SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
General Category => Branson Talk => Topic started by: shavethewhales on March 22, 2008, 07:43:47 PM
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Back in 2006, it was announced that a massive new $600 million dollar resort was being built just to the west of Celebration City called Pinnacle Falls, to open in 2008 - but now it's 2008, and there's no sign of it. What happened? After all the hoax Disney rumors, I kinda forgot about it until now, but the artwork for it looked amazing, and I really think it would have pumped a lot of interest into Celebration City.
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The date is now 2010. What happened to it, the new Mayor of Branson. She has stopped all new major projects in the City. Many think since she is a Presley that she doesn’t want any more competition for the shows in town. Branson’s tourism is strong, but theatre ticket sales are in a decline. People are coming to town and are enjoying the Branson Landing, SDC and Nature. They are leaving shows out of their itinerary and I don't think she is happy about that.
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^Or maybe it's because people think the shows never change. We have been to a lot of Branson shows before but the only one I can remember is The Presley's. We've been once and haven't went back. When we go to Branson we usually go shopping, ride go-carts that night, maybe go to Cakes n' Cream or someplace good to eat (everytime we go to Branson there is always something new to eat because Branson is growing so fast), and then head to SDC in the morning.
A show is never in our itinerary. Maybe that is how it is with other families also.
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Does anyone here see shows in Branson? My families’ first shows were at the Grand Palace, because they were large production shows that we like. I like the Osmonds, Andy Williams, Shoji, Dixie Stampede, Showboat and that is about it.
I can not stand the Parsleys or the Baldknobbers, we walked out during intermission and never went back.
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I wondered what happened to this place, too. Wasn't it connected with an aquarium and a waterpark?
There is another huge resort being built nearer to Branson West. I think it's supposed to have a big waterpark attached to it, too.
While we're at it, I've started new threads in the Branson Talk category - one for shows, one for food, and one for attractions.
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Hmmm, maybe Branson is getting a little out of hand. I've always wondered when it would all stop - the endless destruction of the natural hills and valleys so new strip malls could go in, only to close down soon after opening. I though Pinnacle Falls was a good idea because of how balanced it was, but the mayor is probably quite justified in halting the major projects for the mean time. Someone needs to clean up the way Branson developement works.
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I agree Branson does need to manage the land development. I don’t know why anyone builds strip malls today when the ones that are there are so empty. I am all for new entertainment like shopping and so on. I am confused though, where are they going to find people to work all those jobs.
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I wondered what happened to this place, too. Wasn't it connected with an aquarium and a waterpark?
There is another huge resort being built nearer to Branson West. I think it's supposed to have a big waterpark attached to it, too.
While we're at it, I've started new threads in the Branson Talk category - one for shows, one for food, and one for attractions.
Yep, Pinnacle Falls will open in 2010. It is supposed to be have a European theme with year-round attractions including an aquarium, themed restaurants, shopping, and an indoor waterpark. David Cushman is developing it; his family used to own Mutton Hollow (where Celebration City is now), which explains why the $600 million Pinnacle Falls will be located just west of Celebration City.
The new resort near Branson West will be called Indian Ridge Resort, and it is just massive in size and scope. It will be built on over 1,000 acres(!) and will be a resort community with lots and homes to purchase, plus a full-service condo hotel, an 18 hole championship golf course with pro shop (the pro shop will contain a "virtual golf" experience), conference center, themed-retail shopping, multiple restaurants, and an Indian History Center. And, of course, one of the three largest indoor/outdoor water parks in the US. According to the website, the outdoor waterpark will surround the indoor one. The entire resort will, logically, be Indian-themed.
It sounds like Branson will be overloaded with these resort destinations. I wonder if they can all survive and succeed? Check out Indian Ridge Resort's website www.indianridgeresortinc.com (http://www.indianridgeresortinc.com). I will warn you that the intro has a weird looking sunset scene with what appears to be the Eye of Sauron coming at you. So be prepared! :)
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^Ugh, what a terrible web site, not to mention the design company that built it. I know this site isn't exactly a piece of art either, but at least I facilitate basic design sense. Tables? What is this, 1997? Gah...
Anyhow, just like SDCforever said - the question really is whether or not all these new resorts can survive. To me, it looks like the Branson planners have really screwed the pooch once again. Just like what we've seen over and over in the past, much of this new developement is going to burst onto the scene in a grand spectacle, then in a year half of it will be closed down. Just think of all the wasted land, resources, and environment...
Another question is, how will White Water fare with this huge new park?
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^Ugh, what a terrible web site, not to mention the design company that built it. I know this site isn't exactly a piece of art either, but at least I facilitate basic design sense. Tables? What is this, 1997? Gah...
Anyhow, just like SDCforever said - the question really is whether or not all these new resorts can survive. To me, it looks like the Branson planners have really screwed the pooch once again. Just like what we've seen over and over in the past, much of this new developement is going to burst onto the scene in a grand spectacle, then in a year half of it will be closed down. Just think of all the wasted land, resources, and environment...
Another question is, how will White Water fare with this huge new park?
I agree. It's a terrible website. I can't be on it for more than two minutes at a time. Perhaps they've spent all their money on the resort and have none left for website design. :-\
White Water is going to have this huge new park, plus the new one in Pinnacle Falls, to compete with in the next three years or so. They're on the right track with the redesign/renovation of the entrance and perhaps another new ride in '09. WW seems kind of stuck to me. They don't have very much room to expand, so they really have to replace/redesign current rides to keep offering new things to bring people in. They do have a prime location, though. Right in the center of everything. That helps. It'll be interesting as this unfolds. These parks will definitely cannibalize each other, like CC does to SDC. Something tells me that WW will win this fight. The Herschend's really know what they're doing.
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Don't forget, too, that the Kansas City Schlitterbahn is going to give ANY regional waterparks a run for their money. They're setting it up as a resort destination...
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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^I'm a Herschend fan as much or more as the next guy but I'm sorry, the KC Schlitterbahn is going to kick White Water's and ESPECIALLY Oceans of Fun's butt.
Anyways, I think Pinnacle Falls might be able to survive. A 600 million dollar resort isn't really a craphole. People will come...
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^People will come, but between the Landing, Indian Ridge, the theme parks, Grand Village, Tanger, and everything else in Branson, will there be enough? Unless Branson just keeps experiencing radical growth in the number of visitors it hosts (which it is unprepared for without a massive new, extremely sophisticated mass transit system) it'll be a struggle all around to make these extreme investments worth it.
I mean, I'm all right with Branson growing like this, but it's the way in which everything is planned that just kills me. I can't stand seeing Branson turn into another OKC, where you are forced to drive for miles and miles past crap just to get anywhere.
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I keep saying this over and over again, where are the people at that are supposed to work all these jobs. Branson needs to go recruit a lot of people to move to the area and fill these jobs up.
They have been talking about a monorail for years, but it has yet to materialize. With the new airport on its way they are planning for tourism to jump quite a bit. Even John Q. Hammonds the owner of the Château on the Lake has announce a new Château like hotel near the airport.
John Q. is a great business man, so for him to build something is going to happen.
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I've always been fascinated at Branson's lack of public transit. Even just a bus system like what we have here in KC would be nice.
For now, while I'm living in Independence, Schlitterbahn will definitely be my waterpark of choice. But whenever I do manage to move to Branson, Pinnacle Falls definitely sounds like a good choice for a local mega-waterpark.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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I've been thinking about this and I think WW will be fine. It has a history, and people are connected to it. They've been visiting it for years. Plus, it's accessible to everyone; WW ticket prices are pretty reasonable. These resorts (especially Pinnacle Falls and Indian Ridge) are geared to people with money. A City Hopper pass is a good deal, too, and that gets WW a lot of its visitors.
I've been trying to figure out how these waterparks will work. Do you have to make a reservation to get access? Or can you just show up for the water park? Indian Ridge is out in the middle of nowhere. I can't imagine people who are just visiting Branson wanting to drive away from everything else just to go to a waterpark. Plus, how annoying for those who want a quiet getaway. You've got all these people who aren't even staying at the resort like you are showing up to go to the water park. Not to mention if you want a quiet round of golf, and nearby is a giant water park...
I think these resorts are forgetting the fact that people come to Branson to do things. They don't want to stay in a secluded resort for their entire stay. They want to go to shows, play mini golf, and lots of times visit places like SDC, WW, and CC. For me (and I'm sure for a lot of people) SDC, WW, and now CC are connected to Branson, and it's like I haven't visited Branson if I haven't been to at least one of those parks.
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This is a new trend within the hotel/lodge industry. This is a way that hotels can assure reservations. Guests see that you get more amenities then a typical hotel and they choose the one with the water park. Great Wolf, Kalahari and even Holiday Inn are involved in the indoor water park business. They are very successful and most think that the trend will last for a while. We just talked about this today in one of my classes.
The Indian Ridge plans on having a hotel and resident homes. The industry thinks this is a great thing to offer to guests. It has been working in other places, so I guess they believe it will work in Branson. They aren’t necessarily targeting people staying at other hotels. They want you to stay there and play there too and I’m sure they will offer discounts to Branson attractions.
You won’t have to make reservations you simply go directly to the water park. The golfers probably won’t even notice you are there. I don’t think that Indian Ridge is located too far from Branson, people travel to Biog Cedar and Branson Creek for things other then mini-golf and theatres.
I’m not pro or against. This is just what I have learned in my Hospitality class.
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^I don't feel pro or against it either. Hey, if it brings tourism dollars to Branson then it's good for everyone. Plus, I'm sure some people that come to stay at the resorts will visit SDC, CC, or WW. I just feel that with all the water parks being built HFE needs to come up with something, whether it's a promotion, reinvention, new ride, or a combination of all three I don't know. But something needs to be done in the next few years to bring WW to the forefront if it's going to tread water with all of these other water parks. (Please forgive the bad pun! ;))
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I've never seen a more wanton rape of the land than the Indian Ridge project. No thought put into saving any of the trees, just scraped them all off. It's absolutely disgraceful.
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But something needs to be done in the next few years to bring WW to the forefront
Keep watching what has been happening to Dolly's Splash Country to get an idea of what to expect in the coming years.
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I've never seen a more wanton rape of the land than the Indian Ridge project. No thought put into saving any of the trees, just scraped them all off. It's absolutely disgraceful.
Man, that is horrible. The Ozarks are so special in the respect to virtual untouched territory. I am always mystified when this kind of thing happens by people wishing to "cash in" being sold to people who say they "love" this area. Grrrrr.
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It's happened a lot unfortunitly. Branson South in the 90's ended in a big law suit. Camalot at Blue Eye was the same. Scrape off a development sight, try to find investers, then bail out and leave the mess for someone else.
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^It is really unfortunate what tends to happen when investments fall through.
Camelot is horrible. What a waste. Check out http://undergroundozarks.com (http://undergroundozarks.com) for a picture gallery of the remains of Camelot. I would also point out the remains of Dinosaur World in Beaver, AR, a much larger investment of land and money that is now abandoned. Here is a link to find out more about Dinosaur World: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8415 (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8415).
These are just two examples of attractions that are now abandoned, rotting in the sun. I would put Dogpatch USA in Marble Falls, AR in this group, but it is thankfully undergoing some revitalization.
I sincerely hope none of these resort investments end up in abandonment.
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WOH! Wierd to see Camalot again. My wife and I were some of those poor unfortunates that got taken. We went there to work after leaving SDC. One day we were all (Cast)told to grab our things and never to return as it was in the hands of the coarts. My wife painted that window on the front entrance tower (and never got paid for it). Wierd to see it still there while the rest of the tower has no paint left.
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Okay so I know this is WAY OLD but what ever happened to this? Obviously it never happened was it just the recession? :-[
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Like most over-ambitious proposals, it was a flash in the pan that didn't have much chance of happening even without the crash. It would have been interesting to see if a scaled-down resort would have happened if it weren't for the crash though. There's still a lot of demand for nicer resort properties in Branson, but recouping $600 million would be a tall order.
Mel Bilbo was involved in this one right after he was let go from SDC (apparently largely due to concerns about CC). It seems like most of the big projects he's ever been apart of have fallen apart.
I'm curious if the Cushman family still owns the land. It seems like they might be waiting for the right developers to come around again.
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Last I heard, Cushmans still have it...seems like plans were a thumbs down at the planning commision meeting. Excuse was town already has too many mixed developments. Went to high school with David Cushman, who runs things now, I believe. I wish him and his family well, but hate to see the rest of Mutton Hollow bulldozed and concreted.