Branson’s Shepherd of the Hills Inspiration Tower is aptly named, it’s presence on the horizon is truly an inspirational sight! Towering 230 feet over the Branson countryside on an Ozarks’ mountain top known as Inspiration Point, the structure can be seen for miles and miles around. Constructed in 1989, the sturdy building of steel, glass, stone, and concrete can withstand a constant wind of 172 miles per hour, and wind gusts at an incredible 224 miles per hour. It contains an impressive 92,000 pounds of steel, and the entire structure weighs in at around 3 million pounds! With more than 4,400 square feet of glass, it’s easy to understand why Inspiration Tower is the ideal location for viewing the beautiful Branson hills and valleys.
Although the Tower was built for observation purposes, the owner quickly saw its value a few years back as a launching spot for one of the world’s newest extreme adventure attractions - a zipline! Thus was the beginning of the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider, a thrilling experience that launches seated riders down from the Tower at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour!
Ziplining is exciting of course, but Inspiration Tower’s original purpose is still its most fascinating. Guests can take one of the two glass-enclosed elevators to the sizable, enclosed observation deck for the best views you’ll find anywhere in the area. Looking out over the Ozarks' hilly terrain is certainly a sight to behold, largely covered with trees that look gloriously green in the warmest months, stunningly colorful in Autumn, and even starkly beautiful during winter when only the abundant pines keep their color. With a 360-degree view, a clear day allows visibility of up to an astonishing 90 miles away! If you want to feel the mountain fresh air on your face as you take in the view, a short stairway brings you down to an open-air deck.
You can enjoy a visit to the Tower even if you stay on the ground floor; there’s an ample inventory of souvenirs, including books on the history of the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, in the first level gift shop. You'll also find snack foods and convenient restrooms on the same floor.
Additional Information/Helpful Hints
Inspiration Tower is located on the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead & Adventure Park.
The Homestead & Adventure Park can be found at 5586 West Highway 76, just a couple of minutes beyond the main stretch of The Strip.
The Tower is accessible to the disabled.
Cameras and video cameras are permitted while visiting Shepherd of the Hills Inspiration Tower.
You'll find a gift shop, snack bar, and restrooms on the ground level of the Tower.
Hours: Open 9AM-9PM
- No reservation is required.
Nearly everyone knows that Branson is brimming with things to see and do, but it’s still a fairly well-kept secret that visitors have easy access to the most stunning view available of the entire area. It’s great to drive around sightseeing, but it’s even better to take in the whole community and beyond from one beautiful vantage point. So, when it’s time to "get to the point" in Branson, it’s time to get to Inspiration Point for a trip to the top of Shepherd of the Hills Inspiration Tower!
