Search

[rubedugans]

Anyone who visited Branson in the 80's should have been familiar with the former town of Lakeview (currently West Branson) answer to Shepherd of the Hills-The Lost Silver Mine Drama. This is a play based on the book Traces of Silver by Artie Ayres (published 1982). I believe that it originated in 1983, and on the Grand Opening there was a tribute to the first white man to settle in Stone County, James Yoachum. The news read:

"All Yocum descendants are to be honored guests at the Grand Opening of the Lost Silver Mine Outdoor Drama June 10-11, 1983. This is a historic re-enactment about the Yoachums, the first white men who came into Ozark Mountain Country. These courageous pioneers came here about 1800 and carved a place to live in the wilderness and a place in the pages of history forever. The Yocum Silver Mine Story, to be seen played out under the stars, is a dramatization of the book, "Traces of Silver," a history of the early 1800's in Ozark Mountain Country."

225 in total descendants attended in 1983, and 150 in 1984. There are 81 known different spellings of Yocum, Yoakum, Yocam, Yokem, Yochuj, Yokum, Yoachum, etc.

Do we have any memories from others on this place, or any descendants of the Yocum clan in our midst?-I'll post some photos shortly of the place!

[Junior]

Rube, you and I must be on the same wavelength. (scary) I was looking over my copy of "Traces of Silver" just this morning. For many SDC entertainers, Lost Silver Mine Drama was a chance to act at night. There were only so many slots open at Shepherd of the Hills play. In the 1983 season Bill Townsend, Tony Wagner, and Hap Prater, all Juniors at the diving bell, took part in the play. Glen Braden, who now plays old matt and wash gibbs at Shepherd of the hills, got his start playing the role of James Yocum in the play. I hung out a little with Glen, too. Judy Domeny, who was a singer and musician at SDC in the early 80's, also was in the play at LSM as the balladeer. L. Dawn Larsen, whose father was my drama teacher at Branson High School, was an actress in the play, and was the artistic coordinator and choreographer, too. Dawn Larsen also was involved with the Toby Show with Shad Heller. For me, going to the play in 1983, was like hanging out with many of my SDC friends. At least two of the Dugan boys were in the Lost Silver Mine play in 84. In '84, somebody staged "Love's Greatest Story" a passion play in Branson, and both Tony Wagner and Hap Prater jumped over to play roles there. The current WAL MART SUPER CENTER location in BRANSON WEST is the old Lost Silver Mine Drama location. From what I understand, the log cabin used as the set for the play is rotting away in the wooded area behind the Wal-Mart Store. Scans of the Lost Silver Mine brochure from 83, as well as a $1 off coupon for tickets to the play, and the cover of the drama cast list, is on my Flickr site: 

                                   http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordugan

[History Buff]

I believe the amphitheater is still located back there.  Look carefully while before the trees leaf out, and you'll be able to see it from the road.

[rubedugans]

If you close your eyes reeeeaaaal tight you might be able to imagine it back there......wait no open them because you won't see the photos if your eyes are closed silly... Enjoy these from this weekend.






I wanted to capture the place another time in case it was no longer there next time. The place is in pretty bad shape. Most of this is attributed to the outdoor nature of the site. Steps are basically non existant to the seating area (all have rotted) the benches in many areas are rotten through, and the cabin is as you saw, basically gone as well. Bathrooms and fixtures are guted and vandalized, and boxes of rotting seat cushions are collecting mold, and water like the sponges that they are! Signs are all damaged, and if you did not know what the place was, you would be hard pressed to figure out its usage! I will have more posts of it on Flickr tomorrow.

[marolinesdad]

I drove past this last week and almost stopped...  I should have.

[Ozark Outlaw]

Wow talk about finding a diamond in the rough! Unfortunately, I was not old enough, or perhaps not even born in time to appreciate this historic attraction. Oh the stories that could be told if only those steps, and structures could talk. I love how the seating area was built around the existing trees.

Is it just me, or does the Branson area just have an incredible knack for outdoor theaters which is unmatched by anywhere else?

Thanks for sharing a piece of Branson heritage!

[rubedugans]

Visiting Branson every year since 1981, I had always loved going through Lakeview (Branson West) seeing the mine signs, and eventually the theater. Then later in life hearing the stories of the Yochum (however you want to spell it) mine just brings in the idea of the treasure hunt that all kids like to think about. Whether it exists or not, we might never know, some say it is well under the waters of , what is now Table Rock Lake, others say it never existed and the coins were made from other silver that had been mined elsewhere(federal silver given to the Deleware Tribes). Riches in the land is definately plausible (and I am not speaking of Jed Clampetts Black Gold). Geological surveys have yielded the possibility of silver in the hills. But the search will go on, much like it has since DeSoto came across Branson in the 1500's in search of the very same thing!

[saladdays]

Thinking about it, I remember the Lost Silver Mine logo.  I was pretty young at the time (about five when it opened), so I don't seem to recall anything else.  How long was it there?

[rubedugans]

I cannot find a "closed date" in any publications...seems by the looks of the place about 15-20 years I would guess early-mid 90's. Just a guess.. I have been in many empty and abandoned places, and it appears to have the same overgrowth/decayas some outdoor locations like Dogpatch and a few others abandoned mid 90's.

[Junior]

Thanks for the pictures. I was surprised the log cabin on the "set" had fallen apart like it has. I figured it would still be fairly solid. The theater itself was in much better shape than I figured it would be in. The play itself I saw maybe twice, and it was pretty good. I might be slanted in my opinion because so many people I knew worked there. I don't know how long the play lasted, but if it made it past three to five seasons, I would be surprised. The BRANSON WEST you see today is much larger than the LAKEVIEW that was there in the early 80's. Lakeview in my days was a place you passed through on your way to Branson on west to Kimberling City. That was about it. The McDonald's there in the early 80's was the world's only log cabin McDonalds. I don't know why they tore it down and replaced it with the cookie cutter McDonald's that is there now. By the way, Artie Ayres was mayor of Branson West in the 90's, and it was under his direction the town's name was changed to Branson West. I thought then, and still do today, that they were doing nothing but trying to steal some of the thunder from Branson by changing the name. If you get on the Branson West City Website, you will find an interesting history time line of the town, with some pictures going back to the 50's, 60's and 70's. It is interesting to see how the little crossroads community has grown over the years. Also some Lost Silver Mine shots on that city website.

[Junior]

Yeah. I double checked. Go to your search engine and type in "City of Branson West, Missouri" and the city Website will pop right up. Then go to the heading "History of Branson West" and you will get a nice rundown on the community with some great shots of the area that is the intersection of Hwy 76 and Hwy 13. Several shots of the Lost Silver Mine Play, too. There is a photo of the log cabin from the old days when it was up and in good shape. The photos of the play mention Radford Massey and Glen Braden, two former SDC folks. Radford was a popular entertainer back then. Glen Braden has moved over to Shepherd of the Hills Homestead where he plays old matt and wash gibbs.

[orient express]

so are the remains of this place still behind the walmart?   im confused on where those pics came from

[Junior]

Yes, the remains are behind the Wal-Mart at Branson West, MO.

[orient express]

is a person still able to get back there do you know?

[Junior]

According to what RUBEDUGANS posted under the pictures above...he took the photos this past weekend.