During the years I worked at SDC, (78-84) the park management offered to employees as a benefit the "Pass-exchange program" in which SDC employees were given free admission, discounted admission, or other types of discounts on goods and services at businesses primarily in the Branson area, but also including Six Flags, Worlds of Fun and Dogpatch. I never paid an admission to get into Dogpatch, I never paid admission to any music show in the Branson area, or Shepherd of the Hills play, or Corn Crib Theater. Also, the employees working at the businesses that took part in the pass-exchange program with SDC got in free to SDC, Whitewater, the SDC waterslide at the campgrounds, and so on. In addition, SDC management put free SDC and Whitewater passes in our paycheck envelopes a few times a year so we could give them to family and friends. The pass exchange program was great...and the businesses benefited because once you went to Dogpatch, Shepherd of the Hills, or where ever, you would buy items in their shops, restaurants, and so on. Plus, as an employee at a tourism related business, you could experience other attractions, and when tourists would ask "what is Dogpatch like?" or "how is Sheperd of the Hills play?" you could honestly tell them you'd been there and enjoyed those places. So the pass exchange program helped employees and operators and helped to increase awareness on what attractions in the region offered, and helped those businesses attract more business from locals and tourists alike. A real win-win situation. All I had to do was show my SDC ID card, and I got in free! Zephon, Copper, or some of the other current citizens will have to give us an update on the pass exchange program, and what it is like for them today...if it is still in effect (and I hope for their sake, it is!)
