$450 Million in New Family Attractions, Gas Discount Make Branson Irresistible This Summer

$450 Million in New Family Attractions, Gas Discount Make Branson Irresistible This Summer

Grand Openings Abound in 'Live Music Capital'

BRANSON, Mo., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A record-setting $450 million worth of new attractions opening in Branson, Missouri, and a gas discount promotion make this southwest Missouri town (population around 7,000) one of the summer's hottest family destinations. For more information, visit the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau's website at http://www.explorebranson.com/ .

Award-winning theme park Silver Dollar City has undergone their largest single expansion for kids to date by adding 10 new family thrill rides inside an all-new $8 million two-acre area of the park inspired by the world's fairs and expositions of more than 100 years ago. This latest expansion comes just one year after the addition of PowderKeg, the "number one family thrill coaster on the planet" in '05, according to ThrillRide.com.

Just in time for Memorial weekend, the much-anticipated Branson Landing development will welcome visitors to the Lake Taneycomo waterfront in downtown Branson. Openings begin May 26 for many of the shops, restaurants and outdoor features of the Landing. A spectacular summer celebration is set for June 16, and special events will be scheduled each month from May through December during the 2006 opening year. Included in the completed project will be more than 100 unique stores and restaurants, a Belk Department Store (opened in March, 2006), Bass Pro Shops, a Hilton Promenade Hotel and a new town square featuring a $7.5 million water, music and fire attraction created by the designers of the fountains at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. The adjacent Branson Convention Center and hotel, both managed by Hilton are set to open in 2007.

Branson Gas Busters Offer Discounts

To help offset high gas prices this summer, dozens of Branson businesses have teamed up to offer great discounts through the Gas Buster Discount Card promotion, administered by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB. Motorists who bring a minimum of $40 in trip gas receipts to one of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber's Welcome Centers will receive a Gas Buster Discount Card worth up to $50 off at area shows, attractions, lodging accommodations, retail shops and restaurants. Card holders will also be automatically entered to win one of 22 weekly drawings for $100 gas cards and a grand-prize trip for four to Branson. For more information, visit http://www.explorebranson.com/ or call 800-214-3661.

Building Boom Means More Fun

Branson's record value of new construction permits in 2005 has translated into an outstanding array of new attractions for visitors to enjoy in 2006 and beyond.

Titanic: The World's Largest Museum Attraction, the finest collection of Titanic artifacts anywhere, is unmistakably located on Branson's famous Strip (Hwy. 76.) inside what looks like a half-scale replica of the fateful ship. The interactive attraction was built in the Disney style of "imagineering." After all, it is the brainchild of TV producer and Titanic expert John Joslyn and his wife Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, who served as a top executive at Disney's Buena Vista Productions for over 20 years. Guests are invited to a free outdoor concert on June 3 starring the Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band from the Caravelle Theater. This 'Liverpool Connection' concert is the first in a series of themed events scheduled to take place at the Titanic Museum Attraction in 2006.

Further new enticement to visit Branson this year can be found at places like Celebration City, where guests have unlimited access to over 30 rides and attractions at the city "Built for Kids." This year, the 30-acre park has partnered with leaders in kids' entertainment to present new adventures including the extreme, cutting-edge "X" sport Mountainboarding, interactive Movie Magic that actually involves kids in Hollywood movies, a hands-on ultimate LEGO play area, and the introduction of two 2006 VeggieTales movies.

The all-new Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, a giant new domed building on W. Hwy. 76, is now home to thousands of living butterflies and remains "wildly" popular with families and student groups.

Branson: Where Kids Can Be Stars

Not only do kids get to 'star' in their own movies in Branson, but programs like Branson On Stage Live and Branson Classroom give students the chance to show off their band and choral talents in front of a live audience. Student performers can be seen on stage at many of Branson's 49 theaters. They also make appearances during Silver Dollar City's five annual festivals. Bluegrass & BBQ (May 13 - June 4) includes a special appearance by the legendary Ricky Skaggs on May 28, along with performances by 500 of the most talented artists of the popular roots music genre, from bluegrass celebrities to rising stars, as well as an expanded House of BBQ. Silver Dollar City's National Kids' Fest (June 9- Aug. 20) presents a new stage show, Jim Fowler's Wonders of the Wild LIVE! with dozens of live native and exotic animals from grizzly bears to pythons, along with Extreme Parrots and Purina's Dog Team Challenge.

New Shows and Hot Tickets

Music lovers can check out Dick Clark's new American Bandstand Theater Complex starring Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers and other rock 'n roll legends of the 50s and 60s including Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Comets, Fabian, Bobby Vee, Chris Montez and others now performing in Branson. The Patch Collection, located inside the theater complex, features a passel of perfectly-restored 1957 classic cars in a recreated small-town America, reminiscent of scenes from the movie, Back to The Future. This newest theater opening represents Branson's continuing red carpet roll-out to Baby Boomers and their families. The Acrobats of China featuring the New Shanghai Circus celebrated their 9th season in what was once deemed the "live country music capital" in their recently-constructed 900-seat theater, aptly named the New Shanghai Theatre.

Internationally-known music stars, comedians, magicians, dancers and specialty act performers from around the world can be seen from morning until late at night in more than 100 shows suitable for the whole family. Children of all ages delight to the comedy of the likes of resident funnymen Jim Stafford, Yakov Smirnoff, Jim Barber and Seville, Travelin' Dave in his All- American Basketball show, and Todd Oliver and his talking dogs. Siegfried and Roy's protege Darren Romeo teams up with NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon for a grand illusion race fans are sure to love. "See my car appear nightly in Branson," Gordon says.

Adding to an already diverse music show line-up are relatively new shows such as Neil Goldberg's Cirque, The Road to Rock, Liverpool Legends, Hot Seat Comedy Improv and others. The Welk Resort Theatre, Darren Romeo's home in Branson, has been treating Branson audiences to generation-spanning acts like B.B. King, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pam Tillis, The Lennon Sisters, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Lee Greenwood and Crystal Gayle. The Grand Palace offers up Sugarland, Bill Engvall, Loretta Lynn, The Little River Band and the Oak Ridge Boys in '06. Branson Variety Theater features a guest star series with the likes of Frankie Avalon, Neil Sedaka and Debbie Reynolds. Master Magician Kirby VanBurch shares the spotlight with his "Disappearing Unicorn" and a collection of magical wild animals including white tigers, leopards, panthers, and more.

Three Lakes Equal Big Fun

The surrounding Ozark Mountains provide the gorgeous backdrop for all this spectacular entertainment and provide an ideal playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can spend day or night on one of three pristine lakes (Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake) and fish for trout, bass, crappie and walleye. Dozens of resorts and marinas, located within minutes of Branson's famous Hwy. 76 offer boat and equipment rentals, scuba diving certifications, fishing guide service and much more. You can rent a pontoon, water ski, parasail, kite board or relax at a sandy beach like the one at Stillwaters Resort on the Indian Point arm of Table Rock. Visitors can also fish, bike or ride horseback through the wooded hills at places like the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon nature park or go geocaching to find treasure at one of the area's cache sites. Visit http://www.geocaching.com/ for more information.

Places like Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center with it's new $5.5 million spa opening in June, along with Big Cedar Lodge, Artilla Cove Resort, Tribesman Resort, Hunter's Friend Resort, Fall Creek Resort, Indian Point Resorts and Bradford on the Lake offer visitors numerous amenities from gourmet meals to Wi-Fi to boat rental and fishing guide service. RVers and campers can stay near the lakes or close to town at places like America's Best Campground, a Good Sam Club Welcome Mat Award Winner, voted the number one Good Sam RV Park in North America for four straight years.

More Reasons To Come Play

Branson's 11 area golf courses offer new and experienced players both scenic and challenging play. Courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Arnold Palmer offer pro services, organized group events and much more. Two new courses on the drawing board for Branson, along with amenities such as clubhouses, and nearby single- and multi- family developments, offer guests enticing extended-stay options and the ability to bring larger groups to town for family reunions, military reunions and conferences.

Other popular attractions in Branson include Ripley's Believe It or Not!, one of the most photographed buildings in the world; Hollywood Wax Museum, with its animated sets and life-like realism; White Water's 2 million gallons of water and 5,000 feet of slides; The Tracks family amusement center with its newly-redesigned Fast Track, rookie track, 4,000-square foot arcade and fourth additional location in 2006; Grand Country Square, Playtime Pizza and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, to name a few.

For more information, visit http://www.explorebranson.com/ .

Bureau

Source: Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors

CONTACT: Stephanie Lael, of Branson-Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and
Convention & Visitors Bureau, +1-417-334-4084 ext. 326, slael@bransoncvb.com

Web site: http://www.explorebranson.com/

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