Messages

1

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: January 19, 2024, 11:43:24 AM »

Whos to say they won't just put a giant fence in front of the old FITH area so you can't see it?

2

Other Parks / Re: New Park - American Heartland in NE Oklahoma

« on: November 16, 2023, 04:44:45 PM »

There are a lot of people in the area, and they have good access due to the turnpike, but I still say that without a major IP or something to draw people, it's just a random big theme park with a generic americana theme in the middle of nowhere.

Their main hope of creating a draw is simply building enough themselves to get big, but I still don't see where the $2 billion is going to come from...

Are we already forgetting how SDC came about and put Branson on the map??? Nobody would have started any show in Branson if SDC wasn't here because shows alone don't draw people in.

This park is just outside Vinita, 45 minutes from Tulsa, on Route 66, next to the I-44 Turnpike, and West of Grand Lake. That is NOT the "middle of nowhere"! Route 66 attracts thousands to millions of people every year from all around the globe and brings in more tourists than anything else in Oklahoma.

As they have said, the company already has the money.

Plus, like History Buff said, everyone is tired of Disney and their Woke ideology. We need more companies who are against the woke regime and the creators of this park have already said that they are extremely anti-woke.

There is absolutely no way this park won't thrive because of all these factors!

I'm seeing a lot of red flags with this project. 1st, how is the park fully funded? According to sources, Gene Bicknell’s net worth is estimated to be around $240 million. The press releases say the park is all privately funded from one source, Gene. Where is 2 billion dollars coming from? Also, Gene is 91 years old. What happens if he dies before this is complete? Other little things really make me question this operation. Things like cheap signage for the RV park construction. A 2 billion dollar operation is using PVC pipe and zip ties for signage?

3

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 16, 2023, 01:20:29 PM »

I'm trying to get an idea of how the new fire in the hole district will be accessible from the existing park. I know one end will be accessible from the fireman's landing but will it also be connected to Grand Exposition?

The connection will be where the little kiddie swings are currently. You can see the new location for that ride has already been prepared next to Lake Silver if you go into the Landing.

They won't be adding a pathway to GE - yet. Looks like they could easily add one, but they haven't done much with that back area yet. It is not part of the Christmas event this year, but I would wager they will activate that space more in the coming years. They really need to add some tree islands or something to it - I don't like that it feels like a parking lot.

Ugh.  So the new FITH will be another dead end street just like Grand Expo, the original FITH, and Outlaw Run streets. SDC really needs to work on connecting all the dead end streets together.  It would really help the flow of things.

4

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 15, 2023, 03:37:33 PM »

I'm trying to get an idea of how the new fire in the hole district will be accessible from the existing park. I know one end will be accessible from the fireman's landing but will it also be connected to Grand Exposition?

5

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 13, 2023, 02:22:42 PM »

Also, I'm reading conflicting reports about if FITH used to be longer.  Some say a portion of track was removed in the early 80's making the ride shorter.  This picture of the control panel seems to show that more track used to exist.

6

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 13, 2023, 01:12:25 PM »

Does anyone know if the original FITH will be demolished before park opening in 2024?

7

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 15, 2023, 12:41:28 PM »

What is un-PC about Fireman's Landing?

"Fireman" is out of use. The modern term is "firefighter". Just like you have a mail carrier now, instead of a mailman.

I didn't realize women were firefighters in the 1880's.  I never even gave the name "issue" a thought. 

8

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 14, 2023, 01:14:32 PM »

Fireman's Landing (which was a stupid name to begin with; why is everything in Branson called a Landing?) will now be known as the Fire District, which is certainly a more PC label for the area.

What is un-PC about Fireman's Landing?

9

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: July 20, 2023, 02:48:25 PM »

I know this isn't SDC but it will affect them. A 2 billion dollar resort and theme park has been announced near Vinita, Oklahoma, a few miles from the Missouri boarder and near Grand Lake.

https://www.americanheartlandthemepark.com/

10

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 27, 2023, 02:59:48 PM »

From SDC Facebook: New for 2023, brand new strollers and coming soon new ECVs
 
Another pretty big investment in infrastructure, I reel think they are planing a big expansion the next few years. It does seem like price hikes have to be coming with all this infrastructure spending, hopefully that’s not in the form of paid parking, but the new setup sure looks like they at least put the infrastructure in place to charge in the future if they want to. It sure looks like they have a second set of 4 tollbooths behind the first set. The islands can be seen in some of the recently posted photos but no toll shacks have been built on them thus far.

They are gonna have to increase the walkway paths if they start renting out ECV's. The path's are already way too small especially on busy days.

11

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: March 27, 2023, 02:57:20 PM »

WEEK #3 UPDATES


EMPLOYEE DORMS
https://www.midwestinfoguide.com/2023/03/city-update-dorms-sdc.html

PARKING LOT
https://www.midwestinfoguide.com/2023/03/city-update-parking-sdc_23.html

LUMBER CAMP
https://www.midwestinfoguide.com/2023/03/city-update-lumbercamp-sdc_23.html

MISCELLANEOUS PARK UPDATES
https://www.midwestinfoguide.com/2023/03/city-update-sdc_23.html

New Train Depot water tower?  Does this mean the depot is not moving after FITH is torn down?

12

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: February 23, 2023, 01:57:42 PM »

There's no way they'll remove yet another popular and storied attraction such as TNT without a replacement of some sort. Probably won't be a real replacement though, just another 'family' coaster. They need to add another family coaster regardless. Something like Firechaser has always been my hope.

Somehow I don't think we'll have to worry about it just yet though unless there is something really wrong with it that would cost a ton of money to fix. I know the tunnel is a pricey repair, but obviously they can still run the ride with the bump, and unless there is a sinkhole under it (actually a high probability) then surely they can cut and reweld the track to smooth it as they have done before.

A sinkhole?  Wouldn't that sink right into marvel cave?  It's basically on top of it.

13

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: February 23, 2023, 01:52:13 PM »

It's also the 30th anniversary of Thunderation.  Hopefully it will get the TLC it's been needing for a while!  Less bumpy please.

I would get as many rides in as you can while you still can.

So is that a hint that Thunderation 2.0 is on the board? 

Just a removal.  I wouldn’t count on a replacement.

Does this have anything to do with the accident last year?

14

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: February 13, 2023, 02:40:09 PM »

As mentioned a few years ago when this was first talked about, there's no way the existing gags and Baldknobbers will return. SDC is now ran by a corporate entity in Atlanta who have no true attachment to the parks history.

They just did a facebook livestream today openly talking about Baldknobbers.  They are a legend for SDC and the area and without them, there is no theme for the ride. I wouldn't count them out.

15

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: October 06, 2022, 04:31:00 PM »

For that matter, Fire In The Hole does not seem like a ride that has a foot in the grave. I got hosed for the first time in a few years by the water cannon last week and theming elements that break are still getting repaired.

Maybe they are fixing it up before an announcement on the new one so that people see it in a good light for their last ride.