Titanic seems to be sailing right into the Branson Strip
“Branson has more attractions and fun per mile than any other tourism destination of a similar size,” says Paul Miller, General Manager of the Branson Tourism Center. “One of the things we are asked most often is “What are Branson’s most popular attractions?”’ He says the answer to that is subjective and depends on the entertainment experience a person is looking for, but one thing he is certain of, “For families having fun together, Branson is hard to beat.”
Getting technical for a moment, Miller said that Branson’s live shows and venues such as “Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede,” the “Showboat Branson Belle,” and “Branson Landing” as well as its lakes, golf and many other things in Branson are certainly “attractions” because they “attract people by appealing to their desires or taste.” He points out that according to the Branson Lakes Area CVB statistics that Branson Landing, a waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex located on the shores of Lake Taneycomo near historic downtown Branson, is probably Branson’s most popular attraction with over 60 percent of the people who come to Branson visiting it.
Miller, who has over 13 years experience helping Branson visitors have a great Branson experience says, “Although still subjective, it gets a little easier if the potential attractions are whittled down to those attractions that are paid, ticketed attractions and whose major point of “attraction” is not a show and is at a fixed location. He says that people driving on the famed “Branson Strip” just have to look for the bow of a huge ship plowing toward them, Branson’s biggest ape, a building that looks like it has been revenged by an earthquake and a palace on a hill to find four of Branson’s most popular ticketed attractions.
The bow of Branson’s Titanic Museum towers about a 100 feet above the Branson Strip and is built to about half the size of the original. While on their voyage aboard the Titanic’s passengers receive an exciting interactive adventure. They relive the last fateful hours of the unsinkable leviathan by talking with the ship’s crew, viewing over 400 personal artifacts, interactive displays and activities and actually walking down an exact replica of its spectacular “Grand Staircase.” Passengers also get to meet the Titanic’s new mascots “Carter” and “Molly,” two King Charles Spaniels, who are a new and exciting part of the Titanic’s visitor experience this year.
The unique exterior of the Hollywood Wax Museum makes it stands out even on the Branson Strip.
Within hailing distance of the Titanic, people driving down the strip might want to check the skyline for Branson’s biggest ape towering high above the distinctive facade of the “Hollywood Wax Museum.” The “Hollywood Wax Museum” is not your grandfather’s museum where all you did was look. In this museum most of the ropes and barriers have been removed and visitors have an opportunity to get “up close and personal with the stars.” They get a chance to have take their pictures with their favorite stars in their most famous scenes, skip down the “Yellow Brick Road, or have a photo taken with the gargantuan 40-foot King Kong. The Hollywood Wax Museum is part of the “Hollywood Entertainment Center,” containing the “Castle of Chaos,” “Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors” and, coming soon, a cool Hollywood themed miniature golf course.
Another of Branson’s most popular ticketed attractions, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum” is housed in one of the most distinctive and identifiable buildings in Branson built to reflect the effects of the 1812 New Madrid, Missouri earthquake. Visitors take an exciting self guided tour through about 400 of the most odd and amazing collections ever assembled.
One of Branson’s most unique ticketed attractions is the “Butterfly Palace & Rainforest” located in a “palace” on top of a hill at the far western edge of the Branson Strip. The butterflies come from rainforests all around the world and showcase something that most people haven’t seen before because none of the butterflies are native to the United States. Before stepping into the rainforest aviary and its thousands of butterflies visitors view a beautiful and exciting 15 minute movie on the life of a rain forest butterfly. In addition to the butterflies the experience also includes a maze that kids of all ages will love and a reptile display.
Branson’s most popular paid attraction is also its oldest and newest, Silver Dollar City, an 1890’s themed international award winning theme park. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2010 season and yet it never gets “old” because it is always adding new rides, festivals and things for its guests to do such as its new $7 million dollar ride, “Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast,” America’s biggest water battle which opened this year. Silver Dollar City’s unique combination of rides, craft demonstrations, shows, entertainment, festivals and the famed friendliness of their employees have been helping people to “Create Memories Worth Repeating” for 50 years. Silver Dollar City’s Blue Grass and BBQ Festival runs from May 13 through May 31.
For information or tickets for any of the attractions mentioned in this article or any of Branson’s other shows, attractions and activities or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.