14 Branson family attractions, from new landmarks to classic shows
BRANSON, Missouri — A giant gleaming octopus clings to the side of a building, a humongous hand holds a colossal camera, and pink Jeeps cruise out of town, headed for off-road adventure
"There's always something new around here ... and it's a creative community," said Lynn Berry, director of communications for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"You have to stay relevant. ... The folks that come in here and want to put in an attraction, it has to be a showpiece to get 10 million visitors to look at it."
For more than a century, Branson has thrived as a tourist destination. Visitors were first drawn to its mountains, caves, lakes and other natural wonders, and in the 1960s, the Ozark Mountain town emerged as a live entertainment Mecca.
"The days of 'my grandmother used to come with her church on a bus to Branson' have been gone for more than 20 years. For that reason, we've really enjoyed the building of a lot of outdoor attractions ... and now with an indoor attraction scene happening here, we've been really fortunate," Berry said.
"We want to bring all members of the family to Branson ... but we just really do believe that if we get you here with your grandparents and you make memories, you're gonna bring your kids."
Here are 14 family-friendly attractions in Branson, from new landmarks to familiar favorites:
1. Aquarium at the Boardwalk
Draped in a glistening larger-than-life sculpture of a giant Pacific octopus, the Aquarium at the Boardwalk fits right in on W 76 Country Boulevard, the main route through the bustling entertainment district known colloquially as the "Highway 76 Strip."
"For probably 12 years, one of the things that we always asked the visitors that agreed to take one of our little surveys was 'What would you like to see in Branson?' And an aquarium came up time after time," Berry said, adding that the aquarium is the just first attraction planned for the developing Branson Boardwalk entertainment complex.
"It's our jewel now in the indoor attraction scene."
The aquarium, which opened in fall 2020, features more than 250 animal species — from sharks and stingrays to seahorses and a sea turtle — housed in a facility that has the requisite glitz and grandeur of a tourist town. It boasts a mirrored and glow-in-the-dark "Bloom Room" that showcases bioluminescent moon jellies, a 5D deep-sea submarine adventure, a 24-foot Kelp Forest climbing structure for children, a touch pool with flooding tidewaters and more.
Information: https://www.aquariumattheboardwalk.com.
2. Silver Dollar City
Routinely ranked among the country's top theme parks, Silver Dollar City is unique. Built like a pretty 1880s village, it features 40 rides and attractions including roller coasters, a vintage train and a new raft ride, plus a slew of entertainers who put on live shows and a colony of 100 artisans and craftspeople who put on demonstrations. The park was founded on Marvel Cave, a well-named landmark that able-bodied visitors still can explore via an hourlong guided tour.
The biggest downside to Silver Dollar City is trying to do it all, but through Aug. 7 the park is celebrating Midnight Madness, with hours extended through 10 p.m. most nights and until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 6.
Information: https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park.
3. Live shows
For more than 50 years, live shows have been a staple in Branson, which is particularly known as a haven for country music extravaganzas. But the Ozark Mountain destination now boasts a variety of live experiences, from the Beatles tribute Liverpool Legends to the hit parade Anthems of Rock.
"All of the more than 100 shows are suitable for every generation," Berry said. "You won't see anything untoward or hear any ugly words."
The Grand Shanghai Circus showcases acrobats, magicians and performers from the United States, Peru and Venezuela as well as China, and the Sight & Sound Theatre brings biblical epics to life, with "Jesus" currently working miracles on its stage.
A family band made up of five brothers and one sister, The Haygoods put on one of Branson's most popular shows, combining impressive musicality, dance and spectacle.
Information: https://www.explorebranson.com/article/2022-directory-shows-theater.
4. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
Situated about 30 miles south of Branson in Lampe, the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park features towering waterfalls, rocky bluffs, green pools and other scenic views of the Ozarks. Visitors can hike or borrow bikes to explore the trails, fish for rainbow trout or sign up for segway tours, horseback riding and tram excursions, with the latter transporting passengers across the Arkansas border and into a preserve for elk and bison.
Information: https://dogwoodcanyon.org.
5. Beyond the Lens!
Instantly recognizable with its giant camera facade, Beyond the Lens! is billed as a "techno-tainment" complex "where technology and entertainment collide." The family-fun center, which debuted in 2019, boasts more than 150 interactive exhibits, including virtual reality and augmented reality games, a Bigfoot hunt, two-minute escape rooms, pop culture trivia, classic arcade games and 360 Flip Bumper Cars, a dizzying thrill ride where the bumps can literally turn riders upside-down.
For an additional ticket, visitors can experience the immersive FlyRide, which uses a huge four-story curved screen, full motion seats and sensory cues to take passengers on a rousing virtual journey across America.
Information: https://beyondthelens.com/branson.
6. Titanic Museum Attraction
The ship-shaped facade is just the beginning. The massive Titanic Museum Attraction uses actual historic artifacts, reproductions of the famed ill-fated ocean liner and interactive exhibits to plunge people into the history of one of the world's most famous shipwrecks.
"There were people from all walks of life in this situation. It didn't matter how much money they had, they basically could die in the freezing temperatures of the ocean," said Titanic Museum Education Executive James Myers. "I think we can see ourselves in those stories."
The museum gets creative in immersing visitors in Titanic lore: Ticketholders are invited to touch a replica iceberg, dip their hands in 28-degree water and try to keep their footing on the sinking ship's sharply angled deck. On entry, each guest is given a boarding pass with the name of an actual Titanic passenger, and they can find out that person's fate toward the end of their journey.
Information: https://titanicbranson.com.
7. Showboat Branson Belle
From mid-March through December, the four-story Showboat Branson Belle, a reimagining of an 1880s paddle-wheeler, takes passengers on dinner cruises on Table Rock Lake. People can stroll along the wraparound decks, dine on a down-home three-course meal and catch the comedy magic of emcee Christopher James. Plus, an energetic troupe of singers and dancers performs classic rock hits and recreates beloved movie movements alongside a live band.
Information: https://www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson.
8. Pink Jeep Tours
Just launched in Branson earlier this year, Pink Jeep Tours give visitors a chance to go off-road to explore both natural wonders and quaint landmarks. Riders can load up in one of several customized pink Jeep Wranglers and choose from four different tours, which all include a 4x4 jaunt to the summit of Baird Mountain.
"The view up there is second to none anywhere on Table Rock Lake. It's probably the prettiest view of the lake that you'll ever see," said Gerald Jenkins, general manager of Pink Jeep Tours Branson.
Information: https://www.pinkadventuretours.com/tours/branson-tour.
9. Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park
Named America's best aerial adventure by USA Today in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park offers several adrenaline-boosting options for families and thrill seekers, including a zipline canopy tour, multi-level treetop ropes course and the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider, where riders can speed up to 55 mph hour down from the historic 230-foot Inspiration Tower.
Last year, the park debuted its Copperhead Mountain Coaster, a particularly picturesque ride. Billed as Branson's longest downhill coaster, it loops, drops and curves through the Ozarks.
Information: https://theshepherdofthehills.com.
10. Silver Dollar City's White Water
Boasting 13 acres of water rides and slides, Silver Dollar City's White Water is open for the season through Sept. 5. Big kids can slide into the rip-roaring thrills of the Kalani Towers Drop Slides, KaPau Plummet, Waikiki Wave and more, while the whole family can take the plunge into the Aloha River, Surf's Up Wave Pool and Splashaway Cay.
Information: https://www.silverdollarcity.com/white-water.
11. Snowflex Tube Park at Wolfe Mountain
Long known for its breathtaking zipline canopy tours, Wolfe Mountain in 2017 introduced its year-round Snowflex Tube Park, billed as the country's largest synthetic tubing run. Instead of speeding down a snow-covered slope, visitors ride tubes down a hilly 400-by-60-foot stretch of polymer composite. Sprays of water add extra authenticity as you skim down with the wind in your face, and an escalator to the top of the slope makes it easy to work in lots of runs.
Information: https://www.wolfemountainbranson.com.
12. The Track Family Fun Parks
The Track Family Fun Parks feature an array of attractions spread over three locations, from high-rise and classic go-kart tracks and bumper boats to mini golf and laser tag.
Formerly known as Chicago's Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, the Branson Ferris Wheel has towered over W 76 Country Boulevard since 2016. Situated at Track 4, the 150-foot Ferris wheel can take as many as 240 passengers on a leisurely ride, providing a striking view of the showy "Highway 76 Strip."
Information: https://www.fivestarparks.com/branson-tracks.
13. Dolly Parton's Stampede
At Dolly Parton's Stampede, folks definitely get dinner and a show. The hearty four-course meal includes creamy vegetable soup, a petite whole rotisserie chicken, a slab of pork loin, corn on the cob, an herb-roasted potato and apple turnover. The long-running show features a talented cast of trick riders performing on 32 majestic horses, along with a stately bison herd, down-home comedy and extravagant musical numbers. Ticketholders should plan to arrive early for the Horse Walk, where they can visit the show's four-legged stars in their stalls, as well as for the preshow entertainment.
In 2018, Parton dropped the word "Dixie" from the title of the long-running show, which has been overhauled to remove all references to the Civil War, the Confederacy and Southern plantations. Diners are still seated in an arena and encouraged to whoop and holler for either the North or South in a friendly competition decided through events like pig racing and chicken chasing, but they're no longer rooting for the Blue or Gray. The spectacle still glosses over America's tragic Native American history, but not having the kid-friendly fun served with a heaping helping of Civil War romanticism is a significant improvement.
Information: https://dpstampede.com/branson.
14. Moonshine Beach Recreational Area
One of the most charming and affordable places to enjoy Branson's natural beauty, Moonshine Beach is a sandy stretch along the shores of Table Rock Lake, where people can swim, picnic, build sandcastles or just enjoy the sun, sand and water. The entry fee is just $5 per car.
Information: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234371.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 14 Branson family attractions, from new landmarks to classic shows
