McCord Bend MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near McCord Bend, Missouri.
1. Silver Dollar City
PREMIER THEME PARK EXPERIENCE
Silver Dollar City is a 1880s-themed entertainment park featuring over 40 thrilling rides and attractions. Visitors can enjoy award-winning shows, watch demonstrations by skilled craftsmen, and indulge in delicious food options throughout the park. The park is known for its festive seasonal events including Christmas celebrations and harvest festivals.
2. TITANIC Museum Attraction
INTERACTIVE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE
The TITANIC Museum Attraction offers visitors an immersive journey into the history of the famous ocean liner. Guests receive boarding passes of actual passengers and crew as they explore over 400 fascinating artifacts in themed galleries. The museum features a replica of the Grand Staircase and allows visitors to touch an iceberg, feel 28-degree water, and try to stand on sloping decks.
3. Camp Tomahawk Tube Float and Water Adventure
RIVERSIDE RECREATION FUN
Camp Tomahawk Tube Float and Water Adventure offers exciting water activities along the scenic riverways near McCord Bend. Visitors can enjoy floating down the river in tubes, participating in various water adventures, and experiencing the natural beauty of the Ozarks. The camp provides all necessary equipment for a fun day on the water with family and friends.
4. Ozark Trail
SCENIC HIKING EXPERIENCE
The Ozark Trail offers hikers beautiful scenic views and an immersive nature experience near McCord Bend. Visitors can explore diverse terrain including forests, streams, and rocky overlooks while observing local wildlife. The trail system provides options for both casual day hikers and serious backpackers looking for longer adventures.
5. Gateway Arch
ICONIC NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Gateway Arch stands as America's tallest monument at 630 feet, symbolizing the nation's westward expansion. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top for spectacular views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. The recently renovated grounds include the Museum at the Gateway Arch, which tells the story of Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, and rebels who shaped the American West.
6. Table Rock Lake
PRISTINE WATERFRONT RECREATION
Table Rock Lake offers 43,000 acres of crystal-clear water for boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports near McCord Bend. The lake is renowned for its excellent bass fishing and hosts numerous fishing tournaments throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy scenic shorelines, numerous marinas, and beautiful sunsets over the Ozark mountains.
7. Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
EDUCATIONAL WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery is Missouri's largest trout-rearing facility, producing about 1.5 million trout annually. Visitors can explore indoor and outdoor exhibits, view rainbow and brown trout in various stages of development, and learn about conservation efforts. The facility offers free self-guided tours and educational programs about aquatic ecosystems and wildlife management.
8. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
PRISTINE NATURAL PRESERVE
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park encompasses 10,000 acres of pristine Ozarks landscape with waterfalls, ancient burial caves, and unique rock formations. Visitors can explore the park through hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife tram tours, or fishing in the trout-filled streams. The park features several historic buildings, a working grist mill, and opportunities to spot wildlife including bison, elk, and longhorn cattle.
9. Talking Rocks Cavern
UNDERGROUND WONDER TOUR
Talking Rocks Cavern offers guided tours through spectacular underground chambers filled with fascinating calcite formations. Visitors descend into the vertical cave to witness cathedral-sized rooms with colorful stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones illuminated by strategic lighting. The attraction also features mini-golf, a nature trail, gemstone mining, and a SpeleoBox cave crawl simulation above ground.
10. Branson Landing
PREMIER SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
Branson Landing is a vibrant waterfront shopping and entertainment district featuring over 100 specialty stores, restaurants, and attractions. The centerpiece is a spectacular $7.5 million water fountain show choreographed to light, sound, music, and fire that performs hourly on Lake Taneycomo. Visitors can enjoy dining with waterfront views, boutique shopping experiences, and various seasonal festivals and events throughout the year.
11. Marvel Cave
HISTORIC UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE
Marvel Cave is a registered Natural National Landmark featuring one of the largest cave entrance rooms in America. Visitors begin their tour by descending 300 feet down stairs into the breathtaking Cathedral Room, then explore impressive formations throughout the limestone cave system. The historic cave, around which Silver Dollar City was built, has been a tourist attraction since 1894 and offers both regular walking tours and specialized lantern tours.
12. Showboat Branson Belle
ELEGANT DINNER CRUISE EXPERIENCE
The Showboat Branson Belle offers a two-hour cruise on Table Rock Lake featuring award-winning entertainment and fine dining. Passengers enjoy a three-course meal while watching spectacular performances ranging from music and comedy to magic and variety acts. The 700-seat paddle wheeler provides beautiful views of the Ozark Mountains through panoramic windows and from its multiple observation decks.
13. White River Valley Trail System
DIVERSE MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS
The White River Valley Trail System offers over 11.75 miles of multi-use trails divided into four unique loops with varying difficulty levels. Mountain bikers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts can explore diverse terrain featuring limestone glades, hardwood forests, and scenic lake views. The well-maintained trails showcase native wildlife and plants while providing excellent recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels.
14. Promised Land Zoo
INTERACTIVE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Promised Land Zoo is a family-owned attraction offering up-close animal encounters with over 75 species from around the world. Visitors can feed parakeets, pet kangaroos, and participate in bottle-feeding baby animals during the VIP guided tours. The zoo features a drive-through safari adventure, foot safari walking tour, and live animal shows throughout the day.
15. Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama
HISTORIC OZARKS PERFORMANCE
The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama brings to life Harold Bell Wright's famous novel about Ozark Mountain life in the late 1800s. The production features over 90 actors, 40 horses, a burning homestead, gunfights, and a vintage 1908 DeWitt automobile on a spectacular outdoor stage. Performances take place at the historic Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, where visitors can also enjoy tours, zip lines, and an observation tower during the day.