SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => Construction/Rumors => Topic started by: shavethewhales on August 16, 2007, 12:17:35 AM
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Anyone been in Grandfather's (also commonly called Grandpa's) Mansion lately? It's not exactly a pretty sight. I'm not saying the place is totally run down or anything, but has gotten to the point to where it is only a mere shadow of it's former self. It's got an old creaky feel to it, which actually is great and fits the theming well, but there's also something about it that screams for a re-furb, at least a little bit of one. Besides, the place just needs more. After the tilting hall and the small room with the small assortment of tricks (most of which don't work anymore or really need to be fixed up), all that's left is the tilted room, which is what everyone heads for now without even looking at everything else.
I love the old mansion, but it really needs some TLC. I don't want them to totally re-do the place, as I have so many memories there, but they need to at least fix up the old effects so that they at least work, and some new wall paper and paint couldn't hurt. A few small additions would be nice too.
Really though, I could see them doing a major overhaul on the thing as early as this off-season. If they do plan on a mid-town re-vamp like I think they are, this would be a prime thing to fix up. I just hope they don't totally strip out all the things I have such fond memories of. I'm sure the tilted room will stay no matter what, but some of those old tricks are just too cool to lose (especially the tap thing, which was mimicked at the new Wilson's Farm area).
Oh... I hope this isn't where they plan on holding those cooking seminars...
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I'm in the same boat you are Whales. I've probably been in the mansion a million times. It's one of my fondest memories from SDC. But it does need a fix up. I think if they re-did it but didn't change it completely, it could become a highlight attraction like it used to be. And if they replace it with those cooking seminars, I will go to the Herschend's myself and complain.
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Hmmm, Midwestinfoguide's editor, who happens to be very knowledgeable on the park, mentioned something might be happening to the Mansion this off season. We'll just have to see.
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I think they should reall do re-hab on it because it needs to sort of up to date. or at least clean it up a bit. There use to be a ladder in the tilted room that you would climb up and look into, my dad said that there was a anamtronic that used to be up there. but they took it down before i was born. they prob. took it down for saftey reasons.
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^That and the chaos there would be with dozens of kids trying to climb the ladder at once.
I have a feeling we'll see a lot done to the mansion this off-season. Like I've said about the Landing, that area of the park is just to prime to let sub-standard attractions sit there and deteriorate.
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or they could add another story to it that would be so cool and add better special effects, and my dad said that some stupid kid slipped off the ladder and the family sued, that stupid kid had to ruin it for the rest of us. >:(
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Wow, I remember the ladder in Grandfathers Mansion. It was right next to the exit (mirrors) and as you climbed up Grandpa would talk to you. When Grandpa would talk it would freak me out, so I don’t think I ever made it all the way up. There was a little hole at the top you would look in, but I never got to that point.
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Welcome to the forums Copper. You live near Branson?? What year did they take out the ladder?
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I wonder if they'll bring back something like the ladder with the re-hab. Probably not, as they have to be so careful now with capacity issues and insurance issues even more so, but I'd like to see Grandpa come back to the mansion in some manner.
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Hello! Yes I live near Branson in Springfield, Missouri.
They are having trouble with attractions like the Mansion and Tree House. People have been messing around in them and now they have to post an employee in the Mansion from time to time to sop these things from happening.
The Tree House structure is dangerous and some major rehab is what would need to happen. There is talk of tearing it down and building a small flat ride in its place. I do know the City gets a lot of letters and emails over this lost attraction. I would hate to see it go.
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I've heard of the tree house being taken down but I haven't heard of the flat ride being placed there. Would it be a major flat ride like the proposed shot tower or a kiddie flat ride?
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I believe a small flat ride, but I have also heard of a wild-mouse style coaster. When they were having trouble with the Waterboggan they purposed a wild-mouse coaster for that area. The wild-mouse in the Tree House location would have to be much smaller, but they could remove a lot of center city. The Grand Expo was originally going to take the place of Tom Sawyer’s Landing and much of center city, so they could do something with the Landing and the Tree House location.
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The last thing I want them to do is remove part of the Midtown area. That's what makes SDC so great. The shops, it's not all thrill ride circus like other parks. I'm so glad that the Grand Expo is not in center city.
And a wild mouse coaster would be kinda neat, but it's not really the type of thing I enjoy. I'd like a shot tower or a tree house rebuild.
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A wild mouse would have been fun, but it wouldn't have worked at all at SDC. Not only are wild mouses bad capacity wise, but it just doesn't fit SDC. SDC is the type of place that has to be really careful not to lose it's charm with silly lower-class attractions. I would like to see the shot tower come back though, but again, it might not work in mid-town.
I still think my midtown re-vamp proposal is the best - see the Tom Sawyer's thread.
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Well I've read your revival plan and I agree that more shops would fix up that area. But think about where Tom Sawyer's Landing is located. It's right in the middle of the city. If they decide to take out the tree house which is expected they could build a shot tower ride in there. And it wouldn't look half bad.
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and they could theme the shot tower to tom saywer, like shooting out of a treehouse and the quene could be in the base of the house and have some cool scenery in it that would be neat to see.
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Well, I walked through the mansion today and there was an employee monitoring the running children. I did notice that a lot of the place looked freshened up. It has been a while since I've been in there but the effects seemed to be working and even somethings I didn't remember. There are some places with new paint and wallpaper.
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^Did you notice the new felt on the pool table? :)
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haha yes i did notice the new felt. . i didn't mention it because it had already been mentioned somewhere here on the forums. lol
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My dad had to carry me across the swaying hallway when I was little. I laugh at myself for that now. I love the third story idea in Grandfather's Mansion. But do we ever actually go to the 2nd floor? It's just the first and basement right? Correct me if I'm wrong. That seems like a great way to not remove any of the old features and add some great new ones. As far as Huck's Hideaway, that area is so quaint and I would hate for them to put a ride there. The treehouse works well.
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Maybe if they were to add a third story they could put it right before the mirror room to where you could go up there if you want, but you could also exit the ride. The third story would be awesome but it would be messing with a classic and it would change the whole outlook of the entire attraction.
I'd rather them just refurbish the entire thing.
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^ That is true and I thought I had. I wouldn't be excited about the front of the attraction looking completely different. But who knows, some changes are done well to old classics.
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They have to be careful about updating the attraction too much because right now it is "grandfathered" in and doesn't have to abide by ADA complicancy rules, but if they change too much that it becomes a "new" attraction the attraction's "grandfathered" status becomes void and the whole attraction has to become compliant.
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So unless they want to go to a lot of trouble, they won't be adding a lot of structural changes?
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^^I guess that kinda nixes it. That would change the whole attraction, adding ramps and such.
I've always wanted to go in the bedroom (John's room, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong), ever since I first went through. I pulled and pulled on that doorknob, and was always disappointed that it would never open. It'd be cool if you could go in there.
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^It's actually a bathroom because if you knock (like the sign tells you to) you can hear flushing noises, or I'm just imagining that. But I've always wanted to go in there also. Maybe they could put that room in if they did a rehab. It wouldn't require any structural changes I wouldn't think.
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If you look through the keyhole, you can see someone in the shower.
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Ahh, that's right. I remember that now. For some reason I was thinking that that was somewhere else.
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^^I had forgotten that too. It's been a while since I've stopped and knocked on that door. Still, it'd be cool if they could revamp that room.
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Isn't John in his room with his rowdy friends? That's the sound I hear when I pass the door. I don't think the knocking actually does anything.
The shower scene is in the room next to the upside down bedroom. The shower scene is now upside down too, but didn't used to be. Another note - now it's Grandpa in the shower, but didn't it used to be a shapely female on the other side of the curtain?
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^I think you're right, it's just John and all his rowdy friends in there. There's so much theming like that around the park that I get confused sometimes.
I think it's always been grandpa in the shower, though. The only change is it's now upside down, because you're right...it used to be right-side up! :)
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Part of me thinks it would be cool to be able to walk through the upside down room but another part of me thinks it's just cool to soak it all in and keep imagining what that would be like.
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It would be cool to walk through an upside down room like that, but for now, look up the hallway you're walking through is also upside down - with rugs on the "ceiling".
Or are the rooms right side up and we're the ones who are upside down?
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OH I forgot about that. Those little touches are so neat.
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It would be cool to walk through an upside down room like that, but for now, look up the hallway you're walking through is also upside down - with rugs on the "ceiling".
Or are the rooms right side up and we're the ones who are upside down?
I like to think that the rooms are right side up and we're upside down. Makes life (and Grandfather's Mansion) more interesting that way. ;)
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Talk about use of 21st Century technology to promote a 19th century theme! Just think of the expense the Herschends expend even on such a quaint attraction. What a creative use of anti-gravity!
If anyone has proof of this, please share it. I'm intrigued.
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One refurbishment that I wish they'd made was adding sound back to the glass curio cabinet that has the large piece of gold (not the hologram in the safe)... I remember when you used to stick your hand in to touch the gold, there'd be a sound of crashing glass, as if you'd broken the glass to get your hand in there.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
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^I think some of those things just break from time to time, because I know I've gone several times before and been either disapointed that it wasn't working or surprised that it had been fixed again.
The place just needs a good fix-up. It doesn't have to be extensive to the point that they have to put in the wheelchair access, but they could just take out some of the old tricks and re-build them so they work better. Any ideas when they'll work on the place? I heard they were going to do some stuff to it last off-season, but obviously that didn't really happen unless the new pool felt was all they were planning.
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I saw new felt on the pool table and the glass was shattering when I was there on opening weekend. I always liked the hand water pump they had in there but can't remember what the gimmick was? Did the water run backwards?
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^I believe you're thinking of the water faucet. The gimmick was that the faucet was suspended by a wire with no pipe leading to it but it appeared that water was flowing out of the tap anyway. (In actuality, there was a clear pipe leading up to the faucet head; the water flowed up that clear pipe and then out over the edge and down the outside of the clear pipe).
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I love Grandfather's Mansion! Along with the water faucet, I also love the safe gag too, when it's turned on, and working at least.
I actually like the "run down" feel of Grandfather's Mansion. It adds an unique charm, and atmosphere to the place. However, I do wish Silver Dollar City was able to keep all of the tricks, and gimmicks running properly as often as possible.
Sometimes, I wish they would invest more effort into maintaining the classics, than just spending so much time on trivial stuff.
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Not about the rehab but I LOVED Grandfather's Mansion as a kid - we'd go through two and three times in a row but as I get older (31, ha) I've found that the leaning room gives me terrible vertigo. :-[
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I saw new felt on the pool table and the glass was shattering when I was there on opening weekend.
Really? When I was there that Friday of opening weekend, the glass didn't shatter for me...
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Somebody refresh my memory: When you used to be able to climb the ladder, what was it that you saw at the top?
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We were out there the 19th and the 20 of March. Looked at the dates on some of the photos to make sure. I think it was opening weekend but they took down March from the website for some reason so I can no longer be sure. I remember the strobe was also out at FITH.
It's not the spigot that I remember but I'm remembering back to the 80's so I could be a little off. Would have been in the far corner of the slanted room on the opposite side of the ladder and the exit to the mirrors.
I don't remember what was at the top of the ladder but it wasn't all that cool. It may have been where grandpa was originally showering? I do miss all the peephole stuff they used to have around the city though.
Funny story about the 20th.
Here is a picture one of the operators took of us.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4522793538_816c0090b3.jpg)
Here is another from under the water when it was dropped as he handed it back.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4522160027_08b1bf5181_b.jpg)
I don't think he knew that waterproof camera's existed and was pretty excited that it was still on and taking pictures. The poor guy was really sorry about dropping the camera. Hopefully he will keep taking pictures of the guests especially since it turned out really great.
Sorry about getting off topic but those were the pictures I checked when I was double checking my dates. :)
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Huh. That's really weird! I was there on the 19th. Well, I'm glad it worked for you! I've been complaining for a good while now about how the glass shattering hadn't been working!
And that's a great photo of your group on the Flooded Mine! I've never thought of asking one of the operators to take a picture before...
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^^It does seem that it may have been a shower scene. I'm not clear on whether it was Grandfather or even a female silhouette. If it was a shower, then I believe the current shower may have been a different upside-down room, created through the use of a mirror.
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I know the answer to this one… the shower scene used to be located downstairs near the ladder (not upside down, of course). Now I can’t remember what was upstairs before the shower scene was moved up there???
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It was grandfather in the shower on the lower floor, he sang and ran a scrub brush across his back.
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Went through "Granpa's old mansion", as my kids call it on Sunday. I sometimes think this is the highlight of their day. They are 4 and 6 and that place is just magical to them. Everything looked great. They especially liked grandma in the mirror. I think it is grandma, but it certainly gets a laugh everytime they see it.
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I miss the days when grandfather's mansion scared the crap out of me. My dad had to carry me across the swaying hallway.
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I miss the days when grandfather's mansion scared the crap out of me. My dad had to carry me across the swaying hallway.
That was my daughter a couple of years ago. She begged to go on "Granpa's old Mansion", and then didn't know how we were going to make it through. Too funny. Makes you look like parent of the year when you carry a "too cute" little Asian girl past the looks of disapproving spectators. They were all muttering "she is just too young for that". Although on the way home she was asking when she could go through it again. ;D
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Too funny! I suppose those were the looks my dad got when I refused to get on TNT but he made me ride anyway.
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Now aren't you glad for that tough love? ;D My daughter won't ride TNT yet and she is six. My son is 4 and wishes to ride Powderkeg; funny how that works.
My nephew was afraid to grab the diamond in Grandfather's Mansion. He was afraid something was going to grab his hand when he stuck it in there. I hadn't thought of that. If they put something like that in, there might be more people trying out the bed, or a need for an adult diaper changing station somewhere in the Mansion. ;D
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I loved Grandfathers mansion as a kiddo and try to make a point going in at least one a year. It just seems dilapidated now. And sad. I havent made it in there this year but last year (2009) alot needed done. It just didnt have that lovin' feelin like it did when I was little. It made me nonstalgic for better times. It would be nice to see some more work in there and it doesnt have to be awe inspiring, just fixed. I understand the need for the ADA fairness act, I am all for it, but what about the memories fairness act? I dont know, maybe I am pineing for something that wont happen.
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I could picture wheel chairs in the tilt room....hmmm not the best of ideas.
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^but a little bit funny. I can picture grandma now...
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One side of the room would look like it had a giant magnet in the wall...tragic
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Call me old timey, but I miss the waterfall out front more than anything!
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It would also be nice to have a "Grandfather" character roaming throughout the mansion, greeting guests, and surprising and scaring them with some little things, too.
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I barley remember the waterfall. If it wernt for this site I wouldnt have remembered it. That was a LONG time ago!
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The waterfall was a great little feature. One of those little things that added so much flavor and character to SDC in the old days. I disagree with the cheepo way of solving the problem of an old water feature with a leak by simply removing it.
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Removign that waterfall was a cheap....." Its leaking? just take it out, they wont notice at all....."Just like we forgot about the cave in the american plunge, the rocks not falling in the mine, the bridge not collapsing in the fire in the hole.
Just like all those " they wont notice" things
I mean really, if they can keep that water running up hill in the mansion you mean they cant plug a leak.? ;D
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Last week, I watched three teenage boys who were fascinated by the "floating" water spigot in GM. They finally came to the conclusion that the water was actually shooting up into the spigot rather than falling down. That takes care of the source of the water. OK, so then...where does the water GO? These guys were a bubble off center - even more so than normal in a slanted house.
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I know the secret behind the water spigot in GM...but I'm not telling! ;D
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I know the secret behind the water spigot in GM...but I'm not telling! ;D
All right Swoosh, I mean uh... Junior. ;)
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Last week, I watched three teenage boys who were fascinated by the "floating" water spigot in GM. They finally came to the conclusion that the water was actually shooting up into the spigot rather than falling down. That takes care of the source of the water. OK, so then...where does the water GO? These guys were a bubble off center - even more so than normal in a slanted house.
That's funny. At least they are exercising some cognitive reasoning skills. I don't see many kids now that are aware of their surroundings at all. Most are slumped over the life giving device that they are frantically tapping with their thumbs. It looks like they are hooked up to the matrix.
I've seen kids come off of the rollercoasters scrambling for their "thumb tappers" as if they are running out of air. They are kind of like Gold fish coming up for a gulp. There was a thread that talked about how much time people had spent on the SDC forum, and it got me to thinking about how much time these poor people are burning through staring at a blackberry. I hope some don't look up in the future and think "I missed it"!
Back to the Mansion. My kids and I went through it our typical four or five times during our last visit and It seems like we always find something new. I just love the simplicity of that attraction. I have went through that place for years, and I love looking at the old photographs on the wall thinking; "I wonder who these people are"? This time I noticed that there was a picture of a man that appears headless when you walk to the left. After all of these years there is still something new to me. My five year old son loved that illusion.
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Ah, if I told you the secret, the fun would be gone from the effect! Remember, as Junior Dugan, I cleaned and swept the mansion out five days a week, and sometimes was in there as the maintenance crews were repairing things...I was at first amazed, and then disappointed when I found out the truth behind several of the special effects at not only the mansion, but also flooded mine...float trip, diving bell...well, everywhere! It's like seeing a magician practice his tricks...when the magic is gone, so is much of the fun. Sometimes, it's better to be left in the dark about some things! :D
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We all know the secret.... :D
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Although I am not endorsing anyone to give away any of the “secrets” at Silver Dollar City, I actually get more enjoyment out knowing how a certain gag works. For example, when I see a machine, or a piece of equipment, I always want to tear it apart to see how it functions.
Whether it is behind the curtains, or inside the magician’s box, or simply turning the lights on in a dark room, I am always fascinated to learn how a particular gag was put together. For me at least, I gain much more respect for the imagination, and creativity of how I was fooled into believing an illusion was real after I learn the secrets.
If they ever offered a behind the scenes look at Grandfather’s Mansion, I would be the first person in line! ;D
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Sign me up!
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Although I am not endorsing anyone to give away any of the “secrets” at Silver Dollar City, I actually get more enjoyment out knowing how a certain gag works. For example, when I see a machine, or a piece of equipment, I always want to tear it apart to see how it functions.
Whether it is behind the curtains, or inside the magician’s box, or simply turning the lights on in a dark room, I am always fascinated to learn how a particular gag was put together. For me at least, I gain much more respect for the imagination, and creativity of how I was fooled into believing an illusion was real after I learn the secrets.
If they ever offered a behind the scenes look at Grandfather’s Mansion, I would be the first person in line! ;D
I have to agree. I always find myself trying to figure out how such tricks or gags work when I'm looking at them....sometimes to the detriment of enjoying the trick or gag. :D
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This might have already been mentioned previously, but I must mention this again since it surprised me during my visit to Grandfather's Mansion this week. I know we all miss the old waterfall, and I know how much we all hated that giant, and very obtrusive rock out of front. However, the rock is gone! In its place is a very tastful bird bath, (or fountain). I was pleasantly delighted to see that. :)
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hmmm ??? I will have to check that out this weekend. I had not noticed that yet..
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so...It has been a couple months since anyone has said anything about Grandfathers Mansion. Anyone got any new news about the place?
My family visited OTC the weekend after Thanksgiving. I took my 14 year old niece, along with a 5 year old and 3 year old through Grandfathers Mansion. The rest of the family went through Carries Candles; and a bah humbug to them! ;D The 14 year old darted off through it, as I held the 3 year old & 5 year old by the hands. I yelled at my niece saying "Get back here, you are missing EVERYTHING!" I just wanted her to experience everything I did as a child; its no fun if u just run thought it. The 3 & 5 year old's loved it; & I was so glad!
One thing that disappointed me, was the room that rocks back and forth as you cross the bridge, was not working. I made everyone stop & wait to see if it would start or not, and it didn't. I hope that gets fixed.
So anyway, that was my most recent experience through that wonderful SDC landmark.
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It's good to see that you all enjoy Grandfather's Mansion. Back in the 70's, when I was patrolling the Mid-Town area, there was often a constant line of traffic through it all day long. It's the rare day that that happens anymore. As a street character, we would sometimes don old-time swimming outfits from the costume shop, and go for a dunk in the pool outside of it.
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oh what a site that would be!
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Zephon, you didn't need to get dressed to play a part to have fun in water! I would put on a pair of hip waders and grab a net to get trash out of the pool in front of the old float trip mill and would attract a crowd! At the diving bell, we would get in a jon boat and paddle around the lake with a net to scoop out trash, and by the time we were through, we had a big crowd gathered along the shoreline watching us! I guess in both cases the guests thought it was part of the SDC "show!" ;D
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As a bit of a sidebar:
When you enter Grandfather's Mansion, you get that distinctive musty smell. I know this is deliberate. How do they get that smell?
Thanks,
Tony
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Build a building in 1968, have a leaky fountain out front, pass though millions of people and see how your house smells!
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Oh yah, and the worst cause of the musty smell...build a basement that is TERRIBLE for drainage! :D :D :D
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New for 2012, Grandfather's Mansion scented candles at the Candle Shop! ;)
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I am still working on a wet asphalt/woodsy smelling candle.......
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Grandfathers Mansion, Lost River of the Ozarks, Flooded Mine, Fire in the Hole: 4 very different distinct smells, all of which bring back memories.
And welcome aboard treed! ;D
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For that matter, my basement already smells like GM! I don;t need a candle!
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I smelled that aroma each day I cleaned the mansion back in the early '80s. It was there when I visited as a kid in '70. The musty smell is part of the building. It does fit the theme. It is built on the remains of Slantin' Sams Miners Shack. That is one of the oldest attractions on park...the gravity house. Other than maintaining the building and throwing in some more funny effects I say leave the place alone. It's tradition!
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I am still working on a wet asphalt/woodsy smelling candle.......
I've been looking for an asphalt scented car freshener. With no luck, I eventually settled for the leather scented one. Atleast I got some SDC smells traveling with me! As a matter of fact, I'm wearing a belt I bought at the SDC leather shop a few years ago!
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Maybe if we had the campfire candle, along with the leather freshner, while on freshly laid blacktop....it would feel like we were almost there! (I would even crack open a SIoux City Sarsaparilla from my stash to feel a bit closer)
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Ok guy's, I think this discussion needs to head on over to the "Passionate or overdoing it" thread! lol ;D
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Like Grandpa...we too can have our minds wander once and a while!
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minds over run? here? on this website!!??? NO WAY!!!
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I think we are all just trying to be more like grandfather. ;D
After all, grandfather is quite the dynamic trendsetter! What other elderly old man do you know who likes to hangout upside down on the ceiling, or sleep on a bed as steep as a mountainside, or rock an entire room instead of sitting in a rocking chair?
Old age never slows him down. :)