Bass Pro breaks ground in Branson

The ceremony was at the future store's site along the waterfront of Lake Taneycomo and at the south end of Branson Landing.

Scheduled to attend were Branson Mayor Lou Schaeffer, Branson Landing Developer Rick Huffman, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce President Ross Summers and Bass Pro Shops officials. Local fishing legends Charlie Campbell, Stacey King, Jack Emmitt and Mike Webb also were present.

The 42,000-square-foot retail store will specialize in fishing, boating and water sports. The store's waterfront theme is something not usually found in other Bass Pro stores, said spokesperson Katie Mitchell.

“It's definitely geared toward the waterfront,” she said. “While some of our stores do have lakes by them, this one is particularly geared for the Lake Taneycomo area.”

Features will include a 68-foot operating marina, a guide service, boat rentals, a boat service center and an 11,255-square-foot floating restaurant called White River Fish Co., Mitchell said. An estimated construction cost was not available at press time.

A tentative completion date is set for June. This will be the Springfield-based chain's sixth location in Missouri.

Branson Landing is a $420 million development that will house retail space, condominiums, marinas, two hotels, a convention center and several dining options.