1. Gibson Technical Center
City: Reeds Spring, MO
Category: Education
Telephone: (417) 272-3241
Address: 386 West Highway 76
Description: Gibson Technical Center, in Stone County, provides education in technology to area high-school and adult students. High-school students attend from 11 schools: Blue Eye, Bradleyville, Branson, Chadwick, Forsyth, Galena, Hollister, Hurley, Reeds Spring, Sparta, and Spokane. Tuition is paid by their home district. Adult students are expected to pay their own tuition; however, financial aid programs are available for assistance. The center offers programs in auto collision technology, automotive technology, building maintenance, business technology, construction technology, creative arts, culinary arts, computer technology, health technology careers, practical nursing, printing technology, small engines and marine technology, and welding technology. In addition, the center offers a variety of short-term classes and seminars to serve the needs of the community; such class offerings are of interest to the large number of retirees in the area. Classes are offered in the fall, spring, and summer.The center is accredited by the Missouri State Board of Education, and the practical-nursing program is accredited by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
2. Hook’S Table Rock Fishing Guide Service
City: Reeds Spring, MO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (417) 338-2277, (800) 603-4665
Address: 129 McIntosh Lane
Description: Your captain is Jim Van Hook, and he specializes in assisting the beginning angler. He’s also a favorite among tournament participants. His rates start at $225 for a half day, all equipment included. Live bait is an extra charge, as is picking you up at your hotel or resort. Jim goes out only on Table Rock Lake.
3. Stonebridge Village
City: Reeds Spring, MO
Category: Relocation
Telephone: (417) 336-1700
Address: 1600 Ledgestone Way
Description: A 3,200-acre development just east of Silver Dollar City at the intersection of MO 76 and MO 265, StoneBridge Village is Branson’s newest gated community. Developed by Cooper Communities, this still-growing neighborhood has the 18-hole Ledgestone Championship Golf Course at its heart (see the Recreation and the Outdoors chapter). Cooper Communities has been building master-planned communities since 1954, and property owners enjoy access to four other private recreational communities in Arkansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina. StoneBridge offers homesites, townhomes, and condominiums. StoneBridge has vacation exchanges with RCI in more than 2,900 locations around the world. For those owners and StoneBridge’s permanent residents, it offers amenities of a 20,000-square-foot golf clubhouse, lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool, an exercise room, and a nature trail. The carefully planned community is only minutes from Silver Dollar City and Branson’s famed entertainment on The Strip, and it’s 20 minutes from the three major lakes (Bull Shoals, Table Rock, and Taneycomo), with more than 90,000 acres of combined water surface area.
4. Papouli’S
City: Reeds Spring, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (417) 272-8243
Address: 725 MO 248
Description: Tom and Betsy Haldoupis came here from Greece so many years ago that they almost have a hillbilly accent, and they’ve been cooking most of those years using old family recipes. They had other restaurants, but Papouli’s has been attracting those who take eating seriously since 1986. It’s said that St. Louis and Kansas City have “Papouli Clubs,” groups of devoted diners who meet and talk about the food they’ve eaten at this Reeds Spring restaurant. The Greek salad is legendary, loaded with feta cheese and covered in a family-recipe dressing that is out of this world. The lamb kabobs are also famous. The menu includes more traditional American fare as well. The plain blue exterior of the restaurant (a remodeled bait shop, Tom told us) doesn’t prepare you for the fine-dining experience inside, but you know something is up because the parking lot is always packed.
5. Wedgewood Gardens
City: Reeds Spring, MO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (417) 272-6666
Address: 17996 MO 13
Description: Located on MO 13 in Branson West, Wedgewood Gardens is a family-owned and family-operated assisted-living facility. It is state licensed for 46 residents. The facility opened in 1996 and features one- and two-bedroom living areas. All meals are provided, along with laundry and housekeeping services. Bird-watchers can spend their days enjoying the aviary or reading a book on the birds of Missouri from the facility’s library. In addition to a 150-gallon aquarium, the facility boasts a central living room with a fireplace. The husband-and-wife owners, Marty and Bill Kenny, a registered nurse and a licensed administrator, respectively, are both on hand to answer questions and provide information.