Dewey Short Visitor Center - Just 2 Miles From Your Favorite Branson Coaster

Neil Sawford • Apr 05, 2024

Dewey Short Visitor Center – Just 2 Miles From Your Favorite Branson Coaster


Don't forget to visit Table Rock Lake if you vacation in Branson with your entire family. Every visitor to this artificial lake will discover a fascinating history when they visit the recently opened Dewey Short Visitors Center.

Situated about two miles from the Dewey Short Visitor Center, this is the perfect place to spend the afternoon following an exciting morning of activities or an exhilarating ride trip on the Branson coaster at Branson Mountain Adventure.

Take an educational tour of the Dewey Short Visitor Center to add fun to your Christmas visit to Branson. Visit the Dewey Short Visitor Center to see how the United States dammed the White River in the 1950s and built the artificial Table Rock Lake by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Table Rock Lake was constructed to gauge the waterway's ability to manage flooding.


The Table Rock Dam was constructed following the formation of Table Rock Lake, and it was called for a sizable rock that had slid a mile downstream from the dam's location. When you visit the new Dewey Short Visitors Center, you will discover fascinating history and facts about these two man-made structures.

The Dewey Short Visitors Center is named for Congressman Dewey Jackson Short, a Republican US Representative from Missouri's 7th Congressional District elected to a remarkable twelve office term. It is situated immediately off of Highway 165 near to the dam.


Dewey Short was a fervent advocate for the Table Rock Dam and played a significant role in securing funding for the project. As a result of his tireless efforts, the construction of the dam was made possible in 1954.

The congressman's vision, the dam, and many other topics are now available for tourists at the Dewey Short Tourists Center. The visitors' center is a striking modern structure situated on the lake's edge. Table Rock Lake's "crown jewel," the visitors center, opened its doors in April 2012.


Among the outdoor features of the visitor centers are a garden with a wooden bridge, a walking path, and an outdoor viewing platform. Three levels of educational exhibits and a 20-minute film about the dam are located within; after your thrilling trip on the Branson roller coaster, head over here.

The interactive exhibits at the Dewey Short Visitor Center provide a larger-than-life story about the White River and the Table Rock Dam while showcasing the animals of the Ozarks. Following Congressman Dewey Jackson Short's election to Congress, the Visitor Center was built.


Dewey Short, a Republican congressman from Missouri's 7th congressional district who was a fervent backer of the Table Rock Dam, emerged as the project's strongest proponent in terms of funding. Today, visitors to the Dewey Short Visitor Center may discover the fascinating history of Congressman Dewey Short's vision as well as the history of the dam.


The unique, contemporary Dewey Short Visitor Center building is situated on the lake's edge. The facility earned the title of Table Rock Lake's "crown jewel" when it debuted in April 2012. There is an outdoor viewing deck, a walking trail, and a rock garden with a wooden bridge near the Dewey Short Visitor Center.


There is a theater within the stunning structure where you can view the movie about the dam's construction and a Discovery Shop with unusual gift items. Unique products created by regional artists and craftspeople, including wood carvings, handcrafted goods, and souvenirs with Table Rock Lake themes, are also available at the Discovery Shop.

Wall displays on the ground level of the Dewey Short Visitor Center describe the history of the Table Rock Dam. You can learn about the history of the previous life of the local Indians by visiting the exhibitions of native American artifacts inside the Visitor Center.


Suppose you have an interest in nature and wildlife. In that case, the diorama room with fish, birds, and other critters in Table Rock Lake is fascinating. You can capture stunning and unforgettable photos of the dam from the building's viewing deck, adding to the awe and memory of your visit to the Dewey Shorts Visitors Center.


Table Rock Lake's "crown jewel" is this well-liked destination close to the lake. Information on Table Rock Lake and the other dams used to control the water in the White River Watershed is available through three stories of interactive exhibits.

The value of wearing a life jacket is illustrated in an interactive water safety exhibit, and you can create virtual rain and mountains in a hands-on sandbox using a 3D topographic map. Enjoy the stunning views of the lake and dam from two levels of outdoor decks.


When you visit the Dewey Short Visitors Center after your thrilling ride on the Branson mountain coaster, the Runaway, you will discover fascinating information regarding the damming of the White River, in addition to taking in the gorgeous views of the magnificent Table Rock Lake.

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The desire to enjoy various innovative and intense physical experiences such as rock climbing and parachute jumping is linked to roller coaster enjoyment. But what is it about roller coasters that make them so appealing? At first look, it may appear to be due to speed experience. However, the evidence for a relationship between sensation seeking and speed is weak. For example, driving at speeds beyond the legal limit is something many individuals do, not only thrill-seekers. Perhaps the attraction of the Branson roller coaster is the visceral experience of terror itself, similar to viewing a horror movie. The "fight or flight reaction" refers to physical indications of fear such as a racing heart, quicker breathing, and an energy surge generated by the release of glucose. Researchers who recorded riders' pulse rates on the double-corkscrew Coca Cola Roller in 1980s Glasgow discovered that a roller coaster ride is likely to elicit this response. Heartbeats per minute more than doubled from an average of 70 before the ride to 153 shortly after it began. Some senior motorcyclists came dangerously near to what would be considered medically risky given their age. In another adrenaline-pumping activity, beginner bungee jumpers not only reported heightened sensations of well-being, wakefulness, and happiness immediately after completing a jump. They also had higher amounts of endorphins in their blood, which are widely known to cause emotions of tremendous pleasure. Surprisingly, the higher the endorphin levels, the more blissful the jumper reported feeling. In this case, there is clear evidence that people appreciate the sensations associated with the fight or flight response in a non-threatening situation. Pleasure vs stress Bungee jumpers also had higher amounts of cortisol, which is known to rise when people are stressed. So, how can a person feel both worry and pleasure simultaneously? 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