West Point Class of '72

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Let’s go to Branson, MO!

For our next Class mini-reunion, we’ll be heading to Branson, Missouri. Although some people who live on our coasts sometimes dismissively call the midsection our country a “flyover zone,” that certainly doesn’t apply to Branson. It consistently ranks in the top twenty tourist attractions in the entire country.

First, let’s look at the location: Branson is in the Ozarks, which is really a plateau with rivers and rolling hills, and which Wikipedia describes as “the most extensive highland region between the Appalachians and the Rockies.” [Did the Wikipedia writers take EV101 (our earth science class) that we took in 1968?] It’s a beautiful area, with plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, kayaking, zip lines, etc. Branson itself sits next to the expansive Table Rock Lake (created by a dam built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s).

Now, what it offers: The town of Branson started its role as a tourist destination in the 1950s, when a number of country western singers began to perform there, and then established their own performance theaters in Branson as well. Many stars put down their entertainment roots in Branson to have the audiences come to them, rather than be constantly on the road. Over the years, the variety of entertainers expanded significantly. For example, Andy Williams established his own theater, Moon River, in Branson in 1992. A “60 Minutes” segment in 1991 called Branson “the live music capital of the entire universe.” Today there are shows for every genre in live entertainment: country western, pop, oldies, religious music, disco, and even Elvis impersonators.

There is no shortage of things to do in Branson: entertainment, shopping, amusement park rides, golf, spas, a local winery. The most popular attraction is the Titanic Museum, a one-half scale replica of the famous doomed ship, complete with an iceberg on the side. The town advertises itself as a family destination, so it has plenty to appeal to all ages.

The nearest major airports are Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), about 50 miles north of Branson, and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), about 100 miles southwest from Branson. So, let’s plan to see another part of our great country and meet there in May 2023.

West Point Class of 72

Proud and True 72