by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
One of Branson’s landmark destinations for world class entertainment, hardy downhome cooking, and action-packed fun to excite and delight everyone in the entire family, Grand Country is sure to offer something to thrill everyone.
Best described as a “cruise ship on land”, the Grand Country campus offers everything you’ll seek for high octane fun on your Branson vacation without ever having to leave the property, including Grand Country Music Hall (featuring variety shows, award-winning musical stylings within the genres of country, pop, gospel, and more, comedy improvisation, and a pet show), The Grand Country Buffet (filled with a plethora of stick to your ribs, made from scratch classics), Pappa Grand’s Pizza Buffet (serving up the most scrumptious pizza, Glenn’s Frozen Custard (the most delectable sweet treats you’ll find in town and best hospitality you’ll find in the state of Missouri), beautifully designed indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses, a full arcade, a soon-to be expanded Waterpark, a go-cart track, and much, much more to ensure you and your family make lasting memories of a lifetime in a fun, safe, family-friendly environment.
I received an incredible opportunity to return to one of our favorite destinations for fun and excitement in the city of Branson.
GRAND COUNTRY MUSIC HALL
GRAND JUBILEE:
One of the theater’s most widely acclaimed, largely attended, and most awarded productions, The Grand Jubilee features many of the best acts, routines, and moments from your favorite shows at the Grand Music Hall.
Starring headliners Jamie Haage (in character as “Jim Dandy”) and renowned Branson producer and host, Mike Patrick, the Grand Jubilee also features a stellar line up of top notch entertainment, including The Grand Country’s own legendary gospel quartet, New South (who stole the show with their tight harmonies, palpable energy, and uniquely stylized arrangements), “Band of the Year” award recipients, “The Rhinestone Mafia” (who fills the theater with beautifully executed instrumental compositions, highlighting the talents of each musician beautifully), and Grand Gountry’s longtime principal female vocalist, Jackie Brown.
Haage and Patrick have great chemistry and keep the show flowing with witty banter and non-stop jokes, and Haage’s numerous characters (including the outrageous “Uncle Dudley” ) kept the audience in stitches.
COMEDY JAMBOREE
One of the funniest shows on the “Branson Strip”, Comedy Jamboree combines “Saturday Night Live” style parodies, punchlines, and one liners with “Whose Line is it Anyway”-worthy improvisation bits, all performed with pitch perfect comedic timing by a stellar cast of comics: Applejack (portrayed by the inimitable Shannon Thomason ), Stretch McCord, and Andy Parks.
Audience participation is a key element of the hilariously unique, high energy brand of humor offered by an experience at the Comedy Jamboree, and several unsuspecting audience members are plucked from the crowd during certain segments of the show to be the “stars.”
Serving up non stop laughs and smiles from start to finish, The Comedy Jamboree is the premiere destination for family friendly fun and feel -good vibes in the city of Branson.
DOWN HOME COUNTRY:
Featuring award winning comic, Jarrett Dougherty, one of the most outrageously hilarious comics in town, emcee/featured vocalist, Jamie Haage, Branson’s “Fiddle Player of the Year”, Melody Hart ( matriarch and star of the “Melody Hart Band”), Hart’s tremendously talented husband Wayne Massengale (whose bubbly energy throughout his many performances on the Grand Country stage is both contagious and palpable), the acclaimed, award winning Grand Country band, The Rhinestone Mafia (comprised of Larry Alred on bass, Rob Blackburn on drums, Chad Cathell on guitar, Greg Moody on steel guitar, and musical director, Michael W. Davis on piano), Down Home Country is a non-stop celebration of down home country music, and unpretentious, and undeniably hilarious, comedy.
BRANSON COUNTRY USA
Also lovingly referred to as “The Late Show”, Branson Country USA is an action packed, one-hour music, comedy, and variety extravaganza, co-hosted by stars of the Grand Country stage, Mike Patrick and Jaime Haage. Featuring many of the principal Grand Music Hall performers you have grown to know and love (including award winning gospel quartet, New South, The Rhinestone Mafia, and female vocalist, Jackie Brown), Branson Country USA remains Branson’s premiere late night show, recorded live in the theater at 10:30 p.m. each Friday night and broadcast into some 80 million homes worldwide.
This dynamic late night extravaganza features a rotating line up of guest stars each week
NEW SOUTH:
One of the longest running, and most critically acclaimed gospel shows in Branson, New South is comprised of the incomparably talented Luke Menard (tenor and finalist on the hit television competition series, “American Idol”), Eric Dalton (a baritone who joined the Grand Country team in 2020), Barry Arwood (lead vocalist), Mark McCauley (bass and one of New South’s original cast members), and also stars Jamie Haage (who sings numerous uplifting traditional gospel classics), internationally renowned pianist, Tracy Heaston, the fastest piano player in town, whose fingers have blazed across the ivories for more than 30 years), and female vocalist, Jackie Brown. Packed with edifying, inspiring, and uplifting traditional chart topping gospel hits and toe tapping spirituals, a New South show has built a solid reputation upon serving up high energy, tight harmonies, all done with absolutely impeccable style.
One of the most uplifting, feel good shows you’ll have the opportunity to experience in Branson, a New South performance will remain with you long after the curtain has drawn.
AMAZING PETS:
A grand hit with both the kids and kids of all ages, Amazing Pets stars a cast of unbelievably talented trained felines, canines and fowl performing incredible feats of focus, strength, and agility right before your very eyes. Many of the show’s furry stars are rescue animals who each shine in their own respective areas of expertise in this relentlessly fun celebration of pets, including a poodle who dances like a ballerina, “Bat-Dog”– a pint sized super hero, and several huskies in a highly entertaining Eskimo-themed skit.
Performing magical tricks you must see to believe, the incredible cast of Amazing Pets Housecats flawlessly execute outstanding displays of talent, focus, and acuity on the balance beams, and the dazzling exotic birds will thrill you with their beauty, grace, and vivid colors as they sail over your head during several portions of the show.
Animal lovers of all ages will delight in this display of exceptional talent, featuring a plethora of species in this action packed show.
GRAND COUNTRY BUFFET:
Featuring hundreds of made from scratch, hearty, and incomparably delicious menu items, Grand Country Buffet is sure to claim a spot at the top of your list to satisfy all your cravings at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Featuring a country chic, down home design aesthetic and unparalleled hospitality with a smile, Grand Country is sure to offer something to satisfy everyone in your entire party.
The Grand Country Breakfast is one of the most popular and well-attended meal options offered at the Grand Country. The Grand Country breakfast buffet serves up a hearty selection of both healthy and savory breakfast fare.
GRAND COUNTRY LUNCH:
Available during standard lunch hours, the epic Grand Country lunch buffet offers a staggering array of succulent meats, fresh vegetables, stick-to-ribs pot pie, a full salad bar, satisfying soups, an assortment of breads, and beautifully prepared desserts to help wrap up your experience on the sweet side.
GRAND COUNTRY DINNER:
Serving up a wildly expansive smorgasbord of delectable menu items, the Grand Country Dinner Buffet offers one of the largest selections of food you’ll find in the city of Branson, transporting you back through time on a nostalgic visit to Grandma’s house or Thanksgiving dinner with your family.
The dinner buffet features prime quality, exquisitely prepared menu items, including scrumptious pork tenderloin, a variety of crispy fried and tender baked chicken (selection of breasts, thighs, and legs are available), as well as all the vegetables, hearty pot pies, soups, and other side items (crisp fried okra, savory fried corn nuggets and more) you’ve grown to know, love, and expect from a Grand Country Buffet Experience.
PAPPA GRAND’S PIZZA
Offering a plethora of high quality, handmade pizzas in a scratch kitchen, Pappa Grand’s Pizza serves up delicious fun daily for the entire family. Featuring a convenient location (nestled within the Grand Country Fun Spot) and late night hours, Pappa Grand’s Pizza is guaranteed to serve up just the right pie to whet every craving for every possible occasion.
Pappa Grand’s changes and updates their line-up of pizza regularly throughout the day, and while they keep a rotating line up of delicious pies readily available for their beloved customers, guests are welcome to make special requests to the kitchen staff for any pizza they desire, which may not be on display at the time of their visit.
GLENN’S FROZEN CUSTARD
Adjacent to the delightful Pappa Grand’s Pizza Buffet, Glenn’s Frozen Custard serves up delectable frozen sweet treats ranging from banana splits to chocolate sundaes, all wonderfully unique in that they are created with custard, which is made using eggs in addition to cream and sugar. A tasty and unexpected alternative to ice cream, frozen custard offers a flavor and texture that has taken the dessert world by storm and is dominating some of the most popular recipes by your favorite chefs and foodies.
Glenn’s Frozen Custard not only affords guests the opportunity to savor traditional classic desserts, but also to build their own customized custard cups, cones, sundaes, and more, with a wide range of mixable, matchable toppings including peanuts, pecans, Reese’s cups, cookie dough, chocolate and caramel sauces, and much, much more!
GRAND COUNTRY INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GOLF:
The Grand Country campus offers a myriad of course opportunities for miniature golf enthusiasts, including two indoor courses.
During our Grand Country visit, we were afforded the opportunity to experience all 36 holes of the indoor course, and each course offered the opportunity to enjoy different and unique scenery, including miniature waterfalls, a replica of a nostalgic farm house, a beautifully designed windmill, and an undeniable essence of peace and relaxation. The indoor courses, located conveniently beside the Grand Country buffet within the complex feature long hours, easy accessibility, and non-stop fun.
Special thanks to the outstanding Grand Country staff (including managers, servers, supervisors, box office attendants and the rest of the incredible team) for an excellent experience, and we would like to offer utmost gratitude to Andy Holloway and Travis Howard for their exceptional facilitations of our music hall and restaurant/entertainment experiences respectively.
WEBSITE: www.grandcountry.com
PHONE NUMBER: (888) 514-1088
INSTAGRAM @grandcountryresort