Category: Downtown Branson

Located on the southern end of Branson Landing, just feet from the front door of Bass Pro Shops, is RideSparky's Stop #2. This popular stop gives riders access to the south half of The Landing as well as the nearby White River Fish House and Main Street Lake Cruises. This stop is the best way to get to more than 40 stores, restaurants and attractions, including the Parakeet Pete's Waterfront Zipline and Ride the Ducks. [caption id="attachment_61" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Trolley Stop #2 at the southern end of Branson Landing[/caption] Some of the great shopping, dining and attractions you can easily access from Trolley Stop #2 are: Entertainment and Attractions Parakeet Pete's Waterfront Zipline Ride the Ducks Main Street Lake Cruises Buster's Old Time Photo Fast Shot Shooting Gallery Services Mall…

Located at the north end of Branson Landing and under the shadow of the Parakeet Pete's Steampunk Balloon, RideSparky's Stop #6 is one of the most popular in the system. The trolleys leave Stop #5 at Main & Commercial streets and come directly here, forming a quick and easy link between Historic Downtown and the Landing. Returning passengers who board here go next to Stop #7 in Awberry Parking Lot, directly behind Dick's 5 & 10, completing the round-trip to the Main/Commercial area. [caption id="attachment_43" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Trolley Stop #6 at the North End of Branson Landing[/caption] Among the great shopping, dining and attractions you can easily access from Trolley Stop #6, there are: Entertainment and Attractions Parakeet Pete's Steampunk Balloon Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar Branson Landing Boardwalk North…

Located directly between Main and Atlantic Streets, the Awberry parking lot is the lot for the central part of Historic Downtown Branson and is home to Trolley Stop #7. Directly behind Dick's 5 & 10, the parking lot also serves as the area's main drop-off/pick-up spot for motorcoaches. Additionally, there are public restrooms located at the eastern end of the lot. The lot and Trolley Stop provide convenient access to many of the same businesses as Trolley Stop #5/13, including: Great Eats Noodle 22 Clocker's Cafe Farmhouse Restaurant Branson Cafe Greek Gyros and Deli Mr. B's Ice Cream Parlor Amazing Shopping Dick's 5 & 10 P. Graham Dunn Ozark Quilts and More Downtown Casual Wear Lil' Shop of Leather Patricia's Victorian House Main Street Philatelics Alex and Alaina's Treasure Chest…

[caption id="attachment_509" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Sammy Lane Camp and Downtown Branson, circa 1930[/caption]   It's clear to say that the history of Branson and the surrounding region is inextricably tied to the White River, the only significant waterway for most of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The untamed river shaped the settlement of Branson and other towns in the region in the 1800s, both for good and for bad. Even today, it continues to be a major economic driver for the area. In the first years, the river provided an essential link for travel and commerce, but it also spread damage with its frequent flooding. In later years, after the river was dammed and as Branson became popular with tourists, the waterway and its lakes became attractions in their own right, drawing…

[caption id="attachment_474" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Downtown Branson's Liberty Plaza[/caption]   At the intersection of Pacific Street and Veterans Boulevard (Business 65) is Branson's newest city park and venue: Liberty Plaza. The $4.2 million park covers one-half of a city block and features a new parking lot, a live performance stage, brick-paver and stone walkways, air-conditioned public restrooms and a dramatic new water feature. And of course, Liberty Plaza is also home to the newest RideSparky trolley stop!   [caption id="attachment_475" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The new covered trolley stop sits at the Pacific Street entrance to Liberty Plaza[/caption]   An old Branson landmark until about a decade ago, the Liberty Tree was the chief inspiration for the name of Liberty Plaza. The plaza seeks to recapture the legacy of the tree as the city’s…

[caption id="attachment_466" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] Downtown Branson Trolley Stop #5/13[/caption] The Main Street / Commercial Street stop is the most popular in the RideSparky system, and now that Phase 3 of the downtown streetscape project is nearing completion, it's a great time to rediscover this beautiful trolley stop and all of the great shopping and dining surrounding this spot. Great Eats Within one block of the trolley stop, you have the following restaurants, diners and specialty food shops: Noodle 22 Clocker's Cafe Farmhouse Restaurant Branson Cafe Greek Gyros and Deli Mr. B's Ice Cream Parlor Amazing Shopping Dick's 5 & 10 P. Graham Dunn Ozark Quilts and More Downtown Casual Wear Lil' Shop of Leather Patricia's Victorian House Main Street Philatelics Alex and Alaina's Treasure Chest Enchanted Memories Cowboy Creed Crain…

[caption id="attachment_456" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The parking sign at Commercial and Pacific streets is one of many places downtown you can see the Liberty Tree icon.[/caption]   Longtime Branson residents and visitors remember the Liberty Tree, a more than 200-year-old bur oak tree along the Branson Landing waterfront. The tree served as a landmark and gathering place throughout much of the city’s first century. Thanks to the Downtown Branson streetscape project, the historic tree’s memory is preserved in a number of ways. If you look closely, you’ll notice that in many places — such as atop each of downtown’s new street signs — is a Liberty Tree emblem. This icon is now used throughout downtown as a tribute to the oak. And of course the tree’s name was the chief inspiration for…