chadster

^ This is exactly what I quizzed them over during my interview, they told me the exact same story. They seemed quite confident in their decision, but with all of the other shows and attractions geared towards the older crowd, hotel room inventory at the time, I was skeptical, and rightly so. Basically, if anyone were to buy the GCI, all they would be buying is the blueprints, trains, and related equipment (motor, breaks, controls, computers). And dependant on the price they would want for it, that might not be feasible after new construction costs. It's just too expensive to move a wooden coaster, especially to land that isn't identical, that and the track bed can't be saved and most of the wood would probably need to be replaced. Cheaper to strip it, tear it down, and rebuild it fresh. Glad everyone is enjoying the pictures!

Having a vast desire to reach 225 coasters by the end of 2010, I made the short 3 hour drive to Branson to not only reach that goal, but to see in person what the Travel Channel says is the best Christmas light display on the planet. The display did not disappoint, and neither did the hospitality at the park. I was able to score a very rare two days for the price of one ticket from a local ticket outlet online, and made a plan to enjoy the Christmas aspect of the park on day one, and switch to mostly rides and attractions on day two. As a result, I will break this posting down into two parts, Day 1 and Day 2. Keeping with logic, I will start with Day 1 (12/2/10) After checking into my hotel I arrived to the park around 4:30 and walked from Parking Lot 5 (I needed to drop a few pounds). SDC offers paid and free parking. Paid parking for non pass holders was $12. However, the park offers free Tram service from the free parking areas, so, I decided to save the parking fee to spend on food. Walking up to the front gates I could smell the cinnamon rolls cooking and see Wildfire running in the distance. I was a little worried about crowds since the parking lot was packed, but quickly noticed 85% of the crowd as either in the 65 and older crowd or 8 and under, so ride lines did not exist. The sun was setting and their was an orange glow cast of the park, quite appetizing to the eye. On this Day 1, I went directly to the B&M. I should first mention that this ride, and all others, adhered to the strict no re-ride policy, even with empty queues. Luckily, the walk around to get back to the rides was short. Wildfire hasn't much airtime to talk of, but does offer a nice surprise of airtime coming off the lift down the first drop in row 8, something you don't get in the front row. The ride was only running one train, which was all they needed. Train 2 was disassembled in the maintenance bay. Overall this was a decent ride with 5 inversions including the famous B&M batwing. 8/10 Next I had to try the S&S air launched coaster, Powder Keg. This ride does not disappoint. Using the terrain after the launch to gain speed and confusion, this ride packs a punch. I was glad after the traditional chain lift that you got a little extra ride time, I'd been real disappointed if the ride had gone from lift to station. This ride was also only running one train, which again was all they needed. Train 3 appeared ready, but train 2 was being disassembled in the maintenance shed. 8/10 Only two more rides on this day before enjoying the food and sites. One, what I would call a Jeff Johnson credit, Fire in the Hole, something I rode 20 years ago, has maybe 40 feet of coasting on two drops, that, and the scenery in the ride is quite comical. Finally, I can't go without riding the S&S swing, love those rides. Oddly enough, only one side was in operation. I'd never seen that occur before on a swing. I applaud S&S for incorporating that option. Now, on with the Day 1 photos! Welcome to Silver Dollar City! Walking up to the front gates This place has the most awesome cinamon rolls, the price is well worth it. In this building, you can get in line for the cave tours. They were offering one tour per hour, 60 people at a time, or 480 people a day. I elected to bypass the cave tour on this trip. Walking down towards Wildfire The top of the flume lift is where lightening struck and burned down the shed last week. Noted! How about some silhouette shots of Wildfire? Down she goes... Up and over weeeeeeee, ok, moving on So after multiple rides on Wildfire, I strolled around the park on my way to Powder Keg This production, Frontier Fa-La-La Follies, was extremely popular and always had a line. For an extra $10 per show, you can skip the line. If you want to go to the Giant Swing, you go this way, but I want to go tap a keg. how about some food? more food in here too very reasonable pricing for entres we walk past this to get to a walking taco on the way to Powder Keg, you pass by the Opera House, another very popular show attraction with lines literraly halfway to mainstreet. so after 4 launches on the keg, I went in search of the Giant Swing yes please yeah! After riding the swing, I ate here. Catfish was fresh and crispy, tasty. Price was, reasonable, 7.99 with two sides and cornbread, drink extra. After eating, I figured I would complete the circle of the park, is 8pm, park closes at 9pm treehouse off the stairs to nowhere you can get your pottery on here. or your ornament on Finally we come almost full circle and cross the bridge leading to the giant Christmas Tree hmmm, what do we have over here? All you can eat! At prices you can afford! Bye SDC, see you tomorrow! So I took the tram back to the parking lot, drove back to the hotel to get warm and then went out to take a tour of the town. It's been 8 years since my last run through of Branson, and that was just a one day tour. Lots has changed, impressed with the new shopping complex along the river downtown, very nice.

Thanks man, looks like a pull through is just around the corner! and I agree, Holiday in the Park >>>>>>>>>>Frightfest

Thanks so much for sharing! Love the mouse coasters, thye are so, um, cheesy! ha ha.

^ hmmmm, reviewing upskirt footage?

According to the person who claims to be Harold over at GLT, they will RETURN the money if things don't work out. It's also comforting to know that donations won't be used for legal fees From the .org site: So, allow me translate the above into English. "I lied to the public and news media. I tried to convince alot of people, including myself, that I really owned this ride. I then began collecting donations through paypal on my website but could not send anyone a thank you due to legal reasons, because, if I had sent you a thank you message, then you would expect updates from me, thus it was easier just to do nothing. I also can't give you updates because I have gotten myself in a lot of hot water. While I'm not using the $384 to pay the legal bills surrounding the hot water I'm in (my lawyer says I can't, he's a mean man) I can assure you that I've used the money to survey the site. If I feel like it, I'll post another update."

Looks like it's snowing at Cedar Point, which means it's snowing up the road a bit, which means, you guessed it, the trains are sitting in the snow which looks to be forecast for the rest of the week...opps. Shoulda got that contract finalized.

^ well, at least a pull through

hmmm...gator....so that's what they are calling "IT" now. very random indeed. I can see this thread getting entertaining, and certainly the original post, I doubt anyone can top that. I don't think this qualifies as random, but I was on the drop tower at KI when some kid puked from the top. Good thing the queue was under roof, the crowd however, not so lucky.

wow. From now on, I'm tagging my stuff. May even put tpr's web address on them for giggles. *Edit - I suppose in a way it's an honor, other people stealing your stuff. People steal music because they want/like it, so I will look at this the same way.

Today (Dec 3, 2010) I happened to be in Branson, Mo. While I was there, I made a trip by the now closed Celebration City. But first, a little background. In October of 2002 I was looking for work. Given my hospitality experience in front office and hotel operations, I applied and interviewed for the ticketing/ride operations manager. The position was to be responsible for front services and ride operations staff which was to include writing SOP manuals, hiring, and training of all staff. During the interview, and having known the fate of what had previously occupied the site, I quizzed them about having two parks so close together. The park's GM said their theory was that SDC would close between 6 and eight in the evening and that guests would just naturally migrate to Celebration City to end their day. Given the need for two separate tickets, or, at a minimum an add on, I was skeptical. So, I continued to ask questions about the area, marketing, etc. Ultimately I was not offered the position, in part, I believe, because of my questioning the ride selection (not really questioning as in why did you pick that, more like just inquiring) and about attendance. As we know, about 5 years after it opened, it closed 10/2008. Sadly, I was never able to return to ride any of the park's rides. I was onsite interviewing when GCI was in the build process and my jaw dropped. They built one sexy ride. Sadly, it's not getting the usage it deserves. The park really looks like it's in winter mode. The property has still seen maintenance and has the appearance that given annuals, the rides could reopen next season. Here we are in the main drive. The traffic lights are simply flashing and no longer in any real operation. Noted! Thunderbolt. The cars are still on track. The thunderbolt is listed as defunct on RCDB, to me it's SBNO. But it really doesn't matter. More cars Top of lift walking down the sidewalk, we find several kiddie rides Meanwhile, over at the ozark wildcat, sexy. there is a church occuping one of the buildings now, I was going to walk up and ask if I could take pictures from their parking lot, but, several people driving in gave me dirty looks, so, I turned around. mmmmmm I spy train on track in transfer house Station Shot now we go up high for a looksee super sexy tower ride and splash boat ride still standing ferris wheel. such a nice wheel, SDC could use it. and finally, how ironic.

hmmmm, trying to figure out how that pic was taken other than from the road or the backlot area...nice angle indeed.

^that would be Zingoman. I think he posted he was going to try to get out there this weekend, maybe he will have an update later on.

^same.

Robb, you mean the one that says look at the photos and come up with pieces of the puzzle like the international plug that would be needed for the international flight that was taken with the shoe that would be needed for lots of walking and the blanket that would be needed for the long flight overseas based on the picture of the flight track, and then the napkin that suggested you were going to eat plenty of food, and finding Elissa a Mcdonalds and then moving on to KFC fast food delivery that's not offered in the states and then finally showing pictues of Dubai?

The politically incorrect me would say pig roast, but I think I like the Piggy Go Weeee suggestion.

or ask them if they've seen two westerners thumbing around taking pics...

Who is "new element" and why are they stealing pics? Two of those pics are mine (see page 139 of this thread) and one is chadster's (see page 141) (I just looked them up) - I really don't care if my pics of the Giant get spread around so more folks get excited, but it would at least be nice if they would credit where they got them. Same, I don't care if they post them, but credit should be given. Suppose as crunch time commeth we will have to mark our pics, something I try not to do on this site.

Maybe the Pony Express can't find your Teepee either! LOL! It'll be worth the wait, I'm enjoying my goodies as we speak. The mints, awesome.

What Guy said. I fully didn't expect Robb to comment on what Screamscape had posted, and honestly was surprised when I read it given that Intamin made Robb swear on a stack of Bible's that he'd keep mum. Keeping his word is certainly commendable, many applause, and may many virgins be bestowed upon you.

ok, heres my two cents while standing in line to ride a roller coaster. robbs shoe = will require them walk a lot international plug = spoof flight = leaving LA dulles = spoof flight path = left LA and hints international international sign at airport = something international elissa with one bag and no KT in the pic = packed lite, means weather is warm or they won't need clothes restaurants in english and all located in Florida so where can you go to get your international fix that is robbs favorite place and close to where they got married? epcot.

^ get it now, they may go up up up after Jan 2. just sayin.

screamscape's source indicates they wanted to achieve the speed it was designed for and to keep a consistent high speed throughout the ride, an overbank would kill the speed. I may just have to drop by KD next year to try it out dependant on what all takes place, and since Screamscapes sources are usually reliable, and considering no other part of the ride outside the hill have been visibly messed with, I think this is entirely plausible.

According to screamscape, they are widening the turn after the drop on I305 to be able to remove the trims and cut down on wear and tear of the trains and provide for a more comfortable ride.

So did he decide to come back? I mean if he were dedicated he wouldn't have left the project in the first place, and if the sale is dead, then he shouldn't have lost much personal money on it. GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN! This is going to get very entertaining. Affordable Legal Assistance