Sparky Starts New Color-Coded Routes on Nov. 7th

Sparky Starts New Color-Coded Routes on Nov. 7th

Dining, Downtown Branson, Events, Shopping, Shows and Attractions
To better serve our riders, the free "Sparky" Downtown Branson trolley is dividing its previous single-loop route into two color-coded routes. The new covered trolley stop at Liberty Plaza will serve as a transfer point between the two routes. The new trolley routes are coded by color and are easier to follow. The eastern route, or "lower downtown," includes the historic downtown, Branson Landing, convention center and Lakeside RV Park and is served by the 8-stop Orange Route. The western portion, or "upper downtown," includes stops at hotels, stores, restaurants and the Taneyhills Library and is served by the 5-stop Green Route. Transferring between the two routes can be done at Liberty Plaza (Stop O8-G1), which has a covered trolley stop to shelter riders from the weather. The trolleys now…
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Boat Trips and Dinner Cruises on Lake Taneycomo

Boat Trips and Dinner Cruises on Lake Taneycomo

Downtown Branson, Shows and Attractions
Ozark summers are unsurprisingly hot and humid. Luckily, respite and excitement can be found on the chilly waters of the gorgeous Lake Taneycomo. Of course at several marinas you can rent a boat for fishing, paddling or just floating along leisurely. But if you're in the mood to let someone else steer, consider these three popular options to get out on Downtown Branson's breathtaking lake. Main Street Lake Cruises 9 South Boardwalk Branson Landing 417.239.3980 Dine in your choice of old world style or ultimate luxury on Lake Taneycomo with Main Street Lake Cruises. You'll enjoy a fresh lunch or dinner as you cruise past the Landing and watch the famous Branson Landing Fountains and their masterfully orchestrated show from one of the viewing decks. Main Street Lake Cruises operates…
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Get Out On the Water In Downtown Branson

Get Out On the Water In Downtown Branson

Downtown Branson, Shows and Attractions
The summer season in our beautiful neck of the woods is a great time to find cool opportunities for relaxation and entertainment. Right along the shores of Historic Downtown Branson we've got the coolest spot in the region: Lake Taneycomo. Even in the heat of summer, the lake stays amazingly cold and creates a zone of "air conditioning" along its shores. Lake Taneycomo became a cold water lake in 1958 following the completion of Table Rock Dam. The dam releases the chilly water from the depths of Table Rock Lake, not from the warm surface of that lake. As a result Lake Taneycomo is a frigid, 48 degrees year-round. The consistently cold waters create the ideal breeding ground and habitat for trout. Taneycomo now boasts some of the finest trout fishing in…
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Let Sparky Take You to Downtown Branson Shows

Let Sparky Take You to Downtown Branson Shows

Downtown Branson, Events, Shows and Attractions
[caption id="attachment_363" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Keith Allynn pays tribute to Neil Diamond at the Historic Owen Theatre[/caption] Branson has been known for tourism and entertainment for more than a century, and Historic Downtown Branson is where that tradition began. The district continues to be home to exciting live music shows, and the free Sparky trolley system is a great way to get to and from your show, and also take advantage of all of the shopping, dining and excitement downtown has to offer. Downtown is home to two live-performance theatres and frequent special events that include live music. The Historic Owen Theatre/Branson’s House of Comedy on Commercial Street is home to several Branson shows, including A Neil Diamond Tribute, Carpenters Once More and Cover of the Rolling Stone. Shows are scheduled…
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Get Up-Close with Branson’s History on Downtown Walking Tour

Get Up-Close with Branson’s History on Downtown Walking Tour

Downtown Branson, Shows and Attractions
With this self-guided walking tour, visitors can experience many of the authentic and historic sites in Downtown Branson. The tour starts on Main Street in front of Dick's 5 and 10, continues down North Commercial Street, goes through the Town Square portion of Branson Landing, returns to South Commercial Street and ends up back on Main Street. Branson's downtown started taking shape in the first years of the 20th century. The city of Branson was incorporated on April 1, 1912, and only four months later in August a devastating fire destroyed most of the downtown. On this tour, you can see the historic sites and a handful of buildings that survived the fire. The tour is at your own pace and can be modified as you wish. Plan on at least…
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Shop Local in Downtown Branson and Support Your Neighbors

Shop Local in Downtown Branson and Support Your Neighbors

Dining, Downtown Branson, Shopping, Shows and Attractions
Historic Downtown Branson is full of locally owned businesses, and the district is quickly getting ready for the 2017 tourist season with new streets, new sidewalks and even some new businesses. The winter months are a great time for locals to rediscover downtown and also support your neighbors who work or own businesses in downtown. Even with street construction taking place over the winter and early spring months, all the sidewalks are open and it's still easy to get around downtown. You're never more than a one-block walk from any business in downtown! Come see us! Lots of Parking Even with the Downtown Branson Streetscape project underway in the first months of 2017, there's still plenty of convenient parking along downtown's streets and parking lots. Parking on Main Street The section…
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Many Downtown Businesses Open in January and February

Many Downtown Businesses Open in January and February

Dining, Downtown Branson, Shopping, Shows and Attractions
[caption id="attachment_213" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] Construction is proceeding on the new Liberty Plaza in Historic Downtown Branson. The new plaza, entertainment stage, picnic area, trolley stop and restrooms will be completed by early summer 2017.[/caption] The months of January and February in Branson are sometimes referred to as the "off-season," a time when many visitors are busily planning their Spring Break or Summer trips. However, many Downtown Branson shops and restaurants are still open, and these slower months are a great time to browse at your leisure and find great deals! Below is a list of some of the great Historic Downtown businesses that are open in January and February 2017 and ready for your visit: Dining & Restaurants: Branson Cafe (Winter hours: 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily) Chick-Fil-A Clockers Cafe (Mon-Thu…
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Free Things to Do in Downtown Branson

Free Things to Do in Downtown Branson

Downtown Branson, Shows and Attractions
The largest (and we think best) free attraction in Downtown Branson is the Sparky trolley system. But there's also many other free things to do in the area that Sparky can take you to. Here's a list of some popular things to do in Branson's downtown: Branson Landing Fountains The Branson Landing Fountains are one of the top free attractions in the city and a major draw for downtown. Located in the "Town Square" section at the center of Branson Landing and with the picturesque Lake Taneycomo as its backdrop, the $7.5 million fountains shoot water and fire up to 120 feet in the air. Oh, and it's all choreographed to music by Wet Design, the same company that designed fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the Downtown Disney…
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Free Attractions: Explore Branson’s History at Centennial Museum

Free Attractions: Explore Branson’s History at Centennial Museum

Downtown Branson, Shows and Attractions
One of the city's top free attractions is the Branson Centennial Museum, now located at the corner of Commercial and Pacific streets in Historic Downtown Branson. It's easily accessed on the RideSparky trolley system by using Stop #12. The museum opened on April 1, 2012, the 100th anniversary of Branson's incorporation as a city and was originally at the corner of Business Highway 65 (Veterans Boulevard) and Main Street. In 2016, the museum moved to its permanent home in the former Reish Shoe building at 120 S. Commercial. Curated by the White River Valley Historical Society, the museum tells the unique and colorful history of the Branson area and how this small mountain town became one of the top tourism destinations in America. You can see pioneer-era artifacts, autographs of famous musicians…
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