map from the Corps of Engineers or visit their Web site (PDF file)

Taneycomo Lake

"Lake Taneycomo is one of the best, if not the very best, of all trout streams in the U.S."
- Harold D. Eastman in "Trout Fishing on Lake Taneycomo," 1987

Accessible from historic downtown Branson and at multiple points east including the communities of Rockaway Beach, Forsyth and Powersite and south of Hwy. 76 in Hollister and the Fall Creek area, Lake Taneycomo was formed with the completion of Powersite Dam in 1913. It was originally a section of the White River, and although Taneycomo is now technically a lake, it retains the look and feel of a river. When the Table Rock Dam was completed at Taneycomo's headwaters in 1958, the nature of the lake changed. Taneycomo's water now comes from the bottom of Table Rock Lake, making it a coldwater lake. The cold, clear water, stocked annually with approximately 750,000 10-12" rainbow trout, makes Taneycomo a world-class trout fishing lake.

Resorts, campgrounds & RV parks and full-service marinas and outfitters offer canoeing, kayaking, fishing boats, motors, guides, tackle, and pontoons for relaxing and fun-filled lake activities.

Quick Facts

2,000+ (approx.) acres of surface area depending on the water level
40+ miles of shoreline
58 degrees - average water temperature
750,000 + rainbow and brown trout stocked annually

Fishing Lake Taneycomo

The uppermost portion of the lake is reserved for artificial lures only such as tiny jigs and crankbaits. These headwaters are also ideal for fly fishing with flies that imitate the freshwater shrimp and other natural bait that the trout feed upon.

The locals say that the best way to catch trout is by drifting salmon eggs or angleworms. Affix the eggs or worms to a small hook and cast into holes with an ultra light rod and reel. This method used from a drifting boat or from a dock will yield a nice stringer of trout.

Lower Lake Taneycomo harbors a well-kept secret. The downstream area closer to Forsyth offers considerably warmer water and many other species of fish, making Taneycomo a versatile and challenging destination for anglers who are aware of its changing character from one end to the other.

Many area resorts and marinas can hook you up with an experienced guide to help make the most of your Lake Taneycomo fishing experience.

The Taneycomo lakefront in historic downtown Branson is home to the Branson Landing, which includes shopping, dining, lake excursions, boat rentals, all along a 1-mile lighted boardwalk.

Bull Shoals Lake Information

Bull Shoals begins where Taneycomo ends and flows eastwardly from Forsyth into Arkansas. Bull Shoals Dam, the fifth largest concrete dam in the United States, is located approximately 7 miles north of Cotter, Arkansas. The lake's shoreline has gone relatively undeveloped and features steep bluffs and rock ledges. The lake has many areas within 20 feet of the shoreline measuring 50 feet deep or more. Its crystal clear water makes the lake an ideal spot for scuba divers and swimmers. Light tackle and light line are the best choice for anglers.

Bull Shoals also offers a variety of public access points and a selection of quaint fishing lodges that offer privacy and a chance to explore Ozark Mountain scenery at its finest.

Quick Facts

45,440 to 71,240 (approx.) acres of surface area depending on the water level
740+ miles of shoreline
Bull Shoals Dam was created in 1951
The dam is 2,256 feet long and 256 feet high

Fishing Bull Shoals Lake
Bull Shoals Lake is popular for its white, large mouth and spotted bass. It is a popular tournament lake and has a reputation for producing lunker fish of several varieties, including stripers that weigh in at more than 50 pounds. Record catches on this lake include a 5-pound, 5-ounce white bass, a 13-pound 14-ounce largemouth bass and a 21-pound, 1-ounce walleye. Crappie, bream and catfish of all sizes can be found in Bull Shoals.

Golf Course Information

With an outstanding list of honors and awards to their credit by GolfDigest, Golfweek, and Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine among others, the Branson area's many courses are among the Midwest's finest. Integrating inspired course design by Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus with rugged Ozark Mountain topography, these courses offer scenic and challenging play for beginners and avid players alike.

Players can expect to find lush Bermuda and Zoysia fairways and tees, bent grass greens, plenty of waterfalls, lakes, creeks and bunker features, and a variety of open and tree-lined fairways.

Several courses stay open year round with reduced rates November through March and discounts for play after 12 pm, multiple players and in combination with lodging packages. Most of these courses can accommodate tournaments and corporate special events, and offer private instructions by appointment. The Branson Area Golf Council is a great source of information about the area's courses.

Welcome to Branson