Family Xmas in Branson this year but I've been going to Silver Dollar City since I was a kid.



It's dumbfounding that after nearly 40 years of consistent growth and development that the city and Hwy. 76 strip still don't have basic infrastructure improvements. They've added some turn lanes and new alternate routes but that's all.



I'd expect to see efficient and attractive interchanges, intersections, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, etc... There's no evidence of planning or design. Where are all the tax revenues going? The city and/or county governments must be rolling in dough.



Maybe there aren't entertainment, lodging and other types of taxes in place there?

They've probably been busy adding new roads outside of 76 to alleviate such as building the Ozark Mountains Highroad and the extending the Sheperd of the Hills Expy. I remember going to Branson back in '98 and 76 was clogged with traffic. I wonder if that has changed, most likely not.



However, I heard that Branson generates a lot of revenue from tourism that Taney County residents don't pay certain property taxes. Its also, growing fast, new residential developments, new retail such as Sams Club and Best Buy are in the works, a new privatized airport is under construction, and Branson Landing all will make this place more of a destination. I am planning on visiting Branson this year.

I haven't been to Branson since I was a teenager almost (sigh) 20 yrs. ago.

But from what I have heard the traffic there on Highway 76 seems to be part of the "Branson experience".

Just North of Branson Landing there is now a roundabout! Gasp!

I'm sure the locals have had their fair share of trouble navigating it, but it represents the very latest in traffic technology in Branson.



In terms of Highway 76, the only way it could be widened at all would be to demolish a great deal of the charming and quaint hotels and antique shops that line it for several miles. But charm and quaintness is what does it in Branson I guess, at the expense of easy travel.

Branson goes "upscale": Link

"We've got a good school system, good health service. That attracts people who are retirees but also families who want to get away from the big city. There's a strong feeling of family values in the area, probably tied to strong Christian beliefs."

DeBaliviere wrote:Branson goes "upscale": Link

"We've got a good school system, good health service. That attracts people who are retirees but also families who want to get away from the big city. There's a strong feeling of family values in the area, probably tied to strong Christian beliefs."

Your eyeroll does not embiggen you.



As to Branson, have they developed the waterfront part of town much? Back in the early 90s, that was a place to get away from the traffic nightmares and relax a bit, but I'd be surprised if they haven't built up that part of town.

RFT - New York Times Reminds Everyone What a Sh*thole Branson Is

Branson won't address the homelessness issue, according to the New York Times, because city leaders don't want to ruin Branson's image. The city is known throughout the Midwest (and beyond) for its Christian entertainment district.

https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/ne ... s-40293375

TBH Branson is a Christian entertainment district 

It was kind of eye-popping for me when I saw that an estimated 20% of Branson is homeless or living in motels. 

Branson doesn’t have any acts that attract even boomers any more. Years ago, the Moody Blues played there. With Mickey Gilly and Andy Williams dead, they have nobody the nation has ever heard of.


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Branson needs to embrace alcohol and push to get the theaters downtown along the river. Between this and the golf investments, Branson could/should be a premiere bachelor/bachelorette spot.