My belief is when Morley Safer did the 60 Minutes piece on Branson in the 1990's, the jackels who seek nothing but profit moved in on Branson, killed a huge number of mom and pop style businesses, and brought in corporate mentality. I remember when Red Roof Mall was built. It was great, but there were empty shops there. Then they built Tanger, and it has done well, but it too has empty shops. So someone comes along and builds Branson Meadows, and it is half empty. Then historic downtown Branson is torn down, Branson Landing opens, it's a fun place, but now it is allegedly in serious financial trouble. Branson didn't need four malls, one or two were enough. But greed rules. I remember when Branson had the six month tourist season, roughly May through October. Construction work was done in winter, when no tourists were around. When spring came and the tourists came back, Branson was newly updated, clean, trees and flowers planted, and everything was ready to go. Look at the empty buildings in town when you pass through now. Look at the half finished or abandoned construction areas. See the empty motel buildings. My brother owns a food service business in Branson, a mom and pop owned business. He had to partner with the timeshare places just to survive. Even with that, he only did half the business last year he had done in the past. It's a sorry situation, all the way around. However, I don't mean to be all negative here. If you visit Branson, and I hope you do in 2010, pause, take a good look around, visit those "core" places from years past like SDC, Shepherd of the Hills, Presley's, Baldknobbers, tour College of the Ozarks and visit the museum there, enjoy some of the new attractions and music shows. Then you will still see there is magic left in the town. It's still a place where you can take your family and enjoy a nice vacation. Five generations of my family have visited Branson for a vacation, and we will go back. I hope you and your family will,too.
