Carving Shops in Springfield/Branson Area??

[vic n]

I'm going to be in Southern Mo. for a few days and I'm always looking for good places to shop for tools, gouges, knives, wood, etc.
Thanks, Vic

[Iowa Carver]

Vic, check out this thread of info I received when I had the same question.

Question On Branson Area....

Corey

[redbird46]

Vic, things are changing and not always for the better. Even in Branson there are getting to be much less for woodcarvers. Going to the Woodcarving shop at Silver Dollar City will require you buying a park ticket for over $50.00 just to get in.
The Grand Village, which is next to the Grand Palace Theater on Hwy.76 has the one good place left and it is Peter Englers Woodcarving shop. They have tools,books, carvers and carvings by others for sale. Some on this BB sell carvings there and you will recognize them. Laura Alllison is a blonde lady running the tool booth and you can ask her for any other local places that are still in business. Her husband Ron did have a woodcarving booth at the Branson Mill Mall but I think he has stopped and last I heard he was painting and doing murals now instead of woodcarving. Engler's Block on Hwy. 76 is now mostly commercial and last time I went they didn't have a woodcarver, just some tools on a shelf?
Norb

[Iowa Carver]

Yes Redbird you are right on. Things were very very slow in Branson my wife said and all the outlets are not doing well with lots of store closings.

As you said, a $54.00 ticket to get into SDC so she and the ladies passed on that. Basically they were just going to look at carving stuff for me so I said .. nahhh. She went to the carving shop in the Engler block. Bought me a couple books and a couple small blanks and Englers shop had a lot of carvings for sale she said and some tools but the lady didn't know too much about what I was wanting. If I had been there myself it probably would have been better but anyway, got a couple new books and a couple band sawn blanks.

Corey

[chuckbolton]

you can enter SDC to shop only for a limited amount of time -- 30 minutes i think-- for nothing -- or you could a couple of yrs ago-- i did it-- pete engler's shop has many tools and some wood- and normally laura is there-- but she doesnt work 7 days a week and the branson mill does have several carvers and some tools, roughouts and wood-- go- have a good time and be glad u found what u found- there are only a few shops anyway--if u are lucky enough to live near one-- you are very fortunate-- if not you must shop at shows or online, not the same as being able to pick up something and have that experience.

[Doug Ridley]

Besides Pete Engler's place (which I highly recommend) there is another place out on the other end of the strip that has some carving supplies. It also sells some small pieces of Basswood and painting supplies. It is called a craft village or something like that but I can't think of the name. Anyway, it is worth a visit if you are already out there. Also don't miss the military museum which is on the left of the strip near the start as you come up the hill from old Branson. The lifesize bronze of a WW II infantry squad is something to see. Hope this helps.
Doug

[vic n]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm getting over knee replacement surgery, and we went down for a few days this weekend. I looked in a lot of these spots, found some knives at Engler's Block, found some gouges at Peter Engler's in the Grand Village, but not much else. It was good to get out of town, tho, and good to see some really nice carving work. Thanks! Vic