Silver Dollar City (SDC) Discussion Thread

[robbalvey]

Hey everybody!

 

This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Silver Dollar City, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Page.

 

Official Park Website

 

Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy!

 

--Robb

_____________________________________________________

2005

February 14th, 2005 - Info on Silver Dollar City's new launched coaster (SEE BELOW!)

November 10th, 2005 - Grand Exposition area announced with 10 new family rides

 

2006

October 17th, 2006 - SDC to build S&S Giant Swing

 

2007

December 9th, 2007 - Culinary Arts/Crafts Demonstration building to be built for 2008

 

2008

June 25th, 2008 - work begins on undisclosed ride

 

2009

May 18th, 2009 - Trailblazer (Fast Pass) system implemented

June 21st, 2009 - Teaser for 2010 additions

November 5th, 2009 - 2010 project details officially announced: Tom and Huck's River Blast

 

2010

November 10th, 2010 - AOL names Silver Dollar City one of the Ten Best Christmas Light Displays

 

2012

February 29th, 2012 - Tornado hits Branson, MO. Park survives unscathed!

April 8th, 2012 - Vertical construction on 2013 wooden coaster

May 8th, 2012 - Expanded Bluegrass & BBQ Festival 2012 announced!

May 30th, 2012 - White Water water park opens for the 2012 season

June 24th, 2012 - Wooden Coaster Construction update

August 9th, 2012 - New teasers released for wooden coaster announcement

August 9th, 2012 - Official Announcement and Media Day Coverage for Outlaw Run

September 2nd, 2012 - New Outlaw Run construction photos

October 24th, 2012 - Amazing new photo of Outlaw Run's first drop!

 

2013

January 8th, 2013 - Outlaw Run IN THE SNOW!!!

January 21st, 2013 - New 'Outlaw Run: Through the Barrel Roll' video!

February 8th, 2013 - POV and photos from Outlaw Run testing

March 15th, 2013 - Outlaw Run Media Day Report, Photos, & POV Videos

May 15th, 2013- Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival announced!

May 26th, 2013- 'KidsFest' family festival ending after this year

October 31st, 2013- WhiteWater adds Kapau Plummet dueling watersides

November 10th, 2013- An Old Time Christmas runs through Dec 30th

 

2014

August 13th, 2014 - Park announces Fireman's Landing, six family rides including a mini S&S tower

 

2017

August 16th, 2017 - Time Traveler (Mack spinning coaster) announced

 

2018

March 13th, 2018 - TPR's Time Traveler POV Video!

July 17th, 2018 - Silver Dollar City Moonlight Madness 2018 details!

October 20th, 2018 - "The Year of Shows & Festivals" details announced!

 

2019

June 15th, 2019 - First hint of Lost River replacement

 

2021

March 16th, 2021 - Arvest Bank announces 10 year sponsorship deal

 

2023

August 14th, 2023 - New Fire in the Hole announced for 2024!

 

2024

October 17th, 2024 - New resort announced as part of $500 million development plan!

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Original Post:

 

We just got in some new images from Silver Dollar City's PR dept as well as some interesting info from them.

 

They have confirmed that the ride WILL have a 42" height restriction! Does this make Powder Keg the fastest coaster out there with this low of a height restriction? We think this is a GREAT thing and I hope other parks *cough* Knott's *cough* will see the importance of having good, solid family rides!

 

Here's some additional information and some constuction photos from earlier this week:

 

Layout: Steel, Sit-Down, Air-Launch Coaster

Launch Speed: 0-53 MPH in 2.8 seconds

Ride Length: 3,506 Feet

Top Speed: 64 MPH

Tallest Verical Drop: 110 feet

Vehicles: 3 trains, 4 cars per train, 4 passengers per car.

Capacity: 1,000 PPH

Location: West of the Opera House in the Northwestern section of the park

Height Restriction: 42"

Opening Date: Spring 2005

Ride by: S&S Power Inc, Logan, Utah

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

[Canobie Fan]

Powder Keg looks like a great ride. I cant wait to try it out this summer

[kenshinmac]

So Rob when can we look forward to a video of it? (btw the lol emoticon is weak...)

 

I'm seriously interested in this ride because it seems like it might be one of the most interesting designs out there (especially since it looks like a combination of S&S and Arrow tech). I'm still trying to understand the capacity when there are only 3 trains and it has a launch and lift hill.

[SharkTums]

Well, it looks like we'll be visiting over Memorial Day weekend, but I'm sure there will be POV before that! I still can't believe that thing has a 42'' height restriction!!!

 

Elissa "it looks really messed up!" Alvey

[kenshinmac]

From the description it sounds like there is a bit of pyro during the launch. Is that for real?

 

Is it just basically re-using the lift chain and splashdown from the original ride? It kinda looks like it from some pictures of the old ride and the new ride on rcdb.

 

Anyone have any idea?

[robbalvey]

SDC's PR Dept just sent me this really kick ass rendering of the ride today. It's a bit big but it's worth it!

 

We'll have a full report when we get back from the park in May.

 

--Robb

[battleflag]

I am also going to silver dollar city on may 26th

[Guest]

42" WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh crap , THAT FREAKIN SUKS!

[robbalvey]

^ Ok, dude... I have sent you 2 PM's now and posted about this in one other thread about your overuse of exclamations, etc, and your spamming the boards with posts like these.

 

One more time and you may be the first suspended user from our boards.

 

Please don't make me have to do that.

 

--Robb "I'm a patient person, but don't push me over the edge." Alvey

[Guest]

whoops. I thought it was 42" max height I'm almost 2 feet past that. at least little kids can nfinally get something extreme!

[millertime]

They do use a little bit of pyro just before the car is launched. As a

passenger you don't see it, just hear it. A smoke stack on the launch

house puffs a big flame signaling launch sequence. It is more for

decoration for the people in the waiting area watching those ride.

You can actually hear the "blast" from quite a distance from this

ride. I'm guessing they are doing that to draw people into the

ride. If you make it to Branson, check this one out.

 

pics coming soon...........

[Coaster Joe]

Riding at night was fantastic. The giant fireball would erupt and light up the entire track. Then everything would turn dark and the launch would start. I would say the fire effect hit maybe a second before the launch.

 

Does anyone know if the coasters run during the Christmas fest at the park like the sister Dollywood? I would love to go back and get some more night rides on the Keg.

[Movieguy]

Wow, this sounds like a wild ride. Was it designed by S&S?

[robbalvey]

From Press Release:

 

Coming to Silver Dollar City in 2006:

 

The Grand Exposition

 

10 New Family Rides in an All-New Area That

Brings to Life New Adventures in the Past

 

(Branson, Mo. 11/05) In the tradition of the magnificent expositions showcasing the technological wonders of the late 19th Century, Silver Dollar City presents an all-new development for 2006 – the Grand Exposition! An $8 million expansion in a new region of the theme park, the Grand Exposition recreates the pageantry of a triumphant American tour of discovery, including 10 new family rides that soar, whirl and fly.

 

As the traveling expositions of the 1880s drew people from hundreds of miles around to marvel at the latest mechanical innovations and American ingenuity, the Grand Exposition is a streetmosphere of excitement. The area will be a colorful destination where exposition-goers experience the collaboration of imagination, technology and entertainment. From elaborate gardens and dancing fountains to the grandiose calliope and the high-sailing ship Galleon, the Grand Exposition is a collection of attractions and technological wonders.

 

“The Grand Exposition opens a whole new region of the park encompassing two acres, where guests are transported back in time to experience the golden era of discovery and excitement of the World’s Fairs and Expositions in the late 1800s,” said Brad Thomas, Silver Dollar City General Manager. “In keeping with our hallmark of bringing the past to life, we’ve chosen the theme of a very grand and exciting era, one which evokes the elements of the St. Louis World’s Fair and P.T. Barnum’s Traveling Expositions, which came through Missouri in the late 1800s.”

 

The new rides are being manufactured and styled in Italy specifically for Silver Dollar City, and will have a capacity of 5,000 passengers per hour. Rides include the five-story Wave Swinger for high-flying adventure; the ship-themed Galleon which sends riders nearly 60 feet in the air; the multi-dimensional Spinning Disk ride which travels 55 feet in the air as it spins, the twirling Tea Cups with a center control for interactive fun, the fast-paced Regetta, and a family roller coaster. Several rides with nature themes offer excitement for smaller kids.

 

The Grand Exposition will open in Spring, 2006.

[MSLSM]

Sounds fun and it should be good for the park. SDC is really turning in to a major regional park, and this should get more families to the park. Is it just me, or are there more parks than usual adding family areas next year?

[TheGreatOne]

http://www.screamscape.com/html/silver_dollar_city.htm

 

Screamscape has some artwork for the new area. The rides look nice, but I am particularly impressed with the bottom three pictures...the themeing of the area. This has the potential to be really awesome-looking.

 

-Bryan "needs to get to SDC bad" Wood

[Jonathan]

Looks like it will be very similar to Dollywood's Country Fair expansion, which was really well done.

[XANAX: The Ride]

What impresses me the most is, this is only costing 8 million??? WOW!

[nannerdw]

The addition to Dollywood was good, but it was way too overcrowded. All those rides are packed too closely together in that one little section of the park. I hope Silver Dollar City's expansion will be more spread out.

[pvcoasterguy]

Wow... it looks great! It looks like 2006 will be a good year for additions, unlike the crappy "Tornado" year of 2005.

[coaster1]

SDC has alot more space than Dollywood did for the expansion. Considering there is NOTHING by SDC and they own ALOT of that land along Indian Point Rd and SR-76

[Billy]

i know this is off topic sorta but does anyone have a good cropping of Wildfire photos? I have yet to come across some decent shots of the ride.

[coaster1]

It's kinda hard to get a clear shot of the whole ride cause of it's placement. There's an observation deck, but other than that it's pretty impossible to get full shots from anywhere else, you can check here:

 

http://www.lonestarthrills.com/gallery2/v/Silver-Dollar-City/Silver-Dollar-City-Wildfire/

[Billy]

these pics are great! thanks for the link! i appreciate it.

[coaster1]

No problem