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Book Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum Tickets
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I’d been told that Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is a jumbled journey through the awkward, bizarre, great and unique all at once, and an eye-catching experience for nearly all who pass through. So, seeing as I’d never had the chance to experience this cultural wonder, a few colleagues and I took time out of a sunny afternoon to make our way to Branson and see if Ripley’s truly lived up to the “odditorium” status it has been given. In short, I came away with the understanding that it most certainly does adhere to the hype given.
From the second we pulled into the parking lot it was obvious that Ripley’s had gone through extensive planning and work to create a fitting atmosphere for its many exhibits. With cracks running through the foundation of the building and loose boards exposed, the building is meticulously designed to represent the aftermath of an earthquake. This cultural nod is in response to the New Madrid fault line that runs through Missouri and the raw fury it showcased in 1812. Once inside, the sights only grew more and more strange.
The first area was a potpourri of tribal artifacts with a splash of other random sights thrown in for good measure. A wealth of musical instruments and ceremonial masks permeated this area, with other notable exhibits including a vampire killing kit and various structures built completely out of matchsticks.
The second section of the museum focused on illusions. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that this section quite lived up to the rest of the museum. There were a few notable attractions within the illusion area, but for the most part it was just visual illusions that have been embedded within the culture for years.
Thankfully, this slump is short-lived, with the rest of the museum carrying on in impressive form. From the illusion area, we made our way through sights that revolved around local celebrities, boats and other objects in jars, and even a slanted room where you can effortlessly roll a ball uphill.
While the first floor offered a variety of unique sights, the collection found on the second floor was what really impressed me. In particular, the area relating to aboriginal and tribal culture caught my attention with a variety of foreign sights including an actual shrunken head! It is also worth mentioning the elaborate mountainous castle sculpture mad from bird bones that easily elapsed my wing span. Other notable second floor exhibits including an area dedicated to nautical adventure and a section focusing on human anomalies.
While I find it unlikely that every single section of Ripley’s will grip your attention to the point of paralysis, I’m also as sure that Ripley’s does house more than one sight that can truly change your perspective no matter where your interests lie. Overall, my only legitimate complaint in visiting Ripley’s was that my schedule didn’t allow quite enough time to fully enjoy the area’s of the museum that I did find thoroughly fascinating. Luckily, Ripley’s is open daily and appeared as if it could be just as enjoyable the second time around.
