SoMo etc-- Branson Unplugged: Table Rock Lake

	Southern Missouri's guide to entertainment, travel, and community
	home	entertainment	travel	community	services	about

BRANSON UNPLUGGED
Table Rock Lake

by Val Stockton

Branson, Missouri’s largest attraction might also be its most easily overlooked. You aren’t likely to find it prominently featured on a billboard, and you certainly won’t find it lit up in neon along with the theaters and restaurants on the Highway 76 strip. But it’s easy enough to spot on any map: Table Rock Lake. Life in this “other” Branson proceeds at a more relaxed pace, away from the traffic and the crowds. But there’s just as much to see and do.

Table Rock Lake was formed by the construction of Table Rock Dam on the White River in 1958. The lake covers more than 43,000 acres. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manage both the hydroelectric dam and the lake. With its proximity to Branson, visitors have easy access to all the food, lodging, shopping, and entertainment that the area is known for. But Table Rock also offers even more for those looking to get away from the standard Branson experience.

On shore there’s plenty to do including sightseeing, hunting, and hiking. Offshore, opportunities abound for scuba diving, fishing, swimming, boating, and water skiing. Table Rock Lake’s warm water makes fishing a reality year round. The lake seldom freezes and has no closed season. Warm fresh water species such as Bass (Large Mouth, Spotted and White), Crappie, Channel Cat, Bream, and assorted panfish are plentiful. Guides are available for amateur and pro anglers alike. Table Rock hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year. The month of May features the Central Pro-Am Association’s Table Rock Lake Pro-Am and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Fishing Tournament at the Port of Kimberling. Other upcoming tournaments include the WalMart BFL Fishing Tournament and the Adult/Child Bass Tournament in September and the 25th Annual Homer Sloan Bass Tournament in October.

A host of marinas dot Table Rock Lake’s nearly 800 miles of shoreline. Available boat rentals include a variety of craft from canoes to pontoons and from bass boats to house boats. In addition, excursion tours are popular attractions. Thousands of visitors each year experience the Branson area from the vantage point of a Duck Ride, a World War II style amphibious transport. Stepping even further back in time, the Showboat Branson Belle brings the glitter of a Highway 76 theater together with a three course meal and a cruise of Table Rock Lake. For those inclined to experience adventure on the lake up close, many marinas and outfitters offer ski and scuba rentals and parasailing rides. The water clarity of Table Rock has made it a premiere diving locale. Swimming access is available at Table Rock State Park and through the Corps of Engineers, as well as at many lakeside resorts.

Table Rock State Park is perhaps the best base camp for any trip to the “other” Branson, whether for a weeklong stay or a Saturday picnic. The 356 acre park is located along Highway 265 about a mile south of Table Rock Dam, only minutes away from Branson and Hollister. Along with its extensive marina, boat launch, and swimming and fishing access, the park has campgrounds and picnic areas available by reservation. Several trails through the park provide hikers and nature lovers intimate access to a wealth of Ozarks’ fauna and flora, including white tail deer, wild turkey, red fox, gray fox, tarantulas, song birds, glade wildlife, wildflowers and riparian plants. The park grounds and day use areas are open from 6:00am to 10:00pm. Campgrounds close from December 21 to March 1. The marina is closed from November to February.

Summer isn’t the only time worth visiting Table Rock Lake. Autumn brings a splash of color to the Ozarks, and a leisurely drive to check out the foliage is well worth the trip. Table Rock Lake has also become a popular Christmastime destination thanks to Kimberling City’s brilliant Port of Lights display. Thousands of lights compose the three miles of animated displays, which feature toy soldiers, hillbilly fishermen, and other motifs, as well as two drive-thru tunnels. The Port of Lights is open from November 3 through New Year’s Day.