Shavethewhales

Someone actually made and posted a topographic overlay of the site on SDCFans, and it looks like the elevation difference where the drop is going is going to be somewhere around 70 feet. So it's a pretty good bet at this point to speculate that this thing will have a 150ft drop, maybe even bigger. At one time someone working in the park mentioned something about the drop being a major talking point of the ride with a really sharp angle. I don't know if that was BS talking or not at the time, but it sure looks like it's coming true. Here's hoping there's some new photos this weekend.

^Ouch, I hadn't heard that yet. I haven't been to his show myself, but I always considered him one of the major attractions of Branson. It feels like a lot of the major draws in that town are drying up one by one, which doesn't bode well for SDC. Honestly, without SDC I kind of wonder if Branson wouldn't have already dried up and blown away. No one's really talked about these new latest and greatest trains from RMC that will apparently be debuting on this ride. I was looking over that old news article that outed this project a few months ago and it hit me again how much RMC was selling these trains. "Our particular track can turn and twist so extreme, it will take new cars to do that," was one of the quotes from them about it. Just another thing to think about. I wouldn't be surprised if this ride has some sort of insane hammerhead turn-around or something, and I expect a few 90+ degree turns at the very least. Perhaps this ride will ultimately be compared with The Voyage...

What do you think the chances are that this ride will have a really steep drop like NTAG or even T-Express? They're definitely trying to model themselves after Intamin's work, and they've been talking about how they want their rides to push past the limits of what a traditional wooden coaster can do. That makes me think this ride is going to have some ridiculous drops and twists - it's not going to be anything like what we've gotten used to with the GCII projects. I'm so glad we don't know the layout yet. I'm love being able to look forward to the weekend for the next update and seeing all this progress. When they start adding the drop we'll really know what we're in for, and they'll probably start doing that here in the next couple of weeks. My expectations are just through the roof with this ride.

I don't think the park is exactly trying to keep it a secret, they just don't want people to get overly excited just yet. I could see a lot of the GP thinking that this ride is supposed to open this summer if the park starts mentioning it now, causing a lot of trouble and frustration later this season. I've seen guests get upset over stupider things. Is that the same type of topper track they've been using on other coasters? It looks different, and I thought Topper track sat on top of tradition laminated wood layers which take more time to setup. This looks like a different type of prefab steel track. I also don't understand why they're putting track on now when the lift structure isn't even finished... this ride is going to be full of surprises.

Clearly they need to learn a thing or two about website development, but I'm surprised at how well thought out the actual concept of this project is compared to other recent proposals. The presentation just isn't there though, but they still have some time to work on that.

Awesome to hear. How tall would you estimate the lift is from the base? It's dropping into a valley, so if the lift reaches 100ft and it drops another 50ft into the valley this thing could be a monster.

Tons and tons of new construction photos popping up. This thing is looking like it's going to be massive. Still have no idea how the layout is looking yet though, but I might head over there in about a month or so to check it out and I'll put something together to show where this thing is going. Some photos here: http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=2049.msg40218#msg40218 and more here: http://www.screamscape.com/html/silver_dollar_city.htm

It's almost entirely confirmed to be Topper Track. (w/ new RMC trains and steel wheels)

From what I've heard this coaster was supposed to open in 2012 originally, so there could have been issues with construction contracts and permits that would have run out if they didn't get started this early. I don't know why they wouldn't go ahead and just open it for 2012 if that is the case, but who knows what's going on. Maybe they're banking on the local economy doing better in 2013 than now.

I'm pretty sure it is being built by them, and I will bet you a dollar, if it is by RMC, that it will have a loop. I don't know it for a fact, but if RMC has it ready I could see SDC being a sucker for having a looping woodie. It's definitely worth speculating about. SDC has a history of going after innovative rides. A lot of their rides are/have been custom made, and several of their custom coasters such as PK, Buzzsaw Falls, and ThuNderaTion have pushed limits in some way. I mean, they don't go Cedar Point crazy or anything trying to break records, but if there's the option of doing something a bit unique, they always spring for it. However, adding a loop to a coaster seems to cut the market that it appeals to, hence why the first thing most people seem to ask about a coaster is "does it have loops?" It might be worth it from the marketing standpoint though... but this is only a Topper Track coaster, I'm not sure if this was the type that was capable of loops.

^Fair enough, we'll have to agree to disagree on some aspects as usual. In other news, the first photo of vertical construction has surfaced thanks to user 'Wildfire' on sdcfans: It's going to fly up there now. Hell, they might have this thing done before SF gets some of their coasters open for this year.

Word on the street is that vertical construction has begun. If anyone is going anytime soon we'd all love some photos. Still trying to piece together even the general layout of this coaster.

Wow, I've never heard of the park being so jammed before. I mean, there are busy days of the year for sure, but the lines for rides are usually pretty short and speedy most of the year. I used to brag about SDC's operations a lot. I'm not so sure anymore, because a lot of this sounds like it stems from not using enough trains on a regular basis. I'm not sure if they're having staffing troubles or if they've really started going the SF route and are cutting corners and profiting off it by suckering people into buying these passes. Now that they're practically a big chain, I have to wonder. I'll definitely be watching this year. Perhaps the park is simply drawing a different crowd than it used to, and perhaps spring break is just a really bad time to visit.

Apparently Silver Dollar City has it's own 'Fast Pass' now for $50. For the last couple of years they have experimented with the 'Trailblazer Pass' which previously cost $20 and gave a total of 5 line jumps. The new iteration gives unlimited jumps all day long. I know these types of passes have been debated many times before, but I still have to say I don't like them. If it were a Q-bot system like DW I'd be at least marginally OK with it because then at least you are paying for a scheduling service. With this it's simply rich people paying double the ticket price to inconvenience everyone else. Defend it how you want, it's still a middle finger to everyone who doesn't pony up the extra dough, and there aren't many places outside of parks where people would stand for it. I I've come to expect it at Six Flags, which is why I avoid those parks during the summer. I didn't expect it here where they charge a lot more to get in and the expectations for the experience are much higher. I hope I don't have to start avoiding SDC in the summer as well. Getting back to the construction at hand though, lots of PTR's recently. Those footers are popping up crazy fast. I think in the two weeks before opening they placed nearly all of what you can see out there now. The station is now very much vertical already, and it sounds like it will be big enough to include a gift shop. The construction has for some reason affected the famous Hobo Junction on the train route however... perhaps the management decided that making fun of hobos was no longer PC with the times being the way they are...

So many great pics! Great to see all those footers already in place, and some inside shots of CC. I'm also thankful you grabbed those tornado shots - I haven't seen that much myself yet and I probably won't get down there until early summer. Is the flying carpet still at CC? It looked like it was. I haven't seen them try to sell that one yet oddly enough. Everything else besides that lone kiddie ride is already gone. I guess the shot tower and supersplash will be moved to other HFEC parks soon enough. I thought they were taking better care of OzCat. I was told they were keeping it maintained - and they probably were - but after four years they must have given up. Doesn't look like they are toying with the idea of re-opening the park as anything anymore given the up and down years SDC has had recently. I'm loving all the attention SDC is getting again with this new construction. Those footers seem to have popped up within the week before opening. At this rate they'll have bents going up next month. That station is really growing as well - it was just formwork a couple of weeks ago.

^Wow, I knew about the new show and that they were working on RGH, but I didn't think it was going to take a million dollars to do it. RBH was more of a convention hall-style building that they used for a ton of stuff. I wonder if they are just turning it into a traditional theatre from now on. Thunderbolt is going to Glenwood Canyon Adventure Park in Colorado where it will reopen later this year as the Cliffhanger.

Great photos! You got some angles I never even thought of. As for the rides, FITH and Flooded Mine are still pretty long at least. They got rid of some of the really good, long old rides like Jim Owen's Float Trip for some of these new quick ones. That sucks that they started PK off with only one train again though. I've heard they do this because they can't get enough staff in place during the spring and can only operate one train with the people that they have. Good to hear that the park is nice and crowded again though. After last season, we need a strong recovery. Ride the train next time if you want to get some great construction pics. There are tons of footers all over the train tracks now, and they aren't making any attempt to cover up what's going on.

The first photos from opening day are back, and HOLY CRAP have they gotten busy with the construction. Tons of footers are in place and construction on the station is in full swing and will start getting vertical soon. A lot has been cleared as well towards the backside of Hobo Junction (sort of off to the side of the train tracks). I'm thinking they might actually build the ride over the summer so they can show it off before the park even closed for this season. In other news, if you haven't heard, the Christmas shop and the Wood Carvers swapped places, Echo Hollow is being revamped for new shows later this year, and the park has several new shows that are already getting under way this year. See a few photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordugan/6985676237/in/photostream/

The park opens today. Here's an interesting video the park produced showing a few behind the scenes shots and info about some of the rides: I never knew Wildfire had a B&M ball as well, although I've probably been told multiple times. I notice they call it the Thai Fighter or something that sounds like that,and they say it's one of only two in the world? Is it different from the other B&M balls?

Nice, that might be a good enough excuse to pay a visit this summer sometime. I drive past this park every few months but I haven't been in a year or two due to lack of anything new at all to see besides repainted rides. Wildcat with a little refurb isn't a bad ride at all for this state. Probably the only coaster in the park I care to ride a few times back to back. The woods around the ride really complete it, even if there isn't any airtime. I'm not holding my breath that this will be open until mid to late June. I can't imagine why they waited so long to start - maybe contractor delays. I don't think this park really ever gets things done on time anyway...

Just a heads up, the Thunderbolt is coming down as we speak and heading your way. Someone on SDCFans took a photo: http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=737.msg38979#msg38979 (not my photo otherwise I would have posted it here as well)

^The robber's shack was on the other side of the park close to where the Giant Swing is. The entrance to this ride will be near TGS by the Heege Towers (Hi-lo Silos), and the station will be very close to where the robbers shack was in between the railroad tracks. It sounds like they aren't planning to go out of their way to block views of the construction, so if you take the train you should be able to see a lot. Right now we know they've started on the station to the point where the foundations were being laid a couple of weeks ago. They're probably doing vertical construction on that as we speak by now. I'm very curious to see the area they've cleared as well, although I've heard they're holding off on some of that for now.

Rather juvenile to diss on the kiddie rides I think. Remember, families are the best income base to have so these additions are pretty solid for their bottom line. As we always say, not every addition has to be aimed at thrill seekers. HFEC always does well with their new ride additions. When they bought the Stinger (Wisdom Tornado) for CC, it was indeed an old rusty fair ride, but they cleaned and refurbished it so well that when it opened you would swear it was a brand new ride. These might be new though, I don't know of anyone selling a Zamperla rock-in-tug used, unless there was one left over from Cypress Gardens. Good to see them buy a Tantrum. I hope it gets them to put them in other parks soon as well.

HFEC has installed those HEEGE Towers at SDC and DW already. I guess they are popular, I always see a line for them. I don't see the attraction honestly. It's great that they're adding a set of Flyers though, those are always a hit in my book. I'm glad the ride has made a comeback in the last decade. Moose on the Loose is a solid kiddie/family ride. This is a solid set of additions that will serve this customer base well.

^There's not much left at CC to disturb, but most of the major damage wasn't in that area anyway. Several hotels, restaurants, and various buildings in West Branson have been completely destroyed. Looks like some of the Ride the Ducks vehicles may have been totaled, but not all of them. Hopefully they didn't loose anymore trees at SDC. It really sucks when part of the famous tree canopy covering the park goes missing. There's no replacing a tree that is growing between a path or through a building.