Shepherd of the Hills to host final show

The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre will close the curtains for good later this month after 54 seasons.

Officials with the Branson theater cited rising costs in insurance and production, health care law changes and a dwindling audience as reasons for the closure. The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, Old Matt's Cabin, Inspiration Tower and the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider will remain open, according to a news release.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we make this difficult announcement. We have had an incredible run,” owners Gary and Pat Snadon said in a statement.

The venue opened in 1960 as the Old Mill Theatre. During its peak in the '70s and '80s, the theater sold out most shows at more than 2,000 guests each, the release said.

The outdoor drama is based on the book of the same name written by Harold Bell Wright and published in 1907. His visit to the Branson area became the basis for the novel, which according to the release, was the first book in the U.S. to sell more than 1 million copies.

The theater's last show is scheduled Oct. 19.[[In-content Ad]]