The process begins to renovate the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center.

A groundbreaking took place on the site where the old building which was constructed in the late 1970's will be replaced by a new expanded facility that will feature more room for both visitors and staff. 

Quenten Fronterhouse, one of the Taney County Agents for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said during a recent "At Your Service" Podcast that the original facility's capacity did not anticipate the huge growth in Branson and that the building could not handle the number of tourists visiting the facility.

One of the dignitaries attending the groundbreaking was 156th State Representative Brian Seitz, who said in a press release, "This project is extremely important not just for the 156th District, but all of southwest Missouri and the entire state," Seitz said. "Hundreds of thousands of people visit the conservation center and fish hatchery every year, and this expansion will attract even more to come and take part in the educational offerings being presented. My family has been visiting the center for decades, and I even had the opportunity to take part in the spawning process last year. The benefit of this project will be felt for generations to come, and I'm excited to see the finished product."

The $6.7 million project is expected to take up to two years to complete. Access to the fishing areas and trails are still open to the public and the fish hatchery will still continue to operate but not be open to visitors.