The Live Music Capital of the World in the Missouri Ozarks
Branson mixes a serene setting in the Ozark Mountains with a selection of not-always-so-serene entertainment options found in few other cities its size. With a population of around 13,000, the city has attracted 10 million or more visitors annually since 2021. Aside from its more than four dozen theaters, there are attractions of many kinds, museums, sports venues, parks for active and passive pursuits and a theme park.
The largest employers are in the entertainment industry — Silver Dollar City theme park, Grand Crowne Resorts and Summer Winds Resorts are the top three, employing nearly 6,300. And there's more to come, says Parker Stone, a Realtor with Keller Williams Tri-Lakes for more than 10 years.
“Branson is getting ready for a major expansion,” he says. “Silver Dollar City just announced a $500 million investment which will expand the theme park, add more hotel rooms and create more jobs in Branson. That’s all going to have a positive impact on housing. It’s terrific news for the city. Forecasts estimate that visitors will increase to 12 million a year, which is a stunning figure.”
The sunsets on another day in Branson on Table Rock Lake.
Silver Dollar City has begun construction on a new resort hotel.
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Single-family homes, condominiums and mountain-top retreats
While more than 20,000 hotel rooms exist in the tourism-centered parts of the city, residential Branson includes quiet suburban neighborhoods with neatly trimmed lawns, tree-lined streets, and mountain-side retreats with stunning views. The median price of $410,000 is in line with the national median, though mountainside retreats and vacation homes can rise toward $2 million. More conventionally, Pointe Royale Golf Village is one of the most desirable residential areas of the city alongside Lake Taneycomo.
Homes and condos are scattered throughout the city's irregularly shaped borders, though often clustered around golf courses but even within Branson's famed Theatre District. Condominiums across Branson range from $90,000 to about $200,000, while ranch-style homes range from $130,000 to about $400,000.
Mid-century ranch style homes are found throughout Branson.
High-end mountain retreats offer unforgettable views of Branson.
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Outdoors in the Ozarks
Branson is home to 15 parks and several public golf courses. Surrounded by the Ozarks and Lake Taneycomo, it’s easy for residents to get outside and enjoy abundant recreation. The city has a variety of natural settings, from wooded parks to a public beach on Table Rock Lake. The Ruth & Paul Henning Conservation Area covers 362 acres and is open for the public to explore its glades and forests. The White River welcomes fishing and boating, with docks along the banks for residents to launch small watercraft.
Fly Fisherman flock to Lake Taneycomo for year round trout fishing.
Roark Creek flows through the Ruth & Paul Henning Conservation Area in Branson.
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Branson School District is A-minus rated by Niche
The city is served by Branson R-IV Public Schools, which has an A-minus rating on Niche. The district has five elementary schools, one middle and one high school. Branson High is the No. 1 school in Taney County and is graded B-plus by Niche.
College of the Ozarks, 5 miles to the south in Point Lookout, is a Christian liberal arts college with about 1,500 students. Due to its endowment and student work program, it does not charge tuition to full-time students. Springfield's Missouri State University is the state’s second-largest by enrollment and is 40 miles north.
Branson High School is home to the Pirates.
The College of the Ozarks campus sits on the picturesque banks of Lake Taneycomo.
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Dining in the Branson Theatre District and beyond
The most notable dining options are generally found in the Branson Theatre District, but there are popular coffee shops and seafood restaurants near the White River, which curves through the city and reveals a pleasant waterside area for dining and living. The theatre district offers cuisines, including Cajun, American and Mexican food. It's also home to Tanger Outlets Branson with more than 40 popular chain retailers including Nike, Old Navy and Under Armour.
Branson residents find bargains at the Tanger Outlets.
The Branson Strip is lined with kitschy shops and restaurants designed to grab the eye.
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Flood risk and crime rates
Located in the heart of the Ozarks, Branson experiences a relatively cool and temperate climate with four distinct but mild seasons. The city may see occasional snowfall in winter, but accumulations are minimal. Flooding has taken place as recently as 2017 and remains a risk, though floodgates on Table Rock Dam can be used to mitigate the risk.
Since 2020, Branson's reported rates of violent and property crimes have been higher than the national and state average. but have declined since 2021. In 2023, the Branson Police Department installed automated license plate reading cameras to help alert investigators to known offenders in the area or to help identify potential suspects as they transit the area.
Getting around Branson
West 76 Country Boulevard is known as The Branson Strip, where many of the city's theaters and attractions are located, which can lead to heavy and slow traffic on the thoroughfare. U.S. Route 65 is the main connecting highway between Branson and Springfield to the north, where Springfield-Branson National Airport is located about 50 miles away. Shuttle buses and trolleys operate throughout the city, but are largely to serve visitors.
Enjoying the Ozark strip’s year-round events
Branson's entertainment venues and attractions are the city's main draws. Among the most popular, Dolly Parton's Stampede is a dinner theater featuring dozens of horses and riders, similar to the country music icon's original location in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Additionally, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the Titanic Museum regularly draw crowds. Silver Dollar City theme park is the centerpiece of a resort that also includes a water park, a dinner cruise and a campground, with plans to add more than 1,000 acres to its footprint and another resort. Branson’s winter landscapes bring thousands of visitors during the holiday season for its Festival of Lights, Ozark Mountain Christmas and the Annual Adoration Parade and Lighting Ceremony.
The horses are the stars at Dolly Parton's Stampede in Branson.
Silver Dollar City is one of Branson's top attractions.
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