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SDC has won the 10Best Theme Park Holiday event several times. There are 14 days left to vote in this year's contest. Currently SDC is in first place. Here's the link if you want to vote:

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-theme-park-holiday-event/

New hotel opened at the end of October -- Element by Westin (Marriott) on Pat Nash Drive by Ballparks of America.

Texas Roadhouse was open when I was in Branson this week. It is out by Target next to the Pizza Hut/Wing Street. The parking lot was full on Wednesday evening, and the overflow was in the Home Depot lot. Westgate finally took down the Waterpark coming soon sign. Drafts has been for lease all year. Several motels on SOTH Expressway have changed names. The Hampton Inn on the strip has been closed for awhile due to remodeling. The Hilton Spark/former Barrington that had the explosion is still closed but the street in front of it has reopened.

What was the 2023 ornament?

It was the classic Fire in the Hole logo on Red Flanders pants.



That photo along with a full thread of the ornaments is on Midwest Info Guide: https://www.midwestinfoguide.com/2017/12/season-pass-ornaments-sdc.html

Thank you, mg, and I appreciate you including the picture of the ornament. And to mbrownx4 I did see and hear Tom Johnson caroling as we waited in line at the Opera House.

On Thursday 12/5 my husband and I made our first visit since December 2022. It was sunny but brutally cold with the wind. I think the high was 28. We didn't plan on riding anything which was good since most rides were shut down due to the low temperature. Saw Dickens, Coming Home for Christmas (last year for this show), and the saloon show. Really enjoyed the saloon show this time.

Bought the 2022 Christmas ornament (Santa in Jail) and wanted to buy the 2023 one but it was sold out. What was the 2023 ornament?

I was surprised how many people were there on Thursday considering the cold and the wind chill. And was really surprised at the number of people who were coming in at 7:30 with the park closing at 9.

Appreciate your efforts, Shave.

Was in Branson again last Wednesday for a 1-night stay. The strip seemed really busy with many cars and slow traffic in the core area. There were also a lot of people walking up and down the areas that have sidewalks. The Boardwalk area was busy.

Most of the theaters we drove by seemed to have a good number of cars in the lots. The old Barrington Hotel near the Mansion has been remodeled and reopened as Spark by Hilton.

KY3 recently had an online article about the Rolling Stones playing at Thunder Ridge. It revealed that Mick Jagger was out and about Branson a day or 2 before the concert. He went to the Stampede, Legends, and Area 71 (restaurant and bar next to convenience store) out by the state park. Sounded like he had a good time.

I think Ozark Valley Inn is also closed. It had a no vacancy sign up earlier this month but there were just 1 or 2 vehicles there. The Days Inn next to Drafts bar and restaurant has closed, and Drafts didn't open this year. The former Paradise Steakhouse is now an Urgent Care center. Another old restaurant on SOTH that has been various things the last few years has now reopened as a cabaret show. I read where Shoji's theater sold last year but it still looks as sad as it has the last few years. The waterpark coming soon sign at the corner is still up for Westgate. That sign went up a year or 2 before COVID.

Just returned from our monthly quick trip to Branson/Springfield. On most of the SDC billboards there is a tagline below the SDC logo -- the Heart of the Ozarks.

I am not a Facebook user so hope this continues in some form that I can access.

Many thanks for you providing this for so many years!

I got the shopping survey, too. First survey I have received in a long time. When I could type in comments, I mentioned how congested and difficult it was to shop in the Hospitality House and Ozark Marketplace due to all of the people passing through.

Noticed last month that the OYO/Classic Motor Inn had plywood up to block stairways from being used. Last week I noticed that wire fencing panels had been placed around the property to keep cars out.

Sad to see another motel closed especially one where SDC Fans used to stay due to a discount arranged for us by member sanddunerider.

Was in Branson this week and all that's left of the RFD Theater is the sign by the road. The Andy Williams Moon River Theater has been sold again to the KY company that has the ARK Encounter and the Creation Musuem. The theater is supposed to be developed into an interactive Biblical attraction.

The fencing around the Honeysuckle Inn is gone but it's still closed.

How long has it been since this has been open?

I think 1 of the Acrobatic shows was there in 2018. When I was in Branson earlier this month I noticed that several motels on SOH Expressway that used to be independents now have banners up for various chains. I heard something last year about plans for the Honeysuckle to be renovated.

My hotel of choice the last few years has been the Barrington near the Mansion Theater. It shut down after Christmas for a major renovation project. I was told that when it reopens this spring it will have a Hilton affiliation.

There was an article in the Branson Tri-Lakes News recently about the city shutting down some lodging places by turning off the water due to lack of payment or due to lack of a current business license. Some had not had a current license since 2022.

Was Ray Stevens, Country Tonight, and some other shows over the years. The old Caprice Motor Inn on the strip has also been torn down. The Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater is now the Pepsi Legends Theater.