Another Branson Show, Then Some Natural Scenery (Part 2)

Hollister, MO (near Branson, MO)

This blog completes some adventuring we did yesterday.  After walking around the College of the Ozarks we decided to go over to Table Rock State Park. This is a Missouri State Park and one of the things I like about them (aside from the natural beauty) is the fact that there are no entrance fees.

Table Rock State Park is located on Highway 165 slightly southwest of Branson on Table Rock Lake. Table Rock Lake was created when the White River was captured by the building of a dam in 1954-1958. The Lake's surface area is approximately 43,100 acres.

From the Missouri state park website:

Nestled in the oak and hickory trees that surround Table Rock Lake, Table Rock Lake State Park offers something for everyone. Camping areas that allow easy access to the lake. A marina that rents all manner of boats. SCUBA diving excursions. A mountain bike trail. Easy access to the Branson area and all its entertainment. Shelters and picnic areas and a full range of campsites help make Table Rock State Park the ideal place for playing in and around the lake’s clear waters.

There are two RV campgrounds within the State Park. Both had many sites which could accommodate large rigs.  Missouri uses a color-coded system on each site to designate FHUs (red), water and electric (yellow), and no hook-ups (green) for tenting.  There were quite a few open FHU sites available when we drove thru yesterday.  The FHU sites tend to be more in the open and allow for easier maneuvering of large rigs.

It was pretty windy yesterday on the water, but there were still a fair number of boaters taking advantage of the nice weather.

There are ample marinas at the Park for those with boats.

A nice spot to sit and watch the water and boats go by.

After the Park, we drove a short distance over to the Corp of Engineers' Dewey Short Visitor Center at Table Rock Dam.  The center is open until 5:00 PM, but of course we got there after closing.

Water side of the Visitor Center

West side looking toward the dam

Table Rock Dam

As already stated, the dam captures the White River to create Table Rock Lake.

The COE maintains a nice boat dock just above the dam for those in boats to stop in and visitor the Dewey Short Center.






As I finish writing this blog today, the area is still under a tornado watch and there are chances for heavy thunderstorms throughout the night.  Wish us luck!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Another Branson Show, Then Some Natural Scenery (Part 1)

Branson, MO

One of the best things about Branson, MO is the variety of things you can do here.  You could fill your days going to the various shows, go to visit natural places of beauty, or simple do nothing if you so choose.

On Saturday we chose to go to another Branson show.  With the name of the show "3 Redneck Tenors" we had a few reservations about what we might see.  The show was a matinee at 2:00 PM, but more importantly, because we saw The Haygoods on Friday night, a special ticket promotion was offered and we saw the "3 Redneck Tenors" for just $5 per ticket.  I thought to myself, how bad could

(Courtesy of 3 Redneck Tenors website)

it be for $5.  We were very pleasantly surprised. The storyline of the show involves 3 "rednecks" who can sing and are from Paris, TX. An unscrupulous manager named "The Colonel" discovers the trio and promotes them thru their rise to stardom.  The first half of the show has our trio dressed in "hillbilly" costume and many, many corny jokes are presented in the act.

(Courtesy of 3 Redneck Tenors website)

After intermission, however, the trio have made it all the way to Broadway and ultimately to Carnegie Hall where they lose their "hokey" costumes (and mullets) and don tuxedos. For pure music enthusiasts the second half of the show is best.  All three of the tenors are actually classically trained and their singing is excellent.  We had a very nice time.

On Sunday we decided it was time to get back to the outdoors again.  Not too far away from the Escapees CG in Hollister, MO is the College of the Ozarks.  This is a bit of a unique school which began as the School of the Ozarks in 1906. The unusual part is that

Williams Memorial Chapel

students can attend virtually tuition-free by committing to work so many hours during the school year and to also agree to work hours during school breaks.  The school prides itself with the slogan of "Hard Work U." The campus was very pretty and it seemed like a very nice area to attend school.  We toured on Sunday and unfortunately most of the buildings were closed, also the student's school year had just ended.

Inside of Williams Memorial Chapel

There was a really pretty lake in the middle of the campus with a bunch of ducks, geese, and a white

Lake at the center of campus

swan which the kids must feed quite frequently.  When it saw us come near the fence, it made a beeline to us.







Karen keeping a safe distance!

Unfortunately, we had nothing to give it and I think it was none too happy. We learned very quickly to keep our distance from that large extending beak.



We also visited Table Rock State Park and the Table Rock Dam after the College, but I've decided to save pictures and descriptions of those areas for tomorrow's blog.

Thank you for taking a look at our blog!

First Show in Branson

Hollister, MO (near Branson, MO)

Not a whole lot happening the first part of today.  Was pretty cloudy most of the morning, but finally the sun came out shortly after noon.  Got a chance to wash the bugs off the front end of the MH after our latest trip between AR and MO. I apply Rejex every few months over the windshield and the Diamond Shield protective film on the front of our MH.  It really seems to help when it comes time to get bugs and "stuff" off of the front end.

Picture courtesy of TheHaygoods.com website

This evening we decided to take in a show on the Branson "strip".  We went to see the family group "The Haygoods" at the RFDTV theater at 7:30 PM.  The group consists of five male and one female Haygood family members.  The show is a blend of country, a small bit of pop, and original music.  All of the Haygoods play multiple instruments, and all sing.  The show was 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission between the first and second sets.  We enjoyed the show and it would be entertaining for the entire family. (Of course, I don't believe there are any shows on the Branson strip which aren't geared toward families.)

That was about it for today. We might go to a matinee comedy show tomorrow, to a local natural attraction, to a state park, who knows.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Onward to Escapee Park at Hollister, MO

Hollister, MO (near Branson, MO)

Wednesday morning around 9:00 AM when reluctantly left Lake Dardanelle State Park for our next destination of Branson, MO. We greatly enjoyed the camping and additional things to see and do in the Russellville, AR area this past week.

It took us about 4 hours to travel 194 miles up US65 from Conway, AR to the Escapee Park at Hollister, MO.  We won't have any pictures for this blog yet as it rained yesterday evening and most of today.  The temperatures have dropped today into the 60s, but are supposed to hit 90 again by the weekend.

Although we are Lifetime Escapees members I'll have to concede that their park here in Hollister is certainly nowhere as nice as the state parks we've been staying in recently.  The park is older and in need of some maintenance.  The site is just long enough to fit our MH, but the car has to be parked nearby.  The sites and roads are all gravel, but could definitely use more.  We haven't gotten a chance to speak to many of the current occupants (because of the rain), but most seem to be FTers or at least extended timers.

We dropped by All Access Branson, a ticket broker here in Branson, to purchase  a pair of tickets to see The Haygoods perform on Friday night.  The description of their show sounds pretty good.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at this abbreviated blog!