Branson businessperson dies at 91

Courtesy Greenlawn Funeral Home

Ann Bluto

Branson businessperson Ann Bluto, known for the city's Imax theater and a handful of restaurants, has died.

Bluto died May 14 at age 91, according to her obituary posted to GreenlawnFuneralHome.com.

With husband Paul, Ann Bluto purchased Branson entertainment and hospitality company Itec Attractions in 1998, according to past reporting. The organization founded in 1993 serves as the umbrella company for Branson’s Imax theater, The Shoppes at Imax and Branson Meadows Cinema 11, among other ventures. The couple also have operated Branson Restaurants Inc., which has brought to town Heroes Tastes and Taps, McFarlain’s Family Restaurant and Florentina’s Ristorante Italiano.

"Ann was a cherished cornerstone of the Branson community and her family, sharing 44 years of unwavering love and devotion with her husband, Paul M. Bluto," officials with the Branson Imax said in a Facebook post this week. "The matriarch of Itec Attractions and Branson Restaurants, Ann’s gentle leadership and dedication helped create unforgettable experiences as she touched the lives of each of us and countless guests."

Itec Attractions in 2021 promoted Tanya Bluto to succeed her grandfather, Paul Bluto, as president of the company, according to past reporting.