Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - History Buff

Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6]
76
Other Parks / MOVED: Dollywood's River Battle
« on: June 29, 2008, 11:15:14 PM »

78
Other Parks / HFE's WILD ADVENTURES
« on: June 29, 2008, 10:55:51 PM »
On our trip back from Florida, we came through Georgia and took a four mile trip over to the entrance to Wild Adventures.  The place looks just like it's described - like some farmer started an exotic animal collection, started letting people visit the animals, and then added rides.  The place is just plopped in the middle of some farm land - which is all right - but it lacks the character of the Ozarks.  Here are some really bad pics of the entrance sign and some billboards (We weren't willing to pay to park or go inside after such a long trip.):



Does ZZ Top really fit in with HFE?




Do these look like CC ads to you?

80
General Silver Dollar City Talk / Theming
« on: March 31, 2008, 06:50:18 PM »
Theming elements are usually the little "tweaks".  The tongue-in-cheek.  They invite slaps to the forehead and comments like "I can't believe it actually says that," or "somebody actually had that idea and they did it!"  Theming elements are the inexpensive additions to an area that amusement parks don't have.  They may include things like trash can covers and line railing, but they also include creative signage (like a creative poem telling you not to look over a rail when the train is passing underneath the bridge you're standing on), sidewalk prints (like the original haybale design inside the Giant Swing), and other items that the average visitor might walk right on by without noticing.  Many times the theme sets the stage for the ride you're standing in line for - like all the inventor's sketches and the small laboratory in the corner of the queue for Wildfire (It's almost disappointing when the line moves too fast for you to read all there is - and there's even more upstairs when the line gets really long!).  Oft times, the theming is actually educational (like in the lines at ThuNderaTion, Fire-in-the-Hole, and the Lost River).

Silver Dollar City is at its best when it floods areas with the 1880s Ozarkian themes - I think we can all agree on this point.  The talk in one of the coaster threads, however, has inspired me to move the discussion here.

So, what are your favorite theme elements?

Where do the themes work and where do they fall flat?

Are there theming elements that most people miss if they're not looking for them?

Do you have any ideas for new items that could be added?

I consider the every trip to SDC worth my time as long as I can spot at least one theme element I haven't noticed before, and I've been successful almost every visit.

81
Branson Talk / Branson Attractions (Other than Food and Shows)
« on: March 23, 2008, 08:07:21 PM »
Where's the best mini-golf?  Maxi-golf?

Which museums are worth our time and money?

Shopping?  Or does that need to a separate thread?

82
Branson Talk / Branson Food
« on: March 23, 2008, 08:00:44 PM »
Where do you just have to eat when you're in Branson?

What should we avoid?

83
Branson Talk / Branson Shows
« on: March 23, 2008, 07:59:36 PM »
What do you like?

Do you recommend any shows in particular?

Any disappointments?

84
Construction/Rumors / SDC's 2009/10 Project
« on: March 23, 2008, 03:39:42 PM »
(Admin note: I cut this out of the 2008 project thread when it moved to 2009 discussion)

I suppose the Culinary School will be themed as a part of the Grand Exposition, due to its location.

If anyone visits the G.E., go over by the butterfly ride and look through the fence.  There are some fresh ribbons in the trees that may mark the location of a new attraction (wooden coaster?).  There is plenty of room in this location for a coaster to sail through the trees, and with the slope of the land, a nice drop could plummet us all down the hill.  I would predict the queue for the ride could be located between the Culinary bldg. and the Wave Carousel, along with a shop featuring Exposition Wear and souvenirs.  They wouldn't have to theme it as much - just keep the G.E. theming.  This would give a major ride to that side of the park and split the coaster riders from the other side of the City.

(I'd also like to see Becky's Carousel and the Balloon ride moved to the area.)

85
General Silver Dollar City Talk / Herschend Family Entertainment
« on: March 16, 2008, 02:58:05 PM »
Can someone tell me exactly being a Herschend Brand means?  The HFE website (http://www.hfecorp.com/default.aspx) give a lot of information about the history of the company, including some history of Marvel Cave Park (aka SDC) and even some pictures.  Then it talks about the brands of the company - Talking Rocks Cavern, Ride-the-Ducks, etc.  Being a brand seems to mean that they own, "partner", or operate a business.

Anyone want to discuss any of the other attractions?

86
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IN ANOTHER STATE?

In Texas, they would have a drop tower that looks like an oil well.  Water "shoots" the platforms up and down when the workers "strike a gusher".  Name of the park:  Black Gold City.

In Arkansas, the park would focus on a popular comic strip.  Name of the park:  Dogpatch USA.  (Oops.  Done that.)  BTW, see http://undergroundozarks.com/gallery/dogpatch for shots of that defunct park (Kinda spooky.).

In Colorado, we would have to see John Stetson making his hats, and a feature ride would be the Pike's Peak Coaster.  Name of the park:  Freshly Minted Coins City (Only Denver-minted coins would be given in change.

In Tennessee, a popular country music icon could purchase the park and rename it Dollywood.

MORE IDEAS?

87
Construction/Rumors / Your Attraction Ideas
« on: February 23, 2008, 11:02:59 PM »
I can't find a strand on site for this, so I'll start it up.

We all like to speculate on future attractions at SDC, and if you're anything like me, you've even dreamed up your own attractions and figured out where to put them in the park.  So how creative are you?

For example, I'd like to see SDC create an area to show Ozark wildlife.  As I understand it, Dollywood has an eagle sanctuary and with the purchase of Wild Adventures, animals are now in the system.  This time, lets see some wild boar, some white-tailed deer, raccoons and bobcats, copperheads and tree frogs.  Only animals that appear naturally in the area, though.  No bison or long-horns, no ostriches or cobras.

Then, how about a roller coaster that combines the serene charm of the beginning of Fire-in-the-Hole with the extreme thrill of a spinner, all while traversing a cool track.  The name of the ride?  Ozark Twister.  It would be complete with quirky Wizard of Oz type images along the lift hill, with a simulated tornado in the distance.  Then after the wild part, the car cruises back by the same Ozarks village after the twister has hit.  I know, it would have to be tastefully done, but it could be done.  Donations could be collected for victims or real tornadoes, and an interactive, educational "museum" could be incorporated (only it would still have to fit the theme of the park).

What kind of virtual reality ride could be put in?  Doesn't Dollywood have one?  The VR rides at Disney and Universal, though expensive, and really cool.

Anyway, now it's your turn.  Who knows?  Someone may take our ideas and actually engineer them.

88
SDC Memories/ Park History / SDC Fantasies
« on: February 17, 2008, 02:03:19 PM »
I've always wanted to ride the sphere thing around the Wildfire track.

I'd like to see Fire in the Hole with the lights on.

I'd like to spend the night in Marvel Cave.

Does anyone else have any "fantasies" (Keep 'em clean.) that involve SDC?

Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6]