Early post-dawn shot of a small portion of Table Rock Lake.
“Definitely not! That’s why its water quality is so important,” said Preston Garrison, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest providers of tourism services and information. His comment pertained to the overall importance of Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo to the Branson experience of many Branson visitors and the recent water quality assessment of Table Rock Lake by David Casaletto, President and Executive Director, of Ozarks Water Watch, a not for profit organization dedicated to, among other things, preserving the water quality of Branson’s lakes.
Casaletto said that, as in the past, Table Rock Lake’s waters are ready for both locals and visitors alike to enjoy during 2016. The most recent testing shows that it is safe and clean for swimming, boating, fishing, and other water related activities that Branson’s millions of visitors might want to do.
Even though many of Branson’s visitors might never see it, Table Rock Lake is a virtual aquatic paradise consisting of over 43,100 surface acres and 745 miles of shoreline. It offers and hosts, a variety of recreational activities including hiking, sightseeing, hunting, skin diving, fishing, and water sports such as swimming, boating, water skiing etc.
State Highway 165, which can be accessed from its terminus at State Highway 76 commonly called “The Strip,” is one of the main access routes to Table Rock Lake and its attractions. Just south of the entrance to the Chateau on the Lake is the turn off to Moonshine Beach, a public access area offering swimming, a sand, beach boat launching ramp and many other amenities. There is another public boat launching ramp located at the Table Rock State park just south of the dam and the Show Boat Branson Belle’s White River Landing. The State Park Marina is a full service marina, with boat rentals, other aquatic attractions, and activities, as well as a bait and tackle shop.
The Dewey Short Visitor Center is located on State Highway 165 at the south end of the dam between Moonshine Beach and the State Park. In addition to having information about all the public access areas and other information about Table Rock Lake the $10 million center has an exhibition area detailing the natural history of the Ozark Mountain region, its earliest inhabitants, and the construction of Table Rock Dam. A 20-minute film entitled, “Taming of the Riviera Blanche” explains the history and construction of the dam itself.
Branson Tourism Center’s Garrison points out that the really neat thing is that it offers all of this within a few miles of everything else Branson has to offer. Where else can you dock your boat, leave the beach, or come in from a fishing trip and be enjoying the shows, attractions, activities, shopping, and other activities that Branson offers within minutes?
For additional information on Table Rock Lake or Branson’s shows and attractions, or for lodging arrangements, please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 1-800-785-1550 or through its website, www.BransonTourismCenter.com.