Silver Dollar City "You have a great past/future ahead of you"

[Hatfield McCoy]

I was pondering today's announcement and there were several clues as to the direction of Silver Dollar City in today's announcement.  Every corporation wants to expand and stay relevant, especially those in the entertainment business. 

It got me wondering aloud to my wife.  Is the "Time Traveler" now the prevalent answer as to why we are going back to the 1880's town? 

I also wonder if this means...and I say this lightly lest the purists come and snatch me away like the flying monkeys did in the Wizard of Oz....if this becomes the quasi-theme for SDC...Time Traveler. 

It sets up an answer to a mystery; on the one hand in which one can think "ahhh this is how we were able to visit an 1880's town".  While at the same time opening up a MUCH broader theme to a company that may have designs on becoming the "Disney" of the midwest.  In other words in say a few years if there is a resort and MANY expansions to this great park, is there a chance SDC becomes a park within a park.  You are able to stay true to the original, yet able to incorporate what they were trying to do with Celebration City visa vis 1930's, 1950's and beyond?  With the Time traveler in the theme one could go even further in the past, making their theme even more broad. 

It would be sad on the one hand, but exciting on the other, as long as there was a distinct way of separating the different sections of the park.  Many parks have lands, or sections with different themes, and maybe management is trying to broaden the appeal past the regional status.  You could stay true to the 1880's heritage while moving into a broader future.  It would sadden most purists like me, but insulate the company from a Dogpatch future. 

Anyway, just throwing that out when listening to the announcement,  I heard the future of SDC mentioned a lot juxtaposed with remembering it's heritage/past.  I love the SDC of old, but on many trips I see less polyester pant suits and craft demonstrations, and more cell phone impaired attention spans.  From a corporate point of view, maybe they are a little afraid of plowing millions into a theme park of the "past".  Broader themes mean a broader audience.  And if there are any plans of moving out of a niche then I am sure this has been discussed. 

[Duelist]

I think we're safe with the basic 1880s Ozark theme.  The park of course has changed from what it was with it's initial emphasis on crafts to it's current (and future) emphasis on rides but they're still keeping that theme.  I agree with most posters that they need to spend the time and money to revive, or slightly alter, existing classic rides such as FITH, AP, etc.  But even with the newer rides they're still keeping that theme.  I send them frequent emails praising the fact that they stay true to the theme.

[Gilligan]

Duelist, I think you are right about that.  But, I think they are missing the boat in refurbishing the old rides, not just because I love them, but because they are going to all but disappear in other theme parks and SDC could be the park that continues on with that piece of the past that people like. I think they'd always be popular with all generations.

[mhguy77]

Duelist, I think you are right about that.  But, I think they are missing the boat in refurbishing the old rides, not just because I love them, but because they are going to all but disappear in other theme parks and SDC could be the park that continues on with that piece of the past that people like. I think they'd always be popular with all generations.

This is exactly the situation at Knotts Berry farm.  They have restored classics for this very reason and it has paid off.  Once you knock them down you can't rebuild them. 

[runner1960]

I was pondering today's announcement and there were several clues as to the direction of Silver Dollar City in today's announcement.  Every corporation wants to expand and stay relevant, especially those in the entertainment business. 

It got me wondering aloud to my wife.  Is the "Time Traveler" now the prevalent answer as to why we are going back to the 1880's town? 

I also wonder if this means...and I say this lightly lest the purists come and snatch me away like the flying monkeys did in the Wizard of Oz....if this becomes the quasi-theme for SDC...Time Traveler. 

It sets up an answer to a mystery; on the one hand in which one can think "ahhh this is how we were able to visit an 1880's town".  While at the same time opening up a MUCH broader theme to a company that may have designs on becoming the "Disney" of the midwest.  In other words in say a few years if there is a resort and MANY expansions to this great park, is there a chance SDC becomes a park within a park.  You are able to stay true to the original, yet able to incorporate what they were trying to do with Celebration City visa vis 1930's, 1950's and beyond?  With the Time traveler in the theme one could go even further in the past, making their theme even more broad. 

It would be sad on the one hand, but exciting on the other, as long as there was a distinct way of separating the different sections of the park.  Many parks have lands, or sections with different themes, and maybe management is trying to broaden the appeal past the regional status.  You could stay true to the 1880's heritage while moving into a broader future.  It would sadden most purists like me, but insulate the company from a Dogpatch future. 

Anyway, just throwing that out when listening to the announcement,  I heard the future of SDC mentioned a lot juxtaposed with remembering it's heritage/past.  I love the SDC of old, but on many trips I see less polyester pant suits and craft demonstrations, and more cell phone impaired attention spans.  From a corporate point of view, maybe they are a little afraid of plowing millions into a theme park of the "past".  Broader themes mean a broader audience.  And if there are any plans of moving out of a niche then I am sure this has been discussed.

Actually I think they are already there in a way. Several areas of the park have a totally different feel to them. Grand Expo is supposed to be set up on the outskirts of the city, Wilsons farm has more of a 1930ish look. The barn facade is more gothic look than frontier look. Then you have the homestead area. The center of the city down to PK is still real to the original look.  Firemans landing has that disney Mickeys toontown look to it.

[Duelist]

^ But they're not blatantly out of the theme.  Their stories are still written how they fit in at SDC.  I get it that nothing besides main street- maybe the train/flooded mine area also- even remotely look like an actual 1880s Ozark mining village but this is a "fantasy" Ozark mining village for the most part and I'm ok with that.

[Okiebenz]

I really do not care for the Firemans landing area.  We rarely go in there when at the park.  I liked Geyser Gulch better.

[mhguy77]

I really do not care for the Firemans landing area.  We rarely go in there when at the park.  I liked Geyser Gulch better.

Maybe changing tastes but it seems like GG used to get really full of both adults and their kids, they played together.  I don't see this at FL.  I think the splash area with water guns also really helped.  Change is needed but the area seemed to go from an enhanced community play area to something that seems to have more options but did they gain by placing those people back into lines?  I wonder if they should have added FL and kept and updated GG. 

[Okiebenz]

I really do not care for the Firemans landing area.  We rarely go in there when at the park.  I liked Geyser Gulch better.

Maybe changing tastes but it seems like GG used to get really full of both adults and their kids, they played together.  I don't see this at FL.  I think the splash area with water guns also really helped.  Change is needed but the area seemed to go from an enhanced community play area to something that seems to have more options but did they gain by placing those people back into lines?  I wonder if they should have added FL and kept and updated GG.

I would have liked that, kept GG and build FL somewhere else.  I used to like shooting at the targets with the kid.  I got to do that with him once the year before the replaced it with FL. 

[mhguy77]

I would have liked that, kept GG and build FL somewhere else.  I used to like shooting at the targets with the kid.  I got to do that with him once the year before the replaced it with FL. [/quote

You would think it could have been done.  I really enjoyed the large play area and the activity I would see there with the kids running and parents taking a much-needed "load off". 

[Swoosh]

Isn't memory a wonderful and fickle thing?  I appreciate everyone romanticizing how great GG was.  Problem is that most of these memories are not true.  GG was old, broken down and limping along in its final years.  Most of the effects and all those wonderful things being mentioned were broken or long gone.  FL is a newer and much more coehesive replacement for GG.  All of those pluses you are mentioning can be accomplished with this newer model.  Those water firing targets were a hold out from a previous attraction and were not new to GG.  Newer models can be found at RB if you want. 

[History Buff]

Isn't memory a wonderful and fickle thing?  I appreciate everyone romanticizing how great GG was.  Problem is that most of these memories are not true.  GG was old, broken down and limping along in its final years.  Most of the effects and all those wonderful things being mentioned were broken or long gone.  FL is a newer and much more coehesive replacement for GG.  All of those pluses you are mentioning can be accomplished with this newer model.  Those water firing targets were a hold out from a previous attraction and were not new to GG.  Newer models can be found at RB if you want.

Not to mention that the place was loud and unsightly - even when it was built and painted to those 80s (1980s) Miami Vice colors.

[Okiebenz]

Isn't memory a wonderful and fickle thing?  I appreciate everyone romanticizing how great GG was.  Problem is that most of these memories are not true.  GG was old, broken down and limping along in its final years.  Most of the effects and all those wonderful things being mentioned were broken or long gone.  FL is a newer and much more coehesive replacement for GG.  All of those pluses you are mentioning can be accomplished with this newer model.  Those water firing targets were a hold out from a previous attraction and were not new to GG.  Newer models can be found at RB if you want.

What previous attraction were the water firing targets from?

[HumphreyHawk]

Isn't memory a wonderful and fickle thing?  I appreciate everyone romanticizing how great GG was.  Problem is that most of these memories are not true.  GG was old, broken down and limping along in its final years.  Most of the effects and all those wonderful things being mentioned were broken or long gone.  FL is a newer and much more coehesive replacement for GG.  All of those pluses you are mentioning can be accomplished with this newer model.  Those water firing targets were a hold out from a previous attraction and were not new to GG.  Newer models can be found at RB if you want.

Agree....the place was falling apart and was starting to be a terrible eyesore.  1/2 of the water cannons where broke 1/2 the foam cannons where broke and pretty much none of the water targets worked it's final year. 

The fountains where awesome but even they looked old and didn't always consistently work.  My kids who used to love that area didn't seem to miss it and they all pretty much have at least one ride they love in FL.  Thought is was a pretty good replacement.

That all being said....the GG (non-AC) play structure was a lot better than the new (AC) building.  It was so much more fun to explore then the new firehouse. 

We will probably have a generation who remembers GG fondly like the group on here who often bring up playing on the old Sawyers Landing and treehouse.

[Swoosh]

Isn't memory a wonderful and fickle thing?  I appreciate everyone romanticizing how great GG was.  Problem is that most of these memories are not true.  GG was old, broken down and limping along in its final years.  Most of the effects and all those wonderful things being mentioned were broken or long gone.  FL is a newer and much more coehesive replacement for GG.  All of those pluses you are mentioning can be accomplished with this newer model.  Those water firing targets were a hold out from a previous attraction and were not new to GG.  Newer models can be found at RB if you want.

What previous attraction were the water firing targets from?

Creedy Bros. You rode in a canoe like boat around Lake Silver and went through the two structures firing at the targets.  They were retrofitted to water targets for GG