Silver Dollar City thrives
A Wilmette family fell in love with Missouri in the late 1940s and moved there. Fifty years later, the family dream turns 50: Silver Dollar City.
April 04, 2010|By Jay Jones, Special to Tribune Newspapers
BRANSON, Mo. — For Hugo and Mary Herschend and sons Pete and Jack, the move from Wilmette in the late 1940s might as well have been to Mongolia.
In fact, it was merely to Missouri, only 550 miles from Chicago, but it seemed as though it was halfway around the world.
The Herschends were looking for a scenic spot in which to retire and enjoy nature when they stumbled upon the Ozarks and fell in love with the area around Branson. It was 1948, and electricity was just beginning to make its way into the rural hills.
The abundance of flora and fauna was a big lure. But there wasn’t much demand for Electrolux vacuum cleaners, which Hugo sold for a living, in a region without power, so the Herschends decided to buy Marvel Cave in hopes that the remote tourist attraction could provide the family a respectable income.
The huge cavern was drawing only about 1,000 visitors a year. Jack and Pete served as guides and watched the visitor count begin to grow. Still, there was a need for something more that would draw additional travelers to this isolated corner of Missouri.
Patriarch Hugo Herschend died in 1955 but not before sharing his dream: a place where local craftspeople could demonstrate their skills in everything from blacksmithing to glass-blowing.
“He said, ‘I think that men and women who come here to the Ozarks would like to see what life was like for people who lived here. I want them to know what a hillbilly really is,’” Pete recalled of his father’s vision.
“He did not use the word ‘hillbilly’ in a pejorative sense. He had nothing but admiration for these men and women.”
On May 1, 1960, at the entrance to Marvel Cave, Hugo’s dream became reality with the opening of Silver Dollar City, a small theme park where a few locals demonstrated pioneer crafts while folks waited for a tour. Word spread, and that year there were about 100,000 paid admissions.
Since then, the park has hosted 65 million guests. Today the 61-acre park boasts more than 30 rides and attractions, 60 shops and restaurants and 40 daily shows.
About 100 people ply their mountain trades at the modern-day Silver Dollar City, keeping alive traditions that might otherwise be lost.
The blacksmiths tell their guests about how people moving farther west would burn down their cabins and then collect the precious nails from the rubble. Nearby, master chip carver Pam Gresham demonstrates how she creates ornate wood carvings using a single small knife.
Here’s another reason to visit Branson, Mo. On Nov. 20, Scott Sandusky of Arnold, Mo., was drift fishing in nearby Lake Taneycomo when he caught a new state record brown trout. The fish weighed 28 pounds, 12.8 ounces. Sandusky was angling for small rainbow trout to eat for dinner and was fishing with four-pound test line. His bait was rainbow-colored paste Powerbait, made by Berkley. His big trout beat the old state record for more than a pound. The world record brown trout, 40.25 pounds, was caught from Arkansas’ Little Red River in 1992.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBo6HXtbA4w
(Branson, MO) — The Capitol Christmas tree made a stop at Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson on Monday afternoon.
The 85-foot Blue Spruce was cut from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. So far, the tree has traveled almost 3,000 miles and has four more stops before making it to Washington D.C.
It will be presented to Congress next Monday along with 10,000 hand made ornaments and 80 companion trees that will be placed in offices throughout the Capitol.
The tree was cut in early November, but organizers aren’t worried about it drying out before Christmas.
“We are watering it. We have a watering system in there that’s getting good moisture to it 24 hours a day. So it’s in good condition. We did have an arborist look at it about five days ago and he thought it looked great,” says Richard Davalos, Capitol Christmas Tree 2009 Coordinator.
Click here to track the progress of the Christmas tree.
Branson 101: What celebrities perform in Branson? Part 1
Dispelling the myth that Branson, Mo., offers only country music, stars like Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan, Dionne Warwick, the Cowsills and the Osmonds are performing here through the Christmas season. Country music enthusiasts can still find something to suit their tastes in performances by Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, the Oak Ridge Boys, Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Clark, Mickey Gilley and more.
One of country music’s most recognizable faces, Roy Clark, returns to Branson at the Tri-Lakes Center for a limited engagement. Clark contributed to Branson’s tourism boom as the first country star to open his own theater in Branson, the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater, in 1983 where headliners such as Mel Tillis, Box Car Willie, Ray Stevens and Jim Stafford appeared. Clark hosted Hee Haw and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His honors include a Grammy and many country music awards such as comedian, entertainer and instrumentalist of the year. With hits in the Top 10, his recordings include Thank God and Greyhound and Yesterday When I was Young.
A stream of stars followed Clark to Branson in the early ’90s. This was started by the national spotlight shining on Branson through articles in Time, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and People and on television when 60 Minutes proclaimed Branson the “live music capital of the entire universe.” Those stars included Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, Barbara Mandrell, John Davidson, Tony Orlando, Bobby Vinton, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Mickey Gilley, Charley Pride, the Lennon Sisters, the Osmond Brothers, Pat Boone, Pam Tillis and the Oak Ridge Boys.
Last year the Oak Ridge Boys put their name on a theater that was built for Glen Campbell in 1994. The legendary quartet will perform there for 12 dates in the fall of 2009. The Grammy Award-, Country Music Association Awards- and Dove Award-winning group’s hits include Elvira, American Made and Bobbie Sue. They have earned gold, platinum and double platinum and number one singles spots on national charts.
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With 17 of his 39 hit songs topping the country charts, Mickey Gilley is a legend. Because of his Pasadena honky-tonk, Gilley’s, and the popular movie, Urban Cowboy, Gilley is credited with making the cowboy hat a fashion statement and helping country artists more than double their album sales. In Branson, the Urban Cowboy Band, the Urbanettes and Gilley present a musical medley of his hits, including his signature Room Full of Roses and Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time. Recuperating from a recent fall, Gilley said he will return this autumn and in the meantime his sidekick, Joey Riley, is filling in for him at the Mickey Gilley Theatre on the famous Highway 76.
Mickey Gilley
Across Highway 76 at the Jim Stafford Theatre audiences have been laughing out loud with Jim Stafford for two decades. Stafford combines comedy with classical guitar performances and creates heartwarming stories and hilarious antics from everyday life. Acclaimed as the “Victor Borge of the guitar,” he is famous for his million-selling records, Spiders and Snakes, Cow Patti and My Girl Bill.
Also at the Jim Stafford Theatre is the award-winning Moe Bandy, a long-time Branson performer. Bandy loves Branson audiences. He said, “Even though I continue touring, coming back to Branson feels good because of the great audiences.” His shows are packed with his hits like Americana and Bandy The Rodeo Clown.
Across town and at his own theater, Yakov Smirnoff delivers a laughter-packed show celebrating almost two decades in Branson. Smirnoff’s personal coming-to-America experience is touching and his take on American culture is hilarious. His genuine love for America is apparent and his patriotism is contagious. Smirnoff’s accomplishments include books, CDs, movies, TV appearances and a successful Broadway show.
Also at Yakov’s theater is Neal McCoy, country music superstar and two-time Entertainer of the Year, for 43 show dates. Yakov said, “…Neal’s show is more than a concert, it’s more than country music, it’s a high energy entertainment experience packed with a variety of musical styles and it’s dynamite fun!” McCoy’s chart topping hits include Wink, No Doubt About It and For A Change.
Performers declared national treasures
Two men, Ray Price and Andy Williams, and one group, Sons of the Pioneers, on the Branson roster can claim “national treasure” titles.
One of America’s stars who crosses musical boundaries, Ray Price will be in Branson at the Tri-Lakes Center for September and October performances. For hits such as For the Good Times, San Antonio Rose and Make the World Go Away, Price was inducted into Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, but he has perfected styles such as honky-tonk, country, pop, blues, jazz and anything in between. He has been compared to Frank Sinatra and declared “a national treasure” by the Los Angeles Times.
Sons of the Pioneers Photo by Japheth Campbell
Designated “national treasures” by the Smithsonian Institution, the legendary Sons of the Pioneers are back for their fifth season at The Shepherd of the Hills Pavilion Theatre. Their harmonies and signature hits like Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweed are just a few reasons for their many awards and recognition: longest continuous performing group of all time; more than 3,000 compositions to their credit; induction into the Western Music Association, National Cowboy and Singing Cowboy Halls of Fame; their music inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Known as the “Emperor of Cool” throughout the United Kingdom, Andy Williams was called a “national treasure” by Ronald Reagan. His craft has earned him 18 gold and three platinum albums and three Emmys. He has starred in films, hosted the Grammys, sung at the Super Bowl and starred as himself in a soap opera. Williams will be performing his variety show and his Christmas show.
Other shows at Andy Williams’ Moon River Theatre include stars Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and Paul Revere and the Raiders . Bill Medley is a Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame inductee. Past Righteous Brothers number one hits are You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’, Unchained Melody and You’re My Soul and Inspiration. Hits from Paul Revere and the Raiders such as Kicks, Louie, Louie and Indian Reservation are a few of the group’s many music chart toppers.
Andy Williams Photo Courtesy of Branson/Lakes Area CVB
Another chart-topping group also featured at the Moon River Theatre is The Comets, real, live and authentic. The Comets was the “the first band to fuse country and western with rhythm and blues to create rock ‘n’ roll.” Featuring all five of the surviving members of Bill Haley and the Comets, they perform hits such as Rock Around the Clock, Shake Rattle & Roll and See Ya Later Alligator
When we first visited Branson, one of the first things we did was visit Silver Dollar City. If you have never been here before, this reminded us of Knotts Berry Farm at Buena Park in California. However, we were amazed, and pleased to hear the christian quartets singing as we entered the park, and the down home friendly feeling we experienced. This really impressed us, in fact so much that we moved here. Come and see us … ya hear!
The Gospel Tradition Lives on at Silver Dollar City
The Southern Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City brings musical heritage to life. Visitors will want to book a stay at a nearby Branson resort to make the most of their trip to see the music and history of the Ozarks come to life.
Branson, MO (PRWEB) August 26, 2009 — Branson, MO is best known for theaters, performers, shows and live music. But Branson wouldn’t have become the Live Music Capital of the World without a musical heritage that the Ozarks are famous for - southern gospel. Silver Dollar City is pleased to honor that tradition with the Southern Gospel Picnic.
Silver Dollar City Southern Gospel Picnic
The Southern Gospel Picnic takes place August 27th through September 7th at Silver Dollar City theme park. The world’s largest gospel picnic features countless gospel performers on the big stages and throughout the park during the festival. From locally known artists and performers to gospel singers known world wide guests to Branson are sure to have an uplifiting visit.
Some of the featured performers include Dove Award winners The Kingsman, Karen Peck and New River, Mike & Kelly Bowling and more. Contempory Southern Gospel isn’t forgotten either with performances by The Isaacs and Austin Bridge that are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
Visitors won’t want to forget the picnic in Southern Gospel Picnic–and Silver Dollar City makes sure to have something for everyone. Traditional favorites are always cooking at The House of Chicken & Fixin’s on the City Square. Guests will feel right at home as they visit a Branson log cabin to find Fried Chicken like grandma made or variations such as Apple Butter glazed chicken, Slow Smoked pulled pork and many more.
Once guests have eaten their fill at the picnic, they can stop by the Culinary & Craft School. This newest addition to the park teaches classes in American craftmanship and heritage. During the Southern Gospel Picnic they feature cooking classes including Sumptuous Southern Traditions and Not Your Mother’s Casserole so guests can make classic dishes at home.
The festival features countless hours of entertainment and many will want to stay in Branson overnight to take in all the festival offers. To make the most of their trip, festival-goers will want a nearby Branson resort, such as Thousand Hills Resort, which is close to Silver Dollar City. Thousand Hills features affordable cabin and condo rentals in the heart of Branson and a concierge service is available to get tickets, information and itineraries for all Branson attractions. Guests are encouraged to book reservations now to ensure their home away from home for America’s Biggest Gospel Picnic!
Every year my daughter gets a little older, the summer seems to get shorter and shorter. We enjoyed a wonderful summer with family visiting from California. Going to Silver Dollar City. Warm summer days. Splashing in Table Rock Lake at Moonshine beach. Fireworks in our backyard, with all the kids screaming with excitement. Late night movies with the fam. We could not have had a nicer Summer of 2009.
But School is back and here comes the bus to pick up my daughter. I love her and I love living at Hickory Ridge!
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