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Branson flooding impacts business

Many businesses are closed and sitting under water. At Branson landing, the stores and restaurants are not flooded, but impacted in other ways.

April 29, 2011|by Linda Russell | KY3 Reporter

BRANSON, Mo.-- The record releases continue at Table Rock Dam and, on the shores of Lake Taneycomo in the Branson area, the water hasn't receded much.  The high water is affecting many businesses.

In Hollister, fish are swimming through what should be dry parking lots, and many businesses are forced to remain closed.

"We've been trying to just get out and see the water.  It's kind of neat to see," says Texas tourist Dan Gubitz. 

The high water is an attraction.  "When we saw it before, none of it was like this, so we have before and after pictures," says Gubitz.

This week, many cameras have snapped pictures of the high water at Branson Landing.  "A lot of YouTube postings, and it's been a highly photographed property," says Tammy Scholten, Director of Marketing at Branson Landing.

But all those photographers weren't necessarily shopping.  "Very very slow when it was pouring down rain," says Dan Rovell, owner of Branson Quilts.

Now that the skies have cleared, more shoppers are browsing the quilts and everything else at Branson Landing.  "The sack count is up.  You see people carrying sacks instead of a lot of cameras," says Rovell.

Gubitz came for more than just the pictures.  "Oh no, Mama will spend money," he says.

She's not the only one.  "Spending a lot of money here!" says Charissa Yerkes, who is visiting from Oklahoma.

But several restaurants at the landing are still losing money.  "We sat down just now, and got up and left because they said they didn't have a kids menu," says Yerkes.  They're missing a main ingredient for restaurant cooking- propane.

"That's why we're doing what we can with the food that doesn't require to be smoked," says Rob Baer, manager at Famous Dave's.  The water is far from getting into the restaurants themselves, but down below, in the lower level of the landing, the propane tanks are covered with water, and they've been shut off now for days. 

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"I drove to Kansas City and picked up brisket and pork yesterday," This is Famous Dave's first day open since Monday, and their menu is limited.

Many diners don't mind.  "I probably would have gotten a brisket or pork sandwich anyway," says Branson resident Josh Foust.

All the rain put a damper on the week.  "It's unfortunate that people are getting their homes damaged, but as a whole, stuff like this is kind of neat to see; it's unusual," says Gubitz.

But it's a week that will live on forever in pictures.

You can see the list of which restaurants are affected at the Branson Landing's website.  Famous Dave's is also holding a rib-tasting benefit for the Salvation Army Saturday at noon, to help Branson area flood victims.

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