Dewey Short Visitors Center at Table Rock Lake

The US Army Corps of Engineer's Dewey Short Visitors Center is located 6 miles west of US Hwy 65 on State Hwy 165 at the south end of Table Rock Dam (4600 State Highway 165).

It's open 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from April 1 to October 31 (and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm mid-May through Labor Day).

A FREE Branson attraction!

The Table Rock Visitors Center got a new building! The new 15,000 square-foot building replaced the Visitors Center that was built in 1975 (the new Center is about twice the size of the old one). The Grand Opening of the new building (April 27, 2012) showcased more exhibit space for you to visit. It is a certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Gold standard) building.

Say "Wow!" to all the design features of the new $7.9 million Table Rock Visitors Center:

• new visitor's area that includes new exhibits, a 75-seat theater and a new gift shop


• a new educational area that includes a multi-purpose room and wet lab


• a natural rock exterior


• an observation deck and lots of windows for a beautiful view of the lake and the dam. It's a great place to sit and relax! This is an unbeatable spot for vacation photos.
  


• a realistic rock bluff with a white tail deer mounted atop


• an impressive hydropower exhibit


• narratives about local species and descriptions of early life along the White River (attention history buffs!)


• state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment


• unique polished concrete floors


• a new safety fence along the lake bluff at the back of the center


• sustainable landscaping – trees, grasses and flowers


• rain garden and bioswale – allowing rains to slowly seep into the soil instead of creating run-off into the lake


• new elevator


• FREE public Wi-Fi in the building

The center features exhibits detailing the natural history of the area. There are also three short films you can watch:

• Taming of the Riviera Blanche (20 minutes): an introduction to the Table Rock Lake/White River area, detailing the construction and purpose of Table Rock Dam


• Where Eagles Soar (14 minutes): the story of how eagles were brought back from endangerment in Missouri


• The Expedition of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 (32 minutes): tells of their exploration, encounters, objectives and accomplishments during their journey

There is a courtesy dock on the Visitor Center grounds, if you'd like to visit by way of boat. Bring a picnic lunch, a swimsuit or a fishing pole for a leisurely afternoon on the shoreline of Table Rock Lake.

The Table Rock Lakeshore Trail is adjacent to the Visitors Center, too.

Table Rock Dam celebrated its 50th anniversary in June of 2009 (June 1959 - June 2009).