Volume 6, Number 6 - Winter 1978
Recreation in the Ozarks
1922
Branson, Taney County, Missouri
Wonderful Scenic Beauty and Business Advantages
of The Picturesque Mountain City on Lake
Taneycomo, Teeming With Fish, Covered
With Boats and Fringed With Clubs of
Tourists from Every Part of the World
In its majestic sweep through the Ozark Mountains, White River winds in graceful curves through portions of Southwest Missouri, including Taney County. Clear as crystal the river rolls between ragged and perpendicular bluffs and fertile valleys unsurpassed anywhere in scenic grandeur.
A great concrete dam thrown across the river in Taney County affords one of the most noted water-power establishments of the world. The dam is more than fifty feet in height and six hundred feet wide between the abutments.
Ten mighty turbine waterwheels with an aggregate capacity of 16,500 horsepower drive the five great dynamos which supply electric current to nearly all Southwest Missouri, including the cities of Springfield, Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Monett and Aurora.
From the power dam Lake Taneycomo winds with the channel of the river a distance of thirty miles. No lake in the Alps is more beautiful than this clear body of water lying in the Ozark Mountains.
Lake Taneycomo literally swarms with the finest game fish of every species and variety, and its bosom is covered with every type of craft from light and graceful canoes to double-decked vessels which ply the lake in regular traffic from end to end.
No pen or brush could do justice to the landscapes spread out before the eyes of those who stand upon the bluffs that jut from the mountains along the margins of the lake. More than a dozen clubs and beaches handsomely equipped and maintained by persons in distant cities for their convenience and pleasure fringe the lake throughout its extent.
Branson is the only city located on the margin of this picturesque lake. The city stands on the western shore in the very heart of scenery immortalized by Harold Bell Wright in "The Shepherd of the Hills." Residents of the city take pride in pointing out to strangers the places of special interest to those acquainted with that popular and tragic romance.
Across the lake from Branson is Presbyterian Hill crowned with the cottages, auditoriums and "Bida Wee" used by the interstate Presbyterian Assembly of the Southwest for the encampments, chautauquas, lectureships and institutes which that body conducts every summer. In recent years the Disciples of Christ hold similar services at a different time of the summer, and other Christian denominations will likely do so in future.
In a beautiful and narrow valley that skirts the lake immediately south of Presbyterian Hill is the summer encampment of the Y.M.C.A. with every facility for fishing and athletic and spiritual recreation, while The School of the Ozarks, housed in the building erected by the State of Maine at the St. Louis World’s Fair, stands very near with its splendid farm and orchard and garden cultivated by the students.
This whole section of the Ozark country is widely and justly renowned as the ‘land of the big red apple." No place in the world is better adapted to fruits of every variety grown in the latitude of southern Missouri.
Herds of cattle grow sleek and fat on the wild range that covers the unimproved lands along White River from April to December, and bees gather stores of the finest and richest honey from the wild flowers and clover that adorn the uplands in great profusion.
Natural resources of this interesting and beautiful section are yet largely undeveloped. Land is cheap and plentiful. The valleys yield corn and wheat, while the uplands are admirably adapted to the growth of fruits, clover and alfalfa.
Branson is a new and rapidly-growing city of twelve hundred inhabitants and is the objective of thousands of tourists who come from every quarter of the world to enjoy the fine water, the mountain air, the picturesque scenery, the fishing, boating and bathing in which Lake Taneycomo and its surroundings are unrivaled. It is destined to be one of the prominent cities of the Southwest and one of the famous summer resorts of the world.
The Missouri Pacific Railway passes through the city and connects it with all parts of the world. In addition, the boats on Lake Taneycomo add to
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its postal and other connections with the clubs and beaches along the lake and with adjacent points in the country.
The climate is delightful. The winters are mild and the summer nights are cool and refreshing. The mountain air is peculiarly conducive to sound, invigorating sleep and rugged health.
The business men of Branson face the morning. They are public spirited and determined that the little city shall enjoy every improvement that will promote the comfort and happiness of its inhabitants. It already has an excellent public school system. Electric light and power come directly from the great power dam. Pure sparkling water in abundance is supplied by the great springs for which the whole Ozark country is famous and by wells.
The Presbyterians have an imposing and substantial stone church building and other denominations plan the erection of houses of worship in the near future.
It would be hard to conceive and impossible to find a spot more richly endowed by Nature and blessed by human enterprise than Branson and its vicinity on beautiful Lake Taneycomo.
THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS COUNTRY
That Portion of the Ozarks Made Famous by
Harold Bell Wright Adjacent to Branson
A booklet doing justice to this section would contain a chronological list of surrounding attractions which in itself would take more space than is given to this little book, but to say it briefly we make the bold claim that no country holds forth more interesting points for exploration than this.
Harold Bell Wright’s famous book, "The Shepherd of the Hills," pictures true as life itself the beauties of just one of our many interesting neighborhoods. From Branson you may make the trip to Marvel Cave, the exploration of which has been a source of joy and wonderment to every person who has visited it. Even Mammoth Cave, in all its grandeur, offers nothing bigger, more beautiful or more phenomenal than does Marvel Cave containing even the quaint room to which Pete was wont to go where Wright pictures his most touching death scene.
Enroute to the Cave you may see the Mathews’ home, even to the pine under which the Matthews daughter and her son were laid to rest, see the Wash Gibbs Cabin, the Jim Lane Cabin, stand atop Sammy’s Lookout, visit Mandy Ford’s Cabin and even meet Uncle Matt and Aunt Molly, the first of whom is known to readers of The White River Leader as the Garber correspondent.
Here you find unshakable evidence that these characters lived midst beautiful surroundings just as Wright pictured them, find the fictional bank robbery was a reality, and tread hills that communicate to your inner self a message you will never forget, and impart a satisfaction and food for reflection that will carry you back to this land of a million smiles for years to come.
When choosing a vacation spot why not choose one that offers something different, why not see the country depicted in a book more widely read than any fiction story extant. Surely from a community that fired a previously unknown author to such wonderful attainment, you can find the inspiration, the rest, the recreation you need.
INFORMATION
For Autoists Coming to Branson
For the instruction of automobile tourists seeking to reach Branson and enjoy the pleasures of this delightful summer resort, the following directions are offered for their guidance:
From Springfield
The White River Trail leads direct from Springfield to Branson, and no directions are needed, except to say, take this trail and come on. Towns and villages on the road are Ozark, Selmore, Highlandville and Spokane.
From Joplin
From Joplin, take the Ozark Trail to Mt. Vernon, the county seat of Lawrence county; from Mt. Vernon to Aurora, 14 miles; from Aurora to Crane, 10 miles; from Crane to Galena, 12 miles; from Galena to Abesville, 8 miles; 3 miles from Abesville, enter the Wilderness Road, follow that road 4 or 5 miles, then leave Wilderness Road to the left and take the Boston Road, which leads direct to Branson.
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Both of these roads are in good condition for automobile travel.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HOMESEEKERS
Whether retiring from active business effort or planning to renew business or farming activities in a different locality you owe it to yourself and those dependent on you to investigate this wonderful country which is just now in the most favorable stage of development.
If you wish a building site for a summer cottage, good locations can be had for $25.00 and up. If you wish desirable town lots for city residence excellent plots are available. If you wish small acre tracts they are here in abundance and chickens and small fruit enterprises thrive in this Ozark country to an almost unbelievable extent.
As a dairy and stock country none better can be found, and large tracts of land opening into vast ranges are available at ridiculously low prices. Opportunity is here, more of it than our limited populace and capital can handle. Earnest investigation will prove it.
Why "Go West and Grow Up With The Country" when Opportunity is beckoning with open
arms from a spot that shakes hands with the near east and the near west at one and the same time?
WE PROTECT YOUR INTEREST
Resorts the world over are condemned or praised in proportion as they live up to their advertising, and give value received.
It is the aim and purpose of the Branson Business Club to see that strangers who sojourn here get full value for their money. All resort and playground districts have within their borders a few selfish, inconsiderate people whose only thought is the dollar they may grasp today.
This practice which has ruined many resort districts will not thrive here because Branson wants you every year and Branson business men are one in the determination to expose those unworthy of patronage as soon as they make themselves known.
Complaints lodged with the Branson Business Club secretary will be looked into if accompanied by particulars making investigation possible.
Any additional information sought may also be obtained by addressing, or calling in person, on the Secretary of the Branson Business Club.
These articles copied from a "Sammy Lane Boat Line" Brochure, 1922.
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