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Book Historic Homestead Tour Tickets
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By Matthew Mahurin
See the land and hear stories about the people that inspired Harold Bell Wright's famous novel "Shepherd of the Hills" with the Historic Homestead Tour. You'll visit the original site where the famous book first came to life. You'll also see pictures and hear stories about Old Matt and Aunt Mollie, view many artifacts, and hear stories along the way. This is a must for any fan of the book and can also be enjoyed by someone like me, who hasn't yet read the novel.
I will admit that I was a bit hesitant about going on this tour just because I haven't read the book. However, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the tour. My friend Mandy and I hopped aboard the tour wagon and away we went. Our tour guide Kristen, was very informative and knew what she was talking about. She told us stories and shared historic facts about the area throughout the tour. We first stopped at Old Matt's cabin. Inside you can see pictures Aunt Mollie, Old Matt, and other people who inspired the characters in "Shepherd of the Hills". You'll also find clothing, furniture, and other items that belonged to the family.
We got back on the wagon and headed up to Inspiration Point. From this area you can enjoy some of the most beautiful and astonishing views of the Ozarks. There is also a marker on the spot where Harold Bell Wright pitched his tent and wrote the novel. Each morning he awoke to spectacular views of the rolling Ozarks.
After enjoying stunning views from Inspiration Point we headed down to the outdoor theatre and onto the dirt and sawdust stage. We learned that over 90 actors perform in the show and we also found out that there are many animals in the show as we were told to watch where we step. There was a quaint little old-fashioned General Store located nearby where we stopped to enjoy a cool sarsaparilla. The shop also had soap, quilts, hard candy, as well as souvenirs including t-shirts, CDs, and books.
We jumped back on the wagon and took a scenic stroll through the rest of the area. We stopped to see some real bald knobs. Our tour guide explained that the people in the area would hold meetings on top of the hills that were called bald knobs. They soon were given the nickname of baldknobbers. From what I understood, baldknobbers sometimes took the law into their own hands, which could be both good and bad. After learning about the baldknobbers, we went past a beautiful cave with a waterfall. We even saw some deer. They just stood there frozen, as if they didn't even see us.
The next part of the tour was quite interesting. We stopped at a run down shack with a large moonshine still. Our guide proceeded to get herself something to drink and asked if any of us would like a sip. I don't want to spoil the fun of what happened next. I'll just say that it involves moonshine, gunshots, dynamite, and a hillbilly. It is strangely amusing.
After we made our getaway with gunshots in the background we arrived back at the main gates. After the tour you can visit more with the tour guide and learn a bit more about the area and the legacy of "Shepherd of the Hills". You can also see many horses and other animals that participate in the show.
The Historic Homestead Tour was a great way to see another side of Branson. This tour tells a little about Branson's early beginnings before all the bright lights came to town. Although I didn't know the story of "Shepherd of the Hills", I enjoyed the tour and learned a lot about the people behind the story. It was great fun and opened my eyes to a different Branson, Missouri.
