Branson is slowly dying!!! (Commerce, Florida: rent, job openings, casinos)

[SW Missouri Dave]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

That's helpful; especially as the topic is "Branson."

Hasn't he lived in 3 different states during the past year?

And have you noticed how he is constantly comparing each of them to Missouri?

Kind of like a dog versus cat argument. You can argue till your blue in the face, but to the other guy, you'll never be right.

This constant belittling of Missouri is a waste of our time and forum space.

And back to the original topic - having lived within an hour of Branson for nearly 50 years, in my opinion, Branson is suffering from an identity crisis, and has been for the last decade. The town just needs to do some soul searching and figure out what it wants to look like 50 years from now. A person could write a book on this topic, but I suspect while the town will look much different in 2060, they will still be a popular vacation destination for young and old alike. Most of us will be pushing up daisies by then - so what we think today .... probably wont matter much to those following us.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by Arrby

My point is that there are few acts today which have broad spectrum appeal and even fewer of them have the knowledge to create a show, as opposed to just doing their act. This is not criticism, it is just the way the business has changed.

You're right. That's why Branson needs to get on the A-List concert circuit, or the very least, the B-List. Downstream Casino is having a concert with the Kentucky Headhunters, Confederate Railroad and Night Ranger on October 26th. They will have a credible turn out - nothing earth-shaking, but the people who go might gamble a little, eat at the casino buffet and end up spending money.

There is an endless supply of good entertainers out there who would fall all over themselves to play in Branson and would pull a decent crowd. No, they would not work on a night-after-night, long term commitment.

There is tons of potential in the convention market, motivational speakers, seminars, etc. Branson is too stuck in their ways to even CONSIDER trying new things that would pull them out of the red. They just had the opportunity to have a racetrack but the "city fathers" opposed it so strongly that now the track is in litigation and the owners are facing bankruptcy. Every time someone tries to help, they are shot down by the good old boy system.

20yrsinBRanson

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Never understood the appeal of Branson in the first place and never thought it was very sustainable. The topography there is not all that much of a destination and I think that’s key to keeping such a remote area a major national destination.

I would say the days of it being a bus tour destination for seniors to watch old country performers and comedians that are only funny to people over 65 are about over.

Silver Dollar City is what’s holding the area together and keeping people from KC and StL and Tulsa etc going there.

For the love of god, don’t build a casino there. Casinos suck so much.

Branson needs to be re-invented to attract more families. I’m not sure how you do that though because I’m not sure what can be done to make Branson more interesting to people like myself. It’s just not my thing. But it’s obvious they need to do something. They are quickly losing their primary demographic.

People are so deep in debt, losing their homes, facing bankruptcy, etc. For most of them, going on vacation is way down on the list.

Most "families" don't have the discretionary funds. You have to market to the people who have the money. That's why they have tried to put in several "upscale" gated communities (with golf courses) in. But sophisticated people don't eat at Montana Mikes. Sophisticated people don't go to the Landing. If you want to attract that crowd, you better come up with something interesting for them to do.

Let's face it. Branson went crazy when it boomed in the 1990s and didn't bother making any long term plans. Now their chickens have come home to roost and it's too late.

20yrsiNBranson

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by SW Missouri Dave

And back to the original topic - having lived within an hour of Branson for nearly 50 years, in my opinion, Branson is suffering from an identity crisis, and has been for the last decade. The town just needs to do some soul searching and figure out what it wants to look like 50 years from now. A person could write a book on this topic, but I suspect while the town will look much different in 2060, they will still be a popular vacation destination for young and old alike. Most of us will be pushing up daisies by then - so what we think today .... probably wont matter much to those following us.

I am pretty sure that this is *the* definitive post on this topic. You are spot on, SW Missouri Dave. We have to look toward the future to ensure the viability of Branson. And we have to be willing to change. Sadly, I am not sure that the city fathers are willing to do this.

We shall see.

20yrsinBranson

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

You're right. That's why Branson needs to get on the A-List concert circuit, or the very least, the B-List. Downstream Casino is having a concert with the Kentucky Headhunters, Confederate Railroad and Night Ranger on October 26th. They will have a credible turn out - nothing earth-shaking, but the people who go might gamble a little, eat at the casino buffet and end up spending money.

So which are you, a dealer or a gambler? Must be one or the other as often as you bring up casinos.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by mike0421

No, you are right, Curmudgeon, I haven't been to either place, although I've read a lot about both, and my mom visited Branson for a week, and told me much about it. However, this was a bad post on my behalf, and I apologize to you if I offended you. I should visit both places before I comment further. For the record, the closest I've gotten to the area is the Jacks Fork/Current River confluence, and I am not sure if there are comparables when it comes to land cover. But I can't wait to find out!

No harm, no foul. But by all means, come on down. Life is good, peaceful and scenic down in the "hollers" here.

Did you visit Big Spring on the Current? Gorgeous and impressive with output usually around 286 million gallons a day!

[imbored198824]

I have just recently been researching the number of students at all of the local school districts. According to an article from 2011, branson has seen an average of 3%-5% growth in their school district by year, since the late 80s. Last year they thought numbers were very low, as Branson only had a 1.7% increase of students. This year, they just had an increase of 19 students, in all k-12. That would be only be a tiny fraction of a percent increase. Taney and Stone counties overall....lost students. I think that is pretty revealing...growth is basically stagnant. I have lived here my whole life and this is the first time I can ever remember growth being stagnant, or more people leaving than are coming in.
School enrollment numbers released - Branson Tri-Lakes News News Free - School enrollment numbers released: News Free 2011 article
Official School Enrollments Reported ? KHOZ Local News
2012 article

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by imbored198824

I have just recently been researching the number of students at all of the local school districts. According to an article from 2011, branson has seen an average of 3%-5% growth in their school district by year, since the late 80s. Last year they thought numbers were very low, as Branson only had a 1.7% increase of students. This year, they just had an increase of 19 students, in all k-12. That would be only be a tiny fraction of a percent increase. Taney and Stone counties overall....lost students. I think that is pretty revealing...growth is basically stagnant. I have lived here my whole life and this is the first time I can ever remember growth being stagnant, or more people leaving than are coming in.
School enrollment numbers released - Branson Tri-Lakes News News Free - School enrollment numbers released: News Free 2011 article
Official School Enrollments Reported ? KHOZ Local News
2012 article

Part of me sees caution in that as an indicator that revenues could be negatively affected. Part of me sees hope that perhaps the area is merely stabilizing and there won't b e a large influx of people and sprawl which could really affect livability.

[mckimsey]

"In a year’s time, approximately 10 million people visit Pigeon Forge, either for day trips or overnight stays."

"Not all of Branson's 8 million annual visitors have gray hair and roll into town on motor coaches. The average adult visitor is 56, and nearly nine out of 10 visitors arrive in their own vehicles."

The highlight being the annual number of visitors. I would take 4/5ths of Pigeon Forge's visitors as major success.

Here is my perspective. I just moved to the Arkansas side of the Ozarks, and when I visit Branson and Springfield, I don't see dying cities. I see what look like sustainable communities. That is not to say I know the future or am well qualified on this issue however.

As far as any annual visitors downturn, my guess would be the price of gas coupled with possible stagflation, like in the 70s, is effecting the area. As others have pointed out, Branson serves the heart of the country, and is known for being an old fogey hole.

Branson is also known for live music. For the Branson city/area planners, I would focus on increasing the live music offerings. Be known as THE live music capital of the world, beyond folk and country. Sounds like that would probably mean getting acts outside the comfort zone of the locals.

Casinos are like lotteries; they are great boom until government starts considering them part of the actual budget.

My preference: Change slowly on purpose, with purpose. The Ozarks can be what those living here want them to be, and it need not look like the rest of the world. Maintain uniqueness. I'm in my young 30's. I rather like it how it is.

[imbored198824]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Part of me sees caution in that as an indicator that revenues could be negatively affected. Part of me sees hope that perhaps the area is merely stabilizing and there won't b e a large influx of people and sprawl which could really affect livability.

I agree, I believe many of us would just like some kind of stability. The growth happened very quickly in the 90s and 2000s. It's very strange for us that have grown up with this growth to see our numbers relatively flat!