Living in Branson, MO, is something that many visitors dream about. This favorite vacation spot is a great place to enjoy many forms of entertainment, recreational activities, exciting attractions, and many unique museums. 

Many tourists have long visited Missouri’s vibrant city for the past century. The beautiful landscape, the rich history, the many spectacular sites, and tons of fun activities are some of the reasons why many people want to visit Branson. Listed below are some of the important historical facts that will give you an idea of how tourism started in Branson.

1894 – Marvel Cave Opens for Tourists

The Osage Indians were the ones who first discovered Marvel Cave around 1500 AD. The Spanish explored here in 1541 while looking for the fountain of youth, but they were disappointed. In 1869 the St. Louis miners visited this place to look for lead ore and marble, but they too, were also disappointed.

When Canadian mining expert William Henry Lynch heard about the Marvel Cave, he purchased it and moved to the Ozarks with his two daughters to open the first tourist attraction in the Ozarks. In 1894, Marvel Cave opened its doors to visitors for over 50 years.

The Herschend family leased the cave in 1950 and made vast improvements to give tourists easy access. In 1960, the Herschend family built an 1880s Ozark Mountain Village around the entrance to Marvel Cave, and it started the creation of Silver Dollar City.

1907 – Shepherd of the Hills Makes the Ozarks Famous

The would-be famous book author Harold Bell Wright, originally from Kansas, relocated to the Ozarks in 1898 and settled in at the homestead of John and Anna Ross. Impacted by his wonderful time living in Branson, MO, Wright wrote a novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, and published it in 1907. This novel was a tribute to the beauty of the place and to the people of the Ozarks. The publication of the novel was a huge success, with millions of copies sold.

Tourism to the area spiked for over ten years after the book’s publication, with many visitors inquiring about where to find “Old Matt’s Cabin,” which is what Wright called the Ross Homestead in the novel. In 1923, the Ross Homestead was purchased by Lizzie McDaniel and opened as a museum. McDaniel was one of the first to host reenactments of the story of Shepherd of the Hills on the lawn of the homestead.

The 1910s – Rockaway Beach Becomes a Vacation Hot Spot

Built-in 1913, the Ozark Beach Dam that supplied water to Lake Taneycomo encouraged the growth of the Rockaway Beach resort community in the area. The residents around the area began to grow, which was followed by an influx of visitors eager to enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating in the waters of Lake Taneycomo. Most tourists came to this place via the White River Line Railway depot in nearby Hollister, Missouri, and then took a boat ride down Lake Taneycomo to Rockaway Beach.

Rockaway Beach was popular for many years until Table Rock Lake was created in 1959 after the construction of Table Rock Dam. With its lake no longer comfortable for swimming, Rockaway lost its wide popularity as a tourist destination. However, Rockaway Beach has reinvented itself as a quaint lakeside community and offers the best trout fishing in America.

1959/the 1960s – Live Music Makes Its Mark in Branson

The good reputation of Branson as the first city in Missouri to host live entertainment shows was started in 1959 by the Mabe brothers, who called themselves the Baldknobbers. The group’s combination of country hits and comedy became the winning formula of the country music genre in Branson that is still performed in many successful shows today. In 1969, the singing comedians moved from their location near Lake Taneycomo to their theater on W. Country Blvd.

1960 – Silver Dollar City Opens Its Doors

When Silver Dollar City opened its doors in 1960, it offered an 1880s steam train ride, themed shops and live music, and demonstrating craftsmen. By 1963, Silver Dollar City had become the top tourist attraction in Missouri, and in 1967, the entire nation noticed the beautiful theme park when “Beverly Hillbillies,” the popular TV show, filmed several episodes inside the park.

The 1980s – More and More Things to Do in Branson

The live music shows in Branson and many other outdoor recreational activities continued to draw visitors to the area. From this year onwards, Branson has expanded its entertainment offerings and extended the staying time of visitors in the area.

People living in Branson, MO, know that the city offers a wide array of amazing and appealing things to do and see. This vibrant city is one of the most favorite vacation destinations in the Midwest and is still drawing millions of visitors each year.



If you have come into the area to visit and decided you would like to stay, Thousand Hills Realty is Branson's premier property management company and we would love the opportunity to assist you in finding long-term housing. When you’re ready to rent, call us at (417) 337-8081.