Casinos in Branson???

[KBCraig]

I don't care about casinos, because I don't care to give them my money and call it "fun". I've stayed out of whether or not there "should be" casinos in Branson, because it's not my business. It's also not the business of the vast majority of people who have opinions, even strong opinions.

Sounds harsh, I know. Why isn't it their business? Because if you want to control a piece of property, you should buy it. If it's not yours, and doesn't have a quantifiable direct impact on you or your property, it's not your business. Literally. 

When the Herschends and SoTH wanted an unbroken stretch of "wilderness" between their properties, they didn't go to Stone and Taney Counties and demand a ban on development there. Nope, they bought all the land in between.

Ownership is the ultimate form of zoning.

[runner1960]

We just returned from a trip on labor day weekend. Obviously the casino issue would take a major change in state law. I think Cape Girardeau was just issued the last available license  last year. It is sad to see the strip in such disrepair and Junior is correct only a few of the old shows have survived. We just could not find any shows that we wanted to attend. We both had seen the Baldknobbers and Presleys so many time it was out of the question to see the same thing again. Branson is going to need to reinvent itself again and maybe all the empty tracts are actually a blessing in disguise. Developers may be able to pick things up at bargain prices.

Just think if the old Grand Palace property or the Red roof mall could be developed into a venue that host festival type events ( all day alternative rock , country, ) or whatever. These are very popular with 20 to 40 year old crowd. That is where the future visitors are coming from, so I would hope they have enough sense to target that age group.

[okiebluegrass]

Won't make a difference back here in Oklahoma. 77 out of 77 counties voted for McCain  in the last presidential election.

[eagle1]

Just have been reading, the City of Branson is also in the process of approving a design etc. company for Historic Downtown as well ($4.4 million). The public has a chance up till 9/21 to pipe in on who is chosen, etc. They have the proposed designs on www.cityofbranson.org.

It is good to know that not only is 76 getting a face lift but downtown will get some attention too. We need it out here and with the "updated" look.....hopefully can draw the names of new entertainers, etc that we need to re-vive once again. There are many rumors of who is not coming back next year, but until confirmed I will not continue the rumor mill.

[Junior]

Having lived in Branson in the 70s and 80s, I remember downtown. I think it looks ten times better now, the the landscaping, nice memorial plaques, and it seems like each shop downtown has a tenant. I remember the old Bank of Branson building on the corner next to Dicks 5 & 10 sitting empty the entire 7 years I lived there. There were other vacant storefronts, too. What could they spend the money on today to make downtown better looking? I hope they don't plan on covering storefronts with stucco...I like the varied old architecture. It seems like down town is pretty well maintained nowadays.