Messages

76

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

« on: May 10, 2023, 10:22:44 AM »

That's great to hear that operations are going smoothly this year. Feels like every other park is having major issues in one way or another, especially with unruly guests. Glad to know SDC is still ahead of the pack. Mystic River being more reliable is great news too. I will hopefully be there on the 20th and hope to ride it again for the first time since 2020.

77

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

« on: May 06, 2023, 04:54:47 PM »

Predictable, I suppose 

Can't wait for August when we can finally get excited for the big announcement. We've been talking about the new FITH for years and years now. We will have watched the construction for three years by the time it opens. Sure hope it is worth the wait.

78

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Danny Eakin retiring

« on: May 04, 2023, 04:48:25 PM »

Well that sucks for us. I hope he has a happy retirement, but he and the rest of the Pickers are pretty much irreplaceable.

SDC already feels different since Cedric/Cajun Connection left, even though they were never really part of the whole 1880's Missouri theme, lol. You can't just lose a long time piece of the culture like that and expect it to be the same. Not sure what the park can do about it, but I hope they seek out other performers to take up residence.

79

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

« on: May 03, 2023, 07:52:53 AM »

That makes more sense. They are always hyping up something 'big' and like I said, 'BIG' news has a lot of room for interpretation. Winning that again is definitely something they will hype.

Still think they have to do something to Mystic within the next few years. I keep hearing about it beating people up.

80

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

« on: May 02, 2023, 06:51:42 PM »

Double posting because I've just seen the announcement myself. The fact that it's a photo of mystic river with the 'i' in BIG turned into a '1' is interesting. Maybe they want to try for another Guinness world record this summer? Or maybe it has something to do with mystic? That ride has been causing all kinds of problems...

Part of me expects they want to find a way to rework it without admitting it is a disaster. Seems like they wouldn't do that at the start of summer though. It's made it this long.

81

Branson Talk / Re: The Imagine Resort in Hollister

« on: May 02, 2023, 01:19:50 PM »

I keep remembering this project every six months and checking in to see if anything is happening. So far, it looks dead in the water, but they are still actively seeking investors. A news story last year said that the opening would be pushed back to 2024.

https://imaginehospitality.net/

The website shows renderings of a huge 11 story tower on one side, and a still-quite-large six story tower on the other. In Hollister... This resort would be ambitious if it was being right next door to SDC, but way down in Hollister? I know they have some big brand tie-ins such as Hasbro, but there isn't even a theme park component tied in with this. Just a water park has been mentioned so far.

Perhaps the scale is being pulled back from the renderings shown. I know these projects often like to show something massive to get attention and then the actual product ends up being value engineered down to something that makes sense. If they are opening next year though, it should be vertical... Anyone been by there?

82

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

« on: May 02, 2023, 01:06:35 PM »

I don't expect so. They have often said they have BIG news coming, only for it to be something we consider trivial. BIG news has a lot of room for interpretation I guess. This news is probably related to the new food stands opening up and the furniture factory getting underway, but could also be about something coming later this year for one of the festivals. There is no good reason for them to announce the new FITH until august when people start thinking about vacations for next year and other parks are making announcements. If they announce too soon, people are encouraged to skip SDC this year and focus on WOF or wherever instead.

83

Other Parks / Re: Posiden's Fury Closing at Islands of adventure

« on: April 16, 2023, 08:28:38 PM »

I've never made it there or heard of it, but the concept sounds really cool. Sad that something accessible and unique like that is what bites the dust for more branded stuff. You'd think parks would notice that stuff like this and Flooded Mine that everyone can participate in fills a needed void in their attractions lineup.

84

Random Talk / Re: Your Travels Thread for 2023

« on: April 16, 2023, 08:26:11 PM »

I had an unexpected break in my schedule, so based on the temps this time of year I opted for a LA trip and included a trip up to SFMM. I had a surprisingly great time and operations were pretty decent all around, despite some slowness and Viper being closed. Everything else was open most of the time however, and I got multiple rides in on everything. I love how their coasters are on the longer side. West Coast Racers was a surprise to me - wasn't expecting it to be a mobius where you get to ride both sides with each ride. Apocalypse was the standout for me. Surprisingly good despite its reputation for being "rough".

85

Other Parks / Re: Frontier City Developments

« on: April 16, 2023, 08:22:50 PM »

Yup, I went out earlier this year to get my passes and the park does indeed look better than ever. Gunslinger was even open for a minute before closing down again as usual. Wildcat was riding better than ever, but I do miss the tree canopy that made it a legitimately neat ride.

I don't know how many years they can go on with random little improvements to rides that are so old and tired though. They need something new desperately. A used carnival ride would be nice at this point. Unfortunately, with the current CEO, it's unlikely much is coming. I really think the park was primed for something big before covid hit. 2021 was going to be our year.

86

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

« on: March 28, 2023, 07:41:36 PM »

They have all but said that the pork rinds aren't coming back. I'm not sure why, but I guess they didn't sell as many as you'd think and they were apparently blamed for the fire so it might be a risk/reward type of thing.

87

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Memories of FITH

« on: March 26, 2023, 11:52:23 AM »

These are awesome stories! Thanks so much for sharing.

88

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Train Crash?

« on: March 26, 2023, 11:51:44 AM »

Yes, it was testing yesterday, apparently with senior staff on board. I guess they want to prove that it's safe enough that they trust it themselves? Rumors on FB of it opening the first week of April. No official confirmation yet.

89

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

« on: March 23, 2023, 07:19:00 PM »

^We've been the same way: used to do thanksgiving week, now go sometime in December, usually the week after thanksgiving. Honestly, it's a crap shoot. It's still so busy sometimes that it's hard to do everything. The weather is what it all comes down to, but even if it's cold there's still a ton of people that come out.  Sunday evenings and Mondays are usually good though, those are the best days you can plan around.

90

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

« on: March 23, 2023, 11:20:25 AM »

Thanks for the updates again!

Looks very FITH-like inside so far. Nothing too crazy yet, which is good IMO.