NWW,
Because my grandparents lived nearby, I knew Branson before it became a tourist area. Silver Dollar City consisted only of the main square and the cave was the main attraction. The change is really incredible.
I had the good fortune to be one of the earliest people to fish Table Rock Lake. It was an incredible fishing lake back then. We used a new lure that many said would never catch LMB. It was called a plastic worm.
I try to get back to the Norfork and White rivers for trout fishing a couple of times a year and consider every trip a blessing. You are fortunate to live in such a great area.
