Rex Johnson, One of SDC original cave guides

shelkay · September 01, 2013, 10:17:54 AM

My grandfather Rex Johnson was a cave tour guide for about 25 years at SDC. He was there before it opened to the public also, along with Lester Vining and Bert Lewallen. My father Jimmie Rex Johnson and uncle Billy Joe Johnson and Aunt Beverly used top play in the cave when Grandad was at work. Here's a photo. I am looking for others.

Junior · September 01, 2013, 04:26:08 PM

Shelkay: Pretty neat photo of Rex. He is a legend. An early SDC employee, and well known and thought of by everyone who ever knew him in the Branson tourist industry. Thanks for sharing the photo. If you have more photos of the early days at the cave or SDC, please share. Thanks so much!

shelkay · September 01, 2013, 05:48:55 PM

Here's a couple of photos, one of my dad Jimmie Rex Johnson and Billy Joe Johnson sons of Rex Johnson. They were playing in the cave. I would say my dad was around 10 or so, which would make this photo in the early fifties. Grandad was connected with the cave even when he was a boy. He helped guide S. Fred Prince around while looking for wildflowers. He was very young at that time and in some accounts was referred to a "a barefoot boy". The other two photos are Grandad waiting to take tours through the cave. At the time he left in 1975 or 76, he held the record for taking the most tours through the cave. I am not sure if that was broken?

?

Junior · September 01, 2013, 09:33:40 PM

Rex worked for a time with Roy Gertson and Pat Luce, both who later went on to careers in education at Branson School District. He also would have worked with Ron Martin, who wrote the Marvel Cave Guidebook. Again, thanks for sharing. Any old stories you can share about SDC in the early days, or of the cave prior to the Herschend Family operating it would really be interesting. I guess Rex knew and worked with the Lynch Sisters, too?

shelkay · September 02, 2013, 09:13:02 AM

Yes, Grandad did work with the Lynch sisters, however I don't know a lot of stories. I do know that he lived for a while in Preachin' Bills cabin and was around the cave from the time as a little boy. The Herschends have been just great and are still in contact with my Granny Johnson. She is 92 and loves Jack and Pete. My Dad also talks about how good they were to his dad. I met them at Grandad's funeral and they told us what an integral part of the cave he was. My Dad has told us how they put the sidewalks in the cave and also about the accident with the train coming up out and then falling back to the bottom. Just as a side note, Ron Martin was my high school science teacher in 1983-84 at Hillcrest High School in Springfield. He brought in his book that was just printed with the yellow cover. I was looking through the book and found the photos of my grandpa and told him that Rex was my grandpa and he was so excited. I don't think until then I realized the history behind Grandad and his part in the "city". I am still trying to think of details and hope to share more. I think I have a flickr account that I will try to use to post a couple other photos. Thanks for your interest.

Junior · September 02, 2013, 01:48:36 PM

I for one look forward to anything you can post here. Those early days at SDC and Marvel Cave will be forgotten unless you and your dad and others connected to those times can write, video, or audio record the stories. Don't wait too long! I've done little histories of the places I worked at SDC and with the Hee Haw Theater, and have shared them with folks here and elsewhere. Maybe you can write about your family history and the tourism connections and have some interesting stories published. It would be great.

shelkay · September 02, 2013, 06:59:49 PM

I am working on getting my dad to do an "interview" and perhaps my Granny too depending on how she's feeling. I wish I would've asked Grandad more questions, but when you are young you don't realize the importance. Be patient with me on posting, I have to gather info and scan some also.

Junior · September 02, 2013, 07:33:58 PM

GREAT!!!!

lotsatams · September 10, 2013, 04:55:07 PM

Rex Johnson @ SDC playing music. Rex Johnson is my Grandad.

Junior · September 10, 2013, 08:16:49 PM

August, 1955! Seven years before I was born! Predates SDC! Great stuff, please keep it coming! Do you have photos showing the buildings and facilities at the cave, and at SDC in the 1950's and 1960's? How about any old brochures, maps, employment paperwork, and so on? We would love to see all that kind of stuff posted, if you can dig it up. Thanks!