On Saturday 12/29 I witnessed what I think might have been a devastating event in Branson. While driving from the Landing towards the City on 76, we passed a flatbed with not just any Pink Gorilla on the back, but the now iconic Dicken's Gift Shoppe Pink Gorilla being taken away...now maybe just for the winter, but if it is not back in the Spring, at least I will know that I was there to see the last Hurrah of the Pink Gorilla.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/image_zps1f2cd861.jpg)
There was a for sale sign up at Dickens back in the fall. The business may have a new owner.
Didn't there use to be Gorilla's in front of Mcguffey's (Now Moon River Grill). They were orange. Probally the same one, just moved down the street to Dicken's.
Hope Dicken's re-opens, that was a fun store to look through.
Again, I am not sure if it is a winterly thing to remove the gorilla, but I also knew of the for sale status at Dickens...who knows? Guess time will tell!
The Dickens building on the strip has been sold to Branson's Nantucket. Dickens Gift Shoppe is planning on relocating to a downtown Branson location. The owner of Dickens has sold the pink gorilla statue and donated the money to St. Jude Children's Hospital. The new owner of the property plans on using part of the building for a craft mall. More details in this article from Branson Tri-Lakes News:
http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_d6eee8c8-537e-11e2-a0f1-001a4bcf887a.html
It will be strange not to have Dickens in the same spot it has occupied for 45 years. Another one of those places from my childhood swept away by progress.
Well I am glad that we witnessed the last hurrah of the Branson Pink Gorilla.
ohhhh????!!!! Hope the mall is managed better than the Branson Nantucket time share program is.... They suck!!!... been ther dun that, will never deal with that group again, and I would suggest anybody contemplating time share, stay away from them too....
I loved that gorilla!!!
Boo to time shares and tours in general. No Bueno
During my time in Branson, there were at least four McGuffey's and they all had these gorillas in front of them (never really understood it).
Got yer attention, didn't it?
Haha, I am so torn on this topic! On the one hand, I'm not a big fan of neon pink gorillas. On the other hand, I hate to see any memorable part of Branson go. It was definitely an attention getter! ;D
Same feelings, Ozark!
Not pink, but there are two others in the playground at Compton Ridge about the same size. As well as a rhino, couple of turtles, frog, and some other assorted concrete animals I can't recall at this time.
So what is this ape's name? Somebody once told me it was Sally, but I think they were joking with me.