Just curious. What's everyone's thoughts on what next new ride is going to be, and which is the next to go?
I am hoping they'll do something completely new for the next attraction, but it's likely that they will continue the theme of refurbishments/replacements. Flooded Mine has long been a candidate for complete refurbishment or replacement. They invested a bunch into Flooded Mine this year though, finally doing what was necessary to get the guns reworked and fixed a bunch of the moving props. Thunderation is needing TLC next. If they want to keep it, they'll need to work on it in a major way sooner rather than later. Sounds like it'll require a bit of ground-up work including support and track replacement.
I know I'd like to see more major indoor attractions, but it may be a long wait for the next one, unless they are blown away by the response to FITH and the lessons learned while building it.
Thought I read / heard somewhere recently that rumor was they were going to give Thunderation some serious work.
Yes as noted here: https://www.sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=3274.msg85113#msg85113
And there were photos posted up a couple years ago showing how they have already been redoing the track and supports for it on the lower turnaround that sits adjacent to Time Traveler.
EDIT: Found it, dates all the way back to 2020: https://www.sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=3977.msg81707#msg81707
I'm really hoping for an omnimover ride or a trackless ride. But I don't know that either of those are very likely.
I think they have 1-2 moderate projects(retracking thunderation could be one) then a resort, then a new area.
I would really like to see them expand beyond Powderkeg or Outlaw Run and build a massive giga coaster.
Old FITH building should be either a flying theatre like SOARIN at Epcot or a new Saloon replacing the smaller one next store with a bigger, more seating and a full-service restaurant menu. Then replace the old Saloon with a Flying Scooters ride.
I'd love to see them make use of the big waterboggan tower. Would be nice to use it as an observation deck or somehow make another incarnation of the waterboggan. I think it could be made into ADA compliant if they had an elevator or lift to go to the top in.
Talking about non-coaster rides, I'd love to see a modern remake of the diving bell. never got to experience the original and despite operating less than a decade, lost of people still have nostialgia for it. As much as I hate to say it, flooded mine feels like the next removal. I really don't want it to happen, and they have been doing some work to the light guns, but its still fairly unreliable and costly to maintain. Wouldn't mind if it got the FITH treatment as long as it is in the same place with similar scenes. This wouldn't the first time Flooded Mine has been re-done.
Quote from: ColaSDC on March 07, 2025, 10:32:32 AMTalking about non-coaster rides, I'd love to see a modern remake of the diving bell. never got to experience the original and despite operating less than a decade, lost of people still have nostialgia for it. As much as I hate to say it, flooded mine feels like the next removal. I really don't want it to happen, and they have been doing some work to the light guns, but its still fairly unreliable and costly to maintain. Wouldn't mind if it got the FITH treatment as long as it is in the same place with similar scenes. This wouldn't the first time Flooded Mine has been re-done.
Same. I've never ridden the diving bell but would love to see it resurrected.
I've said for a while I'd like to see the flooded mine replaced with 2 rides, one would be a shooter ride(I'd love for it to be an omnimover for capacity) and a water ride with scenes inspired by the original flooded mine but with a little more storytelling.
Quote from: Lampie on March 07, 2025, 08:47:43 PMSame. I've never ridden the diving bell but would love to see it resurrected.
I've said for a while I'd like to see the flooded mine replaced with 2 rides, one would be a shooter ride(I'd love for it to be an omnimover for capacity) and a water ride with scenes inspired by the original flooded mine but with a little more storytelling.
I'd like to see that shooting ride concept put into wilson's farm with people shooting outlaws (in a family frinedly manner, of course.) call it renegade roundup.
If the diving bell was resurrected, wouldn't it be cool to see a ride system like SOARIN' used, but on a lighter scale? have people in seats, still have live actors, but the screen widens and you could swim under lake silver! I've seen that idea on this forum before and I like it.
LOVED the Diving Bell! It was way ahead of it's time back then. As a kid, I thought we were actually underwater. Really hated to see that one go. I know it wasn't the people eater they want now days, but it was and experience for sure. Wasn't all that large and was a "long" ride. But again, it was an amazing experience back then. With todays technology....I'd love to see what it would be like.
I would like see either the following as a refurbishing, retheme or bringing it back now that years have past and the development and improvements of ride systems, designs and show elements and animatronics have greatly improved without eliminating Silver Dollar Citys heritage and storytelling:
JIM OWENS FLOAT TRIP (REDO, BRING IT BACK AND UPDATE)
FLOODED MINE (REFURBISH, UPDATE, TOTAL REDO WITHOIT CHANGING STORYLINE, SHOW BUILDING REPLACEMENT)
RUBE DUGAN'S DIVING BELL (REDO, REIMAGINE)
GRANDFATHER'S MANSION (ADA UPDATE, SPECIAL EFFECTS UPDATE, FACILITY UPDATES, SHOW BUILDING UPKEEP)
Quote from: LoyalLeo1966 on April 23, 2025, 09:07:40 PMI would like see either the following as a refurbishing, retheme or bringing it back now that years have past and the development and improvements of ride systems, designs and show elements and animatronics have greatly improved without eliminating Silver Dollar Citys heritage and storytelling:
RUBE DUGAN'S DIVING BELL (REDO, REIMAGINED)
How about using an intamin Dynamic Motion Stage https://www.intamin.com/blog/product/dynamic-motion-stage/ themed to Rube Dugans Diving Bell.
as far as what i think (or at least, want) to go next... am i the only one who thinks the american plunge is overdue for retirement?
last i rode it, all the scenery was gone or faded to the point there's nothing to really look at. you just float along, uncomfortably close to whoever's in the boat with you for most of the ride
especially with the shiny new thing being added in that area, AP's age is really going to show. i could certainly see it being redone in the same fashion as the past couple rides, reviving a classic into something fresh but familiar
Quote from: SterlingSilver on April 26, 2025, 06:38:58 PMas far as what i think (or at least, want) to go next... am i the only one who thinks the american plunge is overdue for retirement?
last i rode it, all the scenery was gone or faded to the point there's nothing to really look at. you just float along, uncomfortably close to whoever's in the boat with you for most of the ride
especially with the shiny new thing being added in that area, AP's age is really going to show. i could certainly see it being redone in the same fashion as the past couple rides, reviving a classic into something fresh but familiar
They just got done extended the tunnel and have recently rebuilt the entire lift. It's not going anywhere
(sorry if this gets off-topic)
speaking of AP, are there any expected upgrades to the ride, like new theming? since they extended the already long tunnel, there cant just be a pitch black tunnel for 2 minutes.
I have a feeling the tunnel is going to be just as basic as before, with a few lamps along it so it isn't pitch black all the way through. I think they'll add back a bit of theming when the area is done, but I'm not expecting much. Probably some signage. If we're really lucky they'll bring back an animatronic, but I'm not holding my breath.
Hope this is okay to post here but it's been said by this employee on Reddit that the park hates MRF. Even upper management has regrets calling it the biggest misstep since Buzzsaw Falls.
Makes me wonder if they will do something to it after project 2027 gets built, but realistically I bet it wont be touched until after 2030.
wow. doesn't really suprise me though. i dont see them removing it though, it was super expensive and eats up crowds when it works.
I never got to ride buzzsaw falls, but mrf seems to be a little more reliable, right? buzzsaw falls was replaced because they ride could barely operate with its tech issues. mrf does close a lot, but it always reopens (at least when i visit.)
lost river was great, but i prefer mrf, personally.
Honestly, I haven't ever ridden MRF and only rode Lost River a few times in the 80's, but I absolutely LOVE sitting in the Smokehouse dining area and watching the river (and even longer ago, sitting in the dining area next to the grilled corn and BBQ). If they change anything, I hope they retain or rebuild a similar water feature.
I REALLY wish they would have either repaired LR or did an on par replacement instead of what they came up with. I do not like the boats, or the ride, and really have no use for the stupid lift/drop thing at the end.
MRF never went down a single time over the weekend I went this summer. The river part is fun, the drop is fun. But, the rafts absolutely SUCK! You do NOT get wet whatsoever unless you are on the half of the raft that hits the water after the drop. And even then, if the other half of the raft weighs more, you only get a misting. We rode it around a dozen times over that weekend and I only got wet twice from the big drop. It's clear the rafts were designed to be able to safely hit the water after the gimmicky drop and it shows. Very disappointing. Six flags st. Louis has a better river ride and that's saying something since that one sucks.