SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => SDC Memories/ Park History => Topic started by: shavethewhales on July 14, 2007, 02:28:33 PM
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Now that it's on it's death bed, anyone remember the good ole days when the tree house had more than the music room and the 'shadow machine'? I still remember when it was actually a tree fort, when there were faux guns sticking out the windows, crazy mirrors and oddities all over the place, plus some cool games. Back then it was a beehive of over-excited little kids scrambling for toys... man, I loved it.
If anyone has any photos, even recent ones, I'd appreciate seeing them.
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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 ~
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I'll look around for some pictures since this used to be my favorite place in SDC as a kid. I'm sure my mom has some pictures in the bottom of her hope chest maybe.
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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.
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So this thought came to me awhile back - could one of the reasons behind the demise of the whole Tom Sawyer's area be the debate over whether or not 'The Adventures of Huck Finn' is racist? Personally, I think anyone that finds the book to be racist doesn't have the ability to evaluate literature, but
being America, you don't have to have knowledge on a subject to cause an uproar over it.
There was recently a fight over this in my area, and I was surprised at how many people were short-sighted enough to view the book as racist. Maybe SDC has been receiving complaints? It seems to me that they would normally be trying harder to spruce up the area.
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Eh. The argument about "Huck Finn" being racist has been around since the book was first published.
Sadly, I'd be surprised if there are more than a handful of SDC visitors who even know more about Huck Finn besides a general summary. I mean, one of the reasons Disney overlayed its Tom Sawyer Island and got rid of the walk-around Twain characters was because kids had no clue who Tom Sawyer was!
I wouldn't be surprised if the reason Tom Sawyer's Landing is going to pot is more because of this generation's lack of knowledge about Mark Twain than anything else. I'd love to see SDC revitalize the area and maybe have walk-around Twain characters and maybe even a Twain himself... Maybe have a story-telling "show" in the Carousel Barn where "Mark Twain" tells truncated versions of some of his stories, like the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and stuff like that.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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That would be the best! People would really interact with some talented strolling characters and maybe even a mini-show of Twainisms. BTW, the Treehouse there and GF's Mansion are some of those little "tweaks" that make SDC unique and amazing. Other little nuances include:
the talking railroad bucket (whose signage was repainted this year)
the tree with water coming out of it (near the American Plunge)
the "Don't look through this hole" and the "For Men Only" type things built into the fences and knot holes
Even after 40 years, I still love discovering something new like these every time I visit. Just finding one thing makes my Season Pass worth the price.
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These types of nuances you are talking about are called Andyisms.
Andy Miller is responsible for the original Silver Dollar City. He came up with all these little extras that mean so much to us. He loved curved streets, so that you had a sense of closeness with the City and never felt surrounded by people. He would take any project handed to him and transmit it into 1880s Ozarks. He was the master designer. Also, Mary and Andy were very strict; they were known to stop projects half way done and make them tare it down and start over. They strived for the best.
I love hearing stories about Mary, Andy and also Don Richardson.
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Wow, I must have been missing this news over the last year or so. I didn't know they were removing this. I wonder if they have a replacement in mind? I always liked the tree house concept when I was a kid so hopefully they keep it a tree house of some sort. I know it's no Powder Keg, but it's always the small stuff like this that has made me like SDC.
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Has there been any news lately on the status of the Tree House? I kind of assumed that they would be taking it down this winter as I can't see why they would keep it up any longer. Has anyone heard anything?
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I remember the first time I went to SDC. The park was not a buy one ticket and ride what you want as many times as you wanted.
Back then you got a ticket with all the rides listed on it. Then when you went to a ride or attraction, they stamped or punch the ticket.
I remember a girl sitting at the bottom of the tree marking all the tickets so you could only go in once.
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i always loved the treehouse when i was a kid back in the 80's. i still remember the slow nervous walk across the bridge (before they started making you crawl across it) and the little maze you had to go through to get to the stairs,and waiting in line to pop off a couple of shots from the air guns,then the" oh my god am i going to fall "climb down the stairs to the "cave of stars" only to come out alive and turn right around and go do it all over again
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Ahh the rope, maze, and the ball pit, the air guns, that place was great. Climbing up the hollow "tree" was always great. Both Hucks Hideaway and Tom Sawyers Landing
(formerly Hermans Hermits I am pretty sure) were all amazing places. I wonder what the treehouse looks like inside. Injun Joes cave (of stars) always reminded me of a weird music video, I wanted a room like that in my house!
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I remember when it used to exit off into the toy store. Pretty good idea there from a business standpoint. I'm sure there were reasons why they discontinued that. Anyone know?
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WOW, all this talk about Huck Fin's fort and I'm suddlenly remembering all kinds of stuff about it, was there a room with a lighted floor by any chance? I remember the air guns, trying to shoot at the train when it went by. Hmmm, now I wish I could o back through it, don't think I've been through it since I was maybe 7 or 8. Oh well, too late now.
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^^My guess would be that parents were losing their kids when they entered the tree fort and exited from the toy store.
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^Yeah, that makes sense.
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I think I am getting teary from reading what a great place this was. I dont remember it to well considering I was so little. I remember the ball pit cuz they had the slides along the far wall and I was so little it was an effort to get to them. I look at where they were and its not that big of a space....anyway. I miss the tree house and all the memories everyone has. I just wish my son could have enjoyed it the way we did.
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For a brief history of the treehouse, check out my Flickr site and go back into it a page or so and look for an article I wrote titled "Lost" Rides and Attractions of Silver Dollar City. The treehouse, known by various names as the theme was altered a bit...Herman the Hermit's Treetop House, Rocky's Root Beer Factory, and Huck Finn's Hideaway...was a favorite attraction. As you know, it's been closed since about 2005 or so, likely because of handicapped accessibility laws now in place and because it's very old, and probably a bit too rickety.
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that is a shame, I do remember it as a much younger person. wish the kids now could enjoy the "old majic".
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majic?? what that majic? LOL... no spell check here...... MAGIC!!!!!!
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I have emailed SDC about the fort and asked for any information on it and this is the reply
Thank you for your email. Your input is very important to us and will be shared with the general manager and management team.
I will post more when I get more information. I hope they are not just blowin train smoke up my skirts.........
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I just got back from Silver Dollar City this week, and although the tree fort is obviously still closed off, let's just all be so very thankful that it is still standing! It was glistening in the sunlight, and I took several pictures of it. :)
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Another good project for winter this year would be a rehab of the tree house! They could also put children's attractions in the area around and below it...see saws, climbing obsticles, swings, simple, easy to maintain playground stuff. Perhaps a few benches and picnic tables for those who get food at the sandwich and pie shop across from it. Would it really cost that much to do it? Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part.
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This would really make my day. I miss that tree house.
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good point junior.. would be a fairly economical fix... be nice if it would happen.
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Well, it does beg the question as to why it is still standing? Do they plan on doing something with it in the future, or is it just cheaper to leave it as boarded up eye candy? I guess I can't complain too much. However, I hope the former proves true rather than the latter. :P
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I guess I am the odd man out -- I have no emotional attachment to it. It is an eyesore in my opinion and should just be taken all the way out.
Sorry to trample on some of your emotional parties, but it is not going to reopen.
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I think they're leaving it up partly for sentiment, partly because of the costs of taking it down, and partly due to the fact that they don't have anything lined up to replace it. There's no way it can be restored. Even if it is indeed structurally sound, they'd have to put in an elevator for ADA access and rebuild the trunk/bridge so people could actually fit through it. I very much doubt that would be worth it for the park.
I wouldn't mind seeing it taken down if they replaced it with a couple of good shops to boost mid-town. That area is kind of a backwoods now.
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Loved it as a kid, and I think about sneaking up there every visit. But... I begrudgingly agree.... progress is inevitable. It will eventually come down, regardless of how many memories we have about it. Is it Safe, no. would it still be Fun, yes!
I almost do not want to go back up though. I would not want to tarnish the image in my head, of the air rifles, the star room, the spiral staircase tree, the door to the toy store( that is now non-existant). It is like revisiting your old elementary, or middle school. It seems well, older, smaller, not quite as cool as it was when you were they 15-20 yrs ago. I will continue to photograph it, and maybe if the opportunity ever did come up for a last trip up...who knows maybe I would compromise my memories for one last look.
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Though hopeful it will be restored, I tend to agree with Swoosh, as it is probably 99.9 percent likely it will be taken out. With the coming of Half Dollar Holler, this winter would be a good time to remove it. I could still see some sort of small playground going in there, maybe a small building. It would be nice just to leave it as green space, too. Perhaps an area for future development. Do you think it just coincidence that Half Dollar Hollar is slated to have a bunch of little treehouses? Perhaps that's the response to all the guest questions about the current treehouse?
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What if they brought the treehouse portion down to ground level!!!!!Hey if they can take apart a church and a cabin piece by piece to reconstruct...why not a treehouse, well I guess then it would just be a house huh?
As for the Tree Stairs...I think those will be a chore to remove. Maybe they will auction off chunks!
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Just another mind fart...but what if they did bring the treehouse down to say, a few feet off ground level, and moved it to half dollar holler? Certainly someone there at the park can put together a blueprint for the treehouse, and they could use the old material from it to rebuild a new, stronger version of it? Ahhhhh...we have such interesting ideas, just no power or money to put the ideas into play!!!
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Hmmmmmmmm? ???
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Not sure If'n I spurred that thought in you, but if not Junior...were on the same page here!
Enjoy ya'all...this might be the last view of the interior that you'll ever have!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/huckfinns.jpg)
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/fortuneteller.jpg)
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such wonderful pictures! oh how I miss that thing! I am going to state now that if I win the powerball I will give the money to SDC to restore the tree house!!!!
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Wow! :o
What great, and classic photos you have there Rube! It has been so many years since I have been inside of the tree house, that I nearly forgot what it looked like. Just seeing the swinging bridge in action almost brings a tear of joy to my eyes. :)
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Great shots, Rube. Looking at the photo of the folks crossing the bridge, your pictures would have to be from about 1980 or maybe '81. The management had a crawling net placed on the bridge around 81 or 82 to prevent adults from going inside...I don't know this for sure, but my personal belief is that the treehouse was becoming unstable and I guess they figured by keeping big adults out of it, it might last a few more seasons. I do know about this time period they reinforced the legs on the treehouse, because I witnessed the maintenance and construction crews doing the work. The 1980-81 period is when Tom Sawyer's Landing was new and the treehouse had been rethemed to Huck Finn's Hideaway to fit in with the adjacent "landing." Thanks for sharing, and I hope you can get your pops permission to wade through all the family photos soon, so we can see more of them here.
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Thanks!, now time for a bad shot...this one is soooo underexposed. But you can see the Pre Huck Finn transformation. Notice the sign about the "Revenoor Head Chopper" above the door! Like that would go over now adays!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/revenoor.jpg)
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rube-have I told you how much I love you lately? I love your pictures!
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great pics, i remeber some of them now that i see them... thanks!
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Revenoor Head CHopper....somebody call the Department of Homeland Security! (Or maybe not!) ;)
This shot looks like it dates back to the days when the treehouse was called Herman the Hermit's Treetop House. it was full of weird and wacky inventions, all of which worked.
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Definitely Hermans Hermits era there Junior. I have a few more of that era, but not too many. The more I think about it over the past 2 days since my response...I would go up if I had the chance. Looking at these old photos have made me wonder...what is up there now. Is it storage? are the signs/ gags, still in place? If someone will give me a boost next time I'll climb on up and check it out next time!!! Not really, but man would it be interesting to see again.
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Hey, Rube, if you don't get in your dad's house and post some of those choice photos you are talking about, I'm gonna find out where he lives and have him drag all those old vacation photos out so I can see them! ;D
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Hmm any requests of items we have not seen...I take requests...
The ones I am speaking of are in a box of 1,000+ slides right now, and I just have to sort them by location and scan each one...no biggie!
I plan on my Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks this year on converting VHS to digital from our trips, and scanning mom and dads photos of SDC from 1974-present. Patience Junior, it has been 35 years, what is a few more weeks?
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/hermanthermits-1.jpg)
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Hey, this shot of the treehouse from the side and back looks to have been shot when the stagecoach depot was still in operation...If I'm not mistaken, the depot was planted in what would now be about the middle of hill street prior to the FITH addition with the saloon. So I think this photo predates 1972.
Any shots of the stage depot and some of the stagecoaches? How about shots along the old stagecoach trail that wound through the side and back of SDC? And, since you are taking requests, any shots of the old BUTTERFIELD HOTEL along the stagecoach trail? The hotel was located across the tracks from FITH, and sat in part of the Wilson's Farm area. I think that when they added FITH and the Saloon and the book and tintype shop about 72 or 73, they moved the stage depot to it's present location. Of course, it has been converted into a restaurant, and does not look very much like the stage depot now.
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which restaurant junior? i dont remeber the depot.. would like to look at the building and see if i can "go back".....
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I cannot remember the name. There used to be a restaurant called "Fried Fancies." The old depot sat next to it on the lumbercamp side. You will have to ask Rube what the restaurant is called today. To me, it is somewhat of a shame to have it turned into a restaurant. The old building was a true hewn log structure on the lower floor. The upper floor was board and batten sided. At one point in the early 80's the upper floor was an office for one of the food department managers. Lower floor was closed off. A covered area on one side still contained one of the old stagecoaches that kids used to climb all over. That's all gone now.
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"Getting slightly off subject here...but Rube...is the onion patch the old Stagecoach Depot? The roofline looks familiar."
Posted by Junior on April 19th,2010 in "Where in the city"
Is that the one you're talking about?
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Indeed it is! (searching for the photo)
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Yeah...the Onion Patch...that's the old stage depot!!! :D
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The one place that I intended to check out, but forgot to during my last visit was the Onion Patch! Oh, well it will have to wait till next time I suppose. :)
Taking a look at the most recent picture submitted by Rube of the tree house, there appears to be a large gray fake rock formation at the bottom of the picture. Is that still in existence today? I sure don't recognize it.
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onion patch? ok i will chekc it out.
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That large grey object was the "cave" you entered upon leaving the treehouse. It featured one room that was completely dark...an infinity room. White miniature Christmas lights were strung ceiling to floor, and the walls, ceiling and floor was covered in mirrors. Weird electronic blips and beeps, a "space type music" was pumped into the room. Walking through the Infinity room was like walking across the cosmos, it appeared as if you were floating or walking through outer space. Now, I'm a real stickler for theme, and that room, my friends, was never in theme. But somehow the infinity room fit in OK...I think that was because when originially built as Herman the Hermits Treetop House, it was filled with weird and wild inventions that Herman came up with, and they all worked. You had just come through a two story treehouse with unusual inventions, had walked down a staircase, and into a cave, but somehow, you had been taken to outer space! What can I say, it worked! Remember, when the treehouse was opened in 1968 or '69, it was the peak of space exploration...MAN HAD JUST LANDED ON THE MOON. In the early to mid 60s, SDC had a Western theme, as westerns were popular, as the decade passed, theme was altered to strictly an Ozark theme. But, as theme parks do, they ride the wave of pop culture, even at SDC, and that "Infinity Room" just fit the times. One of my jobs as Junior Dugan was to clean the treehouse each morning. The infinity room looked quite different with the work lights on. I actually preferred sweeping the walkway in the dark...not because I could get away with not doing a good job...but because I loved spending a few minutes in that weird, wacky room with all the effects in full force.
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If I remember correctly you would exit the infinity room by just walking out. At one time which I think was just predating this room, you would exit via a concrete slide. The slide ended between the treehouse and what is the Christmas Hollow store now. I would figure they took the slide out because of safety reasons. The slide was enclosed and if you didn't watch out it could skin the old elbows up pretty good :).
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I am not familiar with the concrete slide you are talking about. As a child, my first visit to SDC was in 1970, and the treehouse was only a year or two old at that time. When my family exited the treehouse, we went through the infinity room. During my years on park, '78-'84, I never heard any employee mention a concrete slide to exit the treehouse. Maybe Zephon, Copper, or some of the other current citizens can investigate this issue, and report back here in a day or two.
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I have seen a photo with a slide, I will have to look through all my things maybe I can find it. I know that Slantin' Sam's had a slide exit. Jack has told the story of them shining it up so much that when he went down it he flew through the air for a while.
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Hmmmm...I'd love to see any photos you have of Slantin' Sams or the alleged treehouse slide. I've only seen a couple of postcard shots of Slantin' Sams before it was upgraded to Grandfather's Mansion.
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I am guessing the slide at the treehouse was there the first couple of years. It wasn't that long of a slide, probably 20 to 25 feet. It might not have been totally concrete, but to the best of my memory it was. The slide started at what was later the infinity room to the best of my knowledge.
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hm mmmmm ???
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I have no Slantin' Sams' photos, only 5-6 p/c's. As far as the slide, I know I have an exit photo of the treehouse, and some "slide" photos, but I believe the slides I am remembering were at Tom Sawyer's Landing. I'll look tommorrow morning, and scan any I find.
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Very interesting! I truly enjoy experiencing Silver Dollar City in the golden years before I was old enough, or even born yet to appreciate it myself. I am learning more stuff about the tree house than I ever thought I would! :D
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Was Huck's tree fort ever expanded? It looks like the fort was expanded just to the right of the entrance.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/4578555918/in/photostream/
(By Neato Coolville)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30708145@N02/3701034685/
(By Drive-In Mike)
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The path that led from Injun' Joe's Cave...Notice the path to the restrooms that still exists...
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/hucks-exit.jpg)
The door to the toy store that was just across the path from the exit of the treehouse.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/toystore.jpg)
No slide yet...but still lookin!
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Here is the Toy Store (Now Christmas Hollow) entrance today. Still there if you look hard enough!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/washu181.jpg)
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during the latter "Huck Finn's Hideaway" days the cave at the treehouse exit may have been known as "Injun Joe's Cave," but I honestly cannot remember it being called that during the time I was on park. The only Injun Joe's Cave I remember was a dark ride open the first few seasons Six Flags over Mid America was open in St. Louis in the early to late 1970's. It was changed to Time Tunnel after that, and I cannot remember what it was last time I rode through it, but I remember theme was changed on it at least a third time.
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I was almost positive it was named that (obviously themed after Tom and Hucks adventures). It would have more than likely been in the mid 80's. Anyone else remember that?
The StL ride at SF StL is now "Scooby Doo", I was Castaway kids before that, and several others along with what you mentioned.
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I have seen that door, and wondered about it. it is a little amazing to me how many changes have been done in and around the tree. and the things that have been eliminated. it's too bad..
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That was called the cave and it was bi passed in the last year or so of the fort.
I bet they closed it for safety reasons.
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I'll post a few photos Monday of the treehouse (I cannot access my regular computer until then...)
I have one of the tree from 1984, and one of the exit from 1981.
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Exit circa early 1970's. This is the same photo that appears on the Post Card after the attraction opened. I believe there was a slide to the laft of this photo, but I will have to find the evidence before I prove it....
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/HucksHideaway.jpg)
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WOW! that really helps put that side into perspective now, thanks rube.!
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Circa 1974
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/Picture004.jpg)
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SLIDE!!!!!!!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/slide2.jpg)
Yes there was a slide, it existed it really did!!!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/slide3.jpg)
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/slide1.jpg)
From what I can figure, It was accessed by the stairs from the exit of the treehouse. You could either use the slide to exit, or you could use the stairs. This last photo shows a group using the stairs to go up to access the slide and bipass the Treehouse route.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/slide4.jpg)
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Great pics!!! Every time we walk by the tree I make sure to remind my daughter how much it was to play in that thing...and then get her pumped up to create memories of her own in the treehouses in Half Dollar Holler!
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WOW! This series of photos truly knocks me out. NEVER have I heard or seen of this slide exit to the treehouse. My personal association with the attraction goes back to 1970. That means the slide would have been in effect only from when the treehouse opened in 1968, and in the 1969 season. I'd love to see more shots of this slide, and any shots of Grandfather's Mansion when it was "Slantin' Sams." Thanks Rube, for these photos!
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Yeah it took a bit of investigating, but I found the photos, and it all fit together. It was indeed to the left of the earlier posted photo. In fact in this photo, you can see the slide stairs.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/HucksHideaway.jpg)
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/slide4.jpg)
SEE!!!! THEY ARE THE SAME!
UP NEXT...Slantin' Sam's
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those are great pictures! I was really excited to see those! Good find and post and I cant wait to see more photos from you!
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Unbelievable! :o
This is the number one reason why I am such a huge fan of the knowledgeable folks on this site. That slide is very cool, even for today's standards. I had no idea the tree house ever had a slide on it. They say you get an extra wrinkle on your brain every time you learn something new. Thanks for another wrinkle! ;D
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Thanks for the pictures Rube! It brings back a lot of great memories. I guess it's been 40+ years since I have laid my eyes on that slide and my elbows hope it will be at least another 40. :)
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In my notes I had it as Injun Joe's Cave. The area that led you to the cave portion/ light room. This would have been after the 1984 addition of Tom Sawyer's Landing, and the Name change from Herman the Hermit's Zany Tree Top House to Huck Finn's Hideaway to keep in theme with the Mark Twain characters. I know Disney had a cave, and six flags had a cave... and you did pass through a "cave" in the treehouse exit. I am going to look for proof though on this one, just like the slide/ exit. I remember it, but that is not to say it is true...(I do think it is true because until 1994, I had not been to either Six Flags StL or any Disney parks, only SDC).Until then....
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/TreetopHouse.jpg)
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Amazing pics, i dont remember it being that big!
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Found this on an old thread...
Posted by: Old Guy
Insert Quote
The slide was the exit to Herman the Hermit's Tree Top House. It was replaced by the Infinity Room when the theme was changed to H.H. tree top still. That was supposed to be the effect from the stills fumes.It was abandoned after a structural collapse onto the train tracks one night while the park was closed. The theme then changed to the tree top root beer factory complete with a SDC childrens book about a young Zeak Hatfield catching a goast with taffy as bait in A cage at the base of the tree. It turned out to be a racoon. All of this was then removed and changed to huck finns hideaway.
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Wow, very interesting tidbit there Rube!
Okay, so I am trying figure out the math here, but how many variations, and transformations has the loveable tree house gone through? :D
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Ozark, go one further ::)..... how many transformations AND how long did each one last? ???
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Ahh the rope, maze, and the ball pit, the air guns, that place was great. Climbing up the hollow "tree" was always great. Both Hucks Hideaway and Tom Sawyers Landing
(formerly Hermans Hermits I am pretty sure) were all amazing places. I wonder what the treehouse looks like inside. Injun Joes cave (of stars) always reminded me of a weird music video, I wanted a room like that in my house!
Rube, it was the end of Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel when he walks away covered in little lights...lol. That was my favorite part of the treehouse. :)
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In fact that is the exact one sis! Funny how either I have pushed that memory onto you, or we both we subjected to too much MTV in the early 80's!
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I don't remember the cave ever being called Injun Joe's Cave. They must have put a sign up after I left the park. The room with all the lights in it making it look like you were in space was called the "Infinity Room." The music was an electronic blipping noise, which was something recorded in the late, late 1960's or early 1970's. I never remember any other music played in there, unless it was changed after 1983 or 84.
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Come to think of it, I also remember the cave as "Injun Joe's Cave." I don't remember "Infinity Room," but this is probably like around 1983-85, so I guess it may have changed by then.
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Hey hey! someone other than a relative of mine agreeing about the existance of Injun Joe's Cave! Infinity room was the same place, just later in the existance.
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I went for the first time in 1984 and I remember Injun Joe's Cave...then when our family went back in 1989 I remember the Infinity Room...does that help anyone's timeline?
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YES!!! It echoes the memories that I have and allows me to know that I am not going crazy (well not too badly at least)
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I just remember my brother and I going into the Tree Fort together in 1989 and being amazed by all there was to do up there...we didn't go back as a family until 2001 and by then we were both way too old to climb up the trunk!
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I seem to remember punching bags...
Also I'll never forget that crazy song that was playing in there. Also the lights in the cave.
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I don't know about "Injun Joe's" but I can say with assurance that the "Infinity Room" was there in 1976. I patrolled that area and had to go in there from time to time to roust out teenagers that would hide in there and grope women as they came through. Fact.
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I put this one in "My Old Photos" too, but I figured I better go ahead and put it here, too.
Looking in the mirror...are those the guns at the opposite end?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/coalesce99/IMG_0004_NEW.jpg)
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This was a picture I took on our last visit to SDC the weekend after Thanksgiving 2010. I took the picture, thinking to myself, "Man I hope this isn't the last picture I take of Huck Finn's Hideout." We shall find out in March!
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Yes, coalesce99, those are air guns, which guests used to shoot at old clothes hanging on a line outside the windows. That was one of the later renditions of the treehouse before it was closed down.
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Zephon is right. The airguns went in about '80 or '81, if I remember correctly.
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I am guessing the slide at the treehouse was there the first couple of years. It wasn't that long of a slide, probably 20 to 25 feet. It might not have been totally concrete, but to the best of my memory it was. The slide started at what was later the infinity room to the best of my knowledge.
20 to 25 feet? Wasn't that long?!?! Hello! It makes what kids typically play on nowadays look tiny!
Not sure If'n I spurred that thought in you, but if not Junior...were on the same page here!
Enjoy ya'all...this might be the last view of the interior that you'll ever have!
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/huckfinns.jpg)
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/fortuneteller.jpg)
When were those from? I don't remember that bridge (or the treehouse) being there, even in the late '90s (the only things similar to that I remember were entered by a wide climbing rope that was pretty hard to get up to and said "DO NOT ENTER" or "WRONG WAY" or something like that on a sign if you tried to go down that way; and also a little structure very close to the ground that had a small sailor's wheel and you would exit via four very wide metal cylindrical slides that were no more than 3 feet off the ground).
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GG, this is the original treehouse in the park. This treehouse is actually in the trees (a false tree anyway). It is not in the "Huck and Tom" area of the park, where the most recent slides and ropes have been removed. It is up the hill from the Christmas store and has been there for dozens of years. As you will find in these discussions, the structure is unsafe and is not very accessible by folks who are overweight or handicapped. It is still there, with a working ghost trap beside it (one of the subtleties that gives the park character). Look for it the next time you visit.
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20 to 25 feet? Wasn't that long?!?! Hello! It makes what kids typically play on nowadays look tiny!
Well to tell the truth GG, I was 8 or 9 yrs old the last time I laid eyes on that old slide, which was about 42 yrs ago. At that age things seem a lot bigger or longer when you think back and try to remember them. But I would still have to say it was very close to that distance, because it went from what was later known as the infinity room to the outside of the treehouse :).
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well we all miss the tree house and it special effect on us. Wouldnt it be great if they did a remake or a complete rebuild for us all to enjoy..
would make another great "kid" attraction ;), Because i know none of adults would ever go in.!
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Sorry I'd rather they tear it down then sock money into it. It is way past its prime.
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At risk of having vegetables thrown at me, I must agree with Swoosh. Though I have memories of the treehouse, I can't say it had a nostalgic effect on me. I liked aspects of it, but never considered it anything special. In fact, I think my favorite part was the narrow spiral stairs that led up the trunk. I don't mind that it's still there, but I think they could point it out more and at least decorate it for Christmas.
It would be interesting to see some of the actual pieces from inside show up in HDH, but I seriously doubt they would match the decor.
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It is a classic part of my childhood. Its old, and honestly there wasn't much to do in the structure, but being up high in the trees overlooking parts of the park was fun. Given the opportunity I might climb up there again to have the view before it goes away. I am surprised it is still there, its been a while since they closed it. Hopefully when it is removed they will replace it with something instead of "Water boggining" it
All good things must come to an end.
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Actually, I was thinking the boggan tower could be covered and turned into a cool treehouse lookout area.
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Good memories of the treehouse, as I worked there. Swept it out each day. Loved it as a kid, and later as an employee. The Infinity Room was the neatest place. I remember the treehouse as Herman the Hermit's and as Huck Finn's Hideaway.
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Actually, I was thinking the boggan tower could be covered and turned into a cool treehouse lookout area.
That would be a great idea.
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I think it owuld be a great rebuild. after all the treehouse and GM is what i remember from my youth. ( and that was a looonng time ago) (lol).
i think it would be a huge draw rebuilt in its same location. after all, thats were it belongs!.
the WB tower idea is a good one too. but could never replace the treehouse.
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It would not be a replacement but it would make a nice lookout.. They could put the scopes on it like are over at WildFire...
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Do any SDC Citizens know if Huck Finns Hideout was taken down during off-season or is it indeed still there? I'm assuming it is still standing, since no one has brought it up; but just curious.
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"TAER IT DOWN" ;D
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Do any SDC Citizens know if Huck Finns Hideout was taken down during off-season
I guarantee that thing is still standing if they took it down there would be talk all over this site...
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agreed mhguy! If it were torn down, there would a very large vacancy in that area and we would know about it by now.
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There would also be public moments of silence and reverence being observed......
by everyone but Swoosh that is.
He would be in a corner wringing and rolling his hands doing a Snidley Whiplash / Vincent Price laugh......
:D :D :o :o
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I'm just made that they took out the Ore Cart to put in a brace for the thing to keep it from falling over -- AND IT'S NOT EVEN USED
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Where was the ore cart
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I just had an epiphany... first off, WOW that place was HUGE if it used to extend all the way to JJ Fiddlesticks! Second, and more to the point, have ya ever noticed that JJ Fiddlesticks (which was one of the boundaries of TSL apparently) is very close in location to a certain other treehouse-themed area? I mean, even the lore is the same (that some kids built the place to play in). Would it be a stretch of the imagination to say that this certain other area (look at my username if you haven't figured it out) was originally planned to be some sort of extension to Tom Sawyer's Landing (or at least another area connected to the toy store), but that the idea was scrapped very shortly before building? Just a thought.
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Where was the ore cart
where the brace is now
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The toy store was formally located in the building that is currently the Christmas store. It did extend to there with a deck. You can still see the small-sized door for kids to enter the store (on the treehouse side).
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swoosh! get to the point! dont hold back! LOL!! :o
check back in the posted pictures, you will find the door to the treehouse. Page 5 of this forum.
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I would like to see it rehabbed and re-opened so my kids could enjoy it. It was always one of my favorites at the City. I started going to SDC in the early 80's and I remember the "cave" being called Injun Joe's Cave.
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I believe it was 2006 when I first took my boys and wife to SDC (I had been there as a boy in the late 70's, early 80's) Huck Finn's tree house was open...My boys and I both enjoyed going up the tree and into the tree house...That next year it was closed...We've mourned the closing of it ever since and were hoping it would reopen someday...kills us still seeing the tree barricaded...
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no doubt the tree fort is one of the landmarks of the city! And "MOST" of us miss it..
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Growing up as a kid in the early 90's, the beginning part of our day at SDC ALWAYS consisted of: Grandfathers Mansion, Huck Finns Hideout, Ballroom, Baloon Chase.
At least I can still experence Grandfathers Mansion! :-\
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your right.
as a youngun that area is what i remember most of all. and of course the train. ;D
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I didn't realize it was that recent that it closed. Who do I email to tell them I want it resurrected?
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info@hfecorp.com
lrau@silverdollarcity.com
here a couple of good email addreses/
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I tried the links above, but they "defaulted" and I could not get into them to view!
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those are email addresses NOT websites