Made a short Friday/Saturday trip to Branson. Did not have SDC time this go around. Here are a few impressions of the trip: Rained on and off the entire time. Riverboat Motel completely gone now. Ozarkland Gift Shop rebuilt, it's a metal building, but they had not gotten the interior done yet and it is not open. Starvin' Marvins is open, redecorated on the outside, totally the same inside. Ate lunch buffet and it was good as usual. Branson Heights shopping center totally gone, land up for sale. Nothing new there. Town was busy, a big Christian Woman's Conference underway Saturday. Hotels with "no vacancy" signs all over. This trip was a getaway for the wife, and relatives paid our motel, so we wound up at the Best Western downtown. (Sorry to Paige) Heck, a free room is a free room. The relative paid for a suite, and it was a recently remodeled room, very comfortable, good staff there. Ate at Black Oak Grill at the Landing. Two thumbs up, it was fine. Sad to see the old Branson Cafe in downtown has bit the dust and is now closed. This was a shocker to both my wife and I. That cafe has been there since probably the 40's or 50's. Sad to say goodbye to that old friend. We spent alot of time rambling around the crafts malls and the Landing. Also walked through Imax. Walked through Dickenson's Gift Shop on the strip, They changed ownership, and have converted the metal "garage" area that used to house merchandise to a flea market. The interior shop is about the same, but seems like alot of the same ole crap nobody is buying...just like several of the crafts malls. Was impressed this trip with Branson Mills, several craftspeople manned shops and an older guy sang to a small crowd of grey hairs, pleasant. Also found a big rack of Ozarks Mountaineer Magazines on sale in Branson Mills and at Engler Block for $1 each. If you are a fan of the Ozarks Mountaineer, better get by these places soon, as the magazine is OUT OF BUSINESS after 60 years, and if you want copies, better get 'em while they last. Also, had a nice chat with a lady in Engler's Block, and she said although Pete is gone, his shop lives on. His business partner, a woman, was trained by Pete, and will keep the shop open and will have a supply of Pete Engler woodcarvings for some time to come. She will take up the reins and continue Pete's Christmas ornament tradition starting this year. No photos, but I did post brochures for Engler Block and for the Yee Haw Show, the tribute show to the Hee Haw TV Show. Check 'em out:
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