Messages

31

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2023 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 08, 2023, 10:47:52 AM »

Awesome that they brought the REJOICE sign back. Had a feeling that was coming after all our discussions on those lake footers. They really do listen to their guests, even though there are a million conflicting voices.

32

Construction/Rumors / Re: Six Flags/Cedar Fair Merger and it's effects on SDC

« on: November 08, 2023, 10:46:49 AM »

It'll be hard to call it a monopoly since there are still a number of other operators out there, and these parks don't even represent the top parks in the country.

It does suck for consumers. Less competition means less big new rides. The era of a ton of new coasters opening every year around the country is probably over. There will be a couple each year, but probably not many mega coasters anymore. B&M is going to struggle unless they change their format, which it looks like they have been...
It's all about cheap and flashy. Who cares about capacity anymore, they sell more skip the line passes with low capacity rides anyway. What is new this year is forgotten about within two years anyway. Nothing is built to last or to provide an excellent overall experience, just throw something up so the park has something to promote.

SDC may benefit actually... if they continue to focus on quality attractions versus cheap and forgettable, they will have a market edge. Combined with the resort that we assume is coming, they are turning into more and more of a destination versus cheap playground like most of the SF parks.

33

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: November 08, 2023, 10:42:17 AM »

The masks are funny. I'm not sure what the historical masks were actually like, but these are a bit different than the originals from the old ride. The new mannequins look really good though. They are definitely putting in effort on the theming. Very hopeful that this ride will not only replace the old, but exceed it in terms of quality so that it sticks around for 60 years like the original.

34

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Outlaw Run restraints?

« on: November 08, 2023, 10:40:42 AM »

They have been accused of changing the restraints. I seem to recall all RMCs getting modified after the Texas Giant incident years ago. They are definitely tighter now.

35

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2023 Crowds / Trip Reports

« on: October 09, 2023, 08:44:52 AM »

Trams were pretty continuous on my last trip in August. I'm guessing it's just a typical issue of staffing and trams being down. I'm sure they are aware and will fix accordingly. Some days are just better than others with operational issues.

36

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC Resort Survey

« on: October 09, 2023, 08:39:27 AM »

Interesting. We knew that a resort was in the works, but this is the first visible sign. Guessing we'll get an announcement sometime around August 2024.

Like the sounds of the craftmanship idea. We'll probably get a little of that mixed in with the Adirondack style I'm guessing, based on recent HFEC design trends.

37

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: I finally figured out why I dislike a lot of the upgrades and changes

« on: August 25, 2023, 12:03:38 PM »

The architecture of the park has always been a bit in flux. It's never been completely "historic", although certain buildings were built in a historic fashion. When they were still building log cabin style buildings on park such as the current apple butter store, those were built in the same fashion as historic log buildings throughout Missouri. Some of the other buildings throughout the city were just kind of put up and themed and look cool, but they are hardly historic or even faux-historic, they are simply unique to that period of architecture at SDC.

I miss the cramped old buildings, the trees growing through things, and the litany of theme items tacked to walls and strewn around flower beds and such. I remember "old" SDC, and understand what some are missing.

On the other hand, consider the challenges of today: massive crowds, ADA requirements, fire suppression, A/C + energy efficiency, lighting & power needs, etc, etc. The "old" SDC was built by hand and was primarily a crafting village with a few oddities and minor attractions. Today we have a massive theme park with tons of technology and guest needs, in addition to the sheer number of guests. Way back then they hardly needed much electricity to even run the park!

38

Other Parks / Re: New Park - American Heartland in NE Oklahoma

« on: August 24, 2023, 08:09:32 AM »

Apparently Vinita rejected the annexation of this area on Tuesday evening. They aren't rejecting the whole proposed development, but several people expressed cutting down the area and doing it in steps. They kind of want Mansion to step up and actually build something to prove that they are the real deal before they sign off on everything. Or at least that was my take after skipping around the youtube video of the 4+ hour public hearing. Kind of bizarre that the annexation portion would be so controversial considering the area is pretty much empty. Glad people take local government seriously at least.

39

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 22, 2023, 03:45:05 PM »

When I rode FM on Sunday almost nothing worked. The guns turned off through the first half of the ride, then randomly came back on, but without sound effects. Very few of the props responded to being shot. Several seemed to be set to go off randomly instead of when shot at. It's as if they have given up on the guns working at all. Writing really seems to be on the wall for FM.

What's sad is that some of us know a certain maintenance person who almost single handedly kept the ride going for a long time until he was pushed out a couple years or so again. As soon as he left things went downhill steeply. It's incredible how fast things "fall apart" when you lose the only person or two who knows what they are doing. They'll replace it with something new and then that will barely last a decade before it has major trouble too.

40

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2023 Crowds / Trip Reports

« on: August 21, 2023, 08:35:21 AM »

Went this weekend. It was hot as hell, but due to the low crowds it was easy to do everything in a few hours. Didn't even realize they were doing the 50 year anniversary cast reunion for the Saloon this weekend. I thought that was awesome.

Despite the heat, everything seemed to be running fine. Didn't notice anything closed except MRF in the mornings and PK on Sunday. I actually did ride MRF for the first time in a couple years - just can't stay away from the water rides on a day like that even though it was the only ride in the park with a line.

The new furniture store is just about done. They added a few trees in front, but the area is still quite a hole in the old tree canopy. On a day like this you notice were the shade is lacking.

41

Construction/Rumors / Re: Future SDC Development Speculation (Long-term)

« on: August 21, 2023, 08:28:19 AM »

A GCII to replace TNT would be decent, but I'd rather they simply come in and do a proper replacement with a new "mine train" that mimics the original with some additional sweeping turns or something. SDC needs a true family coaster like TNT. It's an important part of the coaster lineup and for many of us that was our introduction to "big" roller coasters.

I love wooden coasters to death, but we all know they are a challenge to care for. SDC doesn't need any more challenges at the moment.

42

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 21, 2023, 08:26:06 AM »

A lot of things in concept artwork don't match reality. Heck, even the park's Tshirts don't always match reality. Remember when one of the wildfire tshirts had a vekoma boomerang on it? lol

There are almost certainly big things coming to SDC in the future, but over the next 5-10 years I would expect a couple more ride replacements to be the main focus rather than additions.

43

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 17, 2023, 10:38:50 AM »

They should go ahead and re-do the powderkeg theme song while they are at it, lol. Didn't the ride operators revolt because it was played too much? 

I think Riverblast used to have it's own theme song too. Haven't heard it in a long time. What other theme songs are/were around the park?

44

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 14, 2023, 10:06:02 AM »

https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/attractions/rides/fire-in-the-hole/

Here it is at last!

Looks awesome! Way more faithful to the original than I had thought they would go with! Looks like they are keeping just about everything that made the original special from the storytelling the water splashdown itself. I'm actually most surprised that they are keeping the splash! Very much looking forward to this!

45

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2024 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 11, 2023, 07:37:20 AM »

We'll see. I expect they will pay homage to the baldknobbers in various ways, but it'll mostly be about firefighters. It is in Fireman's Landing after all. It'll be nice, I'm sure. I just hope it is fun and reliable. Emphasis on reliable. So tired of brand new rides that close constantly and have terrible through-put.

Those photos are definitely old. I've been told that much of the interior walls are already finished out. They are getting close to theming the place out. Hopefully after all the delays and such the theming budget has grown instead of getting cut back.

No whispers of any crazy elements in all this time. We once speculated that there would still be a splash element or drop track back when the foundation was going up, but it's impossible to know for sure. I doubt there will be any water due to mold issues, but they could have a squirt gag somewhere.

I hope the red flanders scene is brought back!