52 Things You Must Do to Be a True 417-Lander

For The Kids

1. Skate at Jordan Valley Ice Park
(635 E. Trafficway, Springfield, 417-866-7444)
Hockey, figure, recreation-pick your poison-Jordan Valley Ice Park has the skate and the activity ready to fulfill any ice-crazed dreams. For $200 per hour, the facility can be rented out for parties to ensure that those double-axel spills of humiliation are seen by all your nearest and dearest on whatever special occasion bids. 

2. Enjoy Sequiota Park
(3500 S. Long Pine Ave., Springfield)
Lush natural surroundings are plentiful for 417-landers. Sequiota Park is one of those places where you get to sink in and enjoy it all from nature trails to caves. Take the kids out to enjoy one of the great places where you can have an adventure. An Ozark Greenways trail goes from Galloway Village through Sequiota Park, so expect healthy traffic from cyclists and runners. When the weather is particularly agreeable, plan for plenty of company at the park as well.
Sit by the pond and enjoy a picnic-beware the ducks and geese are going to want to join in.
 
3. Catch a play by the Springfield Playhouse
(205 Park Central East, Springfield, 417-869-1334)
Springfield Playhouse is a collaboration between the Springfield Little Theatre and the Skinny Improv. Designed as a series of plays intended to make children-friendly theatre more available, the shows are acted out by adults and held at the Skinny's theatre throughout the year. In its second season, the Springfield Playhouse chooses plays that are stories in children's literature, and looks to inspire children to participate in the arts. "Theatre presents the opportunity for children to realize this is something they can do too," says Annie Carlyn of the Little Theatre. "The benefit for theatre observers and participants in the creative arts is overwhelming." Snow White opens November 4 and continues November 11-13. Through May, a new show will run each month for four days. This season also brings A Fairy Tale Christmas, Rumpelstiltskin, Aesop's Fables and Goldilocks. Also look for the Little Theatre's family series, which includes The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Pippi Longstocking.

4. Ride the Powder Keg at Silver Dollar City
(800-475-9370)
Since its 2005 unveiling, the Powder Keg has earned its spot in the hearts of those who attend one of Branson's big attractions. Feel like being launched from a higher than 60-foot hill to facilitate plummeting more than 110 feet? Hop onto one of the three 16-passenger trains. This family- and teen-friendly coaster goes from 0 to 53 mph in 2.8 seconds.

Events

5. Stroll the hot spots at First Friday Art Walk
Hipsters and the affluent unite. It's a crazy mix, but like clockwork, on the first Friday of every month, the young and, well, older, come out to gander at the artistry in downtown Springfield. For eight years the Springfield Regional Arts Council has brought together an event that Jan Hyde, president of the Art Walk committee, says is surprisingly successful for a city this size. Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and Los Angeles are where, she says, you'd expect to see more than 2,000 people gather, and it's really been a treat to see that many here in 417-land. And the event is only getting more popular. October's Art Walk had 25 galleries participating. "There are senior citizens to people with families-a lot of people come with small kids," Hyde says. "It's a real draw for a variety of people."

6. See Friday Night fireworks at Hammons Field
A 66-72 record placed the Springfield Cardinals third in the Texas League North Division to end their second season at Hammons Field, but that didn't stop them from going out with a bang. With 11 firework shows following this year's games (nine Fridays, the Fourth of July and the season closer) the light extravaganza has quickly become a crowd favorite. Hammons Field was ranked No. 5 on the list of top-10 minor league ball parks by Minor League News. Not least for its construction, the park is also a treat for the experience. With a fireworks display as each Friday night's cap, even those who weren't big baseball fans found a reason to stay all nine innings for the nearly 10-minute choreographed show by Springfield-based AM Pyrotechnics. "This is my hometown, and I really put a lot of special touches and efforts into the show," says Aaron Mayfield, AM Pyrotechnics owner. The show, he says, is unique each time and features 1,000 to 1,200 shots.

7. Charity event - Ball of the Wild
(Dickerson Park Zoo, 417-864-1800)
Not wanting to front sponsorship money? Then you're going to have to know someone if you want to get into this gala-with-a-twist. What's the price of a ticket? Well, the zoo has never had to determine that. For each of the June event's six years, the sponsorship spots have gone on sale in January, and all of the 550 seats are gobbled up by mid-March. No individual tickets have ever needed to be sold. Don Tillman, development director for the zoo, says he doesn't have to market the event or even send out invitations any more; sponsors just start signing up for the $500-to-$25,000 slots. With such a healthy-sized crowd, it's certainly the place to see and be seen. Alcohol is not allowed at the zoo, so partygoers gather at the Riverside Inn on the banks of the Finley River in Ozark.
   
One sign of an elaborate party is when next year's event planning begins before the current year's gala is held. Each Ball of the Wild takes a committee of 40 to 45 people and 14 months to get sewn together. Tillman likes to mix it up yearly with different acts from across the Midwest. The past couple of years, raffles have been held for cars and $10,000 shopping sprees. In 2005, there were two stages, a team of fire acrobats, and the headliner was a St. Louis 12-piece Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band-all helping the zoo to raise well over $150,000 for its children's education programs.  The "creative black tie" request adds a light-hearted element to the formal event. "The women start shopping way ahead of time," Tillman says. "We see a lot of zebra prints on dresses, tuxedo jackets and tux shirts with Tommy Bahama-type shorts." When Tillman was hired six years ago, the zoo juggled several events and has since been able to bring it down to this one major social fundraiser a year.

8. Attend the Adoration Parade in Branson & see the Nativity on the Bluff
Tens of thousands gather each year for the Adoration Parade and annual lighting of the Nativity Scene on Mt. Branson, and this year's 58th-annual event should be no different. Organizers haven't yet had a department store seal a sponsorship deal, so the noncommercial theme, "Keeping Christ in Christmas" looks to be hanging on for yet another year. The new mile-long parade route will begin in historic downtown Branson and incorporates the new Branson Landing Development. Expect to see the usual gathering of church-sponsored floats and marching bands.

9. Arfsfest at the Urban District Alliance's Artsfest
What's not to love in a dog parade? For the past six years of the Urban District Alliance's Artsfest, at 11 a.m. on that first Saturday in May, 45 to 50 dogs line up for the dog parade and subsequent beauty pageant and trick contest. Every participant in the parade gets a bag of doggy goodies. Artsfest, a two-day event held on Walnut Street, pulls in about 35,000 people yearly, and Arfsfest is becoming a must-see for many regular attendees. Purebreds are welcome, but the pet-loving organizers say even any ol' mutt will do. Just make sure to have proof on paper of your critter's up-to-date shots.

10. Tent Theatre
(Box office, 417-836-7678)
Brought to you by the  Missouri State University theatre and dance program, Tent Theatre has been a mainstay for 44 years running. Its inception came about when the main arts building, oh so many years ago, did not have air conditioning. To facilitate summer performances, a large round tent that sat 170 people was set up on campus. The program has updated since to a fancier rectangle number with an occupancy of 375. With tent theatre alums such as John Goodman and Tess Harper, the program has set itself up as a reliable place to catch a quality show. The program casts from the student population and holds an audition in St. Louis for performers across the Midwest, says Mark Templeton managing director of the theatre and dance program. Alums and guest performers from New York also frequent the stage. Tickets commonly sell out, and first dibs go to the past year's season ticket holders, so be sure to plan in advance if you want to see one of the season's three shows between June and mid-July. The curtain rises at 8:15 p.m., but a picnic dinner is available starting at 7 p.m.

Things To See

11. Route 66
From Munger Moss Motel to Carousel Park to Steak n' Shake to court motels, there is a lot of historical ground to cover between Springfield and Joplin on Route 66. Although the actual construction began outside of Missouri, Springfield is said to be the birthplace of the highway because it was here that business leaders met in November 1926 to give the road a name. Route 66 eventually came to span eight states and more than 2,400 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles. Its integration into 417-land fed the growth of commerce and led to a rash of roadside attractions and mom-and-pop stores.
The Steak n' Shake on the corner of National Avenue and St. Louis Street in Springfield was built in 1962, and the building is one of the few original designs left in this chain of burger joints. Lebanon's Wrink's Food Market has been holding steady since 1949, and the 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage has also made its mark. Fast food junkies should collectively take their hats off to Springfield's Sheldon Chaney, owner of Red's Giant Hamburgs. He opened the café portion of his Route 66 stop in 1947 and went on to incorporate the world's first drive-through. His revolutionary concept lasted long after the federal government officially decommissioned Route 66 in 1985. 

12. Cruise Glade Top Trail in Fall
With the bright colors from the leaves retiring for winter, the Ozarks has an atmosphere in Autumn that deserves a Sunday jaunt to take it all in, and Glade Top Trail is the path to follow. Little Missouri towns such as Bradleyville are along the way with beer, bait and ammo stores. Pack a lunch, and take advantage of the picnic spots as you enjoy the changing of seasons for 38-miles.

13. Laugh with the Skinny Improv
(205 Park Central East, 417-831-LAFF)
Family friendly and non-alcoholic could be seen as the oil to comedy's water. Yet somehow, every Friday and Saturday night the Skinny Improv amps up and puts on a laugh-inducing show, all without the two-drink-minimum. The crew at the Skinny says its "PG-13 show" (their words) doesn't equal dumbed-down. It doesn't mean they're elementary. To them it means that they have to bring it up a notch. They better know their craft, and they must be wittier and quicker. Near the end of 2006's school year, the Skinny sold out 23 consecutive shows, moving more than 300 people a weekend. And each show is different. Taking topic suggestions from the audience, members of that night's troupe will act out scenes incorporating whatever the crowd blurts out.
"We found the three things in the world people think are funniest are Wal-Mart, cheese and monkey. Separately. But if they were together, they might just make us explode," says Jeff Houghton, who has been a performer at the Skinny for more than two years. "People are really creative. If I try going home and am describing some scene that is just really, really funny, I will never come close to doing it justice. I think people really kind of walk away like they experienced something."

In January, Jeff Jenkins will celebrate the fourth anniversary of his brainchild.

"I started the group to have friends," Jenkins says. "I made a couple friends. It's pretty cool." This month marks the second year the Skinny has been downtown, and it's still expanding. If the members of the group are his friends, Jenkins has gained a few. He started with eight and now has an active roster of 35. As for keeping content within certain guidelines, he doesn't mind that at all. "I think it's harder to be clean, to push yourself as a performer," he says. "It's not hokey or hacky. It's not. It's a smart show."
This unique brand of comedy is rare for a city the size of Springfield, both Jenkins and Houghton reiterate. It's in the larger cities such as Chicago where prolific performers grow from the prolific Second City improv comedy group. Jenkins says that one of the greatest things for him has been watching incredibly talented people do their thing. And, yes, he says he has seen Saturday Night Live-level talent on the Skinny's stage.

"I could not have moved anywhere else and done anything like this, and it's really cool in that way," says Houghton who moved to Springfield three and a half years ago from Iowa. "To have something as high-quality as this here, and the opportunity to do it as much as I've been able to, is pretty remarkable." Each weekend a whole lot of talent enters the doors just off the Springfield square. It takes the stairs to the basement theatre, and it wants to make you laugh. If nothing else Jenkins wants you to remember: "Coming to see our show makes you 25-percent cooler, faster and smarter. Basically, it gives you super powers."

14. Take a full-moon cruise on Stockton Lake
Stockton Lake plus full moon. Enough said.

15. Find your inner hillbilly at the College of Ozarks Ralph Foster Museum
(417 334-6411 ext. 3407, rfostermuseum.com)
It ain't just another 1921 Oldsmobile, it's the one to which all other 1921 Oldsmobile trucks bow. And it calls the Ralph Foster Museum at the College of the Ozarks home. For nine years and 271 episodes, Jed Clampett and crew on The Beverly Hillbillies used this transportation, and now the original is right here in 417-land for your viewing pleasure. Between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors enter the museum each year-many of whom are seeking to scope out this sitcom favorite. The show's mastermind Paul Henning, also the creator behind Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, was a Missouri boy (born in Independence, went to college in Kansas City). Museum director Annette Sain, who has been at the museum for 19 years, says that in the mid-'70s, after the show had ended, the director of the museum at the time sent a letter to Henning asking what happened to that truck. Turns out, it was just hanging out in a warehouse in Hollywood. In 1976, the museum went and fetched it with a flatbed semi-truck, and the College of the Ozarks has been branded with it since. But don't think the museum is a one-truck show.

Greatly overshadowed by the museum's object of syndicated fame, the Thomas Hart Benton painting that is the frontis piece in the original The Grapes of Wrath is on display among the many things on the museum's three floors. "By far more people come here specifically to see the truck," Sain says. "It's kind of fun. But we have a lot of things to look at. We have firearms, antiques, paintings and textiles. You can spend the afternoon with us."

People mostly ask if the truck is really the original. From what Sain has read, the show actually had two trucks, one that ran and one that was gutted and pulled and used for filming certain shots. Fain assumes the museum has the one that ran because the oil and gas had to be drained when the vehicle first arrived.

16. Sit Back and Watch Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show
(1525 W. 76 Country Blvd. Branson, 800-520-5101, dixiestampede.com) 
We only know of one place where you get an ostrich race, 32 horses, a stampede of buffalo and a plate of hickory-smoked pork loin. Although Dolly is rarely there, the Branson show has thrived for 12 years on the 76 strip. The show's closing song was written by Parton on September 12, 2001. Rather than market the tragedy 9/11 commercially, she gave "Color Me America" to her four Dixie Stampede locations (the others are in Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina). The Branson location was the third of these to be built, and the arena seats 1,070.

17. Ride a Jeep through Fantastic Caverns
(4872 North Farm Road 125, 417-833-2010, fantasticcaverns.com)
Got a cave? A little limestone? A little water? Then you might just have yourself a hotspot for jeep-drawn tram rides. The Fantastic Caverns tour has a little more to its formula that adds up to natural wonder, but that's a start. Get a refresher on your high school stalactite (stick "tite" to the ceiling) and stalagmite ("mite" grow to the ceiling) knowledge. These caverns are said to have first been explored in 1867 by a team of 12 women.

18. Visit the site of the 1906 lynching
(Park Central Square)
Sometimes a city has to acknowledge dark parts of its past. On Easter weekend 1906, three innocent black men, Horace Duncan, Fred Coker and Will Allen, were hanged from Gottfried Tower on Springfield's town square and burned. In fear, many black citizens fled. A century later, the discussion continues about how it effects the population of blacks in this area-most recently, via a Missouri State seminar in September. Organizer Matthew Calihman, a Missouri State assistant professor, says to keep an historical memory alive, dialogue such as that presented by the panel is important. A marker was placed in the square as a remembrance in 2004.
 
19. Tour Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
(6424 W. FR 182, Republic, 417-732-2662)
As the site of the first major Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River, this battlefield is maintained by the National Park Service to ensure memory of the more than 1,300 Union and 1,200 Confederate casualties are remembered. August 10 marks the anniversary of the battle and each year the park service holds a special ceremony in commemoration. Wilson's Creek also acquired a formerly private museum in 2005, which sits across the road from the Battlefield entrance. The museum specializes in the parts of the war that were fought west of the Mississippi and has been said to rival that of Gettysburg. 

20. Ride the Branson Scenic Railway
(206 E. Main, Branson, 417-334-6110)
Nostalgia calls. And if you don't have memories of trains as basic transportation, you'll get an hour and 45 minutes worth of southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas wilderness to build some. See bransontrain.com for train schedules and prices.

21. Shoot some pool in Shoji's bathroom
(3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, 417-335-2359)
When there is a demand for postcards of your bathroom, you may have something special on your hands. The facilities at Shoji Tabuchi's Theatre are fabled, and they seem to live up to the rumors. Yes, you can actually buy postcards of the men's and women's bathrooms. Decorated in a purple theme, the women's room has two chandeliers with purple crystals, an indoor court yard, a fireplace, enough fake flowers to fill your Great-Aunt Betsy's place twice over and a row of nine, equally decorative, stand-alone sinks. Each sink has a vase with a single fresh flower. Although Shoji's representatives made themselves scarce, the postcards verified the stories of a pool table on the men's side that is surrounded by two rows of arm chairs set in raised seating. The gentlemen also have a fireplace to enjoy while hand-washing, as well as an individual fresh flower at each pedestal. 

22. Visit Springfield National Cemetery
(1702 E. Seminole St., Springfield)
To the left of the cemetery's main entrance lies William Freeman. Of all the soldiers buried at Springfield National Cemetery, he is the only one to have fought in the Revolutionary War. The cemetery marks spots for others who fought in other wars. After the Revolutionary War, Freeman established a farm in what is now a busy commercial area in Springfield. When he died in 1839, he was buried at the site of this farm. With the Daughters of the American Revolution instigating, Freeman's remains were removed from what is now the southwest corner of Glenstone Avenue and Cherry Street and placed in the cemetery, where Freeman could be honored among the others who fought in American wars.

23. Watch sharks at Wonders of Wildlife
(500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-890-WILD).
The four sharks at Wonders of Wildlife are viewable daily, but the feedings are really the times to catch a glimpse. The two sandtiger sharks, one nurse shark and one sandbar brown shark feast on fish such as herring and mackerel at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Four staff members are in charge of the fish, which live in a 220,000-gallon tank with a host of species. "This is a nice example of what you'd see if you were to go to the Caribbean or the Bahamas," says Rich Collister, curator of life sciences. "Here we are in the middle of Missouri, and you can look out into the western Bahamas at 50 other fish from that region."

The largest of the sharks-Sandtiger No. 1-is 10 feet long and more than 200 pounds and growing. This species can grow to 12 to 15 feet long. The other sharks are also growing, but at the moment only range from eight to six feet. If you want to dive with the sharks, WOW is always looking for more certified divers to volunteer to help clean the algae out of the tank and collect shark teeth.

24. Drive over Table Rock Dam
If you're looking to see a whole lot of water, this might just be the jackpot. Table Rock Dam is just six miles southwest of Branson, and driving over it gives an expansive glimpse of Table Rock Lake. Designed, built and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the dam was completed in 1958 and in turn created Table Rock Lake. Recreational activities are generally what most lake-goers think of, but the lake and dam pairing is set to help control flood and to generate hydroelectric power. State Highway 165 from Branson will take you straight to Table Rock Lake.

25. Shudder at the Spooklight
Repeatedly described as "a mysterious light of unknown origin" by many observers, including supposedly the Army Corps of Engineers, the Spooklight is said to appear within a four-mile radius of a rural area in southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma, 12 miles from Joplin. Sightings trace back to the late 1800s, and various university groups and ghost societies have ventured out to explain the singular ball of light (or tight ball of several lights) that floats. Some accounts say it's stationary, while others detail its movement across roads and in cow pastures. Either way, the mystery has not been explained by scientific research. Allegations of reflections of car headlights and billboards have been suggested, but neither explain the 19th-century sightings. Several theories about the ghosts from young native American lovers to that of a headless farmer circulate-all looking to fulfill otherworldly suspicions.

Getting Active

26. Float the Niangua River
(171 NRO Road, Lebanon, 417-532-6333)
The beautiful scenery is a definite draw to the Niangua, but many visitors skip the bird watching and head straight to the water with a cooler.

Whatever your objective, there are plenty of canoe and raft rental locations to set up your impromptu floating bar or to get the family set for a weekend of fun in the sun. Niangua River Oasis has rentals and free camping available and is four miles from Bennett Spring State Park.

27. Table Rock Lake rope swing
In a cove located at the mouth of Ants Creek, is a place called the Swing. Here, hanging from a bluff, is a rope swing. This area is also perhaps more popularly known as the gathering spot for people who are looking to tie up boats and party the day away.

28. Take a tram ride in Dogwood Canyon
(2038 West State Hwy 86, Lampe, 417-779-5983)
This two-hour ride brings the opportunity to take a gander at herds of elk and bison, waterfalls and the various other natural surroundings of Dogwood Canyon. Owned by the John L. Morris, who also owns Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Dogwood Canyon Park has facilities for trout fishing and cattle drives. The spring and the fall-absent of the abrasive heat of the summer-are the busiest. Hours vary depending on the season, but during business hours, trams leave every hour. Catch a ride before it shuts down for the winter on November 25.

29. Cast off on opening day of trout season at Bennett Spring State Park
(26250 Route 64-A Lebanon, 417-532-4338. Camping $7 to $17, Lodging $46 to $107) 
The numbers vary depending on the weather and what day March 1 lands on, but each year, 12 miles west of Lebanon, the tradition begins. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 anglers cast off in unison when the horn sounds on the opening day of trout season at Bennett Spring State Park. "It's like opening day of deer season," says J.D. Muschany, facility manager for the Department of Natural Resources at Bennett Spring. "It's a ritual to get to their favorite fishing spot, and if need be, they'll stand arm-to-arm. They'll get a little frustrated, but it's opening day. It's a special time of year in Missouri."

Usually a person of significance has the task of blowing the honorary horn that morning.  The Missouri Department of Conservation only stocks four locations with trout daily, and with 18 stocking points, Bennett Spring is one of them.
For every tag sold, 2.25 fish are to be dropped in the river. Up to 4,000 tags are anticipated to sell on opening day at Bennett Spring, so the MDC drops between 8,000 and 10,000 trout. Mike Mitchell, MDC hatchery manager, says it takes two years to raise the 350,000 to 420,000 trout that are needed to stock one trout season, from March 1 to October 31. 

30. Go to a fishing hole
(Fellows Lake: Route 65 north to Route AA east, Springfield, 417-881-5300)
The secret is out that there are plenty of natural wonders to experience in 417-land, and we'd venture to say that there is more than one favorite fishing hole. Kimberling City near Branson at Port of Kimberling is a quality spot to snag some crappie. There is also Fellows Lake, Pomme De Terre and Stockton. Although Fellows is not an easy lake to fish, there are some prize muskie to be caught, which can be up to 40 inches (about a 17-pound fish). Some people head to Canada to catch fish this size. Springfieldian Michael Engel has caught two 34-inch muskie there and says that fall is the best time to go when it starts getting colder. It might just be worth asking any recreational anglers you know where they like to cast their line.

31. Tee off at Branson Creek Golf Club
(1001 Branson Creek Blvd, Hollister, 417-339-GOLF)
There are five sets of tees at every hole at Branson Creek Golf Club. Five tees from which to decided if you think you're a pro, or if you're going to admit your shortcomings. This means even though it's a nationally recognized course the pros can appreciate, those in the minor leagues can still head out for a solid round.

Branson Creek was rated the 2005-2006 No. 1 public course in Missouri by Golf Digest magazine, and has held that title since it's 2000 opening. On the national level, Golf Digest also ranked Branson Creek No. 59 of the 100 top public courses in America.
On the Tom Fazio-designed course, golfers cannot see any other hole from the one they are playing. They can also see very few homes or highways from any of the holes. The Troon Golf-managed course is open year-round, but will be closed on days when the conditions-such as the ground being covered with snow-are unfavorable.

No matter the level though, there is always hole No. 14. "There are some that just pull in the parking lot, and they dread that 615-yard, par-5 hole," says Mark Ophoven, general manager. "It's a very intimidating golf hole." Ophoven also says the first, second and third shots are intimidating on No. 14 with a creek that runs tee to green all the way down the right-hand side.
If you're not up for the challenge, we suppose, you can always just stick to the front nine.

32. West Plains Motor Speedway
(six miles south of West Plains on Highway 63, westplains-speedway.com)
Get a pit pass for $20 or stick to the bleachers for $7, the West Plains Motor Speedway has plenty of dirt track fun to go around. Races are held from March to October.

Shop On

33. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
(1935 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-887-7334).
Looking to satiate the outdoors-lover's needs, Bass Pro Shops is a Springfield institution that has become a national presence with 33 stores in 21 states. Even with the construction of the "Grand Entrance" in 1998 and a more than 300,000-foot showroom floor, Bass Pro is missing one storied aspect of its past. It has been nearly eight years since the store had a doorbell located at the main entrance. If hunters or anglers needed to make a last-minute run at 2 a.m. before heading out on an adventure, all they had to do was stop by and ring the doorbell. Someone from the third-shift night crew would answer, retrieve the item and check out the patron. No one was allowed to shop around, but if they knew what they needed, Bass Pro was there to oblige. When the stocking crew was changed to an early-morning shift, the 24-hour service dissolved, and when the main entrance was remodeled to the "Grand Entrance," the doorbell too became a thing of the past. The emblem-ized trucker caps are still around for souvenir purposes and are still enjoying a healthy popularity at the Springfield store, which is the first and the largest of all Bass Pro locations. 

34. Dick's Oldtime 5 & 10
(103 W. Main St., Branson, 417-334-2410)
Fill up your cloth and metal shopping basket, it's time to spend some cash. Books, candy, scarves, spatulas, Betty Boop memorabilia, lion figurines, harp-shaped pencil sharpeners, Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, puppets, that lamp from the movie A Christmas Story. You don't have to spend too long in Dick's to realize this is where your Great-Grandma Peters snagged all of those wonderfully random Christmas gifts that induced the confused, "Well, uh, wow, Grams. Um, thank you. This is great." Dick's slogan assures customers, "We've got what you forgot." If you've not forgotten anything, there is always the not-for-sale World War II aviation art print collection hanging from the ceiling to check out. 

35. Christmas shop for handmade goods at Winterfest
(Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-836-7678)
In its 12th season, this indoor, juried festival brings together more than 40 artists on four exhibit levels at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Winterfest features metal and non-metal jewelry, woodcarvings, paintings, pottery and more. Artists have to apply for the Dec. 1-3 event by June 30. A panel of judges each involved in the art community concludes who makes the cut. Always held the first weekend in December, the festival is a perfect time to get some of that holiday shopping out of the way.

Food And Drink

36. Get a spoonful of Casper's Chili the last Friday of May
(601 W. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-866-9750)
With Casper's located in an old Quonset hut structure on Walnut Street, owner Belinda Harriman doesn't even try to survive the summer heat. From the last Friday of May to Labor Day, Casper's closes shop. This hiatus causes a fair amount of commotion for the diner, which seats just 29 patrons. That last week, lines form outside the building as people try to get a final bowl of Casper's famous chili. Harriman, who has been in possession of the chili recipe since she bought the restaurant 22 years ago, says she stays open on that Friday until they run out of food. Although, she does always try to have enough chili to last until Friday, there are no guarantees. Casper's began in 1909 as a fruit stand, and the original owner, Casper Lederer, agreed to incorporate chili when a friend offered up a recipe. In the mid-'60s, Lederer's son Charles came on board to help out, and Charles eventually sold the restaurant to Harriman, a longtime Casper's employee. Harriman says the chili is still made the exact same way it was nearly a century ago. "We are the oldest restaurant in Springfield that we know of," she says. "It's a Springfield tradition. We have wealthy people in Springfield as well as the poor that come visit us. I hope they are all treated the same. It's very diversified. Suffice to say, we have made lots of chili through the years. I never keep up with it. We always know that we have a couple extra batches of chili when it's cold or rainy weather."

Each September, when the restaurant reopens, Harriman always wonders if anyone will show up. "I think, oh my gosh, won't that be embarrassing if no one comes," she says, "But we open, and they keep filing in. They know the routine. That's kind of how it is."

37. Tower Club drink at sunset
(901 St. Louis St., 417-866-4466)
You might need a membership, but sitting atop the tallest building and enjoying a drink at sunset is worth the extra effort. Order the house-created Tower Power (deceivingly strong like a Long Island ice tea). There's nothing like a mix of  Wild Turkey, Scotch, Kahlua, vodka, creme de cocoa and a scoop of ice cream for $7.

38. Order the Ozark Turtle at Andy's Custard
(417-881-3500)
"Heaven forbid that I move from the Ozarks, but my last day would be spent on the lake, and then I would have a bucket of Andy's with me in the U-haul as I exit the 417," says John Schulte, Springfield resident for more than nine years. Andy's, Andy's Andy's. We can't get enough. Throw together hot fudge, caramel, roasted pecans with Andy's famous custard, and there's an addiction-worthy treat. Andy's likes to call it the Ozark Turtle. It costs $4.50.

39. Sample Springfield's Most Authentic Cashew Chicken
(2550 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-866-5253)
Wing Yee Leong doesn't really eat cashew chicken. He doesn't have a favorite place to get it. If he gets a craving, he's got it covered. After all, his wife does call him the prince of cashew chicken. Above everyone who serves it up, Wing is particularly entitled to claiming the famous Springfield dish. When he was around age six, his father, David Leong, invented it.
The fried-chicken-and-oyster-sauce favorite was a response to the Midwestern taste of Springfieldians who came into his father's restaurant, Leong's Tea House. With a stir-fry-heavy menu, the customers in 1963, were searching for a more familiar taste. David's idea of making battered and fried chicken, Asian-style, hit the spot.

Cashew chicken has taken off, and it's been a bit surreal for Wing. Formerly at Mikayla's and Flame, Wing moved to the new restaurant Fire & Ice in May to fill the chef position. Featuring the dish as a special on Wednesdays, Wing has been drawing in patrons who are eager to get his dad's famous food. Wing has heard of Springfield-style cashew chicken throughout the nation. Friends have come back with stories of seeing it in Las Vegas, Seattle and Chicago.

"It's just amazing what's happened with it," Wing says. "It has a life of it's own. Everyone bastardizes it. It's awful. That's where their downfall is. I know where I buy my chicken; I don't know where they're getting theirs to sell it for $2.99." Wing says his dad didn't eat cashew chicken. He created it to cater to Ozarks tastes. David Leong stuck to traditional Chinese food.  

40. Snack on funnel cake from the Ozark Empire Fair
A fresh-out-of-the-fryer funnel cake is never a bad call. Head to the Ozark Empire Fair to snag this puffy powdered sugar-coated deliciousness.

41. Get a slice at Pizza House
(1349 S. Glenstone Ave., 417-881-4073)
As far as the Pizza House knows, it says it is the last of the operating original pizza places. Since 1958, the pizza joint has kept it simple. Don't expect to be overwhelmed with Italian options, it's pizza or salad. Having kept the restaurant in the same location for 44 years, Smith has owned and operated it from the beginning.

42. Filter through all the options at  Hemingway's Blue Water Grill buffet
(Inside Bass Pro Shops, 417-891-5100)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet-style. Tucked into the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Hemingway's Blue Water Grill offers a seafood buffet that lures the high-consumption masses. A 30,000 gallon salt water aquarium sets the scene for this buffet that does what all good buffets do-offer more options than you can handle.  Also select from a full menu by French chef Marcel Bonetti. 

43. Satisfy your Mexican Villa craving
(417-866-7292, mexicanvilla.net)
Never has canned chicken been praised to such glory, but here it has swept in and stolen the hearts of all the 417-landers who flock to its seven locations every year. As a Springfield institution, Mexican Villa's enchilada-style keeps on pleasing those craving thrifty American-Mexican food.

44.  Watch a Hibachi chef at Nakato Japanese Steakhouse
(2615 S. Glenstone, Ave., 417-881-7171)
If you throw food at them, they will come. Everyone has a grill-side spot at Nakato Japanese Steakhouse. Voted Best Japanese Restaurant by 417 Magazine readers, Nakato gives a little entertainment with the feast. Hibachi chefs will chop, toss and cook your choosing right in front of you.

45. Get full from pancakes at Aunt Martha's Pancake House
(1700 E. Cherokee St., 417-881-3505)
They are fluffy, but not too fluffy. They are filling, but you will not be able to stop eating. Serving up perfect pancake deliciousness for 45 years, Aunt Martha's most popular pancakes are the peanut butter ones, but there are also blueberry, chocolate, apple, Iowa corn, pecan and more. Performer Martha Hawthorn sold the restaurant to Ruth Freeman in 1964. In 2006, Ruth is at the pancake house every day. "I have good health," Freeman says. "And I own it. Nobody's going to fire me." She's not there the entire day anymore, but at least for a little bit she is. If pancakes aren't your favorite thing, keep in mind that Aunt Martha's uses the "super-secret" batter for the waffles, too. Having been in business so long, Ruth says Aunt Martha's sees a lot of tourists, some who are occasionally of the famous variety. Willie Nelson stopped by in 2003, and through the years, the diner has seen Dolly Parton, Pat Boone, Brenda Lee and Jim Stafford. 

The Localist

46. Choose between Baldknobbers and Presleys.
It's time to pick. Which came first? The Baldknobbers Jamboree Show ("Branson's First Show") or the Presleys Family Jubilee ("Branson's Original Show on the Strip")? Turns out, sirs and madams, it's not about the "first" or the "original" part of the slogan. Steve Presley, performer, co-owner and marketing coordinator for the Presleys show, says the rivalry is really more just a perception than anything. The Presley's bow out and claim no contest. The Baldnobbers were the first show in Branson. So what's the confusion? The Presleys claim the fame of being the first show to build a theatre on the now famous Highway 76 strip. A year after their 1967 arrival, the Baldknobbers show moved from its downtown location to the one across the street from the Presleys. Mystery solved.

47. Encounter John Q. Hammons' Story of Decades of Empire-Building
What does it take to hear the story of 417-land's Donald Trump? People in the know say you don't have to stick around long at all to hear it from Hammons himself.  Proud of his 1958 beginnings that started with one hotel and now tally 162, Hammons is known to frequently bring up his story in casual conversation. A baseball field here, a street there, throw in a dormitory and a tower, and along the way, we'd say he's managed to have a few things tagged with his name (such as a fountain at Ozarks Technical Community College).

48. Watch a Ned Reynolds sports broadcast
As a KY3 sports anchor, television is the newer of Reynolds' exploits. His roots are firmly planted in radio, and those roots are still growing. He's a co-host with Scott Puryear on the weekday morning show "Sports Reporters," on KWTO-FM, Jock 98.7. He also has a three-minute sports recap three times a day on KTXR-FM, 101.3.

Reynolds has been bringing us the play-by-play for many years and is the source for the big sports events. He's at least dabbled in radio since 1967. He was there the very first time Southwest Missouri State men made it to the NCAA Division 1 tournament in 1987. He was there in 2001 when Jackie Stiles scored her record-breaking point in a game against Creighton at Hammons Student Center.  "Our business is one of highlights and major events, and that explains the attraction," says Reynolds. 

49. Donate to BCFO for best shot at getting an invite to Mary Beth O'Reilly's Christmas Party
Each year Charlie and Mary Beth O'Reilly hold an annual party for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks in order to thank donors and celebrate survivors. It's a who's who casual event, and our source in the know says you might just be getting in the door if you handed a healthy check over to the BCFO.

50. Park at Pecker's Beach
(East Springfield, Farm Road 193)
Go get your smooch on with your sweetie. There's a road, and on it there are picnic inlets, yet somehow it's become a favorite makeout spot for 417-landers. Yes, in the past, teenagers have been said to head here for a party spot.

51. Dance the night away to the music of the Horn Dawgs at Shake It Up Show Club
(625 State Hwy 165, Branson, 417-330-2700)
Bring your dancin' shoes. The Horn Dawgs put on a bust-a-move inspiring show. Made up of performers who play in various Branson shows, the Horn Dawgs perform from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Saturday night at the Shake It Up Show Club. Gary Myers is the musical director and lead guitarist and is with Mickey Gilley's show. Bucky Heard is the lead singer. You can see him otherwise  in the Legends in Concert show.

52. Know the run-down on local stars
Some places can only boast of mediocre former NFL players, but 417-landers seem to be burning bright, and their biggest fans are rooted right here at home. There was someone who went to Kickapoo High School. A Pitt boy, was it? Hillcrest High School claims John Ashcroft, who, among many other goings-on, is known for having lost a Missouri Senate race to the deceased Mel Carnahan before becoming the Attorney General of the United States. Golf legend Payne Stewart will forever be memorialized with a namesake highway and golf course. Stewart had 11 PGA victories before his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 42. Bob Barker strutted the court at Drury, where he attended school on a basketball scholarship before he began determining which price was right. And then reality struck these parts. Local banker Aaron Buerge landed himself a spot on The Bachelor's second season, ditched his blushing reality fiancée and has tried to live down his televised bachelorhood ever since. Drury grad Heidi Strobel went on to compete in the sixth season of Survivor: The Amazon. Then Playboy asked her to strip down. The cover with fellow survivor Jenna Morasca went on to become the magazine's second-highest grossing cover ever, according to imdb.com.