The Trophy Run Blog

Ozark Mountain Christmas

Branson is known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World and during Nov. and Dec. an extra heaping of holiday cheer is added to the already amazing lineup of entertainment options during the Ozark Mountain Christmas.

Starting Nov.1 and running through Dec. 31, the 25th Annual Ozark Mountain Christmas is a community-wide celebration of the holiday season that includes millions of lights, star-studded production shows, theme park festivals and unparalleled outlet shopping. With such a variety of festive activities it is clear to see why the USA Today, A&E Network and the Wall Street Journal have all recognized Branson and the Ozark Mountain Christmas as an outstanding holiday vacation destination not to be missed.

While the Ozark Mountain Christmas presents many excellent entertainment options, it is the lighting displays that have brought the celebration the most notoriety over the years, and best of all there are two main displays. Located off Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and Roark Valley Road, the Branson Area Festival of Lights is known as one of the most impressive displays in the country. Store fronts and businesses are adorned with millions of lights while more than 175 interactive displays come to life along the one mile journey. Just as impressive is the two and a half mile Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights. Millions of lights and displays illuminate the forest as you drive though the 160 acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead before ending up at the Inspiration Tower. Draped with lights, the 230-foot tall observation tower resembles a Christmas tree and provides a birds-eye view of Branson aglow.

A main draw of the Ozark Mountain Christmas is the Adoration Parade. Now in its 63rd year, the event will be held in historic downtown Branson. The event starts with the lighting of the nativity scene atop Branson Mountain with the parade following directly after. Three stages along the parade route will feature live music and performances from local bands and stage companies. Be sure to arrive early as the Adoration Parade is one of Branson’s favorite events and with a scheduled appearance by Santa and his Reindeer the crowd is sure to be plentiful.

One of Branson’s most popular attractions, award winning theme park Silver Dollar City, also hosts its biggest festival of the year during the Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration. Listed as one of the top five holiday events in the country by both Good Morning America and CNN, Silver Dollar City’s An Olde Time Christmas features millions of lights, a stage performance of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol and countless seasonal delights like hickory-smoked prime rib, roasted turkey and gingerbread cookies. Weather permitting all of the rides will stay open during the festival.

The Ozark Mountain Christmas is 2 months of holiday spirit and fun for the entire family so be sure to make memories for a lifetime with a trip to Branson this holiday season. Check out our special holiday vacation package that includes a 3 day stay at a Branson Landing 5-Star Hotel and entry at the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights, along with exclusive shopping discounts and more.

Parking Site Preparation: Tadpool Activity Center

10/31/2012

Site preparation started today on Tad Pool’s Activity Center. We estimate project completion by mid-December with Activity Center use immediately following completion. The fitness/work-out room will be highlighted by a sunroom extension, with paned windows overlooking the Valley. We anticipate the water areas, pool and hot tub, will encompass an approximate 8 month season beginning by Spring Break. Owners will enjoy the game room/Big Screen with their families beginning this December.

The decision was made to move the first pool to the top of the development for several reasons: Approximate same cost as the lower signature pool but it results in several additional immediate amenities for our owners. Trophy Run owners will now have a pool, hot tub, exercise facility, game room, Big Screen TV lounge, playground area, and group picnic/BBQ areas. The pool area will feature a large deck area overlooking a panoramic view of the White River Valley. Photos to come of our progress, but in the meantime please see the renderings under New Developments .

Eclipse at the Branson Airport

BRANSON, MISSOURI (October 17^th, 2012) – Forty-three Eclipse Jets landed at the Branson Airport for the Eclipse Owners Club Fall Fly-In. Pilots and enthusiasts alike came from all over the United States to take part in the annual fly in that allows pilots to visit with vendors and fellow owners to discuss the Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet.

Known as the “Time Saving Machine,” the energy efficient Eclipse 550 Jet allows travelers to fly at speeds of up to 430 mph on the quietest twin-engine jet in general aviation. Before production of the new Eclipse 550 Jet began in June of this year (first deliveries are expected in mid-2013), a total of 261 Eclipse 500 Jets were produced.

“This must be the largest collection of jets comprising one model ever to land on a field at the same time, to see so many Eclipse Jets in one large formation in such a wonderful setting really is incredible,” said Mason Holland, Eclipse CEO. “To look out at over forty aircraft and know that we will be producing that many more Eclipse Jets every year really gives us a sense of accomplishment, we are so impressed by the passion exhibited by our aircraft owners”

“It was certainly a sight to see,” says Executive Director of Branson Airport, Jeff Bourk. “We are excited and fortunate that these pilots were able to fly in to the Branson Airport and experience everything our area has to offer.”

The image attached is an aerial shot of the Eclipse Jets placed in formation.

Southwest Airlines has announced that they will be arriving in Branson March 9^th, 2013 as the 79^th official city to be added to the team roster. Southwest Airlines will fly non-stop to Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Orlando with connecting service to 67 other Southwest Airlines markets. The new service represents a significant increase in capacity over 2012 at the Branson Airport and the “Live Music Show Capital of the World.” Tickets are available for purchase now at www.southwest.com.

About Branson Airport

The Branson Airport currently has 6 nonstop destinations and one stop connecting service to more than 100 major cities in the United States. Nonstop destinations include: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Houston and Orlando on AirTran Airways; and Denver on Frontier Airlines. For a complete list of destinations available at the Branson Airport, visit www.FlyBranson.com.

Known for the unique airport experience and unparallel customer service, Branson Airport LLC is the first privately developed and operated commercial service airport in the United States. Branson Airport is currently serviced by AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Branson AirExpress, and most currently Southwest Airlines; allowing passengers the ability to access over 100 destinations all on low cost carriers. Located in the heart of the Ozarks and centrally located in the Midwest, the airport also boasts a state of the art FBO, Branson JetCenter and a full service travel agency, FlyBranson Travel. For more information visit www.FlyBranson.com or call toll free 1-888-FLY-BKG1 (1-888-359-2541).

About Eclipse Aerospace, Inc.
Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. is the manufacturer of the Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet, the most fuel-efficient jet in the world. Eclipse also provides engineering, maintenance, service, and support for the fleet of 260 Eclipse 500 Twin-Engine Jet aircraft. Adhering to the motto “Customer First,” Eclipse Aerospace is focused on providing a superior customer experience for existing and future owners, operators, and pilots of the revolutionary Eclipse Jet aircraft. Eclipse Aerospace corporate offices are based in Charleston, S.C. Principle operations are located in Albuquerque, N.M. and Chicago, Ill. Eclipse Aerospace is located on the web at www.ECLIPSE.aero.

View the entire original article here.

Indian Summer! | River Run Outfitters Fishing Report 10/22/2012

October 22nd, 2012

Other than the wind, beautiful days. Yesterday out down right warm! Today it is in the 80s and that is the projection for the next couple of days. It does look like we will have a cool down by Friday when temperatures will drop to the 50s. Whoa!

Other than last Thursday, we are still enjoying little generation during the day. They will run a low something every afternoon (yesterday it was a bit more than it has been), but only for a couple hours, then it is off again.

We have a couple boats on the river last Thursday with four generators going. Fortunately, the trips did not go out until after the generators had been on for a while so the water cleaned up a little. Jim had Randy from Texas out for the morning. Randy fishes every other year, so it’s work on technique for a while before they start catching. Best patterns were the CQ streamer, red midge and a gray scud. John from Colorado decided he wanted to try our Missouri fly fishing, so he took a half day with Stan. Lots most water than he normally sees. They had a good day, despite the water, on the big ruby with a P&P dropper. Lots of fluctuating water and lots of wind! Good thing John could cast.

Saturday, Jim took Jeff and Lisa out for half a day. They had a good time and caught fish on the size 10 CQ streamer.

Trish and Mike from Texas were out with Carolyn Sunday. She caught this nice fat male on a P&P midge under the Big Ugly. Good day on the P&P, golden variant sculpin and the holographic green crackleback. John from Colorado had to fish one more time before going home, so he spent the morning on the water again with Stan. Good day for him also on the P&P midge. Water certainly look different this time (he was out in four generators last Thursday).

Having to work for your fish. But, they are there and they are feeding. The bite is very soft so set the hook on anything unusual. Streamer fishing seems to be more productive, but even here, the fish are bumping the fly several times before they take it.

The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Annual Conference

_{Excerpts from AGLOW | 9/18/2012}

Trophy Run Hosts Segment of the Annual Conference

Monday, September 17th Trophy Run hosted a portion of the opening day of the The Association of Great Lakes Writers annual conference. The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers is a non-profit, professional organization of outdoor communicators – writers, editors, broadcasters, authors, lecturers, photographers, artists, outdoor industry representatives, tourism professionals and others – was established in 1956. Today, it’s one of the largest and most active organizations of its kind.

Many outdoor communicators become members of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, also known as AGLOW, just because of its Annual Conference. Each September or October, members travel to a different site for a gathering where they can come together to network. AGLOW’s conferences have been held in historic and scenic locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North and South Dakota, Ontario, and Wisconsin. This year Branson was lucky enough to play host to the annual conference. Special conference features include Tourism Day, Shooting Day, and Super Breakout Day, each of which allow Media Members to obtain first-rate story materials while affording Corporate Members an opportunity to show off their newest products and Tourism Members to highlight their outdoor destinations.

This year Trophy Run was honored to host a portion of the conference. It was an exciting day at Trophy Run, where AGLOW’s Destination Outdoors, Tourism Showcase, Kick Off Reception, and the Welcome Dinner all took place. The objective of the conference? Seeing old friends and making new ones, learning new industry techniques, getting some hands-on experience with new equipment, meeting editors face-to-face, connecting with AGLOW’s tourism members, and entering published articles and photographs in AGLOW’s annual awards-in-craft contest.

Above all, AGLOW’s annual conference provides all of the organization’s members unprecedented time and opportunity to network. It’s all about the story!

IronMan Branson 70.3 Results

Andy Potts was dominant in his wire to wire win, while Red Deer, Alberta’s Jenny Fletcher, who balances and international modeling career with her professional triathlon career, won her first IRONMAN 70.3 race in convincing fashion.
By Shawn Skene

Pott’s off the front from the gun

USA’s Andy Potts was in a league of his own in the water as he hit Moonshine Beach on Table Rock Lake, with a 22:56 swim. Potts had six pursuers between 2:29 and 2:46 in arrears, included Australians John Polson and Mathew Pellow, New Zealand’s Crawford Napier, American Matt Taylor and Argentina’s Mario De Elias.

By 20-miles into the bike Potts remained in the lead with Ben Hoffman (fresh off a win at IRONMAN Wisconsin two weeks ago) in second, 2:22 back. The American duo had Pellow (-3:10) and Polson (-3:18) trailing in third and fourth. At 38-miles, Potts had stretched his lead to 3:18 over Hoffman and continued to put Pellow and Polson out of contention for the win.

Pott’s untouchable

Entering T2 and out onto the run, Potts held a 3:27 advantage over Hoffman, 4:11 on Pellow and 8:10 on De Elias, who had surged to fourth during the late stages of the bike. Completing the opening half the run, Potts was running controlled with Hoffman 3:41 back, while Pellow was making a push towards second 12-seconds behind of Hoffman. At 11-miles, Potts was 4:01 up on Hoffman, with Pellow fading back to 5:27 off the leader’s pace.

Potts cruised to the win in a time of 4:04:23, with Hoffman holding on to second. Pellow appeared to have blown up in the closing two miles, allowing De Elias to claim the final podium placing.

Professional men’s results

1 Andy Potts 4:04:23
2 Ben Hoffman 4:08:22
3 Mario De Elias 4:12:37
4 Mathew Pellow 4:13:20
5 John Polson 4:14:26

Addler puts on swim clinic

American Joanna Addler put on a swim clinic in Table Rock Lake that saw her swim 3:41 faster than her closet rival, USA’s Tammy Richie. Canadian Jenny Fletcher was third out of the water 4:41 back, with Germany’s Nina Kraft following Fletcher up the beach seven seconds later.

Fletcher forges to lead

At 20-miles, Addler’s lead had shrunk to 1:47 over Fletcher, who was in second and moving forward fast. Kraft drifted off Fletcher’s pace and found herself in third, 2:40 back of the leader. Surging to the lead, Fletcher held a 57-second advantage over Addler at 38-miles, while Kraft was sitting back in third, 3:25 out of the lead.

Hitting the transition and onto the run, Fletcher carried a stunning 5:47 lead over Kraft, who was now in second. Addler, running in third, was 6:13 off the pace with the remainder of the field well off the pace. Over the open half of the run, Fletcher and Kraft were running at an almost identical pace with a 6:15 margin separating the two.

Over the last 6.5 miles Fletchers pace slowed, but she was able to hold off Kraft. Crossing the finish line in 4:43:29, Fletcher captured her first Ironman 70.3 title. Kraft crossed the line second in 4:45:50, 2:22 back of the winner, while American Caroline Gregory rounded out the top three.

Professional women’s results

1 Jenny Fletcher 4:43:29
2 Nina Kraft 4:45:50
3 Coroline Gregory 5:06:38
4 Tami Richie 5:11:04
5 Joanna Addler 5:12:55

Originally from: http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/branson70.3/model-win-for-fletcher-potts-the-class-of-the-field#ixzz27bGzyt1W

17 Pound Trout Pulled from Lake Taneycomo

6/17/2012

It missed the Missouri state record by just a little, but the 17 pound, 7 ounce rainbow trout that a Texas angler recently caught at Lake Taneycomo provided the fight of a lifetime.

Aaron McDonald was fishing with local guide Bill Beck across from Cooper Creek access when the big fish sucked in a Trout Magnet, a short, soft plastic lure that looks like a small worm.

Working with only a 2-pound test leader, McDonald fought the fish for 45 minutes before it was successfully netted and brought — alive — to Lilley’s Landing where it was weighed.

“He was rigged for 12-13-14-inch fish, but they weren’t ready for one that big,” said Phil Lilley, owner of Lilley’s Landing. “He was thrilled to hook it, and especially to land it. A fish like that is 12 to 15 years old and had probably been hooked numerous times in its lifetime.”

The fish was placed in an aerated tank for several hours to try to revive it enough that it could be released. But Lilley said the long fight probably took too much out of the lunker, and it eventually died. McDonald plans to have the trout mounted.

The big female trout was 31 inches long and had a girth of 21 inches.

“This is the kind of rainbows we see in Alaska,” Lilley said. “A 30-inch rainbow is considered a lifetime trout in most of the rivers up there. One from down here in the lower 48 states is really incredible.”

Although flooding in recent years has been problematic for anglers and some property owners, Lilley said the high water actually has helped the trout fishery on Lake Taneycomo.

High water gave trout access to new food supplies and helped them grow larger.

The current Missouri rainbow trout record was caught by Jason Harper of Neosho on August 14, 2004 at Roaring River State Park. His fish weighed 18 pounds, 1 ounce.