SDC's 2012 Project

MissinTheGreenTrams · March 13, 2011, 04:15:16 PM

ya know I have to say that sdc isnt about big thrills. Not to me anyway. I like that they have a couple of thrill rides, but to me SDC is an enviroment. Its somewhere to escape to, get away from fast paced things in our life. What they have is a mix of everything. No my four year old cant ride everything. So what. They did a great job of adding GE and HDH. putting in rides that my husband and I can ride with our son. Heck just going to SDC is experiance enough. The smells and sights and special stores. The entertainers and black smith and glass blowers. Yes they have the staple shows. I have come to expect those every year and listen to it in the off season. I would hate to see SDC become a fast paced thrill ride expert. I want trees and landscaping over rides. I want quirky shops and oddball charecters. Rides come and go. I for one am thrilled with SDC the way it is. If they dont get a new ride for another 5 years thats not going to keep me from buying my passes. There is something for me, my husband, my child. There is something for the grand parents. There is somethin for everyone to ride together. Yes grndfathers mansion could use a revamp, but if they revamp too much it would have to be ADA acceptable, which there is nothin wrong with but then it might change what GM is. Then where would we be??? If we go changing too much and wanting the next big thing, we will change what SDC is and that would be a sad day.

Junior · March 13, 2011, 05:03:01 PM

The park will always change, as trends change, and people, so will the park. There are parts of the park that don't change. Some areas are almost exactly the same as my first visit in 1970. There are parts that will change. Attractions and shows will change from time time. There have been, to my knowledge, four or five theaters on the spot where Boatworks Theater is now. Each time the stage and seating area has gotten larger. The park will almost always be very familiar to those who go back year after year. However, I was disoriented as to where I was first time I went into the Grand Exposition area, because it was woods or employee parking when I worked there!

Zephon · March 13, 2011, 05:41:56 PM

Believe me, I get disheartened as much as you all do when I see some of the old stuff neglected or even abandoned. And I've seen a lot of it in my time here. Heck, I remember FITH in it's glory days!...when it was just a few years old...everything worked and it was a marvelous experience. I remember the days of a full strength street troop...shows every hour on Main Street, "happenings" inbetween time at various parts of the park. It was common for "battles" between the Hatfields and McCoys to erupt any where on park at any time...guests loved it. The shows in the Playhouse were actually funny at one time...belly-laughs were common and guests were included in the action. Even the crafts demonstrations have suffered through the years. I could go on and on. I really do miss "the good ole days."

Through it all, us old-timers have learned to persevere...knowing that it's not the same park as when Jack and Pete took an active hand in deciding it's direction. The money-managers are at a definite disadvantage...not having "grown-up" at the park, they have no concept of what it was...or what it could be again for that matter. You have to believe that if they did, their priorities would shift in efforts to regain some of that flavor.

This year's theme for employees is "fast and friendly." All well and good. You have to have that in your personnel in order to be successful. And the thing is, that doesn't cost the company, whereas, maintaining the atmosphere does. Sigh...

So, we continue to support the place we love as best we can, knowing that if we decide to "cash in our chips," it will become just another dime-a-dozen amusement park.

Junior · March 14, 2011, 03:18:55 PM

Zephon, thanks for your truthful and candid remarks. I can tell it comes from the heart. I pray the powers that be gain a deeper understanding of the park and traditions. I think it would help in the long run. After all, that's what it took to build the park up in the first place.

sanddunerider · March 14, 2011, 04:41:33 PM

zephon.. as always, well said and to the point. And as usual, very accurate.

joshblakebran · March 15, 2011, 05:51:39 PM

The refurbishing of SDC and it's already great rides would be great...I'm still wondering why they took out the waterboggin so soon...Also, why did they leave the tower?

Swoosh · March 15, 2011, 06:05:56 PM

The one thing that everyone needs to remember that in this business is that everything is fluid. Just because they said one thing now or even a month from now does not mean that it is the final decision. Don't be surprised to hear one thing from the PTB one day and then a couple weeks later something else - it's the nature of the beast. If attendance is up this year, which it very well might be considering they are calling for a cooler start to summer, who knows what may happen. They DO have a few larger projects planned, they have certain areas of the park earmarked for different projects (including the waterboggan site) it is just a matter of when and if they get the green light from headquarters to do it.

So like I said, just because they said "no large attraction" now, who knows in a couple of months. I still say look for more CC rides to make their way over to SDC though.

History Buff · March 15, 2011, 08:55:03 PM

It could also be a distraction - a bluff to get the manufacturer to lower a bid.

joshblakebran · March 16, 2011, 08:22:44 AM

History Buff...I hadn't thought of that...you and Swoosh are much more familiar with how this business works than I am...I always enjoy and learn from your posts...

sanddunerider · March 16, 2011, 01:02:52 PM

And another option could be is the PTB elected not to say anything yet.

They probably have already decided what is going to happen, But want to get this year going first!.

Upper management knows we have our spies/ sources and connections.. lol!

i just DOUBT they pulled WB out 2 years early for NO reason..

History Buff · March 16, 2011, 04:26:55 PM

Imagine if the whole ride was still sitting there and not operating. The tower's not unsightly, but the whole slide would just loom there like a ghost town.

I do doubt they're just making this announcement to throw us off the scent, though.

Josh, I'm no expert - I'm just cynical.

DollarCityBoy · March 16, 2011, 04:30:46 PM

Quote from: History Buff on March 16, 2011, 04:26:55 PM
Imagine if the whole ride was still sitting there and not operating. The tower's not unsightly, but the whole slide would just loom there like a ghost town.

Kinda like Huck Finn's Hideout!

History Buff · March 16, 2011, 04:38:31 PM

Not exactly - a nice iconic treehouse that barely gets any notice by the visiting public can still generate some nice photographs, while a weed-infested, rotting waterslide just gives off the vibe that the park is dying. But I get your point.

BackInTime · March 18, 2011, 11:31:56 AM

Always a great reminder, Swoosh. To that point, I was specifically told twice last year by HFEC reps that the WB was specifically removed to make way for an exciting new attraction for the 2011 season. Clearly we got something new. And clearly it had nothing to do with WB site.

I'll be the first to admit that I was probably wrong about the addition of HDH. Even having a little one, I didn't really see the value in having another attraction geared toward a younger audience. I do think it will be a nice addition.

I do, however, still yearn for another new major thrill-ride at SDC. Couldn't agree more that it's a tough balancing act. And at the end of the day, I would rather retain the park's unique character and charm than see it evolve into a major ride destination. But quite honestly, I don't ever see that happening. I think the decision makers know what makes SDC work.

joshblakebran · March 18, 2011, 01:12:13 PM

I'd still like a Mystery Mine type of a ride in the Waterboggin' area...Dollywood's looks cool...