SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => SDC Memories/ Park History => Topic started by: Junior on March 18, 2011, 03:03:49 PM

Title: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on March 18, 2011, 03:03:49 PM
From time to time, people have asked me "what is left over at the lost river from the old diving bell days?" So while I was on park on opening day 2011, I took several photos of the left over stuff. Check the Flickr site, and I have added descriptions below the photos that tell you what in each shot is left over from the old days:

                                           http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordugan
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: DollarCityBoy on March 18, 2011, 03:10:08 PM
Thank you SO much for the added descriptions. I was viewing your Flicker account pics, before you had posted the descriptions, and i was about to ask you the what the details were on the photos.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: rubedugans on March 18, 2011, 06:53:52 PM
Being so young I don't remember anything outside of the diving bell so Thanks for identifying the structures and places that still exist from the ride.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: History Buff on March 18, 2011, 07:33:17 PM
This is a great collection.  You should add it to the wiki.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: betamike on March 22, 2011, 09:49:45 PM
I spent HOURS in that playground as a kid.  Sad to see it gone, but even more depressed to know it's still there (kinda)
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on March 23, 2011, 01:00:03 PM
Beta Mike (and any other hardcore sdcfans.com takers) if we get together at the park sometime, I'll be glad to do a guided tour around the Lost River building and point out the stuff left over from the old days. Same thing over at the American Plunge regarding the old float trip. I'd love to get a park "insider" to take us into the heart of the building prior to opening some day and get the work lights turned on. It would be interesting to take a camera along and snap some photos there. I have not been inside the "employees only" area since 1984, and much has changed. As someone else reported, I think in a trip thread, the floors in the Lost River have been refurbished and covered differently from my last trip inside the building. So, as time marches on, traces of the old diving bell are further being wiped out...natural progression as the building continues to get day to day use.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: cocodane3 on March 28, 2011, 10:32:01 PM
sounds cool
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: betamike on March 29, 2011, 06:07:54 PM
Best idea...EVER!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: sanddunerider on March 29, 2011, 06:12:59 PM
Great!  Count me in!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on March 30, 2011, 04:52:14 PM
I'll probably pick a day during Worldfest to visit the park again. Let you in on my visit date ASAP.  :)
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on March 31, 2011, 10:30:59 AM
hope I can join in on that fun!!!! oh and you should so sell your diving bell book in the new dugan store! Hot stinkin Dog!!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: sanddunerider on March 31, 2011, 02:38:11 PM
As soon as you decide for sure. Let us know.

I would love to attend and would try to juggle my schedule accordingly to make it happen.

I am just guessing, but i would guess weekend would be better and maybe for those of us that need to drive in. specifically sunday. IMO..   But dont get me wrong I am open...
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: KBCraig on April 02, 2011, 11:15:24 PM
Thanks for those photos and descriptions. I recognized a lot of the old RBDB structure and how it's been covered up, bypassed, or modified. It's great to have an insider's view of things like the Goon Shack.

I'm about to turn 48, so I never paid any attention to Rube's playground, but I always went for a journey to the bottom of Lake Silver at least once every summer.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on April 03, 2011, 08:45:19 AM
You and I are less than a year apart in age, so I know what you are saying about the "old days" at SDC. You would have graduated high school in 1981. I'm a 1980 Branson High School graduate.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: History Buff on April 03, 2011, 11:56:58 AM
You guys are so old!  Class of '83!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on April 03, 2011, 04:56:07 PM
Ha! (bones creaking) Ha! (hair greying) Ha! (walkin' farts).    LOL     :)
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on April 05, 2011, 10:51:16 AM
Can someone hand me a towel?? I am feelin a lil wet behind the ears (2006 grad)
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: sanddunerider on April 05, 2011, 11:32:29 AM
2006!!!!!!  WOW!!!    Towel is in the mail!.  LOL.   
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: haytater on April 05, 2011, 06:35:07 PM
2006 over here, too.

I never knew there was a diving bell playground. I would love to see old pictures of that. Junior, can you tell me more about it?
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: History Buff on April 05, 2011, 09:00:30 PM
Translation:  "Hey, old timer, find a working bulb for the slide projector in a flea market somewhere, load up the carousel tray (careful, don't put 'em in upside down), and let's here about the old days.  'Anybody have some Jiffy Pop?"
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: haytater on April 05, 2011, 10:11:39 PM
Hey now, I pop me some Jiffy Pop every now and then...
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: sanddunerider on April 06, 2011, 07:30:39 AM
ok HB!  now all the kids are looking up-

Slide Projector,

Carasoul tray,

and Jiffy Pop

;D..
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on April 06, 2011, 10:45:01 AM
hey now I do know what a cara-sail tray is. I just learnd me about that there thing in a readers digest!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on April 06, 2011, 04:03:46 PM
Ha! I have been enjoying the sarcastic commentary!  ;D  Photos of the diving bell playground at the Flickr site:

                                                      http://www.flicker.com/photos/juniordugan
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: sanddunerider on April 06, 2011, 07:38:01 PM
thank you,    thank you,     thank you very much!

we're here all week!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: haytater on April 06, 2011, 07:42:24 PM
Thanks Junior! I am always amazed to find out about a bit of SDC that I never knew about. Keeps the place even more magical for me.

Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: SDC#1fan on April 07, 2011, 04:07:14 AM
Love the photos!
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: Junior on April 07, 2011, 07:41:03 AM
If you cruise back through the other photos on the Flickr site, you'll see photos of the front and back sides of the "coin" that kids got for panning for silver in 1977 and 1978 at the RDDB playground.
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: KBCraig on April 10, 2011, 12:20:40 AM
Quote from: Junior on April 03, 2011, 08:45:19 AM
You and I are less than a year apart in age, so I know what you are saying about the "old days" at SDC. You would have graduated high school in 1981. I'm a 1980 Branson High School graduate.

Yep, class of '81, Hatfield High (Arkiesaw).
Title: Re: What is left over from the diving bell?
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on April 11, 2011, 09:20:54 AM
Hatfeild High??? What a hoot! Did you fight the McCoys often???? Yes bad joke but it made me chuckle!