Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel to Reopen September 15

BRANSON, Mo. -- The Hilton Hotel at Branson Landing will officially reopen September 15, more than six months after it was damaged by the Leap Day tornado.

Since the February 29 EF-2 twister, 3,400 energy-efficient replacement windows have been installed at the hotel. The tornado caused millions of dollars in damage, but no one was seriously injured.

Nearly every piece of furniture and nearly all the carpet in the 12-story hotel will be new. Even the landscaping was dug up because of fallen glass. The outside of the hotel will have a new look, too.

The Hiltons of Branson say new thermostats in all the guest rooms have a motion-detector system, allowing the room temperature to return to a pre-set level when the room is not occupied. 

The temporary closure cost some team members their jobs. There are plans to rehire staff once the hotel reopens this fall.

The Branson Convention Center, which sustained less damage than the adjacent hotel, reopened in the late spring.

The hotel's Level 2 Steakhouse, located on the second floor, as well as Clear, the hotel's cocktail lounge, will also open September 15.