Long before there was a Branson and a Lake Taneycomo, there was the White River. Originating from a spring in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas, and fed along the way by tributaries, it carved its way through the pristine Ozarks hills to empty into the Mississippi River. In the early 1800’s, in the absence of roads, early white settlers chose the mouth of the White River as their highway access to their new wilderness homelands.

Due to the natural navigation hazards and the fluctuation of the water level, canoes, flat boats and keel boats were the common mode of transportation on the river in those early years. With the growth in population and the need for improved importing and exporting of supplies and products, the State of Missouri took the necessary steps to improve the navigation of the White River.

In 1852 the YOHOGONY went into the history books as the first steamboat to travel the upper White River as far as Forsyth, MO. In the years that followed there were several steamboats that made it as far as Forsyth, but not without many mishaps along the way. It was 1858 that the shallow draft steamboat THOMAS P. RAY would travel the upper White River beyond Forsyth, past the future site of Branson, and to be the first to reach the mouth of the James River. Branson was founded in 1903 and by 1906 was fast becoming an important railroad town as well as a river landing. The steamboat MOARK made its debut in 1908. This gasoline powered sidewheeler made numerous successful round trips from Forsyth to Branson, ferrying passengers and much needed cargo. Many of these excursions included live music and dancing.

The use of Steamboat travel to Branson was short lived. In 1913, the completion of Powersite Dam, the first hydroelectric dam west of the Mississippi River, cut off all river navigation between Forsyth and Branson. This event brought about the creation of the first man-made lake in Missouri, Taneycomo Lake. The name was derived from Taney County Missouri. This newly formed lake introduced more changes for the little town of Branson, tourism. The Sammy Lane Boat Line opened for business in 1916 at the Branson landing.

The success of this new sightseeing cruise venture would only encourage the owner to build several more boats for sightseeing and dancing. He built the VIRGINIA MAE, a double decker boat that traveled daily between Branson and Rockaway Beach with the sounds of big band music filling the air during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Branson and the Branson lakefront was the home to many local family businesses that were thriving with this new found tourism.

In 1959 Table Rock Dam was completed, greatly increasing the amount of tourism to Branson and saw the launching of The LAKE QUEEN paddle wheeler from Rockaway Beach. The boat held 75 passengers and was always full. The LAKE QUEEN was moved to Branson in 1973 where she continued her excursions to Rockaway Beach with daily and evening cruises as well as private charters. The sound of the juke box playing and people laughing and enjoying themselves, would echo up and down the lake. Sadly, over time, the old LAKE QUEEN and her paddle wheels would sit silent with signs of neglect and deterioration.

The year 2007 is a year of renewal on the Branson lakefront. The old LAKE QUEEN has been rescued from certain destruction, and is currently undergoing a total restoration at a cost in excess of $150,000. Although she will no longer travel Lake Taneycomo as she once did, she will become the centerpiece for the new Gage’s Branson Landing Marina & Shoppes. Branson Landing Cruises will offer passengers the choice of a modern day replica of the grand riverboats that once graced the White River, or the beauty and charm of a luxury yacht. Both the new BRANSON’S LAKE QUEEN and the BRANSON’S LANDING PRINCESS are designed for daily sightseeing, dinner cruises as well as for chartering private functions. Branson Landing Cruises is pleased to bring back the pleasure of cruising the lake as in days gone by and once again the sounds of music and laughter will echo up and down the lake, creating wonderful new memories for generations to come.