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[jericho]

Regardless if project 2027 is a high thrill coaster (which would be seriously fantastic) or a family thrill coaster (which would be a good business move), I'm just glad to see the park investing in their lineup in such a big way. The longer I watch construction, the more I'm convinced that this will be a turning point for the park in terms of national appeal. I expect we're going to see a lot of operational changes implemented to handle larger crowds in the coming years.

I agree. I posted this on the recent Defunctland youtube video about Celebration City.

I have wondered why Dollywood had gotten ahead of Silver Dollar City in investment and growth in the last 20 years. I think I just figured out why.  Silver Dollar City poured their investment money into this defunct project and has nothing to show for it while Dollywood built resorts, a waterpark and rides that are still running!. Thankfully Silver Dollar City is now investing in things that will last again and has some big projects on the horizon.

[sdcfan88]

I'm confident the new White Water will be built where the Indian Ridge homes used to sit or at least close to. It and the resort will then be integrated and the one on the strip will close down and become vacant or sold off to another operator if Hershend wants to surrender property back to Branson. Though one of the reasons why Celebration City existed was to keep Six Flags from reportedly purchasing Branson USA at the time and competing with SDC.

[RowEleven]

I'm sure the Celebration City project had a significant impact on the park's slow growth, but Branson as a whole is a weaker market. It doesn't have quite the spread of entertainment that the Pigeon Forge area does, and Pigeon Forge is neatly situated between several major metropolitan areas.

I believe Great Smoky Mountains NP is the most visited park in the US. Dollywood can count on millions of tourists in the area every year. On the other hand, Branson has . . . just Silver Dollar City. The shows don't have the same appeal as a national park.

In my opinion, Silver Dollar City's $500 million investment pledge is a sign they finally feel as though their park is strong enough to carry the region as a whole. Until recently, that wasn't the case.

(Forever sad that I grew up going to SDC and never once set foot inside Celebration City.)

[Duelist]

^ Neither did we ever go to CC.  I always felt SDC was competing against themselves by opening CC.  We were always too tired to go to SDC all day then venture to CC at night.  It was almost like you had to choose one or the other.

[BackInTime]

We're getting off-thread here, but the fact SDC has been voted the #1 theme park in the U.S. for five years running seems to signal an obvious correlation with the most recent additions and the $500M investment plans over the next 10 years. The fact that SDC has seemingly played second fiddle to DW throughout this millennium has always baffled and irritated me. It's nowhere near the total park experience SDC offers IMHO.

Back to the topic at hand, what is the degree of confidence that the new coaster will expand into both cleared areas beyond PK? Additionally, is it totally out of bounds to consider the possibility of the layout extending all the way to the cleared areas west and north of OR? That would be an absolutely massive layout if the latter were the case. Just seems odd that they would clear that much land beyond the need for service access, if they didn't intend to use it as part of this newest addition. Not speculating, or making any predictions, just wondering what others thoughts and opinions are on the final scale of this addition. 

[orangesandpeaches]

^ Neither did we ever go to CC.  I always felt SDC was competing against themselves by opening CC.  We were always too tired to go to SDC all day then venture to CC at night.  It was almost like you had to choose one or the other.

I didn't really feel they were competing against themselves as, at the time SDC wasn't a night park outside of November and December. CC was at its best the last few hours of the day (City Days, City Nights, Just Add Water was the tagline). I haven't brought myself to watch DFL's treatment of the subject as it still really hits close to home for me all these years later. Many of the ideas we have now come from CC, Moonlight Madness, the dance parties, the fireworks. I feel the drone show is the spiritual successor of the laser and fireworks show. I haven't felt a vibe quite like that at the park since the last night CC was open. I still see faces at SDC every week that I first remember from CC. Indeed, it is hard for me to hear Kool and the Gang and Smash Mouth without thinking of those nights. There are still a few spots in SDC that have the old Control Series JBL speakers and that dark colored sound that dominated CC's PA and Laser Wall. Come to think of it, I guess it is only fitting that the viewing area for the drone show is under the shadow of the old Accelerator, as it was at CC.

As of Thursday moring they were still adding steal to the new structure as they have more beams laid out and straps on the structure to help the bolt holes line up.

[Wildfire]

We're getting off-thread here, but the fact SDC has been voted the #1 theme park in the U.S. for five years running seems to signal an obvious correlation with the most recent additions and the $500M investment plans over the next 10 years. The fact that SDC has seemingly played second fiddle to DW throughout this millennium has always baffled and irritated me. It's nowhere near the total park experience SDC offers IMHO.

Back to the topic at hand, what is the degree of confidence that the new coaster will expand into both cleared areas beyond PK? Additionally, is it totally out of bounds to consider the possibility of the layout extending all the way to the cleared areas west and north of OR? That would be an absolutely massive layout if the latter were the case. Just seems odd that they would clear that much land beyond the need for service access, if they didn't intend to use it as part of this newest addition. Not speculating, or making any predictions, just wondering what others thoughts and opinions are on the final scale of this addition. 

Just for the record.  The best theme park in the USA is just one select poll.  We went to Dollywood last October and they were advertising themselves as the best theme park in America too, according to another poll.  In case you were wondering, we thought Dollywood was much better than SDC

[bobsmith]

Back to the topic at hand, what is the degree of confidence that the new coaster will expand into both cleared areas beyond PK? Additionally, is it totally out of bounds to consider the possibility of the layout extending all the way to the cleared areas west and north of OR? That would be an absolutely massive layout if the latter were the case. Just seems odd that they would clear that much land beyond the need for service access, if they didn't intend to use it as part of this newest addition. Not speculating, or making any predictions, just wondering what others thoughts and opinions are on the final scale of this addition. 

I think that's just what was required for how hilly it is, google earth has it at 25m elevation change over just 85 meters from the edge. If it did go to the furthest clearing it would be over 600m, which only pure out and back coasters like Mamba seem to do, with how many footers are already near the station it would be pretty crazy to also go out that far, but there isn't really anyway to get the coaster there with the current tree clearing and road.

[Swoosh]

There will be a lot of National exposure next year with ACE Coaster Con being hosted at the park.  That alone will spread word of mouth for the new ride and help with the different "best of" awards