From Caves to Mountain Coasters, Find Out Why Tourists Visit Branson Attractions

Neil Sawford • Oct 26, 2022


Since the discovery of Marvel Cave many decades ago, Branson has continued to evolve, offering recreational activities, world-class live entertainment shows, and numerous exciting attractions.

These activities allow vacationers to experience Ozarks hospitality in a fresh, new way each time they spend a wonderful vacation. Branson's brief history revealed numerous activities and adventures in the Ozarks that drew tourists to the area to see many popular attractions, including the Branson Mountain Coaster.


Marvel Cave became a tourist attraction in 1894

As one of the oldest caves in Branson, Marvel Cave was opened by William Lynch in the late 1800s as a tourist attraction. By the year 1894, Marvel Cave opened to tourists. Silver Dollar City was made known in part due to the discovery of the Marvel Cave. Silver Dollar City might not even be named. That same year, the cave became a tourist attraction in the area, and by 1960, it had become the focal point of the premier theme park in Branson.

The Herschend family leased the cave in 1950 and made vast improvements for the accessibility of tourists to the shelter. By 1960 the same family established an 1880s Ozark Mountain Village around the entrance to Marvel Cave, the beginnings of Silver Dollar City. This popular attraction in Branson is the perfect tourist spot to visit after you have enjoyed a thrilling ride on the Branson mountain coaster.


In 1907, the Ozarks put the Shepherd of the Hills on the map.

The name Shepherd of the Hills comes from Harold Bell Wright's famous book of the same name. The book is Missouri's most widely read publication. When the book was first published in 1907, thousands of readers were drawn in by the intriguing story and the detailed language describing the Ozark's regions and the characters in the story. Even today, the book inspires people by allowing them to learn about the story and its characters.

Tourism to the area increased for more than a decade after the book's publication, with many visitors wanting to know where to find "Old Matt's Cabin," as Wright referred to the Ross homestead in the novel. Other businesses capitalized on the novel's success by naming their establishments after characters in the book, such as The Sammy Lane Resort.

Lizzie McDaniel purchased the Ross homestead in 1923 and made it a museum. He was also the first to host the Shepherd of the Hills story reenactments on the homestead's lawn.


Rockaway Beach Becomes a Vacation Hot Spot in 1902

In 1913, the Ozark Beach Dam near Forsyth was built, creating Lake Taneycomo, which aided in the growth of the resort community of Rockaway Beach. The number of permanent residents began to increase, followed by an influx of tourists eager to enjoy the warm lake's boating, fishing, and swimming.

Many new visitors arrived at the nearby Hollister, Missouri, White River Line Railway depot and took a boat down Lake Taneycomo to Rockaway Beach.

Rockaway Beach quickly became one of Missouri's premier tourist destinations, with visits from movie stars and U.S. presidents. Al Capone, the famous Chicago gangster, is said to have vacationed in the resort community but also had a hideout nearby!

Rockaway Beach thrived for many years until the completion of Table Rock Dam in 1959. It then created Table Rock Lake (now nationally known for its bass fishing) and significantly cooled Lake Taneycomo's warm waters.

Rockaway's broad appeal as a tourist destination faded as its lake became unsuitable for swimming. However, Rockaway has reinvented itself as a charming lakeside community with some of the best trout fishing in America steps away in the last decade.


Live Music Makes Its Mark in Branson started in 1959/1960

The Mabe brothers, known as the Baldknobbers, founded Branson's reputation as a live entertainment destination in 1959. The brothers' combination of country hits and comedy became Branson's winning formula for the country music variety show, which is still used in several successful shows today. The Baldknobbers relocated from their location along Lake Taneycomo to their theater on W 76 Country Blvd in 1969.

In the 1980s, there was more to do and see


Visitors to Branson were drawn in by the live music shows, outdoor recreation, and water sports adventure, such as in the Tri-lakes area. However, by the 1980s, Branson had begun to expand its entertainment offerings of world-class performances, which in many cases increased the number of time visitors stayed in the area.


After visiting the caves, watching world-class entertainment shows, and taking a thrilling adventure ride on the Branson mountain coaster, you will understand why tourists visit Branson's famous attractions.

By Neil Sawford 25 Oct, 2024
Understanding the history of a place is one of the best ways to enjoy its flavor. There are many different types of museums in Branson, MO, that will appeal to people of all ages. It's just one of the many things you can do with your family while on vacation in Branson. You will enjoy the exciting attractions in this popular Midwest vacation destination, including the mountain roller coaster in Branson . So, while in Branson, MO, why not add some museums to your itinerary? Titanic Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Branson, offering a historical tour throughout the year. This world's largest museum attraction will allow visitors to become passengers on this grand ocean liner and experience the tragic maiden voyage through over 400 artifacts and countless exhibits. As you get through the exhibits in the Memorial Room, you will learn about the passengers who died or survived the disaster. This historic Branson attraction is a wonderful place to visit after you have enjoyed an exciting ride with the mountain roller coaster in Branson because the area houses historical treasures as well as numerous priceless artifacts. The sensational tour at the museum takes all visitors through the Grand Staircase, beautiful hallways, first-class staterooms, and 20 different public rooms. This one-of-a-kind museum in Branson has many interesting exhibits that reflect the Titanic's historical background. World's Largest Toy Museum Because it houses millions of toys of various shapes and sizes, the fantastic museum in Branson lives up to its name as the world's largest toy museum. This tremendous museum houses nearly every type of toy imaginable. Everything from collectible Legos to a full-size Rolls-Royce is on display at the museum, which can be a lot of fun for everyone. Toys of all kinds, from dollhouses to Star Wars, can be found in this fantastic museum, where ladies grew up with things for the boys like General Lee items, John Deere memorabilia, and much more. The exhibits inside the museum display over 100 antique toy trains where many of the visitors remember growing up with. This one-of-a-kind museum features a diverse collection of toys dating from the 1800s to today. Beautiful toys from the past and present can be found here. The museum has extensive collections of the vintage ship, plane, and train designs, classic cars and motorcycles, cap guns, BB guns, pedal cars, bicycles, tin wind-ups, dolls, Star Wars, Disney characters, G.I.Joes, trucks, and toy soldiers. The museum's entire collection of toys from the 1700s to the present is a must-see in Branson. Branson Auto & Farm Museum The Branson Auto & Farm Museum is one of Branson's most well-known museum attractions. It was built in May 2009 as a purpose-built museum dedicated to preserving and appreciating historic automobiles. The museum is beautifully nestled in the former "Engler Block" crafts mall, which you can easily access after enjoying a thrilling ride with the mountain roller coaster in Branson. This famous museum for both children and adults is 78,000 square feet and houses approximately 220 automobiles and farm equipment. The museum is divided into sections that wind their way through the building, making it an ideal setting for a museum. Over 100 vintage cars and tractors are on display at the Branson Auto & Farm Museum, many of which are for sale. The museum's car and farm inventories change regularly, so if you're not satisfied with the current displays, just come back another time. The museum houses a two-row wooden corn planter made by Brown Company in 1853 and an early 1900s wooden steam engine. The museum also features a favorite piece, a 1950s Chevy Nomad, a station wagon with a distinct shape. Branson Dinosaur Museum If your children enjoy seeing dinosaurs, bring them to the Branson Dinosaur Museum, which is the only place in Branson, MO, where they can see and learn about the exciting and towering creatures. Lifelike replicas of many dinosaurs allow visitors to get up close and personal with these creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago. This museum, which is beautifully located on Highway 76 on the Strip next to Wal-Mart, features evidence and facts about some of the most powerful animals that ever lived on Earth. See the life-sized dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals sculpted by artists. This museum houses one of the world's largest collections of prehistoric animals, ranging from a two-story-high Tyrannosaurus Rex to a tiny 12-inch-tall Microraptor. The fantastic dinosaur recreations will provide you with hours of entertainment and excitement. At the Branson Dinosaur Museum, you can watch educational films in a high-definition movie theater. After a day of exploring museums, a large dinner, a leisurely hike, and a thrilling ride on the mountain coaster in Branson , you'll want to do nothing but relax at home.
By Neil Sawford 18 Oct, 2024
The Science Behind Roller Coasters Because of technological advancements, roller coasters are becoming more prominent, faster, and scarier. The gravity-propelled Branson mountain coaster , for example, provides a modern sort of entertainment. Unlike the first roller coasters, which were built in the mid-1880s, they were used to transport coal from the mountains to the town of Pennsylvania. Those coasters were rented out on weekends by fare-paying riders who rode just for amusement. Theme parks are thriving nowadays. But, with waits as long as eight hours for an average ride of lesser than two minutes – not to mention accounts of riders suffering strokes, brain deformity, and catastrophic injury as a result of crashes — how can we put up with it? What is it about roller coasters that some people adore, and is it an experience we get tired of as we get older? 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? The answer is that not all stress is detrimental. Eustress – derived from the Greek "eu," which means "good," as in euphoria – is a type of stress that people intentionally seek out. Thanks to a fascinating study conducted by two Dutch psychologists, we now know that a roller coaster ride can be described as "eustressful." They were curious about asthma, specifically its relationship with stress. After noting prior research findings that stress causes people with asthma to view their asthma symptoms as more severe, they wondered if administering eustress could reverse. As a result, several asthmatic student volunteers were transported to a theme park and rode a roller coaster while their respiratory function was tested in the name of science. The research findings were astounding. While the yelling and general turmoil diminished lung function, it also reduced the sensation of shortness of breath. This shows that thrill-seekers who ride roller coasters regard the experience as stress-free. The role of dopamine However, roller coasters are not for everyone. Could variations in brain chemistry explain sensation-seeking behavior? The bungee jumper experiment suggests that those with higher endorphins experience higher degrees of euphoria. However, no evidence resting endorphin levels may explain sensation seeking; they are more likely a reaction to the thrill than a predictor of whether we love it. On the other hand, a recent analysis looked at the role of dopamine, another chemical messenger component in the brain that is essential for the proper functioning of neurological reward circuits. According to the study, people who have higher amounts of dopamine also do better on tests of sensation-seeking behavior. While this is a correlation rather than causality, another study discovered that administering haloperidol, a drug that alters dopamine's actions within the brain, resulted in a substantial drop in sensation-seeking behavior. This line of research raises the intriguing notion that appreciation of severe physical events, such as roller coaster rides, reflects individual variances in brain chemistry. People with higher dopamine levels may be more prone to various sensation-seeking behaviours, ranging from harmless roller coaster rides to drug use or even theft. People like a Branson roller coaster for various reasons, including speed, conquering fear, and the sound effects connected with a significant increase in physiological arousal. For generations, people have been willing to pay money in exchange for the thrill of a terrifying ride.
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