Southwest Missouri News--Branson

by Mary Engler-Guccione

Extensive construction activity is under way along Highway 376 and Green Mountain Drive for a new multimillion dollar family entertainment park, located on the 112 acres formerly known as Mutton Hollow, according to a news release from Wehr, Wehr, Johnson & Bridgeforth, of Springfield.

The new park will open in spring 1999, said owner C. Robert Wehr, the park's new owner. Wehr purchased the land in December 1997 from owners G.E. and Amanda Cushman.

Wehr, the founder and former owner of Aaron's Automotive and a real estate developer, said the park will be phased in over a four-year period with new attractions added each year.

Negotiations are under way with the city of Branson to voluntarily annex the property into the city in a time frame that would work for all involved, the release stated.

The park will be family-focused, including two miniature golf courses with waterfalls and more than 800 feet of streams. Other attractions include go-cart tracks, the Wind Storm Roller Coaster, which is being transported by boat from Belgium, and a 92-foot Ferris wheel, now being manufactured in Italy and set to arrive at the construction site in November, the release said.

Rides for small children will resemble the big rides, and "numerous other rides, games, food and specialty shopping are being developed for families to enjoy," Wehr stated.