Silver Dollar City (SDC) Discussion Thread

[texcoaster]

Ok, here's the thing: A park chooses to build a wood coaster for a number of reasons. Firstly, there's a nostalgia factor in that old-school look to a wood structure even if it does steel-like acrobatics. Secondly, SDC have made numerous references to this being an "old west" theme and that the coaster was designed to blend in with the wooded terrain. Thirdly, SDC clearly wanted something that would break some records and get the excitement going. If you go steel, you're going to have to spend a huge amount of money to break any records. There are a lot of more easily-obtainable wood coaster records to be had on a smaller budget.

 

As for the "is this really a woodie" question, I'm voting yes. A traditional woodie has a stack of lumber with a steel plate on top that the wheels ride on. The track is box-shaped (basically) rather than rounded like a pipe, which gives the trains a bit of room to slide side-to-side on the rails, one of the trademark "out of control" feelings that woodies give. Since the stack under the steel rail is wood, temperature differences, moisture differences, and other factors can affect how the coaster runs at any given time. The only difference in a Topper Track coaster is that the steel rail is the same size and shape as an entire piece of lumber rather than just being a strip of steel on top. Everything else is the same. I'm calling this a woodie, but I'm not going to throw a fit if others don't. Let them argue about it while I enjoy the ride.

[Jojo19799]

Thanks for the pics Chad. I've never been to SDC, but I want to go more than ever now!

[Devious]

I love the look of the trains in that concept art.

 

Quoting the HELL out of this. They look like modernized versions of the old PTC's like on thunderbolt.

 

I hope the actual trains look close to that render, because that would just be icing on the cake.

[CPFanBoy]

One word: insane.

[Shavethewhales]

I got the opportunity to go behind the scenes today myself (not at the same time as TPR, but later in the day with a smaller group). The ride is so far beyond what I originally thought it would be, and what I originally thought was even possible. It's just an absolutely incredible thing to look at in person, I can't even begin to imagine what the actual ride experience will be like. Every piece of this coaster has been carefully planned and crafted to make the most incredible experience possible.

 

I've said it before, but it really needs to be repeated more: the concept art does not do this thing justice. It is not on flat terrain at all. Rather it goes through not one but two valleys with a hill in between. The coaster actually hugs the terrain fairly often, leaving the ground only to perform insane stunts and then dive back down again. There are numerous direction changes, and they are all incredible. The turn that will go through the lift hill structure and the turn out of the double barrel roll look insanely intense, and the wave turn should be interesting too. There will certainly be some great airtime in all of this as well.

 

The theme is really well done too, which I really appreciate.

 

I don't think I've ever been so pumped just looking at a coaster. Believe me, this thing will not disappoint any of you once you actually get to ride it. My only wish is that the laws of physics could be bent so that there could be more of it.

 

So much else to say, but I don't have time right now. I have a bunch of photos as well, but I probably won't be able to post them until Sunday night.

[XII]

Holy Crap!!! This looks incredible!!!! I have to get back to Silver Dollar City and ride this thing next year!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there's a bash for this next year.

[texcoaster]

Notice that the holes are various diameters and shapes and placed at irregular intervals.... It's obvious that the steel wheels will interact with the holes like a mad music box and it will play it's own theme music as it goes.

Why y'all didn't get that before is just beyond me. It's so obvious!

I'm predicting Flight of the Stagecoach Bee.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Well my first ever visit to Branson will be next year.

[Double0Kevin]

Yeah, I'm headed to Branson next year. Done and Done.

 

And can I just say, I am so excited that parks are embracing the lap bar. I feel like with Premier sticking to lap bars on everything and now RMC going crazy and going with lap bars, we may be seeing the start of the end of OTSRs. One could only hope.

[texcoaster]

I mentioned that same feeling in my blog review of Iron Shark yesterday: http://www.coasterguyonline.com/coasterblog/2012/8/9/iron-shark

 

I met a Gerstlauer guy at the pier on one of my visits and told him how much I liked Iron Shark and how much I appreciated the lap bar-only vehicles. He said he agreed they were nice and was glad I liked them. I asked him if future installations would be using the same design and he said, "I hope so."

[texcoaster]

WOAH, it's expensive to fly anywhere near Branson. Looks like I've got an excuse to take the MINI Coupe up Arkansas Highway 7 after all!

 

Six hours of ho-hum east Texas, two hours of ho-hum Arkansas highway, and about 2 hours of insanely beautiful, mountain roads full of.... TWISTIES!

 

Already looking forward to it.

[UrbanLegend]

I don't know if anyone has said this, but I think they went with a wood coaster, more specifically the hyper-future-crazy of RMC, because then people will go, "Wow, a wood coaster can do *that*???" I feel like if it were a steel coaster all of the elements wouldn't be as impressive. The "primitive" structure and history of wood coasters makes it more impressive when they're twisted like steel.

[Karezza]

I just had an orgasm.

 

I'll definitely have to visit SDC someday!

[simaticable]

I've died and went to heaven because of this coaster. Please don't bring me back. It is beautiful.

[THE ONE]

Looks awesome. I cant wait to ride this.

[DenDen]

In my mind, the most anticipated ride for 2013. I just don't see any other park coming up with anything more crazy.

 

Granted, prefab wood technology has caught up to our expectations, but I personally thought inversions to be successfully installed on woodies with wood frames and wood track were still a couple years away. This really is a nice surprise!

 

Cannot wait for the end result! Curious as to if they will use polyurethane wheels or not.

[chadster]

After the reveal of the double barrel element we embarked on a hard hat photo walking tour.

Random stuff, nothing to be concerned with, moving on.

Now we get up and close with the infamous element that was most visible from the train.

Nice big swooping curve. Standing next to this thing, OMG it's HUGE!

Coming down off the 153 degree outerbank.

It's amazing.

Now we get into the fun stuff!

So I found out a little information about the trains.

The train design has been tested.

SDC has not taken delivery of any trains yet.

Mainly because they are being made after the proof of concept was proven.

I also found out that the ride is estimated at 65-70% complete.

Almost all of the pre-cast footers are in place.

This man loves his job.

(This is coming off the outerbank) And they are using a bazillion nuts, bolts, and fasteners.

Park Maintenance and Construction personnel are really happy with the ride and it's progress.

SEXY

Connecting plate. It's then grouted(cemented) so that you get one heck of a smooth ride.

RMC guys were all over the ride today. 81 Degrees!

DROP! We will have a better angle soon.

Swooping drop up to the outerbank

I also had the opportunity to talk to Fred Grubb of Rocky Mountain.

mmmmmm

I expressed my personal appreciation for their work after which he grinned from ear to ear giving all of the praise to Alan Schilke.

Ok, you knew one was going to be posted....NERD SHOT!

Ok, so I will admit, the ride doesn't jump the track, I made all that up, it slides under the lift to the left of train. This is after it slides under the lift. and heads over to the DOUBLE BARREL ROLL!

Fred said the Alan was really outdoing himself.

We then talked a little about maintenance and what other parks were experiencing.

The train will go under the lift here.

After the double up the track curves hard left to under the lift.

weeeee

 

Fred said the word is, virtually no maintenance as in, nada on the track.

When talking about the ride he was very relaxed and calm.

Peace of mind if you will that this ride will roll off with no problems. And that can only happen when you trust in your designer.

I can also tell you that he reads enthusiast sites.

And has seen the comments of people complaining that they aren't happy about the topper track saying it takes away from the wood coaster.

If anything, he said, they are helping the wooden coaster.

Because as we all know after a few years some woodies are no longer good.

And I have to agree, I am excited to see what else they have in store for the wood coaster.

I am sure you have figured out this is coming off the drop

Heading up!

Some random shot I thought was cool.

yup, can hardly wait.

heading over to the dive under the lift.

One final 81 degree drop shot.

This is what is attached to the top of those steel forms, aka, topper track.

They have actually started installing it on the lift, I'll show you that in a second.

Couldn't resist getting the cog in the shot.

Inside the station this is from the unload side.

And this is the view from the operators booth.

From the unload walkway.

Out of the station, here you can see the base track and the topper track.

So silky smooth.

And there you have it, Outlaw Run coming March 2013 to Silver Dollar City.

 

For construction updates visit www.silverdollarcity2013.com Also keep checking that site for the official opening date.

 

The park also invited us to take in a show on the Branson Belle and visit White Water Bay, I'll have something on that later on.

 

Again, special thanks to Silver Dollar City for allowing us to partake in the unveil of Outlaw Run, can't wait to come back and ride it!!

[SLUSHIE]

I'm not sure why those holes are there either. It could be just to save weight, but I doubt it. It could also be there to enable it to flex a little bit.

 

Regardless, the holes will be covered when they add the 'rail' like in this picture.

 

*EDIT*

 

OK it appears that some if not all the holes in the top are there so they can access the bolts that secure it to the wood underneath.

 

Edited August 10, 2012 by SLUSHIE

[chadster]

Full of win!

Edited August 13, 2012 by chadster

[SLUSHIE]

I'm amazed at how thin the support structure looks, especially those banked turns on the ground. One end is connected directly to the footer, and the other side just has one board holding it up.

[Andrewoplis]

This is one of the most insane, messed up coasters I've seen in a while!

[ArizonaGuy]

Absofreakinlutly amazing. I can't wait to see how this turns out!!!!

[Jew]

Can't wait for this ride! Really cool to see innovation still coming to wooden coasters. Also really cool to see a smaller park doing such great press events! Kudos all around to SDC.

[aiken85]

Very good photography and I want to ride this, a couple of days ago, Silver Dollar City completely mucked up, releasing the mini site for the coaster few days early. Of course, enough people saw it and got some information.

[Chrisrad]

Dear California,

 

This is yet another reason why you suck - you have nothing even remotely close to a ride like this.

 

Sincerely,

Someone who's been on El Toro and Phoenix, just to name a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome Chad, thanks!