Ozarks Profile: Kirk Hansen

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Kirk Hansen|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Public relations director for Fantastic Caverns, 4872 N. FR 125. Fantastic Caverns is one of only three all-riding cave tours in the world, Hansen said. Because visitors ride all the way through the cave, the attraction is especially convenient for families with small children, seniors and physically challenged travelers. Fantastic Caverns is a family-owned business and was discovered in 1862 by a farmer, or more precisely by his dog, who crawled through an entrance. It wasn't until five years later that the cave was explored. Twelve women from Springfield, answering a newspaper ad seeking explorers, ventured into the cave and explored it by candlelight. Their names remain on a wall in the caverns today. In the early 1960s, the attraction started its modern-day development. The cave owners recognized that, with only minor modifications, they could develop an all-riding cave tour. Hansen is a member of the National Tour Association, the American Bus Association, BankTravel, the Missouri Travel Council, the Sp|bold_on|ringfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Caves Association, the Missouri Caves Association and the Springfield Hotel and Motel Association.|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Age: Hansen is 45 years old, which he said is "hard to say."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|No. of years in Springfield/area: He has lived in Springfield since 1977.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Education: Hansen graduated from School of the Ozarks, which is now College of the Ozarks, in 1977 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Early career: "I can remember having a job delivering the Omaha World Herald when I was 8 or 9 years old ... who could forget walking a paper route in the deep snow and bitter cold of northeast Nebraska?" Hansen said on "the real bad days," his dad would drive him on the route. Hansen said growing up, he pretty much always had a job, so going to a college where students earned their education seemed natural, although he had never heard of nearby Branson. Shortly after starting college, Hansen got a job parking cars in the evening at Shepherd of the Hills. "At the end of a couple of seasons, I was giving tours of the homestead, working in the box office during the day and working in the show at night. Right away, I knew I enjoyed working in the travel business," Hansen said. After college, Hansen said his plans for the future were uncertain. Mark Trimble, owner of Shepherd of the Hills, introduced Hansen to Russ Campbell from Fantastic Caverns. "We had lunch, and all of a sudden, I had a job with a bright future. While that day was a lot of years ago, I still feel fortunate and blessed with the opportunities that have been placed before me," Hansen said.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Current projects: "My current, and ongoing project is to sell tickets. This is a puzzle that includes a lot of pieces. Since we can't choose where our attraction is located, building and maintaining attractive signage that tells people how to find us is a piece of that puzzle," Hansen said. He said he works with the caverns' advertising agency and marketing partners to develop and implement effective media campaigns, and creating consumer literature, such as brochures and maps, is another part of the puzzle.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Management philosophy: "Unique entertainment combined with superior hospitality and service is what makes Fantastic Caverns special. We set entertainment standards rather than copying those of others. Stated simply, we want Fantastic Caverns to be the kind of attraction that we would enjoy visiting while on vacation."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Spare-time pursuits: Hansen enjoys traveling with his family, and said it doesn't matter where they go. He also enjoys working outdoors.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Family data: Hansen has been married to his wife, Marcia, a sixth grade science teacher at Pleasant View Middle School, for almost 24 years. Daughter Krista attends Southwest Missouri State University. Hansen and his family attend Northside Christian Church. [[In-content Ad]]