S C I L ' s Travel Club February 2022 Virtual Christmas in Branson, Missouri - PART 2

ADA ACCESSIBLE TRAM TOUR

The first thing on our itinerary is our 2-hour tram tour!

Gristmill & Artifact Hall

The first stop on our tour is the Dogwood Canyon Gristmill.

"From the very beginning, conservation has been at the center of everything we do at Dogwood Canyon. Additions like our authentic gristmill and museum, provide an unspoiled outdoor setting while preserving the rich history of the Ozarks." Blake explained.

"The 25-foot water wheel of the gristmill is powered by the cold water of Little Indian Creek, which flows through the canyon. The operating stones are original gristmill stones recovered from Franklin County, Virginia and now provide the public with an up-close and interactive presentation about Ozark mills."

"If you head over to the Artifact Hall, you’ll see a lot of interesting items from the canyon like 'lithics' --- which are stone artifacts like the ones 'archaeologists' find at prehistoric sites --- from the native Osage Indian tribes that lived across Little Indian Creek."

nature & Conservation Center

Blake pointed out the Nature and Conservation Center and said, "The Conservation Center demonstrates the importance of conservation in the Ozarks. There are Discovery Stations with interactive activities, table top displays with artifacts, and even see some live critters in there that help share our message of conservation."

Pete Nelson's treehouse

"There's a bridge that leads from the Conservation Center over to our beautiful treehouse, built by Pete Nelson and the crew of Animal Planet’s hit TV show, Treehouse Masters. It serves as a hands-on extension of our nature center, so kids and 'kids-at-heart' have a chance to get up close and personal with Ozarks wildlife and plant life."

"Our beautiful treehouse serves as a hands-on extension of our nature center, so kids and kids-at-heart have a chance to get up close and personal with Ozarks wildlife and plant life, and experience our magnificent treehouse built by Pete Nelson and the crew of Animal Planet’s hit TV show, Treehouse Masters."

Blake went on to say, "A grove of black walnut trees support the treehouse, which stands 14 feet above the ground. The crew also installed a couple beefy steel posts to provide additional support; these posts help the treehouse safely accommodate the thousands of Dogwood Canyon visitors each year."

"They attached dozens of birdhouses to the sides of the 22-foot turret, which encloses a spiral staircase. The blue-green top of the turret is made of copper, and the outside walls are made of old barn wood to give it a rustic look. Pete wanted the treehouse to blend into it's environment like it was always there."

"Pete and the crew built lots of fun, interactive display cabinets that open from inside and outside of the treehouse. Kids love learning about natural specimens in this hands-on way!"

"They also paneled the walls of the spiral staircase in tree bark to create the sensation of being inside a tree."

"The Treehouse Masters Team found a way to encourage kids to learn about a variety of trees by making each step of the staircase from a different type of wood."

Blake pointed at the arched window at the top of the treehouse. "See that window up there? That's called an 'eyebrow window.' It looks a little like an eye peering out of the roofline, don't you think? Pete's carpenters really went above and beyond with that eyebrow window; their craftmanship is amazing!"

"You should stop and visit the treehouse after the tram tour and see how incredible it is on the inside!"

Indian Cliff Falls

Blake drives us past the spectacular Indian Cliff Falls and says, "Looking across Little Indian Creek you'll see a cave opening high in the bluff. In 1990, a “bundle burial” was discovered in the Indian Burial Cave. Probably a male in his mid-30’s, this individual was dated to have lived over a thousand years ago in approximately AD 960."

"In 1993, a team of archaeologists discovered the remains of three children ages 2-8 years dating back to 6000 B.C. This is believed to be the oldest human skeletons ever dated in the state of Missouri!"

Long Pine Crossing

Blake points to a covered bridge crossing Indian Cliff Creek and says, "This wooden bridge was built in 1992 by an Amish craftsman by the name of Daniel Y. Schwartz. He and his crew only used hand tools to build it. In fact, several of the tools they used are on display in the Conservation Center."

"The bridge is 80’ long and was made up of 12” x 12” beams salvaged from a 100 year old warehouse in Chicago just before it was to be torn down. "

Hope Wilderness Chapel

"The Hope Wilderness Chapel was built in 2002, to look like a 'rural' church from the 1800’s. Handcrafted by local carpenters, using native pine logs, rustic oak flooring, and a red cedar ceiling."

"The chapel seats 120 guests and is available for weddings, meetings, and special services."

Thunder Falls

Blake stops the tram at an incredible 60' waterfall and says, "Here's another great photo opportunity for you guys. I'd say it's one of the most popular locations in the canyon to take photos at. It's called Thunder Falls and is as tall as a four-story building! It provides a glimpse of what the area looked like thousands of years ago. In 1994, the feature movie “Ozarks: Legacy and Legend” was filmed in the IMAX format for the Ozarks Discovery IMAX Theater in Branson. A lot of the movie was filmed at Dogwood Canyon including a baptism ceremony here at Thunder Falls."

The Chuckwagon Pavillon

"We have a lot of weddings and special events here at Dogwood Canyon."

"All sorts of well-known celebrities have used the Chuckwagon Pavilion site for special events including President George Bush, Waylon Jennings, Chuck Yeager, and Johnny Cash just to mention a few."

"The covered pavilion sits on the edge of Indian Cliff Creek and has a big grassy lawn that makes a beautiful outdoor setting for a special events."

The Great Spirit Rock Shelter

"This impressive bluff and over-hang is known as the Great Spirit Rock Shelter. The oldest human remains ever discovered in the state of Missouri were found here in 1993 and date back nearly 8,000 years. Arrowheads, pottery pieces, fire pits, and a turtle shell that was probably used as a rattle or container were also found here."

"It not permitted to fish here at the Great Spirit Rock Shelter so the trout in the pool are super big. You can get a good view of them from above on the observation platform."

"If you follow the path to the left from here you’ll find the 'Kid’s Cave.' This stunning cave formation is nearly 250’ long. But the passage is only 12”–14” tall at points, Which is why it was named the 'Kid's Cave'."

"If you follow the path to the right from here you’ll find the 'Fire Pit Cave.' This beautiful geologic formation contained rare stone beads and well-preserved charcoal samples dating back approximately 3,000 years. The length of the cave is about 40 feet. But it's not safe to enter the cave or climb on the rocks."

The Glory Hole

"Our next stop is The Glory Hole, a crystal blue-green pool where some of our biggest rainbow trout live!"

Blake tells us that The Glory Hole is often considered the highlight of the tour for most of his guests. "This pool is 16’ deep at its center. The reflection of light and depth of the water combine to create the bluish-green color. A cave extends approximately 300’ into the mountain behind the waterfall!"

""We don't allow fishing at the Glory Hole but we can feed them!" Blake pulled out a bag of fish food out of his glove box. "Is anybody interested in feeding the fish?"

The Seven Pools

"The Seven Pools is spectacularly scenic and has tremendous fishing! The small dams --- called “weirs” --- were designed to create an oxygen flow that makes this place an awesome spot for the trout to live and thrive!"

As we were getting ready to go to the next stop, Blake pointed out some of the handcrafted ironwork along the bridge and said, "Local metal workers have made decorative panels featuring all sorts of different wildlife for the guard rails throughout the park."

"Wild rainbow trout were Introduced into Dogwood Creek where they naturally reproduced and now populate the stream. There is a wide variety of natural food sources for trout which makes it the perfect 'habitat' for them at the Seven Pools."

Turtle Rock Bridge

Turtle Rock Bridge is unique due to its cobblestone surface and the unusual rocks that resemble turtle shells. These rocks are natural and come from in Oklahoma.

Blake pulled the tram over by a peaceful stream. "This is 'Sam's Spring' and across the way," he said pointing over to a big rock, "is the Buffalo Boulder."

Suddenly, two adventurous 'Segway' riders let go of their handlebars and hopped off their motorized, two wheel vehicles, so they could jump on the back of the Buffalo Boulder and pretend to take him for a ride!

"The next stop is Emerald Pool --- which is almost as turquoise in color as the Glory Hole!"

"A portion of Dogwood Canyon is located in Arkansas. As we cross the boarder we'll enter the Bison-elk Country pasture! Keep on the lookout for the largest residents at Dogwood Canyon --- American bison, elk, and Longhorn cattle!"

"In 1993, we built Trapper's Cabin for our fly-fishing school. it's made with doors and windows taken from a very old building in New Mexico."

Wish Bowl Falls

"Last, but certainly not least, we come to Wish Bowl Falls!"

"This beautiful pool is home to our golden rainbow trout and is the turn-around point of the trail."

Blake takes us back towards our starting point. As the tram pulls back up to the Gristmill, we say goodbye to our good friend, Blake, and wander inside the Artifact Hall to take a look around and then onto the Nature & Conservation Center.

Some of us leave the Conservation Center by way of the bridge that connects to the treehouse so we could check out the inside of that too!

Great Ocean Hall

Our journey begins inside the breathtaking Great Oceans Hall where we admire historic fishing boats belonging to Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Johnny Morris, and President George Bush!

Bass Force One is the Tracker boat that Johnny Morris --- the W.O.W. founder --- gave to George W. Bush as a gift.

Did you know?

There are more than 1.5 miles of trails through the exhibits and displays and 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, 'amphibians,' and birds representing more than 800 species

Open Ocean

Next, we step inside the 300,000-gallon 'Open Ocean' habitat. This is a circular fish freeway where we're able to watchzebra sharks, leopard rays, sea turtles, and the living bait ball of 6,000 herring swim in formation to confuse and intimidate potential predators.

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GREAT BARRIER REEF

Next stop is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a three-story saltwater aquarium full of colorful reef fish including Maori wrasse, potato cod, Queensland grouper, and moray eels.

Then we look up and see a life-size humpback whale and her baby swimming overhead!

The FISHING HALL OF FAME

We go inside the Fishing Hall of Fame to see interactive 'exhibits' and personal 'artifacts' of some of Sport’s most accomplished men and women. We even get to see their world-record freshwater and saltwater fish mounted like trophies!

HALL OF FISHING PRESIDENTS

We also see historic photos and artifacts from U.S. Presidents enjoying fishing ---- one of America’s greatest pastimes!

THE NATIONAL BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME

We check out the National Bass Fishing Hall of Fame where the sport of bass fishing is promoted and celebrated.

Shipwreck Reef

The next exhibit takes us to depths of the ocean floor to explore a sunken shipwreck now home to colorful reef creatures including eels, goliath grouper, lobsters, and more. I wonder if there is any pirate treasure down there?

At the base of the circular Shipwreck Tank is a Stingray Tank where you can reach in and pet the stingrays as they swim by! There are five different types of fish that swim at the bottom of the ocean on display in this tank!

Those of us brave enough to stick our hands in the water said the stingrays felt like sandpaper! Come to find out, their skin is made up of tiny teeth-like scales!

Did you know?

Before their fifth-grade year, any student enrolled in Springfield Public Schools can apply to be in the W.O.L.F (or Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility) program, and 23 girls and 23 boys are randomly selected. The lucky few can attend the school for an entire year taught out of the Wonders of Wildlife Education Center, just right next to Wonders of Wildlife. Students can learn about wildlife conservation, survival skills, outdoor skills, and more through hands-on activities and wildlife field trips.

SWAMP AT NIGHT

Now, we're headed to the murky swaps of the southeastern United States where we're surrounded by two-story cypress trees and nocturnal animals like owls, alligators, beaver, black bear, and more.

OUT TO SEA SHARK DIVE

We get to imagine what it's like to be out on coastal waters and view sharks, goliath grouper, and dozens of colorful reef fish.

Did you know?

Johnny Morris, and his longtime fishing buddy Bill Dance, were the ones who caught the biggest fish displayed in Wonders Of Wildlife --- the Atlantic Goliath Grouper --- who lay low inside the Out to Sea 'habitat.' Weighing in at more than 400 pounds, these are the biggest fish in the entire aquarium!

The all-new Out to Sea Shark Dive takes you under water inside a metal cage to come face-to-fin with sand tiger sharks, brown sharks, barracudas, and Atlantic goliath groupers. Their state-of-the-art air helmets allow you to comfortably breathe underwater without diver certification.

Those who were brave enough to get into the water with the sharks said it was a peaceful experience to be underwater watching the sharks swim by.

RIVERS & STREAMS

We get to explore the Ozark's rivers and streams and encounter wildlife like a playful pack of river otters. The great outdoors comes to life for us with a trout stream and a lake filled with paddlefish, sturgeon, and bass.

Under River

We stand at the bottom of a flowing freshwater river as bass, walleye, and other freshwater fish swim alongside us.

Marvels of the Deep

We wander through a gigantic fish tank with some of the deep ocean’s most incredible wildlife like jellyfish, seahorses, spider crabs, and a giant pacific octopus with a living coral reef and seashells from around the world.

THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

Tropical rainforests are often called the “lungs of the planet” because they generally draw in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. But the amount of carbon dioxide they absorb depends hugely on the climate. The year-to-year variations in the climate has revealed just how vulnerable the rainforest is to climate change.

There are so many incredible animals in the Amazon Rainforest exhibit like poison dark frogs, yellow spotted river turtles, red-bellied piranhas, a two-toed sloth, and more.

Native American Hall

In the North American Hall we see how the early inhabitants of North America lived. They were truly the first 'conservationists!' Illustrating the deep connection between mankind and nature, this deeply respectful exhibit demonstrates the value of being one with our land.

The first Bass Pro Shop

The re-creation of the original Bass Pro Shop is located just outside of the entrance to the wildlife galleries section, inside Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Visitors can see an exact replica of the original Bass Pro Shop, along with other 'memorabilia' that helped shape the company into what it is today.

The doors and shingles from the roof used in the 'replica' are from the actual Brown Derby Liquor Store where Johnny Morris first started selling bait and tackle.

Did you know?

There’s a Time Capsule set to be opened In 2102. If you weren’t looking for it, you’d probably miss it. Located near the Wildlife Galleries entrance, the time capsule was filled with children’s letters about conservation and was shut November 1, 2002. Let’s hope we’re still around because in 2102 the time capsule is scheduled to be reopened.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Cabin

We step inside a replica of the Maltese Cross Cabin belonging to Theodore Roosevelt --- who is considered to be the “Conservation President!” His cabin has authentic artifacts from his life and gives us a peak into who he was as a man.

The Teddy Roosevelt's Cabin is located near the start of the Wildlife Galleries, leading into the Lewis and Clark Gallery. Boone and Crockett Club's National Collection of Heads and Horns is on permanent loan, and is constructed to look exactly like the original 1922 Bronx Zoo exhibit.

THE LEWIS AND CLARK COLLECTION

Charles Fritz, one of the nation’s most respected Western artists, painstakingly brought the Journals of Lewis and Clark to life through 100 paintings, offering a dramatic visual experience of the historic expedition.

BOONE AND CROCKETT

The Boone and Crockett Club’s National Collection of Heads and Horns --- founded by Theodore Roosevelt --- features over 40 historically significant North American game animals that helped spark America’s conservation movement in the 1920s.

NATIONAL PARKS

The National Parks exhibit serves as a window into some of the most awe-inspiring national treasures in America, to help teach about the importance of conserving public lands that serve and protect our wildlife, plants, and historical sites.

BUCKS AND BULLS

The Bucks and Bulls exhibit has three current world-record trophies, a display showcasing the whitetails deer throughout its stages of life, and a rotating collection of over 200 of the world’s finest specimens.

GAME BIRDS

The Game Birds exhibit shines a light on the conservation efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation as it showcases turkey and grouse species of North America within the sprawling branches of a Southern Live Oak tree.

YEAR OF THE BIRD

The Year of the Bird exhibit is a celebration of t he Migratory Bird Treaty Act --- the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed by Congress --- and brings guests face-to-face with visually compelling storyboards describing the protection of native birds,

SHEEP MOUNTAIN

There are 40 record-setting wild sheep from around the world displayed standing atop the rugged cliff sides of Sheep Mountain with breathtaking murals depicting dramatic climate conditions in the background. All of the wildlife is from the incredible personal collection of avid hunter-adventurer Arthur Dubbs. To make the experience even more realistic, it also includes sounds from the mountains and scents from the wild.

Did you know?

Aaron and Adam Wolken have spent over six years hand-painting the murals, 'dioramas,' and wilderness scenes you can see all across the Wonders of Wildlife habitats. You can spot their work here at Sheep Mountain, in the Great African Hall, North American Hall, Africa After Dark exhibit, The Swamp at Night environment, the “Out to Sea” mural above the shark tank, the Tracker Boat deep-sea fishing mural, and the walking tour entry and exit paintings depicting the White River in Missouri and Arkansas.

You probably won’t see it at first glance, but if you look long enough, you’ll see a face hiding in the mural of Mount Kilimanjaro inside the Museum’s Great African Hall exhibit, painted by the Wolken brothers.

GREAT AFRICAN HALL

In the Great African Hall you can see the daily drama of the African 'savannah' with an array of animals including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, crocodiles, zebras, and more as a tribute to the importance of African wildlife conservation.

AFRICA AFTER DARK

Being at the Africa After Dark exhibit is like stepping into a historic safari camp site that recreates the thrill of camping in the wild. Those with sharp eyes can spot 'nocturnal' African animals throughout the space including lions, hippos, 'bongo antelopes,' and 'bush pig.'

The POLAR EXPEDITION

Because the Earth rotates on a tilted 'axis as it revolves around the sun, sunlight is experienced in extremes at the poles. This means each area experiences 5 months of daylight, then one month of day and night, then 5 months of complete darkness, and then another month with a day and a night!

The Antarctic is the South Pole and the Arctic is the North Pole. The Artic is the coldest of the two poles.

Polar bears generally range between 6 to 9 feet tall and weigh in at around 300 to 1,300 pounds. But the world-record polar bear standing on his back legs is a staggering 11 1/2 feet tall and weighed in at a whopping 2,210 pounds! Wow!

Did you Know?

1. There are 2 main types of walrus living in the Artic. There are 25,000 Atlantic and 200,000 Pacific walrus.

2. Male Pacific walruses can reach 8 feet long and weigh over 2,200 pounds.

3. Both male and female walruses have tusks. They use their tusks to haul themselves out of the water and onto sea ice, to keep breathing holes open in the ice, and defend themselves against predators.

4. A mother walrus will pick a calf up with her flippers and hold it to her chest if it’s threatened, diving into the water with it to escape predators. Walruses have young fairly infrequently, so it is vital for them to protect their offspring.

5. Walruses live up to around 40 years.

6. Walruses are rarely found in deep water. They prefer feeding at the bottom of shallow waters, eating clams, worms, snails, soft shell crabs, shrimp, and sea cucumbers. Tasty.

7. Walruses prefer to rest on sea ice. Atlantic walruses routinely also rest ashore in the summer and autumn, as feeding grounds in the Atlantic are closer to land.

8. Walruses are highly sensitive to noise and disturbance. During their mass gatherings, stampedes can occur as easily spooked walruses attempt to reach the water.

9. The greatest threat to walruses is climate change. Melting sea ice means more Pacific walruses are resting on land, further from their feeding grounds. These ever growing gatherings can be deadly, especially for young calves. And as the Arctic opens up to more shipping, tourism, industry, and noise, the Atlantic walruses are at greater risk of disturbance, and therefore stampedes.

PENGUIN COVE

At Penguin Cove there is a colony of live Gentoo penguins to see. Their exhibit includes two 360-degree “pop-up” bubbles that place us directly inside their habitat where we can watch them play and swim. These birds remind us that the planet’s natural beauty is worth exploring, protecting, and sharing with future generations.

Did you know?

Two exhibits could only be added by cutting a hole in the roof. Some exhibits inside Wonders of Wildlife are so big, they can’t fit through the doors. Not only was the Penguin Cove diving tube lowered in through the roof of Wonders of Wildlife, but the ceiling of Bass Pro Shops was removed to add the 15,000-pound Dream Buck that sits in the middle of the store, and replaced with a skylight.