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Topics - History Buff

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1
General Silver Dollar City Talk / 2024 Trip Reports
« on: March 18, 2024, 09:30:44 PM »
Cold on the last day of winter before the first day of spring. 

- Grabbed some plastic passes in lieu of the digital passes. They just seem easier to fiddle with.
- Not many guests, so parking was very easy, but the new lot arrangements, exit lanes, and name/number/color designations and clear signage are very nice.
- Most people seemed to have stayed away with 29-45° temps.  Crowds were minimal in the Monday of many Spring Breaks in the area.
- The windows at the demonstration area for Heartland Furnishings seem like they will be a constant source of glare and reflection. It may be hard to watch the demo without putting hands around your face and getting against the glass.
- Play some music in the furniture showroom for crying out loud. The place is like s very uncomfortable museum. Very awkward to shop in there while some family sits in the couches (to stay warm) and stares at you.  I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
- It was nice to see candy and taffy demonstrations in process for a change.
- I really would prefer if the seasonal acts could take it upon themselves to dress more in theme and use music that also gets closer to the theme.
- Kettle Corn bucket refills increased price from $2 to $3.  The $10 bags the sell appear to be significantly smaller as well.
- Wanted to get a cave tour with Cave Guide Cory, but I guess I’ll have to do that later in the season.
- Even though temperatures reached 44-45°, the only coaster in operation was Outlaw Run.  We were quite disappointed that the park never opened the others even when temps reached the levels they list.  Not fun when the 13-year-old has his heart set on taking his girlfriend in her first ride on Powder Keg (not that it wouldn’t be experiencing other shutdowns).  We left the park around 3:30 or 4:00.
- Upgrading our season pass mug to unlimited refills for $10.80 seemed to be a no brainer.

2
Random Talk / Your Travels Thread (2022)
« on: June 08, 2022, 04:09:30 PM »
Much like the previous editions of this thread, this will be the place to let everyone know where you are going / have gone during the 2022 calendar year.  To help others find information, we will make these threads last only one calendar year and then we will create another.

3
What would you bid on?  I see lots of interesting possibilities.

I'm going to expect some of you to attend this auction in a couple of weeks and come out with some goodies!  There are some great treasures pictured and listed at this link, mostly decor from Celebration City, but some familiar seasonal decorations from SDC, as well - costumes, display vehicles, Route 66 stuff, Coca-Cola signs, even the CC carousel.  There is a $10 admission to the auction, Thursday, June 2 - Saturday, June 4.

As exciting as the event sounds - just the chance to see some of the things again - it's also more than a little sad that they couldn't find a way to use some of these things.  either to reopen CC in a different form or in some of their other venues.

https://www.essickauctionservice.com/auctions/celebration-city-and-silver-dollar-city-warehouse-liquidation-auction-0?fbclid=IwAR1TkR2EJiezVT8Vyj7XUbbgYTPo7OzLOV4aIWIxP5ebVCA5WEBWe2jD_c4

What would you bid on?  I see lots of interesting possibilities.

4
General Silver Dollar City Talk / Parking Lot Question
« on: December 13, 2021, 07:55:48 PM »
Can anyone enlighten us as to why there is a Lot, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...and JD?  What is the significance of Parking Lot JD?

5
General Silver Dollar City Talk / The Sons Moving
« on: April 24, 2021, 01:58:17 PM »
Sons of the Silver Dollar ("The Sons") just announced a move away from the City.  They will now present a 75-minute show in one of the theaters at IMax.

6
Here is the new thread for our discussion about real history that can be found at Silver Dollar City.  Keep it positive, keep it productive, and let's try to understand differing points of view.   :)

7
Random Talk / Celebrity Death
« on: April 20, 2020, 07:58:10 PM »
Thomas William Lester (Eb on Green Acres) died earlier today of Parkinson's.  Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of the show.  He was 81. 

Green Acres, of course, was the creation of Paul Henning who has important ties to the Branson Area, including a nature preserve in his name.  One of Green Acres' sister shows, The Beverly Hillbillies, filmed a few episodes at Silver Dollar City with some of the citizens of the park.

8
Construction/Rumors / SDC's 2020 Project (Thread #2)
« on: August 15, 2019, 08:23:56 PM »
The previous thread seems to have glitched, so I began a new one.  If Shave can figure it out, we can go back to the original thread, but until then, here's the last thing I posted to kick us off:

Quote
It is interesting that the Riverfront Playhouse was mentioned in the live feed.  I'm glad to hear it will stay - hopefully for a long time.

As for MRF, I'm seeing a giant rock sculpture of a human head somewhere in the concept art that makes this like something other than Ozarkian in nature and more like a generic jungle raft ride.  Otherwise, I think it will make a great replacement for LR.  I never was a great fan of LR (and yes, I really want to revive the Dugan theme).

but I would love to see more of a WoF-style carousel or conveyor-style load on this ride.  They really haven't addressed this as far as I've seen, so I assume there will be a stop and load station.

The change to Rivertown makes me feel a little strange.  I guess it's something like going to China Town, but still being in Los Angeles.  I hope there is some great music chosen for the whole area - and appropriate, themed shows for the stages in the area.

9
Other Parks / Big Fight at WoF
« on: April 22, 2019, 06:40:15 PM »

10
Dollywood Discussion / Lawsuit
« on: June 23, 2018, 09:57:14 PM »
Another water ride - the RiverRush Water Coaster - has allegedly injured a person.  This one earns Dollywood a $2 million lawsuit:  http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/06/23/dollywood-sued-for-2-million-by-mom-who-injured-spinal-cord-on-water-park-ride.html

11
SDC Memories/ Park History / FitH Bell
« on: June 23, 2018, 05:14:19 PM »
The search on the forums doesn't get me to an answer very quickly, so I'll just ask:  Can someone refresh my memory about the significance of the bell above the entrance of FitH?

12
Other Parks / Springlake Park - OKC
« on: May 16, 2018, 05:10:17 PM »
It's sad that Springlake Park in Oklahoma City closed.  I remember going one time, when I was a kid, and riding my first coaster, the Wild Mouse - not really counting FitH.  My mom always used the accident on Springlake's Big Dipper (when a girl was thrown from the ride onto the adjacent highway) to discourage me from ever riding coasters.  I don't remember much about Springlake, and I certainly don't remember the things in this video, but it does make one long for a return to those good ol' days.


An article says that Springlake was popular in the '50s and '60s, was affected by a race riot in '71 and a change of ownership, and finally c losed in '81.

13
General Silver Dollar City Talk / Teacher Appreciation
« on: May 09, 2018, 03:33:44 PM »
Dear Educator Colleagues,  here is your link to the information about getting free admission (and discounted tickets for guests) to Silver Dollar City from now until June 30:

https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/Tickets/TP-Special-Offers/Teacher-Recognition#.WvGKF-XsgiV.facebook

14
Construction/Rumors / Times Revelations
« on: January 05, 2018, 05:30:26 PM »
The New Times, today, claims 2018 is the last year for the Wild West Show and for It's a Wonderful Life.

It also still announces Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas Parade is still scheduled.  I thought last year was supposed to be the last year for that parade.

15
Ozark Marketplace / There's No Busyness Like School Busyness
« on: July 05, 2017, 11:43:41 AM »
My newest book focuses on teaching.  I've collected my thoughts and reflections into one volume for educators - There's NO Busyness Like School Busyness​.  A majority of the text has been completed and is currently being proofread and edited.  I hope to offer this book online before school begins.


In this volume, I go all the way back to the beginning, when I had to interview for my first teaching job in Oklahoma.  I talk about the journey from that first class in the inner city, through my experience with the terrorist bombing four and a half miles from our class, and the 2011 EF5 tornado that cut our school year short in Joplin.

While short accounts of those events are part of School Busyness, they are not the focus of the book.  Instead, I wanted to share some of the lessons I've learned in the last 27 years - the ups and the downs.  In fact, the book begins with this:


After nearly 30 years as an educator, after experiencing many ups and downs, I set fingers on the keyboard and intentionally pattered out some wisdom that I hope makes sense.  Whether you’ve been in the classroom for a quarter century or you’re just starting out, you should find something here that will help you along the journey.

There was a time when I was ready to leave – actually a couple of times if we’re being honest.  I had heard about teachers hitting a wall, being burned out, leaving the profession prematurely.  I had heard the short longevity for teaching, and I vowed to never let that happen to me.
 
But it happened.
 
And it happened at a very inopportune time.
 
I had been teaching for two decades.  It was too late to start over, and too early to retire.  I was invested in a profession I loved, and it had become a profession I despised.


This book is intended to make teachers think and give them some practical tips and ideas to help them develop their teaching muscles.  Hopefully many will find it useful and maybe even motivating.

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