"Branson, Missouri" Branson by Paulie_D

Although I stayed in Springfield, MO as part of a Route 66 bus/coach tour, I opted for an excursion to Branson to take in a show.

I was pleasantly surpised by Branson..I had imagined a 'Country Vegas' type of place and I found it quite restrained.

Our guide for the evening advised us that Branson has a normal population of around 3,500 but has 30,000 hotel rooms, 74 theatres with over 64,000 seats. The normal 'high' season in Branson is September thru December.

Branson grew up as a place where stars, whose overall popularity had declined to such a stage where touring would not be profitable, could build a theatre to enable their fans to come and see them.

From there it snowballed so much that even stars who still toured would build theatres for when they weren't on the road.