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.

Guests to our Branson resort can experience live performances from the multi-talented family, the Duttons, invited by NBC to appear on the season finale of “America’s Got Talent.” The Duttons were among the show’s Top 10 Finalists out of thousands of acts across the nation. And they’re right from the town where you’ll find Chateau on the Lake, the premier Branson resort.

The Branson family started performing together as a hobby in 1981, turning it into a profession in the late 80’s. Branson resort guests were impressed when the Duttons secured a fulltime gig by 1991.

The group found themselves touring all over as musical performers, also performing in Branson for Branson resort guests and visitors. They play all types of music – from bluegrass to classical. The music features a variety of instruments, including the violin, guitar, bass, viola, banjo, mandolin, keyboard, harmonica and drums, among many more.

In addition to their instrumental talents, The Duttons are accomplished singers and dancers, enjoyed by many a Branson resort guest. Their shows are self-produced by the family, including choreography and musical arrangements.

The Duttons also announced that they have been invited to appear on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. They will be performing “live” on stage in Las Vegas on Labor Day. Telethon officials mentioned that approximately 30 million viewers will be watching during the hour that the Duttons will play for the fundraiser. The Duttons are pleased to have been invited to share their skill for this very worthwhile cause.

How do you narrow down the number of shows to create the best possible Branson, Missouri vacation during your stay at Chateau on the Lake? Good question: Here are some tips to planning a perfect show-oriented vacation in Branson, Missouri.

Unlike some entertainment-oriented cities, the shows in Branson, Missouri run all day. It’s entirely possible to see as many as four shows in a day during your Branson, Missouri stay, with time for a short lunch and dinner in between. However, that type of frantic schedule is neither suggested nor endorsed.

Thus, categorize what you want to see. First, decide what kind of productions you want to see: music, comedy, dining, plays or magic shows, or a specialty show. During your Branson, Missouri vacation planning, be sure to involve the other people with whom you travel. If you know that your child likes magic, then start looking under the magic category to see what shows you might also want to see.

Also, know the dates and the days of the week of your Branson, Missouri trip, as this may change what times the shows play. From there, start noting times, and avoid price-intimidation. Individually purchased shows add up quickly, but Branson shows are way below the cost of Chicago or New York City productions.

So how do you choose what shows to go to during your Branson, Missouri vacation? Simple, pick your favorites. Narrow down the options but remember to keep everyone you travel with to Branson, Missouri happy. With the right scheduling and the help of the staff at Chateau on the Lake, it’s entirely possible to live out your dream vacation without breaking a sweat – or the bank.