• branson sightseeing tours

About VIP Tours of Branson

Let us introduce ourselves

A few words about the company.

VIP Tours of Branson was created with the sole purpose of providing upscale guided sightseeing tours of Branson, MO and the surrounding area. It began as a collaboration between Joe Gunnels Tours and Reservation Service and Bob Nichols Company, both firmly rooted in the Branson business community for nearly 40 years.  Now solely owned by Joe & Laurie Gunnels.

Joe Gunnels Tours has been providing the highest quality service to area visitors since 1988. Joe Gunnels Tours does local guided tours for bus groups in Eureka Springs and Bentonville, Arkansas, as well as here in Branson. For groups, families and couples alike, we highly recommend a day trip to Eureka Springs, for the Eureka Springs Tram Tours, which is ranked as one of the top 3 activities in Eureka Springs by TripAdvisor.com reviewers. Eureka Springs is just an hour drive from Branson.

We give you only the best.

What you can expect on a VIP Tours of Branson Experience…

Outstanding Customer Service

From the moment you step onto our luxury Mercedes Sprinter coach you’ll experience our VIP service.  From complimentary water to free Wi-Fi, our guides are on a mission to provide an outstanding tour attraction for each and every VIP guest.

Insider Information

With experienced Branson “experts” guiding our tours you’ll hear show business tales and little known historical facts about the area.

No Two Tours Are Alike

Our guests are invited to ask questions during the tour, and those questions often prompt stories from your guide… so no two tours are ever the same.

A Truly VIP Experience

We sincerely believe that every one of our guests are VIPs and we will do everything within our power to give you a truly up-scale sight-seeing experience. Your complete satisfaction with out tours is our #1 goal.

View Our Tour Options

Meet the Owners

Joe and Laurie Gunnels

Joe Gunnels began his career in the tour business in July of 1978. Joe was hired as a local tour guide and tour bus driver in Eureka Springs, and fell in love with it right away. He knew it was where he was meant to be. After working for a few different local tour companies for 10 year, in 1988 he started Joe Gunnels Tours. The VIP sightseeing tours in Branson was started in 2016.

Almost immediately after starting the tour guide service he had groups asking him to help them with reservations for lodging, meals, shows, the Passion Play, etc. Then, less than a year later he had people asking him to help them in Branson, also. So, in 1989 he started Joe Gunnels Tours of Branson. Within 5 years the company had grown from $15,000 in sales the first year (1988) to $1.8 million at the end of 1993.

Joe Gunnels Tours is also in business in one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the country right now, Bentonville, Arkansas. Home to not only Walmart World Headquarters, but also Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Cooper Chapel, Walmart Museum and many great hotels, restaurants and retail shopping options.

In February of 2016, Joe, stopped by to visit with longtime friend, Bob Nichols, in Branson at Bob’s office. During their conversation they talked about the idea of doing a very high quality local tour that would be different than any other local Branson sightseeing tour before. That conversation lead to the birth of a new business, VIP Tours of Branson. And with a business with VIP in the name, they knew the tour vehicle was going to be a big part of it. So tour guests will be riding in a brand new, custom built, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter luxury coach!

Joe and Laurie purchased Bob’s part of the business in August of 2018, and are now sole owners. Bob and his wife Lana are excited to be building their dream house overlooking beautiful Table Rock Lake.

Joe and his wife, Laurie, live in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Located just an hour south of Branson. They have four children, 6 grandchildren and are active members in the communities they do business in, as well as active members of the music ministry at their church.