Branson amenities draw retirees

“I was standing near the water, it was a beautiful sunny day, and a few boats were passing by,” Chuck Stone said. “Tears started rolling down my face. (Judy) came back over, looked at me, and said ‘I guess this is it, isn’t it?’ I said, ‘Yeah, this is it.’”

Chuck, a commercial pilot for American Airlines, and Judy, a special education teacher, had been looking for a place to retire, but nothing had caught their fancy – until they took the scenic route back to Springfield, through Kimberling City.

After a stop at a local restaurant, the couple picked up the phone book and called local Realtor Don Simpson of Kimberling Hills Real Estate, now with Tri-Lakes Realtors, who took them to five untouched acres on Table Rock Lake. Stone said he was overwhelmed by the site’s natural beauty.

Within the hour, the couple had purchased the land and the Stones were en route to Springfield to catch a plane.

While the impulsiveness of the Stones’ decision may be unusual, their story isn’t.

U.S. Census estimates from 2000 show that 20.2 percent of Branson’s population is older than 65, higher than the 12.1 percent national average. Those numbers, according to Jerry Adams, public information director with the city of Branson, are the latest available for resident demographics.

In 2006, the Branson area was named a retirement hot spot for golf enthusiasts by BusinessWeek and GolfDigest magazines.

But golf isn’t the only amenity bringing retirees to Branson.

“We are close to a lot of things, both in Branson and in the Midwest,” Adams said. “It’s an ideal location and has all of the amenities that would be attractive to retirees.”

Adams said that one attractive aspect for retirees, ironically, is the availability of part-time jobs. The wide array of theaters and attractions create a need for a dependable, friendly work force that doesn’t require full-time employment.

Cash down

Another draw is the low cost of living relative to other parts of the country, particularly the West Coast.

Will and Janice Scott bought a three-bedroom home on 83 acres in Kissee Mills, just east of Forsyth, last year for just less than $300,000.

They paid cash after selling their similarly sized home and two-acre lot for roughly $600,000 in the Sacramento, Calif., area.

Will Scott, who recently retired after 23 years in the military, said that his wife, an Illinois native, wanted to return to the Midwest. He said southwest Missouri had everything the couple was seeking.

“It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, there’s a better cost of living, and it’s a slower environment,” Scott said. “It’s also very rural where we’re at, and that’s what we both were looking for. It was getting too crowded – the whole trend in California was not going in the direction we wanted to go.”

While Branson’s popularity among older residents is on the rise, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau purposely markets the Branson region to a younger audience, Adams said. He cited a chamber study on the impact of marketing to a younger demographic, which concluded that amenities appealing to youth can be attractive to seniors, but that the equation wouldn’t work in the reverse.

“If you were appealing to seniors to come to Branson, that would be a turnoff to the younger generation,” Adams said.

The solution, however, is to find amenities and attractions that have broad appeal.

The $420 million Branson Landing with retail, restaurants, lodging and a marina, Adams said, is one attraction that both retirees and younger residents can enjoy.

“Because of attractions like Branson Landing, you see young families, teenagers, young couples with families and small children, and senior adults all enjoying one location,” he said. “That’s the perfect mix right there.”

Silver Dollar City is another example; young visitors can ride roller coasters and thrill rides while young children and families can enjoy the shows and craftsmen on site.

Chuck Stone said the access to amenities and outdoor activities is attractive, but it was the total package the area offers that convinced him.

“It’s a beautiful area, prices are a bargain compared to other places, and taxes are much lower,” Stone said. “Crime rates are low, and being a resident, you get some perks in Branson. We’re literally 30 minutes away from any kind of restaurant or live entertainment we want.”

And will the Stones ever move? Don’t bet on it.

“We call this our FRP – our final resting place,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]