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A photo from a Branson tornado Facebook page set up by the University of Missouri Extension shows damage to the Branson Convention Center.
A photo from a Branson tornado Facebook page set up by the University of Missouri Extension shows damage to the Branson Convention Center.

Branson Convention Center to close for up to 120 days

Posted online
Last edited 5:26 p.m., Feb. 29, 2012

The Branson Convention Center and the attached Hilton Hotel will remain closed for repairs as the result of this morning's tornado that scraped through the city of Branson.

Repairs are expected to keep the convention center and hotel closed for 90 to 120 days, said Rick Huffman, managing partner of HCW LLC, developer of the city-owned convention center.

"That one took the biggest hit," Huffman said, noting that less damage was sustained at HCW's other properties in the area, Branson Landing and the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing.

A number of events scheduled at the convention center will need to be rescheduled as repairs are made, Huffman said, noting the organizers hadn't yet been notified.

According to BransonConvention.com, the events include:
  • the Missouri Staff Development Council Show-Me Professional Development Conference, scheduled March 10-13 with an estimated 900 attendees;
  • the Branson Collector Car Auction, scheduled April 20-21 with an estimated 500 attendees; and
  • the Transportation Engineers Association of Missouri Conference, scheduled March 14-16 with an estimated 450 attendees.
Huffman said HCW hasn't yet determined a damage estimate for the Branson Convention Center and Hilton Hotel.

Huffman said the biggest issue is glass damage, as about 50 panes of glass in the hotel and convention center were damaged beyond repair. He said the glass is a custom colored glass that would take about 60 days to ship to Branson. He noted also about 60 percent of the building's glass was fractured, adding to the repair time.

Huffman said minor damage was sustained in the interior of the hotel, but a portion of the roof was blown off of the second floor above the hotel bar, which caused water damage as rain poured in. A temporary roof is being constructed until it can be permanently repaired.

Cleanup has occurred throughout the day at the Branson Landing, where no shops were severely damaged, Huffman said, noting most stores are open and all restaurants will reopen tomorrow.

One of the towers of the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing took a hit and will be closed for a couple weeks to repair glass damage. Huffman said the other tower, which is undamaged, was closed for the day, but it has been reopened.

City of Branson spokeswoman Jean Mueller said an assessment is still being performed to determine how many businesses in the tourist destination were hit by the storms. She noted about 25 homes within the city were affected, and another 25 in  the outlying community and the county also were hit.

According to a storm update on the city of Branson Web site, other business impacted by the storm along Highway 76 are:
  • the Branson Variety Theater and the American Theatre, which are closed pending repairs;
  • the Baldknobbers, which has postponed its opening night to March 8;
  • The Track's No. 4 location, which is closed pending repairs; and
  • the Burger Shack, Montana Mike's and Taco Bell on Highway 76, which are closed pending repairs.
According to a late afternoon update provided by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, major tourist attractions such as Silver Dollar City, Sight and Sound Theatre, Showboat Branson Belle, the Titanic Museum Attraction and Tanger Outlet Mall were undamaged. The Branson Airport also was unaffected.

The Branson tourism season primarily lands from spring through fall.[[In-content Ad]]

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