For a couple of days this week, Branson, Missouri, the live entertainment capital of the world, became part of Mother Nature’s winter show as one of the worst winter storms in recent Branson history made Branson itself part of the show. The storm, a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, snow and ice, spent the major part of two days moving through southwestern Missouri and northern Arkansas on Monday, January 26 and Tuesday January 27.
Branson was on the northern edge of the storm’s major ice area but did not receive the brunt of the storm’s damage and major power outages that its neighbors, just miles south, did. Even at that, Larry VanGilder, Public Works Director for the city of Branson said that he has never seen anything like the 30 hours of constant rain, sleet, snow and ice Branson was hit with over the last two days. Schools and a majority of Branson’s businesses and entertainment venues were closed as the live entertainment capital of the world virtually came to a stop, particularly as things worsened rapidly on the afternoon and evening of Jan 27.
But what a difference a day, and the efforts of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Taney County Road and Bridge Department and the City of Branson’s Public Works Department, makes. Although, because of the below freezing temperatures on Jan. 28, there is still ice on some of the peripheral roads, as of noon today all major roads and most of Branson’s peripheral roads have been cleared and treated for ice.
VanGilder said that with the sunny weather and increased temperatures forecast for Thursday and Friday the condition of all major Branson and peripheral roads should be at near normal levels of service by the weekend. It should be remembered that, particularly on some of the peripheral roads, refreezing of the thawing ice can reoccur as temperatures drop over the night time hours.
The storm has impacted Branson businesses, shows, and attractions open for Hot Winter Fun. Although a lot remained closed Wednesday, Jan. 28, if telephone conversations with the Grand Country Theatre and Branson Landing are any indication, Branson’s Hot Winter Fun businesses, attractions and shows will start opening on Thursday, Jan. 29 and should be in full swing for the weekend.
For further information on Hot Winter Fun and the latest information on the availability of specific attractions, shows or shopping please contact the Branson Tourism Center on line or by phone at 800-785-1550.
