Proposal for jet boat thrill tours at Branson Landing

By Bob Randall on Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 in Branson, No Comments

There is a proposal to let a jet boat company operate out of Branson Landing

They have a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bransonjetboats/posts/228838280922160 However, it doesn’t say much in terms of the tour route. Their website says they will travel “at speeds up to 30 mph up & down Lake Taneycomo”.

KOLR 10 TV had this report: http://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/coming-attraction-making-waves-with-taneycomo-businesses/677453661

It seems to me that if the jet boat tours are to proceed, it would be better for them to go downstream from the Landing rather than upstream toward the dam. I don’t want them on the lake at all, but my guess is that the approval process has already gone so far that it’s going to happen. I called the number for ticket sales for the Branson Jet Boat tours. I spoke with co-owner Mark Ruda and asked him what the tour route would be. Specifically, I asked if they would be going upstream or just downstream from the Landing. He said that the route had not been determined yet and that they were waiting for the Coast Guard’s decision. I called the USCG, Fort Smith office, and left a message for them to call me back. I don’t know who in the CG will make the decision but this may give us the opportunity to make some input to the process. 

Later, I was advised to contact the USCG office in St. Louis as that was their jurisdiction.   I followed up on that suggestion and contacted the USCG in SL. After listening to the longest voice mail message ever, I spoke with someone who referred me to someone else who assured me that the guy he referred me to would know something about it. He had a voice mail message of his own. I left a message and if I receive an answer I will relay it to you.

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