Shepherd of the Hills: Branson

Congestion on The Strip gave rise to alternate routes through town. The second most popular motorway in the city runs parallel to The Strip along a ridgeline to the north. Missouri State Highway 248 was widened during the 1980s and is now known as Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, where existing shops and attractions were joined by hundreds of others as entrepreneurs clambered for prime space in this booming region. Separating this region from The Strip is the beautiful Roark Valley, with its tree-lined roadways and peaceful, 62-acre Stockstill Park, where Roark Creek flows through a grass meadow with picnic tables, ballparks, playground equipment and stately oak trees. Gretna Road bisects this northern district from the southwest to the northeast. Along this artery are three major factory outlet mall—Factory Merchants Branson, Tanger Outlet Center and Factory Shoppes at Branson Meadows—where you can find incredible bargains on a wide range of name-brand merchandise. Several fine hotels have been built in this area to accommodate overflow from the bustling Strip. Cascades Inn is a splendid hotel boasting 160 luxurious rooms. Less than a block west is the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, where a Japanese violin virtuoso wows audiences via nightly shows. © WCities