The actual population of Branson, Missouri is somewhere around 7,000. However, a great many people also call the mountain areas surrounding Branson home. It was these mountains that greeted and served as home for Branson’s initial entertaining families in 1959, beginning with the Mabe brothers.

The Mabe brothers started as a Branson family who performed twice a week in a converted roller skating rink on Lake Taneycomo in what once was downtown Branson. This trailblazing Branson foursome blended popular country tunes with traditional Ozark Mountain music. They also treated Branson, Missouri visitors to a bit of comedy for further entertainment.

In 1968, the Mabe brothers built a theater on Highway 76, which runs through Branson, Missouri. Here, their act and audience flourished further. Today, the ‘Bald Knobbers,’ as they called themselves, are recognized for having the longest continuously running show in Branson, Missouri.

However, the Bald Knobbers weren’t Branson, Missouri’s only family with entertainment on their minds. In 1960, Hugo and Mary Herchend fulfilled plans to open a small, old-time Ozark village attraction in Branson, Missouri. The attraction was established on top of Marvel Cave, nearly 10 miles west of Branson on Highway 76.

Marvel Cave, which was located where Silver Dollar City theme park now sits, was the first attraction to draw visitors to the Branson, Missouri area over a century ago. Although various stars, mainly country music singers, began coming to the Branson, Missouri area in the 1980s, the city’s long, rich history shows itself in Branson entertainment – even today.

Visitors began being drawn to the Branson, Missouri area over 100 years ago, enticed by Branson’s inspiring natural beauty and plentiful outdoor recreation activities. However, people did not arrive then in the droves that now make Branson, Missouri one of America’s most popular family vacation destinations.

The early beginnings of the Branson, Missouri area involved minister Harold Bell Wright, who moved to the Ozarks in 1898. While in Branson, Wright lived at the homestead of John and Anna Ross. He later immortalized them as “Old Matt” and “Aunt Mollie” in his famous novel, “The Shepherd of the Hills.” Published in 1907, the novel offers tales of the strong, self-sustaining people Wright encountered in Branson, Missouri and its wooded valleys, among other interesting local discoveries and details.

The book, set in Branson, Missouri, sold millions of copies in multiple languages. It was so famous, in fact, that four movies were filmed – including a version in 1941 that featured John Wayne. It was Wayne’s first Technicolor film. Following the publication of “The Shepherd of the Hills” and particularly upon the release of the movies, Branson, Missouri residents began noticing a greater onset of visitors.

Lake Taneycomo was created with the building of the Ozark Beach Dam (also known as Powersite Dam) in Branson, Missouri in 1913. At this point, the Branson area became even more attractive to outdoor enthusiasts. The Branson area and such Branson resorts as Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa continue to attract vacationers who prefer fishing, boating, swimming, hunting and enjoying the rugged natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains and Branson, Missouri’s plentiful lakes.

Touring the world with their record-breaking show, The Twelve Irish Tenors are sparking a sensation wherever they appear – and performing some of the greatest songs of the 20th Century. Branson, Missouri hotel guests and visitors simply can’t get enough of the group, calling it a truly talented batch of vocal musicians.

Branson hotel guests, such as those enjoying a family vacation at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa, who have seen the group agree: “The music will make you melt.” Said David King, the show’s creator and producer, “The individual voices would be enough to hold their own on any stage, but when you combine twelve of Ireland’s finest, the result is breathtaking.” The Twelve Irish Tenors offer Branson hotel guests and area visitors a cleverly constructed selection of Irish folk songs, big Opera numbers, modern rock classics, pop and even a special tribute to the Beatles and Barry Manilow in their eclectic repertoire.

The Tenors sing with perfect harmonies and a touch of Irish charm, captivating Branson hotel guests and audience members of all ages. They move with ease from opera to pop, with each member of the group having the opportunity to showcase his own unique talent through a variety of songs. Branson hotel guests can relax and enjoy the sounds of such famous tunes as Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Yesterday, Twist & Shout, Mack the Knife, New York New York and the opera classics, Nessun Dorma and La Donna E Mobile.

It’s the building most frequently photographed in Branson, Missouri…and a popular attraction for visitors – many of whom enjoy the city’s famous sights as part of a relaxing family vacation at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa, Branson’s only AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort.

This building that is so often captured on film is Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, which from the outside looks as though it is about to split apart. Among Branson, Missouri’s most atypical architectural structures, its appearance – believe it or not – reflects a huge earthquake that hit the state in 1812.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum offers Branson, Missouri resort guests and area visitors the chance to peruse an eclectic collection of over 400 of some of the more bizarre and unexplainable things you may ever lay eyes on.

One of the sights you’ll behold is a Matchstick U.S.S. Forrestal, a replica of the Navy’s Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. Forrestal. It took over 600 hours to complete and is made from over 48,000 common household matchsticks and toothpicks. Due to its size and basic components, this ship is an amazing object for Branson, Missouri visitors touring the museum to see.

Another intriguing sight is a Playing Card Roman Coliseum. Built on a scale of 1″:11′, it is the replica of a famous Roman Coliseum crafted from 1,971 ordinary playing cards. This small-scale phenomenon was originally built as a High School history project. Branson, Missouri museum visitors can observe the model up-close, with its 500 interior and exterior triangular arches.

When guests at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa are looking for a change of pace from the usual Branson, Missouri attractions, they certainly can’t find an activity further from the ordinary than a visit to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum!

During a vacation at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa – the premier resort of Branson, Missouri – guests can pay a visit to the Hollywood Wax Museum, which not only presents statues of well-known stars from every era, but spotlights life-like scenes from movies also cast in wax.

Inside the museum, visitors to our Branson, Missouri resort who explore the museum discover realistic looking, widely recognized movie stars, television actors, musicians and even presidents. Throughout the displays, pieces of information about the movies, shows and involved individuals are showcased to engage Branson, Missouri travelers.

Scenes and actors from classic and contemporary movies, ranging from “Gone With the Wind” to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” intrigue Branson, Missouri guests of every age. Other notable figures displayed in the Hollywood Wax Museum include musicians from many genres, such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Cher and more.

At Branson, Missouri’s Hollywood Wax Museum, visitors additionally discover a display of famous American presidents, from such great historical figures as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, to modern presidents like Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton.

When you visit Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa, in Branson, Missouri, there are always plenty of sights and attractions to enjoy. The Hollywood Wax Museum is great for family entertainment. Not only is the museum fun and interesting, it also has a gift shop filled with souvenirs that feature classic stars.

Once a year, Branson, MO – where you’ll find Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa – packs a little bit of everything it has to offer into five fun-filled days, showcasing world-class performers, local arts and culture, and authentic Branson, MO cuisine.

Known as BransonFest, this celebration welcomes spring with an incredible array of Branson, MO’s finest features and attractions – all in one location! Celebrating its 16th year, BransonFest 2008 is set to take place between April 8th and 12th at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater complex.

Activities begin at Noon on Tuesday, April 8th, and the first “Big Show” is in the American Bandstand Theatre here in Branson, MO at 7:00 pm. At the daily “Big Shows”, you can sample some of Branson’s best shows. If you attend them all, you’ll enjoy at least 50!

Wednesday through Saturday, the outdoor activities begin at 9 a.m. and the “Big Shows” take place at 10:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. Plus, daily activities in the “Real American Entertainment” Tent and the Hospitality, Business and Arts tents are free and open to the public.

BransonFest 2008 is your chance to sample the inspiring experience that Branson, MO offers its more than seven million visitors annually. We can’t wait to see you at Chateau on the Lake for all the excitement in store!

In addition to the magnificent shows and attractions in Branson, Missouri, there are three different movie theaters from which guests to Chateau on the Lake can choose when in search of indoor entertainment. Below are descriptions of each movie theater, all of which offer a unique experience.

Branson Meadows Cinemas in Branson, Missouri boasts 11 theatres that promise crystal-clear sight and sound, comfortable seats and handsome décor throughout. The rows of this Branson, Missouri theater match the width of the screen, so viewers feel more immersed in the action.

In addition to an IMAX giant-screen projection system, Branson’s IMAX Theater – the second among Branson, Missouri’s three movie venues – has installed a new 35mm projection system to show 35mm feature films each evening in addition to the IMAX giant screen film presentations. Using a specialized projection lens, this major Branson, Missouri attraction can produce an image up to seven times larger than regular theaters.

The Elite Cinema III is the newest and perhaps most choice movie-going experience in the Branson, Missouri area. Each theater features stadium-style seating, oversized seats with adjustable arm rests, ample leg room, Tempur-Pedic foam seat pads for the ultimate in comfort, and an impressive digital surround sound system.

Whether you choose to explore your options inside or out, in Branson, Missouri, and as a guest at Chateau on the Lake, you’ll discover a magnificent array of ways to enjoy your brilliant Branson, Missouri vacation!

Visitors to our Branson resort agree that Dolly Parton’s “Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show” in Branson, Missouri is a casual, fun-filled, action-packed affair. At the show, guests enjoy a four-course meal while witnessing a spectacular 32-horse show.

Perfect for families from our Branson resort, the Stampede offers spectacular special effects and amazing stunts performed by talented performers from the area. Each ticket to the show includes a special Carriage Room Opening Act, a thrilling main show in a massive Arena, and a four-course dinner complete with dessert.

This season, there is plenty of new fun at the show for guests to our Branson resort. And, as always, guests will enjoy impressive trick riding, buckboard racing, ostrich races and wholesome comedy – all in a huge 35,000 square foot arena.

Featuring dozens of cast members and seating for 1,000, the Dixie Stampede was created by Dolly Parton. She is proud to claim it as her own creation. “I wanted to recreate the family fun of my childhood, when we’d gather for a friendly competition and enjoy a more than-filling meal,” she said of her inspiration.

Describing the experience guests at our Branson resort can enjoy, Dolly Parton claims, “With the grand entertainment of our horses and performers, along with a delicious meal, Dixie Stampede is the Most Fun Place to eat anywhere.”

Displaying daring feats of trick riding and competition inside a huge arena, the Dixie Stampede never ceases to amaze guests – especially young ones – to our Branson resort.

Witness the wonder and amazement of one of the world’s most recognized and tragic ocean liners at this Branson, Missouri attraction. And stay at Chateau on the Lake, a world-class Branson resort where modern luxury rivals that of the Gilded Age.

Recently opened in April of 2006, Titanic: World’s Largest Museum Attraction, is a 20-room, 16,000 sq. ft. walk-through, half-scale replica of the glorified doomed ship that has sunk into the imagination of generations of individuals.

Designed to mirror the actual Titanic, this Branson, Missouri museum contains 400 artifacts, including a dollar bill carried by the Titanic’s barber, a menu from the dining room, letters written on the ship’s stationery, life vests, deck chairs, and a passenger’s pocket watch.

Guests enter through a stucco iceberg wedged into the side of the ship and are issued a boarding pass with the name of a Titanic passenger or crew member, not knowing if they will live or die until the end of the tour. Costumed historical interpreters wander throughout, from men in double-breasted officer uniforms to women dressed as chambermaids. Audio atmospherics, including foghorns, ringing bells, muffled voices, barking from behind a door labeled “dog kennel”, are everywhere. Interactive challenges encourage you to get involved in the ship’s activities such as trying to shovel coal into the furnace.

A replica of Titanic’s Grand Staircase leads to the luxurious guest suites. There is also a Sinking Room, which has a series of progressively steep sloping decks that challenges you to stand and a bowl of 28-degree salt water where you immerse your finger and try to withstand to freezing temperature. Finally, you can check to see if you ultimately survive in the memorial room.

Make your visit to Chateau on the Lake unforgettable with a trip to this one-of-a-kind museum. With lavish quarters, rich scenery, and countless indulgences, this Branson hotel is the perfect place to enjoy a larger than life experience.

One of the most popular attractions in Branson, Missouri, Silver Dollar City takes visitors back to the Ozarks of the 1880s with traditional food, costumes, music, and crafts. Providing days of non-stop fun and excitement, the park is recognized as one of the top theme parks in the world! And the perfect Branson hotel to stay at while you enjoy all the excitement is Chateau on the Lake.

Guests at this remarkable Branson, Missouri attraction experience true, old-fashion Americana and Ozark splendor mixed with modern-day marvel - highlighted by a myriad of exciting rides, shows, attractions and festivals.

The excitement starts from the moment you enter the park, where the historic allure of 19th century life in the Ozarks envelops you. As you stroll through the shaded streets of the “city,” you’ll see crafts as old and new as America itself. Created by the hands of master craftsmen, these timeless works will spark the imagination! The glassblowers, basket weavers, potters, blacksmith, knife smith, quilters and many more of the hundreds of resident demonstrating craftsmen make Silver Dollar City the year-round home of American craftsmanship.

Beyond the historical charm, this Branson, Missouri attraction is home to a variety of family entertainment. 17 thrilling rides, including Flooded Mine, an indoor water ride through a flooded mine where you can shoot at various targets for points, provide great times for kids and adults alike. From comedy to live music, a seemingly endless variety of shows surround guests with great old-fashion American entertainment. And you’ll surely want to discover America’s greatest presentation of Ozark cooking. Rated among the best food in the theme park industry by Amusement Today Magazine, Branson dining at Silver Dollar City has long enjoyed a stellar reputation for it’s innovative approach to food service.

Enjoy a Chateau on the Lake vacation that is perfect for the whole family. Our Silver Dollar City Branson Resort Package is the ideal way to experience the charm of historic Branson and the luxury of our resort!