The Arrow Bus picked up the Viva Cuba guides in front of Peoples Bank.
Cuba, MO, Route 66 Mural City, has become a tour destination, and the big buses are rolling in. They come from all over and hear about Cuba in various ways. Some saw us in the AAA Midwest Traveler article. Others saw the Country Extra Magazine feature. Groups received our mailings or have heard of us by word of mouth. They call or contact us through our website. They are arriving, touring the murals and other attractions, and taking the news of Cuba, MO with them when they return to their hometowns.
Viva Cuba charges $100 for two members to board their tour bus and give a narrated tour of the murals and their stories. It takes two members, one to direct the bus driver around the route and one to narrate the stories of the murals and tidbits from Cuba’s history. Sometimes a third member will ride along for training. The money is used to maintain the murals and other Viva Cuba beautification projects.
After a few tours in September and October, the second week of November was a busy week for tours.
Last week, on Wednesday, Tour and Convention Consultants of the Ozarks from Springfield, MO arranged the mural tour for a group from California. The tour left Branson in the morning, and they were on their way to the St. Louis airport to fly back to California. On the way into town, they made a brief stop at the Rocking Chair for a photo. The 46-passenger Arrow Coach picked us up in front of the Peoples Bank. Since they were pressed for time, they toured the murals, ate a quick bite at McDonalds, and rolled back out of town. They heard the stories behind the murals and got a kick out of the fact they didn’t need a passport to visit Cuba, MO. The fact that the Civil War mural was by California artist Don Gray was of particular interest. They said they would never forget “Cuba, MO.”
This bus photo reflects the interest that groups have in the historical uptown Cuba area.
Thursday, a group from Monmouth, Illinois was returning from Branson. Branson Ticket and Travel Group referred them to us. This group was part of a travel promotion of “All Around the World Without a Passport.” Of course, Cuba was a perfect candidate for this trip. They stopped at the Rocking Chair for the usual photo opportunities and enjoyed their time at the Fanning Rt. 66 Outpost General Store. The group tasted the Outpost’s private label wines and made purchases to take home. Lunch at Frisco’s and the mural tour rounded off their visit.
A tour group from Pennsylvania toured the the murals on their way home. The man in the blue shirt walking down the street was part of an Indiana couple who were walking around phtographing the murals. The couple was going to eat at either Frisco's or MO Hick BBQ before resuming their trip.
This was a determined tour company.
On Friday, the Hillegas Travel Group, many of the 50 being enthusiastic Pittsburg Steeler fans from Pennsylvania, toured the murals before continuing their trip back home. Hazel Hillegas, an escort for Branson Ticket & Travel, read about Cuba’s mural project in Country Living Extra and decided Cuba was a perfect stop for her group to stretch their legs, having left Branson earlier that morning. It should be noted that Bill, the coach driver, did a terrific job maneuvering the coach so that everyone could enjoy the murals. After dropping off their step-on guides, they headed to McDonald’s for lunch before hitting the road.
The Chamber Visitor Center is a popular stop for tour groups. The Immanuel Lutheran Church Group met their tour guides here.
This week, on Thursday, an Immanuel Lutheran Church group from Perryville, MO visited on their way to Branson. We met with them at the Chamber Visitor Center where they took a break before the tour. Jill Barnett was scheduled to direct the bus driver while I narrated, but she was called to St. Louis to help with her grandson. So her husband banker Jim Barnett stepped in to direct the bus driver while I narrated. This was his first venture on the tour. He did a fine job of directing the bus, but since he hadn’t read my apple industry/mural blog from the day before, I had to tell him that he wouldn’t be getting the microphone anytime soon. The tour got a kick out of that.
The Perryville MO tour group enjoyed this photo opportunity. Everyone likes their photos with the rocker. They like visiting the Outpost Route 66 General Store too because of the interesting inventory, the unique nature of the business, and the hospitality of the owners and staff.
The mural tour was a hit, and we rode with them to the World’s Largest Rocker for photos. Along the way, we pointed out the site of this year’s Kinder Cemetery Tour “Echoes from the Past” and Glen Pasch’s distinctive headstone and the My Place Tire mural. When we left them, they were headed inside the Fanning Route 66 Outpost General Store talking about the Route 66 Root Beer that they were going to get and the Techno Hunt computer archery range that they wanted to see.
After the tours, groups usually ask “How big is Cuba?” and “How did you get the money for your murals?” Come for your tour, and we tell you the answers to those questions.
Leave A Comment