The Uranus Missouri complex near St. Robert, Missouri, recently hosted 17 tour buses in 12 days — another sign that Route 66 sites should ignore that tourism sector at its own risk.
A news release earlier this month contained a smidge of Uranus owner Louie Keen’s usual and unapologetic juvenile humor:
The industry has been bringing motorcoaches loaded with smiling travelers to explore Uranus daily since Nov. 10. Mayor Louie expects even more buses to unload in Uranus during the 2023 group travel season after the launch of Uranus Fried Chicken Co. next spring.
When asked about the inundation of tour buses in his small town, Mayor Louie replied, “Exploring Uranus is a group activity. We love buses in Uranus.” […]
Group tour tourists appreciate fudge samples, clean restrooms and the opportunity to stretch in Uranus on Route 66. Uranus is crammed with fun photo ops, Instagram-worthy art, dinosaurs, aliens, hilarious t-shirts, and unique souvenirs.
Group tour planners and their guests love the Circus Sideshow Museum, the iconic Uranus Fudge Factory neon sign, the Route 66 Neon Mural Wall, the World’s Largest Belt Buckle on Route 66, Uranus Ice Cream Company, the “Mega Mayor” Muffler Man and Uranus Putt Pirates Miniature Golf Course.
Other than Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (and inclement weather), Uranus is open year-round from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Uranus also claims to be the second most visited Route 66 attraction in the Show Me State.
In addition to his forthcoming fried chicken restaurant, Keen said in a recent video he would open a restaurant and bar with an arcade in 2024.
I asked Laura Huffman, Uranus’ groups and events staffer, why the complex suddenly saw so many tour buses in November, which is the offseason. She elaborated in two emails:
We tapped into the popularity of motor coach tours to Branson for Veterans Week and Christmas. I did a Google search for tours scheduled for Branson and started making phone calls and sending emails. Diamond Tours has been pulling into Uranus for years. Several of the buses stopped because of the billboards. […]
Tour buses have unloaded in Uranus many times over the years. This was the first time that we have experienced 17 buses in 12 days. While the buses were here we actively engaged with the group hosts and drivers. We had conversations about adding Uranus to their itinerary as more than a comfort stop. We will be working with the planners in the industry to extend the stay of our motorcoach guests. Uranus Fried Chicken Company is slated to open next spring so we are positioning ourselves as a lunch stop. We will also be marketing Uranus Circus Sideshow Museum and Uranus Putt Pirates miniature golf to group travel planners and hosts.
Attracting tour buses is a valuable — and often overlooked — segment of Route 66 tourism. As baby boomers continue to age, more of them will use buses for their vacations when they can’t or won’t drive anymore.
In the past year, I found out in my day job in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the local chamber of commerce director is wooing more tour bus companies after one made a last-minute, overnight stop in the city last year. Each tour bus can generate up to $5,000 a day in revenue.
(Courtesy image of the AAA Ohio Auto Club group tour motorcoach in Uranus Missouri)
Putt Pirates is HILARIOUS!
Never been there. Probably never will. I’m an adult.