ytterbiumanalyst

Well, one park themed to the 1920s comes to mind. Even a great woodie didn't save this park:

Well, the park just posted this page yesterday: http://bit.ly/VsVZlP http://www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com/group-travel/ycw.aspx?sf8720431=1 From the top of the page: So we can take from this that they are certain that Outlaw Run will be open by April 5. Talking with park employees during the Christmas event, most of them believed Outlaw Run would be open on March 15. The park itself, though, has only ever said "Spring." So this page is probably the closest thing we've gotten so far to an official opening date. Nothing stopping them from opening it sooner, though; the tag "be one of the first" would still be true.

There will be Outlaw Run. Opening weekend.

Yeah, that's why we avoid Saturdays if at all possible. We went on Sunday and while the paths were very crowded, the ride queues were not. We hit the big rides first; Thunderation was a walk-on, and Flooded Mine was about 10 minutes wait. Wildfire and Powder Keg were about 15-20 minutes--and this with only one train running on Wildfire and only two on Powder Keg. We waited for sundown to hit the Expo, and the crowds were just thinning. We didn't wait more than two cycles for any of the flats, and the Expo Coaster was only about 20 minutes (the queue time for this can very well be longer than for the big coasters, due to the very low capacity). Christmas really is a great time for those who like the rides. Most of the crowds are there for the shows and lights. A lot of the trees are covered in lights too. It is really impressive after sundown. And shall I add, hot wassail.

You know, I think you're right. That would explain the photo in the show schedule of the Ghost of Christmas The Years It Falls On A Tuesday.

This one destroys ALL the tycoon games!

Regarding Silver Dollar City's A Christmas Carol show: "Compared to the Dickerson show, which it was based on, I don't think it was very good. This one added musical stuff." Yeah. And a surprising lack of Scrooge McDuck, too.

After frost earlier in the week, we hit a weekend in the 70s. It's Missouri. So I got to be blasted!

I agree completely that Six Flags needs to start maintaining its coasters better. It has always been and still remains my least favorite park in Missouri. Back before Silver Dollar City built most of its big roller coasters, I'd drive to Worlds of Fun rather than Six Flags because the park was maintained so much better (the two parks are equal driving distance for me). I must insist, though, that Six Flags is getting a clone of something within driving distance: Worlds of Fun has had a Boomerang since 2000, and it was a new build at that time. So Six Flags is getting an older version of a ride that exists just four hours away. Not compelling, in my opinion. Their main competition are Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City (not counting SF Great America since it's internal competition), and frankly, the coasters that SFStL has gotten in the last few years just don't measure up.

Powder Keg and Wildfire in the dark last Sunday night. Almost no lines, and it was decently warm (mid-50s).

SFStL's Boomerang! Outlaw Run, what else? Also, we're in the beginning planning stages of a Chicago trip next year, so X-Flight and Superman: Ultimate Flight are also up there, as I've not yet ridden a wing or flying coaster.

28 in all, not bad: Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri (home state) Montana Nebraska New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Wisconsin

Oddly enough, even though I've only been on 30 coasters, 10 of those are now defunct. The one roller coaster whose demise I mourn is Ozark Wildcat at Celebration City. Parts of it are being used on Outlaw Run, though, so it's not completely lost. The one I'm happiest about seeing go is Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and I'm even happier about its replacement. When next we're in Texas, we'll have to drop by and say hi.

This year marked the first time I've been to SDC since I think 2003, and it has been more fun than I've ever had. Taking our kids there is something truly special. 5. Watching the construction of Outlaw Run, from the first time I visited for Spring Break weekend and saw this wooden structure peeking above the trees to seeing the finished (albeit trainless) product from the steam train. I kind of have a thing for construction.... 4. One Saturday this summer with storms all morning. I watched the NOAA forecast, which stated it would clear up by 11. Absolutely spot-on, and the park was 80 degrees and no lines all day. We did EVERYTHING! 3. Catching up on all the rides I've missed: Electro Spin (Disko), River Blast (Splash Battle), Giant Barn Swing (Screamin' Swing), and especially POWDER KEG! 2. The whole family getting to ride Becky's, ahem, Hugo and Mary's Carousel. All the animals were made by the craftsmen at SDC, and it's something special from my childhood. 1. My oldest daughter riding Thunderation for the first time, and subsequently naming it her favourite ride. I couldn't be prouder of her.

The POV we've been waiting for! I can't wait to see those trees in person!

Batman, Six Flags St. Louis, about 1995-ish, I think.

Thunderation with my daughter. She was all smiles through the double helix, was quite scared by the first drop (the train is going about 50mph at that point), and thought the lift hill was far too loud (I agree). She loved it, though, and I couldn't be happier. It's her first big roller coaster!

We had wanted to go on the train last Saturday, but the line was always backed up to the Build-a-Bear [for those not familiar, that's roughly a 40-minute wait], so we decided against it. I'm telling y'all, all the pictures on this site and others don't do this justice. Go to SDC, ride the train, and see for yourself, this ride is just crazy awesome. I haven't seen any Outlaw Run trains appear yet, but it can't be long now. Just 4 1/2 months until we all ride west!

Well, this month it has to be Thunderation. My daughter rode it for the first time last Saturday, her first big roller coaster. The quality of the ride doesn't even matter (they have got to fix that kink in the lift hill...). Thunderation was my first big roller coaster back in 1993, and it's now my daughter's first too. She was definitely scared, but came off it all smiles. That's pretty much the point of a roller coaster, now, isn't it?

Left: Swiss Railways clock Right: iPhone clock

SDC doesn't often strike out on a new ride. Their list of defunct rides is pretty short, and mainly due to limited capacity (keep in mind, Branson was not at all a major tourist destination in 1960). In fact, off the top of my head, I'd say only three, although you might count five, depending on whether you want to count the remodels: Jim Owen's Float Trip (log flume)--remodeled into American Plunge (another log flume) Rube Dugan's Diving Bell (submarine ride/show)--replaced by Lost River of the Ozarks, an Intamin rapids ride BuzzSaw Falls (Premier water coaster*)--remodeled into Powder Keg (S&S air launch coaster) Wilderness Waterboggan (what it says on the tin, a toboggan water slide)--ride torn down, queue tower and landing platform SBNO Huck Finn's Hideaway (children's walkthrough)--SBNO ...And that's it. So when they build a ride, they build it to last. I'll admit that I have a bit of caution about this ride, but in reality it only tempers the ridiculous amount of enthusiasm I have for it. I've seen this in person, and it's just incredible. On the one hand, the overbank angles, the inversions, the airtime elements--are unlike anything I've ever seen. It just exudes speed, even without seeing an actual train on it. On the other hand, it looks invitingly familiar, like it's always been a part of SDC. This coaster will fit with the park, and more importantly, will bring new people to the park. Remember, to make money on this coaster, they must sell $10 million worth of tickets that wouldn't have been sold without the coaster. Tall order, but I think they've got a good handle on it. More importantly (at least to me), Outlaw Run looks like a whole mess of fun. *By "water coaster," I mean the Journey to Atlantis type, not a water slide that goes uphill.

Steel - Mr. Freeze Wood - Rattler

So, having been on four of SDC's five coasters in September, I rank them as I usually do: 1. Wildfire 2. Powder Keg 3. Thunderation 4. Grand Expo Coaster (Didn't actually make it onto Fire in the Hole last month, but I did get to ride the train the day after Outlaw Run's track was finished).

I disagree. That is an great view, for sure, but NOTHING beats, in my opinion, the view of Table Rock Lake from atop Wildfire. Simply awesome.