Branson News Guide

With a holiday decorating budget of $450,000, Branson Landing has decked the promenade with millions of lights, 11-foot silver deer and Santa’s Tree house.

The blue-and-silver holiday theme is reflected in the lamppost garlands adorned with about 20 million lights, according to Branson Landing Marketing Director Linda Antus. Eleven silver-finished fiberglass deer that stand 11 feet tall add a unique holiday flavor to the Landing.

Another Christmas attraction is Santa’s Tree house near Famous Dave’s restaurant. There, children can visit with Santa and have their photos taken.

There are also new sounds with the fire-shooting fountains at the Town Square including “Rocky Mountain Way” by Joe Walsh and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”

All of these additions are part of the Landing’s holiday Winter WonderLanding season as the lakefront lifestyle center that opened last spring continues to boost sales tax revenue and generate more business development.

Branson city officials have credited the Landing with producing record-setting tax revenues for the city. The 1.5 percent sales tax revenue increased 7.2 percent over fiscal 2005 from October through September, with tourism tax up 6.3 percent. In September, sales tax revenue jumped almost 36 percent over September 2005.

A recent study by local commercial realtors showed that 95 percent of the retail occupancy space in Branson is filled. The properties included in the study were multi-tenant buildings of at least 5,000 square feet. Two new shopping centers are under construction.

The 95-acre Branson Landing is currently 96 percent occupied and commands rental rates above any currently being paid in the area, according to the study.

Steve Critchfield, a Branson commercial real estate broker, says the momentum generated by the construction of Branson Landing has created the spark that has ignited the local retail market.

Construction continues on residential condominiums above the retail shops and on the Hilton Promenade Hotel along Branson Landing Boulevard. Some of the condos are already occupied.

Just west of Branson Landing, construction remains on target for an August 17 opening of the Branson Convention Center and the 12-story, 293 room Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. The hotel contractor, Killian Construction of Springfield, MO, will hold a “top out” celebration on December 5 honoring the workers and their efforts in completing the roof deck and final portion of the tower structure of the convention center hotel.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 21st, 2006 at 11:23 am and is filed under Branson News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.