Visit College of the Ozarks!

 College of the Ozarks is a fully accredited, Christian, liberal arts college located just outside Branson, Missouri.

 The institution provides the opportunity for full-time students to work at one of more than 100 campus jobs or industries to pay in-part for the cost of their education. This is why many refer to the college as “Hard Work U.” The remaining portion of the students’ expenses is covered through scholarships provided by gifts and contributions from donors who support the college. 

There are many wonderful sights to see and activities to do while on campus, but we are only going to show some of the highlights in today’s blog post. We highly encourage you to visit this gorgeous college campus and explore the beautiful sights for yourself!

While visiting campus, you will enter through the Gates of Opportunity. After passing through the gates, you will quickly approach a roundabout, and taking the initial right turn on that roundabout will lead you to our first can’t-miss C of O destination. 

The Keeter Center 

The Keeter Center is a large, rustic-looking lodge that houses the delicious, award-winning,

Dobyns Dining Room Restaurant, Nettie Marie’s College Creamery, Gift Shop, and an

astonishing small hotel.

Our family enjoys eating at Dobyns Dining Room because it is a very warm and welcoming

atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a casual lunch or an intimate dinner, the culinary

staff  has something to offer for every occasion. Their Sunday Brunch from 10AM-2PM  is

top-notch. We do highly suggest reserving your brunch ahead though due to its popularity.

The food is obviously some of the best that you will experience in our region. However, what

you cannot find anywhere else is getting to know the students who make these experiences

possible.

Patriots Park

 The next stop on our tour is Patriots Park.  Patriots Park is a short walk from the Keeter Center.  

If you choose to drive, make your way back to the roundabout to take the third and final turn

option. After a left turn,  you will be in the parking lot, leading to Patriots Park. 

This area of the campus encompasses The Global War on Terrorism Memorial, The Korean

War Memorial, The Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Missouri Gold Star Families

Memorial, and the World War II Flag Plaza. Patriots Park is a place where citizens can

remember, reflect, and pay respect to the service men and women who have fought for our

freedoms. 

Moving down the hill toward Lake Honor

When you are ready to move on to your next location, you will head back to the roundabout

and take the middle exit that leads down the hill towards the rest of the campus. As you

continue down the hill on your right, you will soon see the alluring fountains in the middle of

Lake Honor. This charming lake is home to multiple graceful white swans that our children

enjoy watching and learning about. 

When you come to the first stop sign, you have the option to continue straight ahead, or you

can make a right turn to visit the Mill, the Stained Glass and Candle Shop, the Greenhouses,

and the Tractor Museum. For this particular campus tour, we are going to take the right turn

at this stop sign, but you are welcome to view any of these Sights to See in any order that you prefer. 

Edwards Mill

Once you have taken the right turn at the stop sign, you will still see Lake Honor on your right,

and then soon approach Edwards Mill on your left. This particular mill is a replica of an

1800s-era grist mill, powered by a twelve-foot water wheel, turned by runoff water from

nearby Lake Honor. Student workers grind whole-grain meal and flour, available for purchase

inside the building and online. Upstairs is a weaving studio, where students hand-weave

baskets and design and produce rugs, shawls, place mats and other items on traditional looms.

Edwards Mill as well as our next two stops are open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through

Saturday. Our children have also found that swan food is available for purchase at the mill,

and they enjoy tossing the swans a nice little snack during our visits. 

Stained Glass and Candle Shop

Located next to Edwards Mill & General Store, The Stained Glass and Candle Shop, is a quaint

farmhouse chic venue where students handcraft stained glass creations and candles. The

building consists of eight workstations for stained glass, two workstations for candle making,

and a gift shop for guests to purchase student-made products. 

Tractor Museum

When you are ready to continue your tour, you can make your way down the road and you will

see the Gaetz Tractor Museum. Guests will be welcomed with a smile by students who work in

this unique museum. The Tractor Museum features a variety of antique tractors and farm

equipment. Noteworthy items to check out include a gray Wallis from 1918 and a reaper

produced in 1910. 

When ready to move on, you can head back towards the stop sign, and take a right turn.

You will head toward the Keeter Gymnasium which has been the home of many National

Championship Tournaments. When you reach the gym, you will notice a sign, directing you

to turn left to reach our next leg of the tour, the Ralph Foster Museum. 

Ralph Foster Museum

The Ralph Foster Museum is dedicated to the history of our nation and the Ozarks region in

particular. Named in honor of the late Ralph D. Foster, a radio pioneer and philanthropist, the

museum houses thousands of artifacts.  It is home to the truck from the famous Beverly

Hillbillies television show. 

Our girls love all of the animals in the Natural History Collection that allows them to get

perspective as to how these animals look up close.  The museum is home to the largest

firearms collection in our region and is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of

firearms.  On the second floor, along with the firearms, is the Veterans gallery and displays

on the college’s Patriotic Education Travel Program. 

The third floor of the museum houses some local historical items from Branson shows as

well as a history section about the College of the Ozarks.  A small admission fee is charged

for adults and those ages 18 and under are admitted free. Please visit The Ralph Foster

Museum website for more information.  It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM until

5 PM. 

Williams Memorial Chapel

A can’t-miss stop is only a short walk from the museum and it will be hard to overlook. The

Williams Memorial Chapel is an outstanding example of neo-Gothic architecture. It was built

by students over a span of 12 years, and completed in 1956.  It features an 80-foot-high vaulted

ceiling and some of the most stunning stained glass windows that you will ever see. Attached

to the chapel is the Hyer Bell Tower that you will hear ringing as you visit the college.  It is our

opinion that on a campus full of sights to see and things that leave you amazed, the Williams

Memorial Chapel is the one that will truly take your breath away. Sunday services are open to

the public and begin at 11 AM.

Point Lookout

A sidewalk that juts out from the main entrance of the chapel will take you to our next two

locations.  Point Lookout and the Scripture Garden offer panoramic views of the Ozark Hills

and the beautiful Lake Taneycomo. These spots are a tranquil and serene location to unwind

during your College of the Ozarks visit.

Lest We Forget 9/11 Memorial

As you make your way back to your car, we highly recommend visiting the Campus Fire Station,

where you will also find the Lest We Forget 9/11 Memorial. The monument features a World

Trade Center column which stands as a memorial to the 2,996 lives lost on September 11, 2001

in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. Known as "St. Michael's 37" in honor of 37

Port Authority officers killed, this stands as a reminder to those that endured the terrorist attack

of 9/11 and a teaching point so that the younger generation, like our children, never forget what

happened on that horrible day.

Scripture Garden

From this parking area, there are several paths that you may walk to see various sights

on the campus. The Scripture Garden is a new addition to the campus. It sits on the bluff

overlooking Lake Taneycomo and the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Throughout the garden,

stones engraved with Scripture remind us of God's powerful majesty and His desire for

everyone to live in relationship with Him. A winding path takes visitors to the gazebo, an

inviting structure that sits on the edge of the bluff and features a spectacular view of the lake.

The entire campus community and the general public are invited to enjoy the serenity of this

campus highlight, surrounded by the promises of God and the beauty of His creation.

Ending Tour

Heading back around the roundabout and exiting up the hill will take you back to the gates that you entered. As stated earlier, we highly recommend that you visit the college campus to explore all that this beautiful area has to offer. We want to thank College of the Ozarks for allowing us to video our family touring their amazing campus and for allowing us to share on all of our media outlets.

If you are enjoying this blog and gaining helpful information, we would love for you to SUBSCRIBE here and also on our BransonFam YouTube channel. Thank you so much for reading. Until our next adventure, fam, we'll catch y'all later!

Visit the College of the Ozarks