How to describe Branson? Las Vegas for the geriatric? Times Square on downers? A town whose existence can’t be explained? It is a small town far removed from any major metropolis (Springfield, not exactly a metropolis, is an hour away), with no major roads and no major scenic attractions which nevertheless has attracted a very large number of B-list entertainers and a huge assortment of go-cart tracks, mini-golf extravaganzas and a wide variety of run-of-the-mill tourist attractions. I’m sure there is a story behind its existence, but I will leave it to you to figure out what it is.
We had skipped Branson on the way west but our eastward trek made it just a slight diversion. We spent a week there, with me working and Jett mostly hanging out at the Branson KOA, a park which I thought was OK but Jett didn’t like at all. I described it a bit in my previous post and it doesn’t need more ink here. Instead I will tell you about the few times we set aside work and enjoyed ourselves.
First, the restaurants. We had lunch at Bobby Jack’s, which has a luncheon buffet that sounded interesting, but after viewing the offerings we decided to order from the menu. Whatever we had was totally forgettable.
Then, another day, we had an early dinner at Jackie B. Goode’s Uptown Cafe, a 50’s-era diner just around the corner from the KOA. It had classic 50’s style – booths with Formica tops, juke box and a menu featuring malts and shakes. We had some pretty tasty hamburgers, served by a waitress who within 5 minutes had given us her entire life history. We didn’t stay for the dinner show, which is a highly-rated tribute to George Strait.
The highlights of the stay were visits to the Titanic Museum and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. Jett is a huge Titanic fan – one who thinks that A Night to Remember is better than the DeCaprio blockbuster. We took just one picture – on the outside because photography is banned inside. We spent nearly 3 hours there and really enjoyed it – particularly the life-size replica of the grand staircase.
Titanic Museum
The Dixie Stampede is a dinner show featuring cowboys (and cowgirls), a few Indians and trick riding, trained buffalo, racing pigs and silly contests. It also had one of the better magic tricks I have ever seen – a cowgirl who climbed into a barrel on one of 3 buckboards, after which the buckboards zipped around the arena, then stopped and she popped up out of the barrel on a different buckboard. At no time were the buckboards close enough to effect a transfer, nor were any ever out of sight. I don’t know how they did it.
Dixie Stampede Theater
The main show was preceded by a juggling act featuring a very skilled Chinese juggler, Ty Tojo. He holds some world records in juggling and I can see why. The kid is unbelievable.
In some respects, the most interesting part of the evening was the dinner: a whole roasted cornish hen, a slice of pork roast, half a baked potato, cornbread and an apple turnover for dessert. All delicious and all served without utensils – you just made a very messy pig of yourself and eat it all with your hands.
Jett at the Dixie Stampede
One of the show horses
Across the street from the Dixie Stampede Theater was Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grille. We didn’t go there but would have if we had stayed another week. We got a picture just for Jett’s sister who is a HUGE fan of American Bandstand.
Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grille