A year ago, Robert Speight bought the Compton Ridge Campground near Silver Dollar City after selling his park in Colorado Springs, Colo., where business was primarily overnight guests, he said.
"It's a different crowd here," Speight said, pointing to Branson's average five-night stay. Now, he's organizing events to encourage people to stay longer.
The tree-shaded park at 5040 State Highway 265 near Silver Dollar City offers a 30-room motel, 10 cabins and 250 recreational-vehicle sites, according to www.comptonridge.com. The gathering hall seats about 450, so Speight is courting family reunions, meetings and weddings.
The last three weekends in October, he'll offer guests Friday and Saturday night trick-or-treating, a spook house, scavenger hunts, hayrides, campfires with wassail, apple-bobbing and pumpkin carving.
He's working on a bluegrass festival for next year. And he's visiting with officials at Tin Can Tourists, a 90-year-old organization that unites owners of classic trailers and motor coaches. It has chapters throughout the U.S., plus England, Japan and France. Speight hopes to host a vintage RV event.
Executive kitchens
The Branson Arts Council will hold its second annual Tour of Kitchens on Oct. 4.
The tour features four homes and a Branson Landing condominium:
• the 6,500-square-foot Point Royale home of commercial Realtor Roger Smith and his wife, Becky;
• the English manor home of retired rice farmer Shelby Wright, and his wife, and Ann;
• the Tuscan-style Branson Hills home of Earl and Nancy Apprill, owners of Cappuccino Country;
• the craftsman-style home of entertainers Bill and Gail Lennon, featuring 1940s to 1960s mementos; and
• former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt's Branson Landing lakefront condo.
New this year, Chef Vasken Haroutounian of Vasken's Deli will do cooking demonstrations in the Apprills' home, and the Branson Arts Council's "Cook's Choice Cookbooks" will be for sale in the homes. Among other celebrities' favorite dishes, it features Andy Williams' mother's recipes, including chicken potpie.
Funds support the nonprofit council's children's programs, which this year included a Springfield Symphony concert for youth.
Tour of Kitchens tickets are $20, and homes are open noon-6 p.m. For more information, call (417) 336-4255.
Café diVine opens at Branson Landing
Branson Ridge Winery and Marketplace has opened on the plaza in Branson Landing in the former location of Gloria Jean's Coffee.
Its Café diVine outdoor patio overlooks the outdoor lifestyle center's fountains, and menu items include a salad of smoked salmon, mixed greens, capers and crème fraiche, plus soups and sandwiches.
Wine is available by the glass or bottle. For $5, pick five wines to taste and keep the glass. Choices include a sparkling wine or a late harvest vignoles dessert wine with hints of honey and vanilla. The shop has stainless steel fermenting tanks and aging barrels where the staff produces wines.
Desserts are from Chocolat LLC, a Branson artisan chocolatier. Among the flavors is dark ganache infused with lavender oil, honey and Madagascar vanilla.
Owner Jacob Fleig said plans for a winery complex north of Branson are on hold due to economic conditions. However, the vineyards on the property are thriving, he said.
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Kathryn Buckstaff, membership public relations manager of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, can be reached at kbuckstaff@bransoncvb.com.
