Messages

136

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Country music weekend.

« on: September 14, 2015, 11:05:19 AM »

I have wondered this for some time but not had anyone to ask... I know they forecast attendance to the park and staff accordingly. And sometimes they are WAY wrong. But who does this forecasting and what factors do they take into consideration? Weather is a huge one I would think, but in the midwest, can't get accurate forecast more than a few days ahead. Who does this job of forecasting?

137

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2015 Trip Reviews

« on: July 21, 2015, 11:39:56 AM »

I have been several times this year... Once right before World Fest Started, World Fest, BBQ and Bluesgrass and then again for Star Spangled Summer. One of the things I noticed during Star Spangled Summer trip (June 20 - 21) is that most of the employees were VERY young. It seemed like everywhere they had jettisoned the older workers for entry level employees. It was not like this in May when we came. It was VERY hot when we went so perhaps the older employees were just taking the days off, but it was just strange. There were also several "english as a second language" workers... Which kind of took away the "down home" feeling of everything

While I am not exactly one who likes to be around older people (I am 43), it was strange to me to see so many young people running everything. Was starting to remind me of Six Flags or places of that ilk where they go through people left and right. Whereas I have been going to SDC for 40 years and often have seen the same people doing the same things for many year stretches.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is this just the way it is going to be in Today's economy? I mean, younger people have fewer health issues so health insurance and all not as important... they also usually have less expenses so don't need as much to get by. I don't know... was all just kind of sad to me. Hopefully this was a one time thing and when we go back in Sept. all will be back to "normal"

138

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Is it me or is the parking lot STILL confusing????

« on: April 24, 2011, 09:34:15 AM »

I know as they were constructing the parking lot I thought it was confusing. I hoped it had gotten better. I only went to SDC one time last year and that was by motorcycle so parking wasn't an issue, but I went last weekend and still get extremely confused by the parking lots... where to go, where to exit. I mean, I have been coming to SDC for nearly all my life (I'm almost 40) and never had issues with the parking lot until the changes a few years ago. I mean, even the entrance says one lane for parking and one lane for preferred... but once you get past the entrance, you have to get over to the right lane to park in the "Stop 2" area - which is only even remotely clear if you remember the old parking situation. And LEAVING the "Stop 2" parking area??? I mean, nothing is clearly marked. Thankfully I haven't left when there was a mass exodus from the lot as it's just so not clear where to exit. And again, entering the "Stop 5" lot... Headed into it you have 2 lanes, 1 says parking and the other says to 76 or something. But the parking lane is a through lane also... so people leaving the other lots could panic based on the signs and try to get over to the through lane when really they don't have to but it's all a blind curve so again, crowded situations just lead to chaos. Not to mention that AGAIN, the exits and how to get to them are SO not clear when leaving "Stop 5".

Am I the only one that is just totally confused by the layout? Maybe time will breed familiarity, but I would hate to be a newcomer and have to deal with all of it as it is just so confusing. I consider myself fairly intelligent (an engineer) and it really bothers me that I have so much trouble navigating the parking lots now. Is it just me? Like I said, I only went once last year but about 4 times the year before and mostly I spend the time trying to park or leaving cussing these days and it never used to be that way 

139

Construction/Rumors / Re: New Parking Lot/Road Plans

« on: November 17, 2008, 02:48:13 PM »

OK... I was just at SDC this past weekend and I seriously hope that this mess isn't considered "complete". I'm sure there is some sort of rhyme or reason as to what is being done with parking at SDC, but for the life of me, I can't see it. Nothing is labeled properly. I saw close to 2 wrecks just leaving parking lot C. They have small cones kind of keeping you in the lanes but even with a sportscar that isn't large, the lanes were just barely wide enough for my car and nearly impossible to turn into. I almost hit a trolley because the person directing traffic was waving but it wasn't clear what he was trying to do. The trolley came from what looks to be a road going the opposite way. it's just a huge mess. I've watched this progress the entire year and I'm no more clear now as to what the real plan with this is than I was in April. All I see is mass confusion and really no clear direction to say get from parking lot C OUT! The main road leads to parking lot F and again isn't labeled well. I saw one car leave C and end up back in F! And then leaving F there is absolutely no clarity to get back on the road to leave... I'm very disappointed as Silver Dollar City doesn't normally approach projects like this (in my 30 years of going there... at least the ones I remember after 6 years old). I really hope it isn't considered "complete" as that article link shows

140

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Random Stuff Round-Up

« on: October 15, 2008, 09:12:29 AM »

I also remember that for one season or part of one there was a ride in Lake Silver in a large boat. It was an actual boat and you had to actually paddle. And you left the dock and went around some obstacles there and then were attacked by a pirate boat (I think) and stuff. There used to be the backgrounds from those times still where the geyser gulch water area is now.

My mom probably has pictures of all of these somewhere...

141

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Random Stuff Round-Up

« on: October 13, 2008, 03:36:29 PM »

When I was a kid, the "kids" attraction involved loading us up on a real stagecoach and going for a ride where we were held up and there was a talking rock. It all was in the area where the waterfall of the lumber camp is now. For a long time, the stagecoach was in another part of the park, but I can't remember where. This was in the mid-70's or so.

Also, for one season, there was a logging competition in the pond area by the waterfall. 2 loggers would have a competition on who could stay on the log the longest. It happened several times during the day. I only remember the competition for one season (we would go 3-4 times a year) but the log stayed there for some time... it's gone now. Along with many other things.

Also one of the first shows at Echo Hollow (it wasn't named that then) was a dinner show and was a drama that protrayed 2 soldiers from the Civil War. I also don't remember that show lasting all that long - maybe 1 season.