Branson area officials are hoping that 2006 will be a year to remember. The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce this week dubbed 2006 a “record-setting” year with $450 million-worth of new attractions opening in the area. “We’re really excited,” Chamber Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Lael said. “We’re hoping to attract more people and have our regular guests keep repeating.”
The biggest of the new attraction is Branson Landing, a $420 million retail and convention center development along Lake Taneycomo near downtown. Half of the stores at the attraction are expected to open Friday. Throughout the year, more of the nearly 100 shops and restaurants will open, as well as a hotel, condos, a boardwalk and a water fountain display. A convention center is scheduled to open in 2007.
But there is a lot more new in Branson in 2006, including Titanic: The World’s Largest Museum Attraction; Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex; new additions to Silver Dollar City and Celebration City theme parks; and a new $5.5 million spa, which will open at Chateau on the Lake Resort in June. Also in the works is a new Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, which has moved to a new location on 76 Country Boulevard.
Branson business owner Raeanne Presley is looking forward to seeing how this year plays out. “It has the potential to be a great year,” she said. “There’s a real excitement in the air over the new things. And then there’s the new marketing dollars.”
On April 1, a new one-cent sales tax went into effect in a district that covers primarily Branson and Indian Point Village. The tax is expected to generate $6 million a year to promote the area. The chamber was able to use almost $2 million this year to promote in Chicago and Dallas, two cities the chamber previously could not afford to reach. “It doesn’t matter how great things are here, you have to let people know about it,” Presley said.
Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer, who moved to Branson in 1952, said he’s never seen anything like 2006. He credits much of it to the anticipation created by Branson Landing. “It’s attracting investors to build new properties,” Schaefer said. “A lady told me the other day, ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but it seems like there’s a new building going up everywhere.’” Schaefer said the future of the Branson area looks “very favorable. A community doesn’t stand still; it either stands still or goes forward,” he said. “Branson is definitely going forward.”