Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation
Print
After nearly 10 years, visitors are once again able to tour the magnificent Table Rock Dam thanks to the hard work of the Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation. The non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation was developed in early 2010 for the purpose of providing support for recreational facilities and projects including guided tours of Table Rock Dam and Powerhouse, sale of souvenirs and retail items with educational and/or environmental messages in the Dewey Short Visitor Center Discovery Shop, educational lecture series and programs, research, volunteer opportunities, land and lake access improvements, stewardship, technical assistance, advocacy and special events.
SCORE mentor Dick Erickson was brought on board early on to help the foundation create a business plan that would clearly guide operations going forward.
As soon as May of 2010 the Dewey Short Visitor Center Discovery gift shop was up and running and just a couple months later, tours of the dam commenced. A successful tourism business, Ride the Ducks, joined the effort and nearly 400 tours were conducted in just the first 5 days of operation. The foundation projects that the new visitor’s center will soon operate with the help of 5 paid employees and over 40 volunteers.
Mentor Dick Erickson became a vital member to the organization, attending Board meetings, counseling Director Christopher Welch in priority planning and reviewing the project development throughout numerous mentoring sessions. He was recently appointed to the Financial Oversight committee to provide ongoing project support.
Read more at Branson Tri-Lakes News: "Dam Tours Resume"
