SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => Construction/Rumors => Topic started by: shavethewhales on July 14, 2007, 12:53:52 PM
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This isn't so much of a rumor as it is a guess being thrown around by me.
Anyone been by good ole' Tom Sawyer's Landing lately? Once the most popular area of the park, now it's just a flow through for guests going to the riverfront or to TGS. The play area is somewhat dilapidated and definitely stripped of almost all of it's former charm; the tree house will never open again, and will probably come down this winter; the kiddie coaster was removed, leaving only a smoking section. Overall, if it weren't for the fact that the area is right smack dab on a major pathway, no one would visit it, and that shouldn't be for such a prime piece of land within SDC.
SDC's management seems to think so to. The Grand Expo was originally set to take the place of the Landing, but good sense overcame that. Still, that obviously means they're thinking about switching that area of the park up.
It's been said by the park management that this year's investment will fall in the $6-8 million range, but they're not getting a coaster, and they're probably not getting another huge thrill ride, and they don't need any more kid's stuff; soooooo...
After all, even though the park's management hasn't decided what to do with it yet, the tree house is going to have to come down. It's been closed for two years now for being too dilapidated, and all the park's efforts to fix it have failed, so what choice do they have? After it's gone, they'll need something to replace that area, seeing as it's right in the middle of the park.
Anyone seeing this? I think we're in for a few new shops, as that's been one of the most highly requested things lately, but I don't think the landing will die completely... We'll just have to see. Conductor Sam is supposed to be dropping a few hints on the SDC blog soon.
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It'd be nice if they rebuilt Huck Finn's Hideaway, making it more extensive and bringing back some of the features it used to have (that I unfortunately never got to experience).
I'm hoping they at least retain the Mark Twain theme.... With Disney overlaying its Tom Sawyer Island with a pirate theme (with only a couple tiny things here and there to even keep it tied in with Tom Sawyer), SDC is the last great refuge for a Mark Twain-themed area in a theme park. I'd love to see costumed characters of Tom, Huck, and Becky, and maybe even a Mark Twain weekend each year that would have white-washing and frog jumping contests and any number of fun activities that can be educational and teach our young generations about one of the best American novelists.
I'm hoping that Conductor Sam's next blog entry will be the start of the hinting... I've been waiting anxiously for any hints as to what they'll be doing.
It's possible they may change the Tom Sawyer Landing into a themed area similar to what Dollywood has, where their Timber Tower is. I know that thankfully, I've heard that they'll be moving the balloon and carousel rides to the Exposition rather than getting rid of them. At least SDC knows how popular those rides are; the balloons are all my 3-year-old nephew can talk about!
Can't wait for ANY news about what's coming next!
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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Sorry to bring back a dead thread but I had to post this!!
It's back! Yesterday at SDC we were walking towards the Giant Swing from the Riverfront area and I look up and I see kids climbing the ropes at Tom Sawyer's Landing! The kids were playing up in it and it looked exactly like it did just a few years ago. The treehouse is still closed but Huck Finn's Hideaway area (around the wax play area) was all open again. And earlier in the day when we walked through that area it was still closed so they opened it sometime during that day.
I've got pictures to prove it also! I just got home though so, I'll have to post it later. I'm so excited for all this!
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Are you talking about the part Directly above the Wax setup or the rest of it. The big part was open on opening weekend and you could cross the bridge and back but the part over the wax area it self has been closed for 2 seasons now..
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Yeah, the old rope maze was pure sweetness. It's never actually been closed to my knowledge, it just requires staffing in this day and age, and it's not up there on their priorities, so it's probably only open when there are staff around to work it. It's too bad it can no longer be a real part of the whole landing though.
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I didn't know if this area had been open in awhile or not. All I know is that when I saw kids climbing up above my heads I grabbed the camera in a hurry! Sorry if I gave a huge false alarm to anyone or anything.
Zoom in on the photo if you can so you can see the kids. I had to resize the photo so it would let me post this.
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You probably don't need to resize it that small, I'll take a look at what the limits are set to and push them up a bit.
But yeah, as far as the bridges go, those have always been open, it's just that they've been separated from the huge rope maze above the wax works. Were you talking about the bridges or the actual rope maze before?
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It's sad to see Tom Sawyer's Landing today. :-[ I remember growing up how much fun I had in the tree house and the huge rope maze. Also in the ball pit! It was so much fun sliding down into the ball pit! Does anyone know if they have concrete plans to take out the tree house? I know it's been rumored for at least a year now.
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^Officially? No, but unofficially it's pretty well near damned. I fairly sure it would come down last off-season, but I guess they're keeping it up until they have the ability to put something better in it's place. Maybe that area is slated for something in 2010? It would make sense. Either way, that thing probably needs to come down here in the next couple of years.
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A restoration of the treehouse as part of their 50th anniversary celebration would be cool.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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A restoration of the treehouse as part of their 50th anniversary celebration would be cool.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
I love the way you think! :) Even though I'm 25, I would go through the treehouse, climb through the rope maze, and have a romp in the ball pit if they did that. It would be so much fun! Man, I miss the 90s version of Tom Sawyer's Landing.
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I thought this area was slated to become an expansion of Midtown Shopping Area... but then again what do I know.
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I thought this area was slated to become an expansion of Midtown Shopping Area... but then again what do I know.
I could see that as a possiblity. I could also see it being revamped into a new area in '09 or '10.
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I have heard a few different things from a ride to shops, nothing definite.
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I hope if they take it out it becomes a new themed area. It seems like a waste of space if it's just one new ride or a few new shops. I guess maybe I'm just a little disappointed with the Grand Exposition; it seems like SDC had a great idea but didn't follow through with it as far as I'd hoped. I'm hoping if there is a new expansion they really put a lot of effort into implementing their idea. For Tom Sawyer's Landing I hope they either put a lot of effort into revamping and revitalizing it, or take it out and put a great new area in its place.
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Personally, I hope they don't try to turn the Landing into any sort of new "area" in the sense that it has to have it's own theme to set it apart from the rest of the park. I'd rather they fill the place with shops and make it into a downtown-like area for SDC. Maybe they could keep some of the old play area in tact, and have it sort of work in with the new shops.
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The balloons and carousel should be moved to either Grand Expo or Geyser Gulch as they look really out of place there in TSL right now as that whole area has really just died. Perhaps that area could be made into another indoor theatre? They could always use more performing areas that are indoors -- especially during World Fest and anymore Harvest Fest and Picnic/BBQ
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I know once the ropes need to be replaced in the Rope Towers they are not going to replace them and it is coming down. Kind of sad, just because I grew up climbing on them. This will happen in the next few years. I like the idea of the balloons and carousel being moved by Geyser Gulch. They could remove the toy store and place them in that location. They could build a bigger and better toy store in the Landing. I also think they should move the Glass Blowing shop to this area. The current shop is awkward and having a high end shop in the area it would draw more people, maybe the Glass shop could replace the Tree House????
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I agree that the balloons need to be moved. Moving a shop like the Glass Blower to the area would attract more people. I guess it's inevitable that the Landing that I grew up with will disappear/change. I just want SDC to keep up what it has done in the past with changes to the park: they are well thought-out and are not ultimately regretted.
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I like your ideas, Copper. Moving the glassblower to the Landing would be cool. If they took out the carousel and balloons and moved them, then maybe they could build an all-new building hosting not just the glassblower, but maybe some other crafts of that type, too.
I'd rather see the carousel and balloons go to the Exposition. I think they'd fit in a bit better.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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I think the balloons and the carousel should be moved to the Grand Exposition would be cool just as almost all of you are saying. I don't know if I really like the idea of a new theatre in that place though. I would also like to see a downtown-type area be put in there like Steve said.
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Man, I hope there are plans to bring back the ropes in some way somewhere else someday, but I guess they are a huge liability with people's legs going through them and little kids getting hurt on them...
I actually hope the Ballons get moved someplace other than the Grand Expo - that area needs to become more like a world's fair and less like a dumping ground for rides. A place in Geyser Gulch could work well.
The carousel can probably go, I don't remember anything redeeming about it, and it's the one ride at SDC that actually shows a lot of wear. Remember the rumor a while back about a huge new carousel with interchangeable horses that came and went with the different seasons and festivals? That would be great in it's own pavilion somewhere near the middle of the city.
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The carousel has seen better days. The one cool thing about the carousel is that it was made by the craftsmen of the city, so the new one should be too. I like the Geyser Gulch idea too. Rides should be spread out not just inn one place.
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The carousel can probably go, I don't remember anything redeeming about it, and it's the one ride at SDC that actually shows a lot of wear. Remember the rumor a while back about a huge new carousel with interchangeable horses that came and went with the different seasons and festivals? That would be great in it's own pavilion somewhere near the middle of the city.
Wow! I'd never heard about that. That would be AWESOME! What would be even more cool would be a gigantic two-story carousel. Not the puny ones like at the mall (well, at our local mall), but really true two-story carousel.
And as said by Copper, all the horses made by craftsmen at SDC. I mean, hey, the huge weather-vane at the Giant Swing is made by the craftsmen, so why not new carousel horses?
And put the old horses on display around the park.
The balloons could work at Geyser Gulch, too. I just thought the balloons might kinda fit in the Exposition, taking on the theme of those tethered hot air balloon rides that you often saw/see at traveling shows. So, yeah, it could fit in in either place.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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A new carousel gets my vote. The one at CC is beautiful. I think the Landing should become the city park, complete with bandstand and small town flavor. Just think - SDC's own Central Park. I'm thinking of the scenes in Pollyanna and The Music Man. Watch 'em and you'll agree. Maybe a kind of Mayberry feeling only fitting in the time period.
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I also like the idea of a new carousel, and I like having it in the center of the city. A new downtown area where the Landing is now wouldn't be too bad, either. :) I agree, Steve, it would be nice to bring the rope maze back somewhere else in the park. It's too bad that might require all guests or their guardians to sign a liability waiver before climbing them. :-\
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Copper.... I know you said they were not planning to replace any ropes as they wear out but when I was there 3 weeks ago I saw a lot of new roaping. It looked like they had replaced a large section.
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Copper.... I know you said they were not planning to replace any ropes as they wear out but when I was there 3 weeks ago I saw a lot of new roaping. It looked like they had replaced a large section.
That's great news! Maybe they're planning on keeping the rope maze around a little longer. I'll totally climb them when I visit SDC soon! Copper, do you have any updates concerning the rope replacements?
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^^Meh, it's not like they're waiting for kids to fall through before they finally take them out. I'm sure they're probably waiting for the structure as a whole to deteriorate enough to warrant completely taking out. Either way, it won't be too long now.
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^^Meh, it's not like they're waiting for kids to fall through before they finally take them out. I'm sure they're probably waiting for the structure as a whole to deteriorate enough to warrant completely taking out. Either way, it won't be too long now.
As usual, Steve, you are the voice of reason. :) I can hear the death knell for the ropes starting even now... I'm sure they have good ideas for the Landing. I'll definitely plan to spend some time in there during my SDC visits this year, perhaps take one final romp through the rope maze. I think we're due for a lot of changes in the park in the next five years and replacing Tom Sawyer's Landing is only the beginning.
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^I agree with everything you just said sdcforever.
I have also noticed that Steve is the one to come in and be the voice of reason.
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It looked like they had replaced a large section.
Sorry, I have been away from this site for a few days. As Steve said, If an area needs fixed they are going to fix it. They are not going to allow kids to fall through. I have heard it from the horse’s mouth that the rope tower will eventually end.
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Hmmm... so someone else heard it from that horse, or could it have been a horse of a different color.... :-\ ;) ;D
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Hehe, but yes it is going.
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I heard it when I was going through the desert on a horse with no name!
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^Were you also travelling down a street with no name? ;)
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Well the only thing open in the area on Friday was the Balloons and the hand-dip wax booth
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^So the play structure itself was closed off? Wow, that would never have happened 5-6 years ago.
What are they doing right now with the old petting zoo? That whole area actually contains a lot of space, especially if they use the old Gandy Dancer site and the little wooded craft-teaching area behind the Carousel Barn. There's room for a massive main street there, with multi-story shops, kinda like the shambles at York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shambles_(York) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shambles_(York))).
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Yes every entrance to the fort was roped off this weekend. The whole area was very dead.
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^Hmmm...I wonder what they were doing... Maybe they didn't have enough employees. Do they need two or three to keep an eye on the fort if it's open?
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"TAER" it Down!
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On low attendance days or high attendance days when the employees are stretched the Tower is one of the first attractions to get shut down. Also if anything at all is wet they usually shut it down as well. Not many employees like working in the towers, so anything that can get them out of it usually happens.
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Yeah, I remember back in '06 how on July 3rd, it was so busy that they had the rope towers closed, but then on the 4th, it was actually less crowded and the towers were open.
With the kind of weather they've been having down there in the Ozarks, it's not surprising that the towers have mostly been closed. It's been wet like crazy down there.
~ "Becky" Joy ~