Branson News Guide

New for 2006, Silver Dollar City Presents The Grand Exposition with 10 New Family Rides, New Festival and New Additions to All Festivals - Plus the Moscow Circus, a Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience!

In a project that is the theme park’s biggest expansion ever for kids, Silver Dollar City presents an all-new $8 million development for 2006 - the Grand Exposition, adding 10 new family rides, nearly doubling the number of rides at the park and increasing ride capacity more than 50 percent. Also new is Southern Gospel Picnic, the Midwest’s largest gathering of Southern Gospel artists, and new for World-Fest is the Moscow Circus, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. New for Kids’ Fest, the live stage show Jim Fowler’s Wonders of the Wild LIVE! presents dozens of live native and exotic animals from grizzly bears to pythons, and the Extreme Parrots show features colorful performing birds. Throughout the season, the internationally-awarded 1880s-style theme park presents music and entertainment, demonstrating craftsmen, themed rides and foods from festival specialties to home-cooked feasts.

Debuting in Spring, The Grand Exposition opens a whole new region of the park encompassing two acres, where guests are transported back in time to experience the golden era of the World’s Fairs and Expositions of the late 1800s. Rides include the five-story Wave Carousel for high-flying adventure, the ship-themed Mighty Galleon which sends riders nearly 60 feet in the air, the multi-dimensional Electro Spin ride which travels 55 feet in the air as it spins, the twirling tea cups of the Royal Tea Party with a center control for interactive fun, and the fast paced Racing Regatta.

WORLD-FEST
April 6 - May 7 (Open Wednesdays through Sundays)
New for 2006, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest brings in a once-in-a-lifetime event, the world-renowned Moscow Circus, with stunning acrobatics showcased in a show designed for Silver Dollar City; and the Zunyi Acrobats of China for their first U.S. performance. Also new are musicians from the Czech Republic, a mariachi band from Mexico and a new Irish show. World-Fest presents performers from countries around the world, from the colorful German stiltwalkers of Zebra Stilzentheater to Swiss alpenhorn musicians, and international foods including Caribbean snapper and Italian tiramisu, all part of America’s largest international festival.

BLUEGRASS & BBQ
May 13 - June 4 (Open Daily)
Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ returns, a sensational 23 days of all-American bluegrass music and an even bigger spread of America’s favorite barbecue. The festival features 500 performances by the most talented artists of the popular roots music genre, from bluegrass celebrities to rising stars, with bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs performing in a special concert. Featured bluegrass headliners include IBMA* Entertainer of the Year Cherryholmes, and 2005 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year The Grascals. The expanded House of BBQ features grill styles from smoky Texas-style barbecue to sweet Kansas City favorites, Memphis dry rubs and Carolina vinegar-based sauces.

NATIONAL KIDS’ FEST
June 9 - August 20 (Open Daily)
Silver Dollar City showcases its greatest expansion ever for kids, The Grand Exposition, during the National Kids’ Fest. The festival also presents a new stage show, Jim Fowler’s Wonder of the Wild LIVE! with dozens of live native and exotic animals such as grizzly bears, alligators, wolves, tigers, leopards and pythons. Also new, Extreme Parrots perform and the popular Purina Dog Team Challenge returns, along with championship cloggers, all during America’s largest kids’ festival.

NEW FESTIVAL: SOUTHERN GOSPEL PICNIC
August 31 - September 10 (Open Daily)
The all-new festival Southern Gospel Picnic is the Midwest’s largest gathering of Southern Gospel artists, bringing together the rich harmonies of gospel music and the home-cooked spread of an old-fashioned picnic on the grounds. Gospel greats such as Grammy nominees The Crabb Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The McKameys, The Kingsmen and the Cumberland Quartet are featured, along with golden fried chicken with all the picnic-style fixings. Music continues under the stars as Southern Gospel Nights is presented each evening.

FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN MUSIC AND CRAFTS, with a Salute to the Great American Cowboy
September 14 - October 28 (Open Wednesdays - Sundays)
The Festival of American Music & Crafts brings back the Salute to the Great American Cowboy, preserving the legend and lore of the American West. Western themed entertainment includes performances by Riders In The Sky and a special concert by country star Mark Chesnutt. Gunsmoke’s Buck Taylor host stars of America’s favorite Westerns. Trick riders, ropers and rodeo stars perform throughout the festival, and cowboy bootmakers from around the country will compete in the Best of American Bootmakers showcase competition. The festival also features hundreds of musicians playing country, gospel and bluegrass, including special concerts Oct. 4 and 5 by six-time IBMA* Female Vocalist of the Year and Grammy nominee Rhonda Vincent. Over 125 visiting craftsmen demonstrate American’s heritage crafts, and festival food specialties include roasted prairie chicken, buffalo chili and Southwestern favorites.

AN OLD TIME CHRISTMAS
November 4 - December 30 (Open Wednesdays - Sundays through Dec. 3, Thursdays - Sundays Dec. 7-23, daily Dec. 26-30)
An Old Time Christmas is one of the nation’s most acclaimed Holiday events, profiled as one of the top Christmas celebrations in the country by USA Today and People Magazine, and named the “USA’s Best Holiday Light Show” two years in a row by America’s Best Online. The festival presents the dramatic five-story special Effects Christmas Tree, adorned with over 250,000 lights coordinated to blaze to the musical movements of Christmas songs, and the colorful Holiday Light Parade with dazzling, musical floats that glide through the streets of the City each evening. A popular musical production of the famous classic, A Dicken’s Christmas Carol, returning with a new scene, features pyrotechnic special effects, elaborate sets, an impressive cast, and flying spirits. The festival presents a dramatic production of the Living Nativity and more than four million lights.

(Branson, Missouri) – On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, The Road To Rock show opens at the House of Rock Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The Road To Rock introduces a retrospective rock-n-roll musical to Branson. Audiences travel the world of rock-n-roll with Branson’s most excellent new show. The Road To Rock begins with the birth of rock-n-roll and rolls through the British Invasion, on to the era of Woodstock, and continues through to today’s Rock — and beyond!

The Road To Rock is performed by the rising stars of rock, Tusk. Starring Tony Turner (Lead Vocals & Producer), John Turner (Bass Guitar & Vocals), Larry Holiday (Lead & Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), Jason Turner (Drums & Vocals), Nathan Mason (Lead & Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) and Lyman Clark (Keyboard & Vocals), Tusk performs The Road To Rock Show with crowd-pleasing portrayals of rock’s legendary bands. They deliver song after song with terrific vocals, brilliant musicianship, and rock-n-roll fun. Along the way they tell us how and why rock has changed.

Here’s just a sample of the songs visitors are grooving to again: “Jailhouse Rock”, “American Trilogy”, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “Sunshine Of Your Love”, “Paint It Black”, “Foxy Lady”, “National Anthem”, “I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends”, “Free Bird”, “I Want To Rock-n-Roll All Night”, “Livin’ On A Prayer”, “American Woman”, “Harder To Breathe”, “Rebel Yell”, and more, more, more. Plus audiences experience the new sounds of Tusk as they lift up the house with “American Soldier”, “I Fell”, and other Tusk originals.

Tusk writes and performs a unique blend of powerful Rock songs that combine hook-heavy music and melodies with intricate harmonies. Their tight musicianship is represented throughout their songs and is stylistically similar to 80’s Rock aka Adult Oriented Rock.

All of the band members have performed with a variety of rock, bluegrass, country music, gospel, and blues bands. Brothers Tony, John, and Jason Turner and Nathan Mason started performing on stage at an early age and were members of their families’ gospel touring groups.

After attending Pittsburgh State University as an Opera Performance Major, Tony studied voice under Seth Riggs. He has opened for Ray Charles, Michael McDonald and Kris Kristofferson, and worked with Bobby Vinton, Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, and Andy Williams. The oldest brother, John toured with gospel groups T-N-T and The Stand, and country music band, West Wind. He is a proud veteran of the United States Military having served in the US Army. The middle brother, Jason performed with Viper, Quasi Modo, Garret True, and Predator.

Leading praise and worship services for over 6 years, Larry Holiday has written over 20 Gospel songs. He has toured with Little Anthony, the Marvelettes, Pablo Cruise, The Tubes, Night Ranger, Martha & the Vandellas, Robin Trowar, and more. Larry also taught music at Lincoln Trail Junior College and studied music with Howard Roberts.

Also a proud veteran of the United States Military, Nathan Mason served in the U.S. Navy. After a debilitating accident put Nathan into rehab where he learned to walk, feed himself, and talk again, Nathan was honorably discharged from the military. Self-taught on the guitar, Nathan experimented with a wide variety of musical styles including country music, Blues, and heavy metal rock.

Lyman Clark, the most recent member of Tusk, started his career with twelve years of classical training on the piano and has toured with Tanya Tucker, Brooks & Dunn, The Judds, Asleep At The Wheel, Shenandoah and others.

Tusk has combined their musical excellence and wide variety of experiences to create a show that appeals to music fans of all ages. Bringing a new twist to Branson’s musical scene The Road To Rock adds a whole new dimension to the musical diversity of Branson.

The Road To Rock as performed by Tusk appears at the House of Rock Theatre at 310 Gretna (turn north at the corner of Hwy 76 and State Hwy 165) in Branson, Missouri. Shows are at 8:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.

Just five days after they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform at Branson’s Welk Resort Theatre on Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th at 8 p.m.

One of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed Southern Rock groups of the 1970’s, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s distinctive triple-lead guitar sound made their “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Free Bird,” into American anthems and staples of FM radio, along with “What’s Your Name,” and “Gimme Three Steps.”

Tickets for Up Close and Personal with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Branson’s Welk Resort Theatre will go on-sale Friday, February 10 at The Welk Resort Theatre Box Office. Prices, including all taxes, range from $69.50 to $39.50.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s unique brand of Southern rock appeals to fans of rock, blues and country music. They have sold more than 26 million albums, including 18 Gold, 13 Platinum and 7 Multi-Platinum albums plus three certified Gold videos. As America’s Rock Band,” they’re in their element when they’re performing live, “Live shows are really what this band is about,” says founding member and guitar legend Gary Rossington. “We love to play live, there’s nothing else like it.”

The group also frequents TV’s music video channels. They’ve been featured on several, “VH1-Behind The Scenes” segments and on “CMT Crossroads” with Montgomery Gentry. On February 24, Lynyrd Skynyrd will be featured in a CMT original 90-minute documentary on the roots and legacy of Southern rock entitled “American Revolutions: Southern Rock,” along with Charlie Daniels, Drive By Truckers, Hank Williams Jr. and The Allman Brothers Band.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the Twenty-First Induction Ceremony on Monday, March 13. The ceremony will be taped, edited and broadcast on VH1.

Welk Resort

The Welk Resort Theatre is located three miles south of Highway 76 at 1984 State Highway 165. The 2,245-seat theatre near Table Rock Lake was home to The Lawrence Welk Show from 1994 through 2004. The destination resort complex includes a 160-room hotel, the Stage Door Restaurant & Lounge, a gift shop, miniature golf course, swimming pool, game room and other family-friendly amenities.

BRANSON, MO — Chateau On The Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center, the largest convention facility in Branson, Missouri and the surrounding area, is adding a world-class spa. Opening in late Spring 2006, the $5.5 million Spa Chateau will be a full-service, European-inspired spa with 10 treatment rooms, soothing décor, a highly trained staff, and a picturesque setting overlooking the crystal waters of scenic Table Rock Lake. The luxurious AAA four-diamond resort, which features 43,500 square feet of meeting and event space, already offers spa services but this is a newly constructed 14,000 square-foot facility that will adjoin the 301-room hotel, according to Vice President and General Manager Stephen Marshall.

Spa Chateau will include everything from a lake-view studio for yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi, to a Barber Spa that will offer old-fashioned men’s shaves with warm, scented towels, rich lathers and scalp massages. Treatment rooms will feature electric, hydraulic-operated massage tables complemented by plush heated padding and dressed with Comphy® skirting, sheets and comforters for maximum relaxation.

The beautiful two-story spa will offer a full menu of relaxing massages, refreshing body treatments, soothing facials, refreshing wraps and aromatherapy treatments, as well as an array of nail care and salon services. Signature treatments at Spa Chateau will include the nurturing Rhythm Massage and the Royal Shave.

“We’re really looking forward to the opening of Spa Chateau,” said Marshall. “Groups will love the new spa, where attendees will receive personal pampering in a truly relaxing environment. Chateau on the Lake was already the finest destination resort in the Midwest with a beautiful lakefront setting, and a wide range of offerings, but the addition of this world-class spa really completes the picture.”

Chateau On The Lake stands majestically on a beautiful Ozark mountaintop in Branson, and is known for its world-class hospitality and breathtaking views. As Southwest Missouri’s only AAA four-diamond resort, Chateau On The Lake offers a wealth of recreational amenities including heated indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, 24-hour fitness center, a salon, a nature trail, two lighted tennis courts, and a complete marina. Other offerings include The Crawdaddies Kids Club with castle playground, a movie theater, full-service concierge, two shops, and six restaurants and lounges including lakeview dining at the award-winning Chateau Grille. The resort also features a stunning 10-story sky lit atrium lobby complete with running streams brimming with koi fish, lush foliage, exotic flowers and towering trees.

The most comprehensive convention facility in the region, Chateau on the Lake’s meeting offerings include the 31,744-square-foot Great Hall, which can accommodate up to 4,000 for receptions or 3,500 theater-style. Stunning alabaster chandeliers, detailed cherry trim, and spectacular hand-painted murals of famed European castles grace The Great Hall, which can be divided into seven smaller meeting rooms. Across from The Great Hall space, the Chateau convention facility provides eight additional multi-purpose breakout rooms.

Perfect for large conventions or small gatherings, the resort’s meeting rooms are equipped with shared T-1 lines for Internet connection. Additional offerings include: a complete audio visual department on-site; a spacious pre-conference area; a video theater, ideal for training sessions or shows; picturesque outdoor venues such as the lakeside verandah or pool deck; a private dining room; and on-site exhibitor set-up for up to ninety 8’ x 10’ booths.

The 301-room property, an exceptional resort by John Q. Hammons Hotels, is close to Branson’s famous entertainment district. The resort is just minutes from several of Missouri’s finest golf courses, and is close to great shopping at three nearby outlet malls.