Building booms in Branson

The builders are back in Branson. And they’re bringing new investor money to the area.
Jerry Adams, public information director for the city of Branson, said that more than 80 percent of construction within the city of Branson is by developers from outside the area.
Within city limits, Branson Meadows Development Co., owned by P&H Properties of Tulsa, Okla., is building Branson Mill Craft Village in the $35 million to $50 million Branson Meadows, and Ozark Diversified Properties LLC, a division of Raul Walters Properties LLC of Columbia, is developing the $33 million Branson Hills Plaza.
South of Branson, Branson Development LLC, a division of GEP Inc. of Titusville, Fla., is expanding Branson Creek. And in Stone County, near Silver Dollar City, Argonaut Midwest Holdings LLC, a division of The Argonaut Group LLC of Key West, Fla., is developing The Cliffs at Indian Point and The Sanctuary.
Michael Rankin, Branson’s economic development director, estimates building permits filed with the city this year at $25 million to $35 million. City officials are anticipating $125 million in new development this year, more than the previous annual high of $119 million in 1993.

Branson Creek
Mark Ophoven, general manager of Branson Creek Golf Course, looks forward to the construction surrounding the course.
“The more people that are here, the better opportunity we have to attract golfers to the facility,” he said.
And more people are on the way to the 7,000-acre Branson Creek, according to Frank Landis, general manager of Branson Development LLC. Under construction is Oak Knoll, a 59-lot subdivision.
On the planning table is another golf course and Fieldstone at Branson Creek, with townhomes surrounding a two-acre lake. Fieldstone, Landis said, is a partnership of Branson Development LLC and Tier 3 Development of Overland Park, Kan.
Landis said that about one-third of the Branson Creek lots were sold to out-of-state buyers. “Our demographic is changing somewhat. The people coming now are younger. There seem to be a lot more families,” he said. “Between The Landing and the other commercial ventures that are going on, we’re probably not going to be able to build (homes) fast enough.”

The Cliffs at Indian Point
More housing is being built near Silver Dollar City. Ground was broken March 28 at the 35-acre The Cliffs at Indian Point, owned by Argonaut Holdings Midwest LLC.
Jerry Kennedy, a Realtor with Carol Jones, Realtors, is marketing the 400 condominiums, and he said two of the 30 buildings should be finished by mid-June. Prices will range from $89,900 to $199,000.
“I believe the Branson Landing people don’t understand the impact it’s going to have,” said Robert Maddox, managing partner of Argonaut. “It’s going to bring a different type of person in and a higher-income person and a younger group of people.”
Argonaut also is building an 8,000-square-foot log cabin as a welcome center on Highway 65 at Burke Road. Inside the welcome center will be a ticket outlet for Branson shows, sales office for The Cliffs at Indian Point and future Argonaut projects, and an 1,800-square-foot, fully functional condominium model.
Argonaut has future plans for a 300-acre residential project on two-and-a-half miles of lakefront at Table Rock Lake called The Sanctuary, Maddox said.

Branson Mill
The Branson Meadows area along Gretna Road is expanding. Ground was broken in January for the 62,000-square-foot Branson Mill Craft Village, in front of The Factory Shoppes at Branson Meadows.
Henry Dilschneider, director of operations for Branson Meadows Development Group, said the center should be ready for tenants in August. Springfield firms Creative Ink and Carleton & Co. are the architect and general contractor, respectively.
Branson Mill will have 20,000 square feet of retail space, with Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Co. as the anchor. Other tenants have not yet been confirmed.
Behind the retail area will be 40,000 square feet with 153 booths rented to upscale crafters. The center will employ about 10 full-time and 10 part-time workers.
Branson Mill Craft Village sits on 6.4 acres of the 150 acres owned by Branson Development Group.
The value of the entire project is estimated at $35 million to $50 million.

Branson Hills Plaza
Ground was broken March 29 for Phase I of Branson Hills Plaza, a 141-acre project at the northwest corner of Highway 65 and Bee Creek, scheduled for completion in March 2006.
The project is the first in the area for Ozark Diversified Properties. The company is a division of Raul Walters Properties LLC, a privately held real estate development and management company with offices in Columbia and Beverly Hills, Calif. Walters began his company by developing Wal-Mart stores in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.
Target, The Home Depot and TJ Maxx will anchor the project, with an estimated value of $33 million and 1 million square feet of retail space when completed.