Messages

76

Construction/Rumors / Re: 2023-2024 Announcements

« on: October 25, 2022, 08:20:23 AM »

The ending of the video has a huge hint toward Fire in the Hole.

From the end of the video”we can’t wait to tell you more about what’s to come next year and the years to come”

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but it seems like they are still hoping for FITH2 to be open sometime next year but are holding off an announcement because they are unsure if it will be.

The parking/entrance project not being done till 2024 may make next year interesting to get to the park. I’m assuming there will be some shifts in the traffic going into the park to accommodate the construction.

I hope it’s student/guest worker housing. Having housing though is a huge win for fixing staffing issues.

77

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Old Time Christmas Shows poll

« on: October 21, 2022, 05:05:44 PM »

I'm guessing no one will agree with me, but I think MORE of the park's Christmas entertainment could stand to be overhauled-some of it's a bit musty. Not that they need to chuck everything they're doing out entirely, but see what they can do to freshen some of it up a bit. Some of those shows have been around seemingly unchanged for well over a decade.

I agree. I might get crucified for this opinion but I’d like to see almost every Christmas show get some refreshing. Including the train and the parade. Before the haters come at me, I’m not saying don’t tell the story of Jesus. Keep telling the story of Jesus, just in a new way.

78

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Year round operations

« on: October 21, 2022, 04:56:56 PM »

With kings dominion and carrowinds announcing year round operations do you think SDC will add year round operations?


I don’t think it would happen in the next few years, but could see it in the future especially after adding a resort.

79

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: SDC Festivals 2023

« on: October 21, 2022, 04:49:24 PM »

I want to see the full schedule. I might have more thoughts then. From their posts on FB it sounds like they will open before spring ride days.

Definitely bummed about harvest fest starting on Saturday. That Wednesday and Thursday of opening week was nice. Totally understand why but will miss it. I’m curious if they will be open or if they are giving themselves 5 days of the park being closed for final setup of harvest fest.

I’m curious about the overlap between summer celebration and summer nights. If you go on the overlapping day do you get credit for both festivals towards the ornament?

80

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: How is Foggy Hollow/Harvest festival?

« on: October 13, 2022, 08:28:26 PM »

Foggy hollow is just the trail from pumpkin plaza to boat works theater(previously the pumpkin trail). It’s really just what you’ve seen, lots of hanging lights and haze.

It is pretty cool, but honestly I felt let down by it. I had seen some information about it saying that each light was individually programmable, and that it was synced to music. That had my expectations sky high. I was expecting town square level programmed lighting to music. With the 3 dimensional cube created by the lights it has the potential for some freaking amazing effects, but all I ever saw it do was just slow color changing fades. It was in tempo with the music but I expected a show not just lights changing color.

I have a background in lighting design, so that definitely plays into my expectations being high. I know what can be done with what they have, and it can be freaking awesome. As it is, it’s cool but not a very big draw to come back and see it again. I think more pumpkins would have been a better investment, especially some more large ones that are real photo opportunities.

81

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

« on: September 30, 2022, 09:53:46 PM »

That building has been there since the beginning, it’s the kids play area. That building is not part of the new ride.

82

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Student trips from local high schools --- a question

« on: September 30, 2022, 08:00:18 AM »

I’ve shared your frustration with special group days, not just high school but any big group days. I wish SDC had a calendar of special days(mercy, freeman, park run events, etc) but to my knowledge it doesn’t.

83

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2022 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: September 20, 2022, 08:06:12 PM »

thanks swoosh. also checked out the parking lot pictures while I was there.

I'm wondering with the parking lots if they are planning an overhaul of the current parking and or the main entrance. it doesn't seem like they really need additional capacity for parking(current parking seems to be enough to hit max capacity in the park and with labor shortages, max capacity may still be reduced a little). maybe it is just prep for the future projects that will happen at that location, but I'm just pondering that something else is going on.

my guess is that they are building a new concept in the area where Flossie's was at. Hopefully with some indoor seating. I think keeping the corndogs and chicken in front of the saloon makes a lot of sense but with FITH going away it's very possible that stand will go too. they did tease on a post a couple weeks ago on facebook that they would be announcing something about pork rinds soon, so I think that means they will bring that back somewhere. I'm thinking maybe they will announce it late October/early November to try to boost sales of season tickets(maybe they will announce fith then too)

84

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

« on: September 08, 2022, 10:48:43 PM »

The waterfall behind lumbercamp has been shut off and the pond drained. Work on footings is taking place for whatever will replace Flossie’s.

85

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2022 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: September 01, 2022, 10:34:36 AM »

Ridding fire spotter balloons, I had a good view of the new eating area for the pumpkin trail/foggy hollow. The food stand looks complete, they have about 16 picnic tables there in a wood chip dining area. I’m kinda surprised they didn’t pave it for wheelchair and stroller accessibility. The path connects just to the west(downhill side) of the coke stand, it may not have to come out to use the new area. I didn’t take pictures on the ride.

86

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

« on: September 01, 2022, 10:32:45 AM »

A little more progress on the facade.
 You can see some windows framed out in the facade by the entrance area that look they are using forced perspective to make the building appear taller(the windows get smaller as you go up each level on the building).
Maybe I’ve missed it but I noticed that there is a second garage door entrance to the building on the side by pumpkin plaza, right by the plaza shipping container wall. I don’t remember seeing that or hearing anything about it before.

87

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: 2022 Crowds / Trip Reports

« on: September 01, 2022, 10:27:06 AM »

At the park yesterday. Was the crowd that I’d expect for southern gospel fest probably 6,000-8,000 people and a thousand of them just came for the Issac’s concert in echo hollow. Most of the crowd was 50+, there were fewer homeschool families than I’ve seen at past SGF. Most rides were walk on or very nearly walk on. The only times it felt crowded was walking through an area where a show was starting or ending. Food lines were also almost nonexistent. I would say it was only like 4,000-5,000 people but echo hollow was almost full, so I think total attendance was a little higher than it felt like walking around.

I had my little kids with me so we mostly rode rides in grand expo and fireman’s landing, I noticed on several rides they were giving the full or in some cases any of the pre ride instructions. It stood out to me because that has not been my experience in the past even on slow days. It also seemed like a lot of the staff was less friendly and not as interested in engaging customers. It was still a great day at the city.

I did get a couple pictures of new FITH, I’ll post those in the 2023 project thread. Also had a good view of foggy hollow from fire spotter balloons that I’ll share in the 2022 project thread, no pictures because of the loose articles rules for fire spotter.

88

Other Parks / Re: Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast SFOT to give final rides Sept. 11

« on: August 28, 2022, 07:55:48 PM »

Wow. I remember when they built it.  I haven’t been to SFOT in 20 years now but it was my local park growing up.

89

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC’s 2022 Project(s) and Park Developments

« on: August 27, 2022, 11:52:24 AM »

My last visit was the first week of July. Probably going this week.

I’m assuming most of that was done in the last week or two, with school starting up and it being hot, it doesn’t suprise me much that there haven’t been many people there lately. It also seems like there are only 20ish active users on here. Maybe there are more that just drop by and read, but looking at posts for the last few months there aren’t a whole lot of people posting.

I’ve loved the waterfall seating area, for a quiet calm space to eat. I’m hoping that with the rebuild they add indoor seating capacity. Having another air conditioned dinning area would be helpful in the summer.

90

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Old Time Christmas 2022

« on: August 19, 2022, 10:13:55 AM »

Hi Viking,

I’ll echo what kbosch said. Saturday is really busy. Especially during old time Christmas. Friday is pretty busy too. If you’re able to go Wednesday and Thursday those would be the best two days to be at SDC. Sunday is less busy than Saturday, and it varies whether Sunday or Friday is busier, I think Sunday is usually a little better, people seem to leave earlier Sunday evening.

The tree lighting is really cool, it takes place about 5:30 if I remember correctly.(it’s on the show schedule in the pathfinder(paper map) and in the app). I highly recommend using the SDC app.it’s got a map,can provide directions, showtimes, and shows some menu info for the restaurants. You can watch the parade right after the tree lighting. After the tree lighting the tree does short shows every 15-20 minutes the rest of the night. If you want to skip the tree lighting and just watch the tree later, grand exposition is a great area to watch the parade. It’s usually less crowded than the rest of the parade route.

Craftspeople will be there. Glassblowing and pottery are my personal favorites. Glass blowing is just fun to watch. Pottery is fun because it’s usually not crowded and you can have a conversation with the potters.

I really love the travelers stop at SDC, they have grilled cheese sandwiches(the steak one is my favorite), they usually have a soup for each festival but I don’t remember what it was for Christmas. Hatfields tatter patch has a potato, sweet potato, and sausage skillet, that’s another favorite of mine. The kettle chips are a good snack(it’s by the saloon).

The train is a must do, the line gets long quick even on not so busy days. Usually I wait and get in line around the time of the second parade. A lot of people leave after the first parade is over,helping the line get shorter if you wait till later.


Outside of SDC  I would take a day and drive up to Springfield and go to the wonders of wildlife aquarium(it’s one of the absolute best aquariums in the US),you can also go to bass pro and lamberts(home of the throwed rolls) while in Springfield. I don’t recommend the aquarium in Branson. Advance reservations for the wonders of wildlife aquarium are a must. You can buy tickets and reserve your time on their website.

In Branson gettin basted and Florentiina resturante italiana are two of my fave’s. I also really like the food at smith creek moonshine at Branson landing.

The tree and fountain at Branson landing are pretty fun to see, the tree isn’t a good as SDC’s but the fountains are fun. I think they only have “shows” Fri-Sun.

Sheppard of the hills drive through Christmas lights are really good.

I enjoy miniature golf. Pirates cove and lost treasure golf are two that I like.

Dogwood canyon is another good place to visit.