SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => Construction/Rumors => Topic started by: shavethewhales on July 03, 2008, 02:07:53 PM
-
So now that we know the basics of SDC's 2009 plans, what's in store for CC? Will the park try to add more shows and shops in an effort to boost it's appearance of being the cheaper SDC alternative? Or will they finally spring for a large thrill ride to further reign in the budget thrill crowd?
It certainly has been a while since they built a true thrill ride, and that has already left the park. Roaring Falls was a fantastic addition, but it doesn't exactly portray anything that every other park already has a bigger & better version of. The park just doens't seem into thrill rides, however, as they have never run any type of campaign showcasing it. In fact, both parks seem pretty much transfixed on attracting mom's, which makes me thing more family rides and kiddie attrations are in the works, hopefully in additon to new shops and shows.
Once again I'm going to say that it's time for the park to get a new brochure center piece, but it doesn't necesarily need to be a giant thrill ride. Remeber how Lance at Screamscape heard a rumor about Gerstauler having some sort of recent connection to SDC? Maybe a new spinning coaster is in the works - they have proven to be not only budget-friendly but also very big crowd pleasers. A new coaster sure would look good right now.
-
Laser at Dorney Park is for sale. That would be a good fit for the park, since we like all these "temporary carny looking rides"
-
I think a spinning coaster would be a good addition to CC. It doesn't have to be large, but it would certainly be unique and a new brochure centerpiece. It wouldn't do much to detract from SDC, either. I think that's the reason they don't really want any major thrill rides at CC.
-
Sure why not -- get the same model that WOF & SFStL has -- might as well seeing that all three major amusement park players in MO will have GCI woodies next season.
-
Laser at Dorney Park is for sale. That would be a good fit for the park, since we like all these "temporary carny looking rides"
That actualy wouldn't be too bad - CC does an excellent job cleaning up old fair rides (see the Stinger) AND it would be a cheap buy keeping their ticket prices low, not to mention the fact that Laser is a good all around ride that appears fairly scary to most while not actually being very intense.
-
^I didn't think about the benefits of buying a used ride. HFE definitely does a good job refurbishing used rides, not only at CC but also at SDC and Dollywood (the log flume rides, Runaway-Ore-Carts, etc.)
But if they do decide to go with something like a spinning coaster that other parks have, that's okay. If it works, it works.
-
I think they should go and get Laser. It is already listed for sale.
It's a great ride too with some major forces that the whole family can enjoy
-
Oh the Laser would be great. I would just hope that they would paint it. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't paint Roaring Falls, you can see the rust and wear from the parking lot.
-
Well the Laser has been sold... I wonder to whom.
Wouldn't you just die if we are correct and HFEC bought it.
http://www.usedrides.com/viewpicture.asp?expire=90&type=1&owner=0&search=1&off=0&page=1&ref=34676&sessionint=True
-
^I might. The more I think about it the more I realize how perfect it would fit in at CC. They would dress it up, maybe hide the bottom supports a little, and maybe even add a tunnel. It would be fantastic for their image, while staying within the price range that they want. I won't be surprised at all if this turns up in the CC parking lot over the winter.
The only thing is, this would be CC's third portable coaster. They'd need to really dress it up nicely to avoid too many remarks, but I guess it is more and more of a budget park anyway.
-
Well it would also fall into the "we will add something in 2009 that you Coaster Enthusiasts should enjoy" category. He didn't say to which park when he said that last year at Coaster Christmas
-
Perhaps CC should get GL's old Sky Cabin.
It is for sale on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250276976658&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D250276976658%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1
-
^I like that idea. It'd look great at CC and give a nice view of the surrounding hillsides.
-
Hey, for $50,000, I'm thinking about buying it and turning it into a house!
Nah! Too many tornadoes.
-
I would love to see them pick up Laser.
-
Well like I said, Brad Thomas did not say which park the "attraction that would excite you enthusiasts" was coming too.
Laser would fit in at CC perfectly.
-
If he was planning it that far in advance though, wouldn't Laser's sale have been a bit late?
Tch, I can't think of a better ride in that price range for them to pick up though... It's a real possibility all around. Hmm, Roaring Falls was announced last year in September right? Or was it October?
-
It was announced when the Season Pass mailing went out.
-
According to Screamscape, it sounds like Laser was bought by a smaller traveling ride group in Germany. They'll put Laser on the road. Read about it here:
http://www.screamscape.com/html/dorney_park.htm (http://www.screamscape.com/html/dorney_park.htm)
Also, there was only one bid for GL's Sky Cabin, and it was of course the winning bid. That auction closed on the 9th. I wonder who bought it? I like the idea of a sky cabin at CC.
-
Yep, I was rather sad to hear that Laser was not going to stick around closer to home, but alas the coaster is headed "home" to Germany.
Have not heard anything as to where the skycabin is going to go.
-
That's really too bad, I almost had my hopes up there for a moment. I guess there's still that other droppel looping on ITAL... but of course it's too late now. Is it possible that they signed on with Gerstauler for a spinning coaster back when the rumors of a G-fighter coming to SDC were flying around? Lance mentioned some sort of deal he heard about between SDC and Gerstauler a long time ago, but who knows where he heard it from.
Anyone know how good attendance has been this year?
-
SDC - down
CC - flat
WWB - flat
at least the last time I heard....
I'll try to get final numbers again once the season is over.
-
I just rode Roaring Falls like 3 weeks ago.
I might have said this before, but they should have painted it.
Laser would be a great addition, and if they stuck with the neon color scheme, would fit nicely
with the "Celebration" Theme. Maybe even add a few laser effects? What ever they get, it better not be
another flat ride. [
-
Better a flat ride than nothing. I'd say right now the prospects of them getting a coaster or anything too large are slim, but you never know... The economy isn't expected to really bounce back on track for another couple of years, so we may be looking at another carnival ride refurbishment, if a ride at all. Given the fact that the park is so often criticized for not having near the shows and shops as SDC, maybe they'll throw something like that in - maybe a partnership with some other entity to bring in a shopping area to the park.
-
CC is definitely lacking in the show department. They must do better than bring in the traveling show catalog. The laser show is the only permanent, one-of-a-kind show they have. Here is where they need to invest in order to fill a hole.
-
Why? The park is not about shows, it is about the family enjoying things together. If anything they need to add more rides because that is always what I hear people talking about when I am there... definitely not "we need more shows"
SDC = Shows/Shops
CC = Rides.
CC is the "Six Flags" park of Branson and HFEC needs to realize that.
That is why you see so many people there that are looking for RIDES instead of ponying out the $50+ to go to SDC.
-
Well, it's off topic, but if CC wants to attract "families" they should look for more quality and less quantity. If they keep trucking in "carnival" rides from the parking lots of America, they should stop charging admission and just sell ride tickets. Honestly, unless they "build" rides instead of towing them in, I don't think you'll see this family returning - not when I can stay home and visit the carnival when it comes to town. They can say they're catering to "families", but they're really only appealing to teens and preteens - that's exactly what keeps many families away. CC is Branson's Frontier City. To be Branson's Six Flags, they would have to try harder to create their own genre.
No, I never expected more than that out of Branson U.S.A., but had hoped for more of a Mutton Hollow. Sorry to sound so negative - this is meant in the spirit of criticism, not argument.
-
I think CC is in a similar situation to where SDC is. They're toeing a line to please the max. number of people that they can. One one side you have a crowd that never ceases to cry for more thrills, but on the other you have those people that look for quality atmosphere and amenities like shops and shows. It's an even harder line to walk when the economy is in the slumps, gas prices threaten to stab your profits at any time, and the park's profits have been flat-lining just above the black line. What can they do?
Adding small, cheap rides is really the best path for them, from the business point of view. Roaring Falls and the Stinger didn't exactly 'fit' into the park the way we'd like, but they looked great on the billboards and were an extremely cheap to make it seem like the park was making a lot of progress. I couldn't believe the fuss they made over a used Wisdom Tornado - but it worked.
I really want them to go back to the old Herschend standards at all the parks, but until the economy gets back up again and people start driving electric and/or hyper-efficient vehicles, we won't see a whole lot of progress. At least they're still pretty imaginative.
-
I disagree. It is in times like this that the investment should be made. If they want to attract, they will invest, not hold back. Why invest in good times - that's when people will come anyway. And as for creativity, not so much. They could have themed RF to their decades theme, but they went all out to bring in the Amazon theme. We all thought that was a strange way to go when they did it; why would we think otherwise now? The creative route would have made it fit. Oh well, I've said my opinion and now I'll stop. I'm glad this isn't CCFans.
-
I'm not sure why we are being so raggy on the fact that they have used carnival rides at CC. This is no different than most other parks, including the other two big themers in the state WOF and SFStL. Yes it was used, however I would rather them add that then nothing at all.
CC is NOT SDC nor was it ever meant to be. Comparing SDC and CC is apples and oranges, you just cannot do it. Also no matte what HFEC does there is always going to be someone who doesn't like it -- and not just with HFEC, but anything in general.
I agree that they should be investing now when they need to bring in people and not waiting until people are coming just because they can. Chances are, even more people from KC will stay in KC to go to WOF and Schlitterbahn next year then coming down to SDC... why? Because WOF has that shiny new wooden coaster and Schlitterbahn has Master Blaster slides, which WWB does not.... plus Schlitterbahn is brand new, which automatically adds to the draw.
I will be VERY interested to see HFEC's battle plan for the next few seasons. They are pretty much being shut out with KC's market as WOF and Schlitterbahn will throw a pretty good one-two punch -- not to mention that SFStL's Hurricane Harbor is supposedly adding a DELUGE slide next year... not seeing something like that WWB either. hmmm...
-
^This is an interesting debate. I agree, we shouldn't compare CC and SDC. I don't think HFE meant for CC to be another SDC. It will be interesting to see their plan for the next few seasons with all of the big things coming up in the northern half of the state. They won't have to worry about Schlitterbahn for another three years though. The only thing tentatively planned for next year is some of the resort and shops. The water resort won't be completed until 2011. I think SDC will be fine with a river battle and hopefully a new and exciting coaster for 2009 or 2010. Throw in a few new shows just for good measure.
Anyway, back on topic. Will CC get anything exciting for 2009? Roaring Falls is their biggest expansion to date. I can't imagine HFE investing a large amount of money in another new expansion for next year. If anything, I expect CC to revamp another used ride. I have always seen CC as nothing more than a traveling carnival that has been permanently parked. And I have no problem with that. That atmosphere gives the park a certain charm that I like. But as for 2009, I don't see something huge on the horizon for CC since SDC is getting a river battle and probably a new coaster in the next couple of years. WW is getting a new slide complex for next year (assuming the rumors are true). Those are big investments for HFE. CC has it's latest big investment in Roaring Falls; I don't see another big investment for next year.
-
OK, I said I was finished, but I'm not. I'll say this for CC: what they did to revamp it for the first year was amazing. The carousel, the Wildcat, and the main street are terrific - and in the same class as SDC, by the way. If they continue to develop new idea the way they started when they bought the park, they can raise the bar for themselves. Otherwise, we do all agree it's no SDC. I wouldn't expect it to be in such a short time, but I would expect some improvements in the style and implementation as they add new items. I would love to see them use their investments in carny rides by selling them and developing their own replacements slowly through the years - not just adding. This would not require more land for expansion and would allow them to get rid of some of the older or less attractive rides.
I'm glad we could stir it up a bit. If no one ever stirs the pot, the stew burns and no one is happy.
-
They won't have to worry about Schlitterbahn for another three years though. The only thing tentatively planned for next year is some of the resort and shops. The water resort won't be completed until 2011.
According to the article in the KC Star the first phase of the waterpark will be open next year.
The first elements of the Vacation Village are scheduled to open in the summer of 2009 and will include the first phase of the Water Resort, several lodging components and the initial shops and restaurants to be developed along the projects themed Riverwalk
-
I'm not sure why we are being so raggy on the fact that they have used carnival rides at CC. This is no different than most other parks, including the other two big themers in the state WOF and SFStL. Yes it was used, however I would rather them add that then nothing at all.
I actually didn't mean to rag on the fact that they got some used carny rides. As long as they keep re-furbing them like they did the Stinger, I'll be more than happy to see more installed.
I think History Buff pretty much summed it all up perfectly though - we just want them to go back to what they were doing in the beginning, just like at SDC ;).
If they took what they had on 'Main Street' and the Bijou and applied it to the new additions, we'd have a lot less to complain about. I think the next major addition will really be decisive for the park in the way it will go as far as theming and atmosphere, if that trend hasn't already been set by the Stinger and Roaring Falls.
Anyone hear any clues yet? Whatever they're doing is already in motion by now, so hopefully we'll see some action soon. I'm going to go ahead and place my bets on a new ride the likes of the Stinger: used, but dressed up good as new; family-friendly but also entertaining enough for everyone else. I just can't see them getting anything too big after touting the largest expansion yet this year.
-
Did they buy anything from Geauga Lake?
-
^I don't know. That's an interesting saga, as all of the rides except two have been disassembled and moved elsewhere. The big one that is still there, of course, being the Big Dipper. The buyer is still a mystery, since it sold for only $5,000, though it will take about $1,000,000 to disassemble it and move it from the park. It still sits there, as CF is having problems auctioning off the land (they feel it's worth more than the bids they're receiving). It sounds like the mystery buyer wants to keep the ride intact, whether unoperating and on display or operating, I don't know. The Big Dipper is a great piece of American nostalgia, since it's over 80 years old. On one hand, I think it'd be great in CC especially over by the Boardwalk (since that's 1920s America themed, but there may not be room over there for it). On the other hand, CC already has three coasters. Is there room, need, or want for a fourth?
-
Usually about this time of the year we know if anything big is coming, so either they are buying another used ride or not getting anything at all.
CC has potential, but it needs more attention to meet that potential.
For example, maybe the "Soup of the day" at the pasta restaurant could be an actual soup of the day rather than just chicken noodle every day.
-
Meh, if the earlier attendance reports are still true, and CC's attendance was flat while SDC's went down, I'd say there's a good chance that CC will get something mildly entertaining for next year. The park hasn't been a huge cash cow for the chain, but I think they're starting to reach a tipping point. However, seeing as the Herschends are scaling back so much, and that they just spent a relative lot on Roaring Falls, maybe we're in for a disappointment. Be ready for anything I say, although we know by now that any long shot hopes for a spinner are gone.
Maybe they'll save up for next year and both SDC and CC will get coasters?
-
^I think it'd be a good thing from a marketing standpoint for both SDC and CC to get new coasters in the same season. They could market them together, even send out one press release announcing both coasters. It might help boost SDC's attendance a bit while also helping out CC's attendance.
-
I think it's time for something big, a B&M flyer would be cool, but then again that could play some really cool themeing for SDC too. Even a woodie from Gravity Group would be killer in both parks.. CC would be awesome with a woody like Hades.
They need to do something, especailly with WOF getting a new Woody, SFSL adding a new racing slide, HW adding a new Chute de Cute thats 130ft tall. It's my uderstanding that attendance was up at the CF parks this year and they even posted a profit. It's my understanding that Amusement Parks are supposed to do weel in this economic climate becuse people will goto the local park more instead of travel...
Ok so here is something Random, Roaring Falls before it came to Branson, the last year Geauga Lake was open... What killer vaction.
(http://mossonline.biz/100_2457.JPG)