Does The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama run year-round?

No — the outdoor drama runs seasonally, typically May through October. Confirm current performance dates at theshepherdofthehills.com and book tickets in advance as performances regularly sell out.

How long does The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama last?

The performance runs approximately 90 minutes. Factor in time for pre-show seating, which typically opens 30–45 minutes before the performance.

What age is The Shepherd of the Hills appropriate for?

Kids 6 and up can follow and enjoy the drama. The live horses, fire effects, and spectacle appeal to children who might not otherwise sit through a theatrical performance. Very young kids may not follow the story and could disrupt other guests.

Is The Shepherd of the Hills daytime and evening or just evening?

The property offers both. Daytime features the Adventure Park (zipline coaster, aerial course), homestead tours, and farm activities. The evening outdoor drama is separate ticketing. A combo day/drama package offers the best value.

How much does The Shepherd of the Hills cost?

Drama tickets are typically $35–45 for adults and $20–30 for children. Daytime Adventure Park activities are priced separately. Combo packages are available and almost always cheaper than buying individually — check theshepherdofthehills.com.

The Shepherd of the Hills

Name: The Shepherd of the Hills
Address: 5585 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO, 65616, US
Telephone: +1 417-334-4191
Rating: 4.4

Rating

4.4(4,029)

Family of 4

$150–$250 (combines daytime adventure park + evening drama; adults ~$35–45 each, kids ~$20–30 each for drama; adventure activities priced separately)

Duration

3–5 hours (daytime + evening drama)

Best Ages

6–17

About

The Shepherd of the Hills at 5585 W 76 Country Blvd is one of Branson's oldest and most enduring attractions — a working farm and historic homestead that morphs between daytime adventure park and evening outdoor theatrical drama in a way that fills a full family day from 9AM to 10PM.

The daytime campus centers on the Shepherd's Adventure Park with its signature zipline coaster, aerial challenge course, and farm animals — see the Adventure Park listing for full details. But the historic homestead itself adds dimension that pure amusement parks lack: tours of the original cabins, the iconic Old Matt's Cabin, and working displays of Ozark frontier life that older kids and parents find genuinely interesting, not just another attraction to tick off.

The evening outdoor drama 'The Shepherd of the Hills' is the property's crown jewel — a performance with a cast of over 80 actors, horses, and live animals staged in an open hillside amphitheater with the Ozark sunset as a backdrop. The production runs May through October and regularly sells out; book in advance. Kids who've never attended live outdoor theater discover here that sitting still for 90 minutes can actually be riveting when pyrotechnics, horses, and a drama about Ozark pioneer life are involved.

For a single-day itinerary: arrive at 9AM for the adventure park and homestead tours, grab dinner at the Campfire Grill, and settle into the amphitheater for the evening performance. It's a genuinely full and varied day that covers history, outdoor thrills, and live culture — something increasingly rare in Branson's entertainment landscape.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Limited

Nursing / Changing

Available

Kid Meals

Available

Setting

Indoor & Outdoor

Rainy Day

Not ideal

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Arrive daytime for Adventure Park and tours; stay for the evening outdoor drama performance

Wait Times

15–30 min for popular rides; drama is ticketed with assigned seating

Nearby Food

The Shepherd of the Hills property has the Campfire Grill on-site. Arrive early for dinner before the evening drama to avoid the post-show restaurant rush on the Strip.

Why Kids Love It

The Shepherd of the Hills is one of the most genuinely multi-layered family experiences in Branson — the daytime offers ziplines, coasters, and farm animals while the evening transforms into an outdoor theatrical drama with a cast of 80+ performed around the historic homestead. Kids who've never seen live outdoor theater often have their first experience here, and the combination of horses, pyrotechnics, and a hillside amphitheater makes it hard to forget.

Pro Tips from Parents

Book the outdoor drama performance in advance — it regularly sells out, especially in summer.
Plan a full day: arrive at 9AM for daytime activities, transition to dinner, then catch the evening performance.
The outdoor drama runs May through October; confirm the performance calendar before visiting.
Adventure Park and zipline activities are priced separately from the drama — budget for both.
The historic homestead itself is worth touring even for kids who'd normally skip a historical site.

What to Bring

Light jacket for evening performances (outdoor amphitheater gets breezy)
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunscreen for daytime activities
Camera

Cost Info

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

$150–$250 (combines daytime adventure park + evening drama; adults ~$35–45 each, kids ~$20–30 each for drama; adventure activities priced separately)

Tips to Save

The Shepherd of the Hills campus bundles multiple experiences — buying combo tickets for daytime adventure activities plus the evening drama is almost always cheaper than buying individually.
Book the outdoor drama in advance as performances sell out.