Messages

136

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: How's Celebration City Doing?

« on: June 05, 2008, 12:38:30 PM »

The family and I came back yesterday from a trip to SDC and Celebration City.  I don't know if it is the heat, hills or what, but sometimes I think the family as a whole is beginning to enjoy Celebration City as much or more than SDC.  From the close parking to the less hilly terrain, the atmosphere is much more relaxing.  There is plenty to do for everyone, and the night coolness was very welcomed compared to the muggy afternoon at SDC.  The trees are starting to really develop at Celebration City also making the park really feel established.

137

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: New characters!!!

« on: June 05, 2008, 12:18:31 PM »

The family and I just came back from a trip to SDC and Celebration City.  We ran into one of the characters that Terry Sanders has invented on the way out of the park.  It is especially funny because Terry is from my hometown. He was dressed as, for lack of a better description, a very ugly backwoods hag.  All with snaggly teethe and wild, frizzy hair.  The kids stopped in their tracks to gawk.  The two and one half year old looks at us and exclaims "what happend to her"!  It was hilarious.  It is nice to see the Silver Dollar City get some characters back in the park.

138

Other Parks / Re: Old Exotic Animal Paradise?

« on: May 20, 2008, 12:16:29 AM »

Thanks for the link.  I was hoping it would grow into something unique with new ownership.  The kids love zoos, but the drive through approach doesn't appeal after a long drive to get there (for the kids at least).  They would rather go to a walk through zoo and stretch their legs. 

Thanks again.

139

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Am I the only one who loved the 50s show in Echo Hollow and looks forward. . .

« on: May 20, 2008, 12:10:25 AM »

I haven't run across very many smooth wooden rollercoasters either, but I thought "Ozark Wildcat" was incredibly smooth for a woodie.  I took my little nephew on the Screaming Eagle several years ago and actually felt sorry for him it was so rough.  He had a blast but only because I held my arms around him to cushion him from the blows.  I apologized to him as I didn't remember it being that rough, and made it up to him by taking him on "The Boss"....poor kid. 

We ride the "Ozark Wildcat" every chance we get and think it is the perfect wooden rollercoater.  Have you tried it yet?

140

Other Parks / Old Exotic Animal Paradise?

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:59:23 AM »

I have noticed that has new ownership.  Does anyone know if it is becoming a theme park, or staying the same?

141

Construction/Rumors / Re: CC's 2008 Project

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:34:44 AM »

I wouldn't be surprised to see a re-theme at all even though my family has come to love the Celebration City atmosphere.  I am sure that the Herschend's are looking at the possibility because of the poorer perfomance of Celebration City and the recent purchase of Wild Adventures.  They could borrow ideas and plans from the sister park, much the way they do with Silver Dollar City and Dollywood.  The zoo animals might be a huge draw.  The Ozark Wildcat could remain the same as it would fit right in the theme. 

142

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2009/10 Project

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:30:23 AM »

I noticed back in April some blue ribbons around some trees back behind the butterfly ride in the Grand Expo section while waiting in line with my daughter.  I was looking at an old cement thing way off in the woods and wondering what it could be when I noticed the ribbons.  I assumed they were marking trees for removal due to storm damage and poor condition.  I am sure that is what that was as there wasn't that many.  It is a hilly section though, and would make a good location for a wood rollercoaster.

If they do use some of the terrain I hope they don't bulldoze trees and replant, but build through and around the existing trees to add to the "out of control" feeling.

143

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Huck Finn's Tree Fort

« on: September 10, 2007, 12:15:15 AM »

Here's a scan of the 1980s souvenir map I got off Ebay; I've cropped it to show just the Hideaway/Landing area:
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/HuckFinn1980.jpg">
<img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/th_HuckFinn1980.jpg"></a>
click on pic for full-size

By the time I first went to SDC in '94, they didn't have those barrels and cave/tunnel things... And I've a question: on this map, there's no spiraling path like what we have now that takes you from above the train track down into the Landing.... This map makes it look like a straight shot.... How was it really set up? The map is not the most accurate (comparing it to this year's new awesome map, I find just how terribly inaccurate the souvenir map is).

And here are a couple other pics I have, the first from March '06 (the last time I ever got to go in there), the other two from April '07 (the middle pic is sized where it can be used as a wallpaper for people with 1024x768 resolution)....
<a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/HuckFinnSign.jpg">
<img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/th_HuckFinnSign.jpg"></a> <a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/HuckFinn2007a.jpg"> <img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/th_HuckFinn2007a.jpg"></a> <a href="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/HuckFinn2007b.jpg"> <img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/caitlin_boyd/SDC/th_HuckFinn2007b.jpg"></a>
click on pics for full-size

Hope others have pics to show! It'd be awesome to see what the area used to look like.

~ "Becky" Joy ~

Hi there,

Depending on what year it was in the 80's it was probably semi accurate although cartoony.  The spiral didn't come along until sometime in the eighties.  If you look closely it has a little newer look to it than it's surroundings. 

I wrote this in another thread, before I saw this one, but the tree house used to exit right around the Christmas shop.  It ended with a little cave that had thousands of little stars in it.  You can still see the old cave exit just to the right of the Christmas shop.

144

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Random Stuff Round-Up

« on: September 09, 2007, 11:55:56 PM »

Thanks Copper.

I also remember the street performers being a much more integral part of the SDC experience.  The street shows were pretty elaborate.  The Hatfield and McCoy feud was entertaining, and a few times a day the "Rain Maker" man would drive his mule drawn wagon to the main street  to make it rain.  He would peddle snake oils and such, and in the end he would make it rain by pushing a lever that made water shoot out the top of his wagon contraption.  His wagon is still in the park.  The last time I saw it was on main street.

145

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Random Stuff Round-Up

« on: September 09, 2007, 11:37:57 PM »

There has been talk, just talk; about a wooden coaster taking the place of Echo Hollow.

The characters in the Flooded Mine are modeled after real Citizens (employees) of the city.

There is a section in Fire in the Hole that has been removed. I added this to Wikipedia before I knew of this site.
“An interesting fact to Fire in the Hole is a section of the ride has been removed. After the first dip (Collapsing Bridge) the ride would turn right and later reconnect in front of the second dip. (Train Collision) If you look close at the scene where the cabin is burning there is a moon and some stars above one of the old track areas. Also when you see the sign “Kinney Bridge” on your left is a large open area where scenes once existed.”
I peronally don’t remember this section in Fire in the Hole, does anyone?

Hi,

I have been reading the forum and have really enjoyed the memories.  When I was a kid the Fire In the Hole was a little longer.  At one point the train would head toward a piece of glowing twisted track that looked as though you were going to fly off into the canyon below.  It was only visible in the front, but was a really nice visual.  At the last second you would whip in another direction.  It might have been the whip that became a liability making them take it out. The trains were car or two longer also making the ride a little faster.  Anyway, great site!

Also, the tree house ended with a small dark cave with hand rails and the only thing that lit it up was what seemed like a million little stars.  The cave is still there right next to the christmas shop.  When they closed that portion they just diverted guests out a different exit.