We didn't exactly intend to go into the RV business, but we found a campground that we thought we could build our treehouses on, so that's what we did," says Martin Teig, owner of Branson Treehouse Adventures in Branson, Missouri. They have 89 RV sites, tent sites, cabins, and, of course, treehouses.
The treehouses are not like the primitive ones from childhood - these are decked out, luxury places to stay high up in the trees. "We currently have 10 treehouses on the property," Teig reports to The Buzz. Each treehouse accommodates a certain group of people - from families, romantic getaways, to friends - and center around a theme. For example, the African Tree House Lodge can accommodate up to 6 people. There is a swinging bridge that leads to the entrance and a ladder to climb up to enter the loft. People can take another swinging bridge to a grass hut for a picnic area. This treehouse is for a family with an adventurous spirit.
The interior is decorated in an African theme. One user says, "We spent 2 nights at the African Lodge treehouse, and absolutely loved it! The rope bridge was great, and the ladder to the loft was a hit with our 8 year-old. The decorations in the treehouse were tasteful and on theme, and they were clearly chosen by someone who took great care in making things look and feel comfortable. The layout was cozy and not at all crowded. We will definitely be staying at Branson Treehouse Adventures when we are in Branson again!"
The Captain Quarters treehouse.
Another treehouse is called the Captain's Quarters, which is for 2 adults. The treehouse is nautical themed with a jetted tub. The ceiling has an impressive mural of a world map. One user says, "Loved staying here! We stayed in Captain’s Quarters and it was the cutest themed treehouse! The staff was some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered. Everything you need is in the cabin: utensils, pots, pans, towels, plenty of pillows, coffee, creamer, cups, literally everything. Would recommend to others!" There are 8 other treehouses on the property accommodating a range of folks who visit.
When Teig and his wife bought the property 5 years ago it was an RV park. Since then, they have added the treehouses and other amenities. "We have been dreaming about building treehouses for about 10-15 years," Tieg recalls, "And finally got in a position to do so." With the treehouses comes a shift in clientele; one that is in line with a shift of clientele in Branson, too. "Originally, we had mostly retirees at the resort," Teig says. "But when we started building tree houses we saw a shift towards younger people and families. We have been working on making it a more adventure-themed place."
One way they do that is adding to the playground every year. "We basically got rid of all the standard playground equipment and went for a more rustic theme," Teig says. The most recent addition is a big pirate ship, built out of wood which has a really fun zipline to the ground after you "walk the plank." There are also trails throughout the campground, something previous guests said were beautiful and relaxing. Other amenities include a swimming pool, ping pong table, volleyball court, camp fire pit, and recreation hall. They have laundry and a DVD library, too.
Of course, no visit to the Branson area would be complete without going to see some of the famous attractions Branson has to offer. As mentioned, Branson is changing a lot in that it is becoming more of a family destination. "It used to be a very country feel type place," Teig mentions. "But I would think that about 50% of the things that were here 30 years ago are gone. They are trying to attract families. In fact, they are building two huge water parks right now." One being a $446 million indoor-outdoor water park and resort called Branson Adventures proposed for a 302-acre spread at the western end of Branson's Highway 76 corridor. Family outings in Branson can also mean wine tastings, zipline tours, or the world's largest toy museum. Table Rock State Park, one of the most popular state parks in Missouri, is right on Table Rock Lake in Branson for a more scenic day.
For the traditionalists, there are tons of shows to see - like Acrobats of Shanghai, Elvis, MoTown and more. And then there is Silver Dollar City, right down the street from Branson Treehouse Adventures. According to the website, Silver Dollar City has been "Branson's #1 attraction for over 50 years.” It features six world-class festivals, 30 thrilling rides & attractions, 40 live shows daily, 60 unique shops, a dozen family restaurants and over 100 demonstrating craftsmen. At 4.5 stars with over 10,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, Silver Dollar City is known for its clean, wholesome atmosphere and exciting rides.
All of these attractions are right at your doorstep, whether you are staying in a treehouse, a cabin, an RV or keeping it old school with a tent at Branson Treehouse Adventures.