On every coaster trip, there is always a most anticipated park. Last year, it was a toss-up between Cedar Point (which I'd visited a few times previously, but is one of my favorites) and Kennywood (which was a park I'd wanted to visit for decades). On the Texas trip earlier this year, it was Six Flags Fiesta Texas (which is one of the most interesting Six Flags properties). For this tour, it was Silver Dollar City, the sister park to Dollywood and the only quasi-destination park in Middle America.
Unfortunately, it seems that the most anticipated parks are the ones that have the most issues. Cedar Point was having tons of problems with Steel Vengeance, leading to hour-plus waits even with Fast Lane. Kennywood had terrible operations, running one train on even their signature attraction. Six Flags Fiesta Texas was struck by a crowd over twice the size of what they had staffed for, necessitating a second day just to get all the high priority rides done.
Would our one and only day at Silver Dollar City befall the same fate? Would it break the curse of anticipointment? Well...
Show Me The Coasters
Part 5: Thrills in the Ozarks
Branson is a tourist town in the Ozark hills. Much like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee, this town is full of tourist trap attractions. Along the main strip lie numerous go-kart and mini-golf facilities, show venues, quirky restaurants, and other roadside oddities. However, none of these were our reason for visiting. Much like Pigeon Forge, the reason for traveling all the way to Branson was to check out the local theme park. And much like Dollywood, Silver Dollar City is a Herschend property with a unique selection of attractions and a different sort of character. They also offer the same deal as Dollywood did prior to this year..."In after 3, next day free." It's a great way to get a bonus half-day at the park.
Unfortunately, due to a 7 P.M. closing time, we failed to arrive early enough to take advantage of this offer. With how tight the timing on this tour has been, none of us expected to get that bonus time at the park. With a three-and-a-half hour drive following Six Flags St. Louis, we knew our arrival would be after 8 P.M. Therefore, I arranged an alternate activity. We turned off the main drag through town and headed down a winding backwoods road until we came upon a sign reading Branson Mountain Adventure Park. Here sat a bonus coaster for the tour...the Runaway.
The Runaway is a special class of coaster not commonly seen at theme parks. Dubbed alpine or mountain coasters, these rides are typically built on hillsides and use the natural slope and setting to their advantage. The ride begins with a long cable lift to the top of the slope, often taking 4-5 minutes. After this, riders race down the hill, using a brake as preferred to keep the ride in check. Some don't feel these are true coasters, and I don't personally include them within my credit count. However, they are wild rides that can put many proper coasters to shame.
With a cost of $16 per ride, Rob opted out of the Runaway. The rest of us purchased tickets and joined the 30 minute queue (cars are single seater, so the line crawls). Eventually, we were all onboard one behind the other. At 20 second intervals, we dispatched for the climb into the dark forest. While ascending, a safety recording played on a loop, reminding riders they were in control of the ride and needed to keep sufficient space between themselves and the rider in front. Eventually, the top came into view. After a final thumbs up from the operator up top, I pushed the lever forward and careened into the night.
Runaway is not the only mountain coaster I have ridden, nor is it the best, but it was absolutely a fantastic ride! The downhill run only lasts about 90 seconds, but when you're racing through the woods with only the moon to light your path, a helix taken at 20 mph can make any family coaster seem tame. Most mountain coasters are semi-controlled, but this one went fast enough to toss you around a bit on the sudden dips and sharp turns. You're not going anywhere thanks to a seatbelt, but at moments it certainly felt like I was about to be bucked off. Once the lights come back into view, there's one final helix and a couple turns before reaching the brake zone and the unloading area. It's not cheap, but it was $16 well spent.
The ride complete, we headed off to our hotel. To save money, I had booked us at an independent but highly rated place a short distance from the main part of town. Upon arriving at the rooms, we were all in for a little bit of a shock. Andrew commented that it was the pinkest hotel room he'd ever seen. Rob wondered if I'd accidentally booked a love hotel. I thought it felt like an old lady's house. However, the beds were extremely comfortable and the next morning's breakfast was among the best of the trip.
Speaking of the next morning, as soon as we finished our breakfast we set off for Silver Dollar City. A short ten minute drive led us to the park, where we were in for the first of many surprises this day...free parking! Few major parks allow visitors to reach the front gate without paying a dime, but this one does, and they even offer a shuttle to get you there. We opted to walk, the excitement building with each step.
Before long, we reached the small village forming the entrance of the park, and after navigating a winding walkway we stepped into a great past.
The first thing I looked at after having my ticket scanned was not the gift shop directly ahead, or any of the immaculate theming surrounding me. Instead, it was the Pathfinder, Silver Dollar City's guide, er...newspaper.
In an era where parks are going to simple printed maps and digital apps, SDC's guide is a full-on twelve page paper with articles showcasing all the wonderful activities to be found inside the park. I think that's the fastest I've had a park win a favorite award from me.
But the park is much more than a guide, so once we passed through the entry shop I put that away and took in all of Main Street. Dollywood has sections that are themed to a mining town, but Silver Dollar City blows them out of the water.
Here, the entire park feels like the Ozark frontier, with every building and scenic element fitting that perfectly. I would go as far as saying this park beats Disney's Frontierland and Knott's Ghost Town for the old western theme (though they do it differently here).
We took in the theme as we walked toward our first ride, Time Traveler. A new coaster that just opened last year, this is the first Xtreme Spinning Coaster built by Mack Rides. Unlike most spinners, this ride starts things off with a ten story vertical drop, then whirls through three inversions and two launches during the two minute ride. It is a ride I've been highly skeptical of since the day it was announced, as spinning on such an intense ride seemed like a dangerous combination, but the coaster has gotten rave reviews since day one. Unfortunately, this was where the first disappointment of the day happened. Despite the capability to operate with three trains, we quickly discovered the ride was operating with...one. As a result, the queue was already 50 minutes and kept growing (it was posting 90 when we got off).
Fortunately, the queue was indoors, but the impatience of standing in a slowly moving themed cattle pen built into aggravation. Finally, we were next to board. Once the train returned and the gates opened, we took our seats in the steampunk-inspired vehicles. A moment later, the restraints lowered automatically, and then we were off.
HOLY (bleep)! Time Traveler was amazing! Though the coaster only has 3,020 ft. of track, that's all it needs. Not a foot is wasted as this ride gracefully navigates a series of elements that take advantage of the spinning aspect without inducing any nausea at all. The ride has a very creative layout with perfect pacing, and every single bit is smooth as glass. I have a Mack spinning coaster at one of my local parks (Sierra Sidewinder at Knott's) and a Mack launch coaster at another (Manta at SeaWorld San Diego), but this coaster blows both away in every respect. Despite the skepticism, this ride exceeded all expectations and landed a top 20-25 spot on my list of over 500. Truly an incredible ride.
Feeling our morning plan was shot due to the lengthy wait, we opted to head next door and jump on Thunderation while it was still a walk-on. An Arrow mine train, this coaster unconventionally starts near the high point of the layout. After pulling out of the station, the ride winds its way down the hillside, racing past trees as it curves and dips. Eventually, there is a lifthill, but this lift doesn't return to the station. Instead, it climbs up a neighboring hill, higher than you started. What follows is the craziest drop I've ever experienced on a mine train, as the coaster plummets 80 feet down the hillside and rushes back up to the station. As far as coasters go, this is a fun one. As far as mine trains go, this one is the official wildest ride in the wilderness.
Andrew was set to hit credit #350 on this day, and he was hoping to make that ride Outlaw Run. At this point, he was at 348, so we decided to grab the nearby Grand Exposition Coaster before the line got excessive (it was clear by this point it would be a packed day). After 20 minutes, it was time to board the park's kiddie coaster. A stock Zamperla, this ride flat out sucked. Rough and uncomfortable, it was the worst of its type I've experienced. However, a credit is a credit, and when you're with others more into counting them than yourself, you join in on the "fun."
With SDC's POS out of the way, we made our way to Outlaw Run. However, it was down. A train was parked on the lift, and we learned it had yet to open for the day. Disappointed, we did a couple flat rides in the area in hopes it would start cycling soon, but when 30 minutes passed with no movement we opted to move on.
Andrew was still holding out hope for Outlaw Run, so upon arrival at Hugo's Hill Street we started with American Plunge, the park's log flume. Andrew and I are both big log flume fans, so we were intrigued by this interesting attraction. Much of the ride feels like a water-based dark ride, with themed indoor and outdoor sections along a gently moving flume.
Sadly, most of the theming was static, but it was still nice to look at. The ride then ascends a single lift and plunges down a drop, soaking everyone onboard. It's a very average ride as far as flumes go, but still enjoyable enough if the wait is short (we waited about 15 minutes).
Sadly, Outlaw Run was still down, so Andrew was forced to make a concession. We turned back up the path toward Wildfire, SDC's big B&M looper. I am a big fan of B&M, so I was quite looking forward to this interesting creation. Designed as a floorless but with regular sit-down trains for added mass, the ride features a bit of an unconventional layout with a straight drop and five rapid-fire inversions.
It was a fun ride that started strong, but got progressively less intense throughout the course. I really wanted to give it a second ride in a different seat (we had rode in the middle to accommodate Rob), but one train operations meant there was a little bit of a line.
We instead moved over to Powder Keg: A Blast in the Wilderness. If you want an example of a quirky coaster, this is a ride to look at. Originally a water coaster, S&S came in and extended the coaster portion of that ride to a fairly intense family coaster.
The ride starts with a bizarre inclined switch track to move trains from the station to a pneumatic launch, then rockets through a series of hills and curves with airtime when you least expect it and a bit of roughness at points. After this, the ride transitions to the water coaster track for a long sweeping turn, traditional chain lift, and final drop and helix.
It's a fun ride, though not an amazing one, and definitely tops the list of bizarre coasters that I've ridden.
Hill Street has one additional attraction: a roller coaster/dark ride hybrid dubbed Fire in the Hole. This one starts out as a dark ride through a burning town as residents flee from the Baldknobbers. Slowly, the track begins to rise, gaining about twenty feet of elevation. There then follows three quick dips with short dark ride segments in between, the last of which features a water splash effect. The ride is very reminiscent of a similar ride at Dollywood known as Blazing Fury, but this one primarily relies on static scenes with minimal motion. It's a very unique attraction, and quite popular with one of the longer lines in the park...we waited almost 30 minutes.
By this point everyone was starting to feel hungry, so we headed over to the Riverside Rib House to grab some food. Unlike a typical theme park restaurant, this was a collection of booths serving various BBQ offerings with all the fixings'. I opted to queue up for the sandwich booth, while others got sausages or loaded nachos at other booths. The food was quite good, and while I'm not sure I'd call it excellent, it was far better than most theme park fare. Plus, the prices were reasonable...about 70% of what you'd pay at a typical Six Flags or Cedar Fair property.
As we left lunch, we looked across the way and saw that Outlaw Run was now operating. As quickly as possible, we made our way to the ride. One train operations meant a wait of around 20 minutes, but for the first custom RMC that was more than acceptable. This is another coaster I've been skeptical of since it was announced, yet most who have ridden it say it is among the company's best work. With no choice of seats, I climbed aboard a middle car, got myself secured, and then we were off.
Like Time Traveler, Outlaw Run exceeded my expectations. While it is a super short ride, the coaster packs a ton into that length, and many of the elements are quite unique even compared to other RMC coasters. Unfortunately, I found the ride to be a tad uncomfortable, likely due to a couple moments where strong negative and lateral forces are experienced together.
This coaster doesn't feel quite as refined as RMC's later projects like Lightning Rod, and it does feel like it runs a tad rougher than them as well. However, it still provides a very thrilling ride. Was it the best RMC? No, I wouldn't say that. Was it the best coaster at SDC? Maybe...I lean that direction, but I really needed another ride on this and Time Traveler to decide for sure. Is it in my top fifteen? Absolutely!
Now that we'd finished all the coasters, it was time for Silver Dollar City's other signature attraction: Marvel Cave. While it started as a mining operation, exploration revealed the cave was lower in mineral content than believed, so it was transformed into a tourist attraction. Operating since approximately 1900, the cave was purchase by Hugo Herschend in the 1950s, who built an 1800s Ozark village adjacent to it. Over time, this blossomed into Silver Dollar City. Today, Marvel Cave is run as a 90 minute guided tour included with park admission. Due to capacity limitations, tours are offered at scheduled times throughout the day and have a strict limit on how many guests can join. We fortunately arrived in time to make the cut for the next tour, and were taken to the briefing area.
It was here that the classic theme park cliché of "something goes terribly wrong" occurred. Just as we were about to set off, our guide informed us that all tours had been put on hold. A storm was moving into the area, and for safety reasons the cave was being evacuated. As one of the attractions I was most looking forward to, this was a huge disappointment.
Exiting back into the park, we were greeted with an ominous cloud that had darkened the entire sky. Rides were beginning to close due to lightning in the area, so we quickly made our way to the Flooded Mine, the next highest attraction on the priority list.
The world's first shooting dark ride, Flooded Mine is themed to a prison breakout. Attendants dressed in classic black-and-white prison uniforms load guests into unstable wooden boats and send them through the attraction, which contains lots of basic practical effects and difficult to hit targets. Of the two dark rides at Silver Dollar City, I'd say this is the better one, and it's a lot of fun to ride something with old-school charm not often seen at today's regional parks.
By the time we exited, all outdoor rides had ceased operation. With no rides to do, we ventured over to Sullivan's Mill to pick up a couple loafs of the park's famous cinnamon bread. A staple at both Dollywood and Silver Dollar City, this ranks near the top of the list when it comes to theme park desserts. While preparation is slightly different at both parks, the taste is the same, and if it weren't for budgetary restrictions we likely would have indulged far more than anyone should.
Instead, we finished off our loaves and headed over to Grandfather's Mansion, a walkthrough attraction reminiscent of a crooked house. Using clever illusions, this house seems to defy the laws of physics, with a standard assortment of gravity-defying tricks and a couple more unique ones. It was an interesting diversion, and is so well hidden that those who don't know it's there are liable to walk straight past.
With the rides still down, it was time to see a show. We headed over to the Opera House to catch Silver Dollar City's newest large-scale production: Reuben's Swashbuckling Adventure. Going in, we were expecting something along the lines of Treasure Planet, but the show proved to be more of a musical comedy that a serious pirate adventure. The basic story is that Reuben, a young boy living in the Ozark wilderness, falls asleep while reading an adventure novel and enters that world in his dreams. Here, he meets Captain Long John Silver, who agrees to escort him on a quest to find his destiny. Interesting characters, engaging musical numbers, and several shots at Disney follow, leading to the expected conclusion (and the twist that Reuben's last name is Branson). While not the best I've seen in theme park entertainment, it was still a very good show and well worth the time spent.
Upon exiting the theater an hour later, everything was still down. We checked the time...it was 5 P.M., and Silver Dollar City was scheduled to close at 7 P.M. We checked the radar...the storm wasn't moving. We checked distance...it was a 3.5 hour drive to our hotel in Kansas City that night. The decision was unanimous...cut our losses and get a head start on the drive. We took a brief run through a couple of the gift shops, then exited our past and made our way back to the car.
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Excellent as always. I've never thought of calling an alpine slide a coaster, but I suppose the line can be a bit narrow. The park sounds amazing even if there were a few kinks in operation.
For us, Branson is a difficult place for us to get to. It's outside of road trip driving range from Washington DC, and is either really expensive to fly into Branson or too a long drive from more reasonable priced airports. I know it's a huge resort destination for people living in the lower Midwest and upper Southeast, but for us, SDC would be the only draw, making the 3+ hour drive from either St. Louis or Kansas City a pretty big obstacle for just a single theme park regardless of how good it is.
Silver Dollar City has always been high up my list of parks I'd like to visit, but arranging a trip there will probably never happen for me.
I meant to get back to this sooner, but I've been super busy this week (hence the next part won't be out until next weekend).
The_man, I suspect that may have been part of it. Based on a crowd calendar, the day we were there was in the 91st percentile compared to all operating days in 2019 to date, while most summer weekdays are in the 60th-70th percentile. I don't know what caused it to be so busy so I'm willing to give the park the benefit of the doubt on one train operations for most coasters (though not Time Traveler...when a ride has three trains it should be running minimum two every day during peak season). Both of the main Herschend parks are in the top 15 or so on my list, coming in above all non-castle Disney parks, two out of three US Universal parks, every SeaWorld park (though not the Busch Gardens properties), and all but a couple other parks.
Chad, there is a difference between an alpine slide and an alpine coaster. An alpine slide is a cart that rolls down a concrete or fiberglass trough and has more in common with a waterslide than a roller coaster. An alpine coaster, on the other hand, is attached to a track that forms a complete circuit. The main argument against it being a proper coaster is that there are no unpowered uphill sections, but to me they qualify. Silver Dollar City is indeed an amazing park, and I absolutely plan to return next time I have reason to visit Missouri.
Russell, Silver Dollar City is indeed tricky to get to (the main reason it's the last major US park for me to hit), and unless you're doing a larger Missouri/Midwest tour it's going to be out of the way. If you're going just for the park, it probably isn't worth the hassle when you've got the superior Dollywood much closer to home. However, if you spend a week seeing Branson, Kansas City, and St. Louis (with a park day and 1-2 non-park days in each city), it could be well worth the trip.
Silver Dollar City is indeed an expensive park to get to from the East Coast. When I first visited it, the year that Outlaw Run opened - I absolutely had to ride it!- is was slightly less expensive b/c Southwest flew into the small airport in Branson. This is no longer the case. The closest one can get is Springfield/Branson, an hour away from the park, and those flights are expensive. When I went there last year to ride Time Traveler I paid about $700, something I would never do again. I could fly almost anywhere in the country for less.
Time Traveler is nothing short of amazing. Outlaw Run is definitely on my top ten wooden coaster list. I didn't much like Thunderation and found Powder Keg so-so. Enjoyed Wildfire and was surprised by the straight drop on a B&M looper but probably shouldn't have been, as Hydra at Dorney also has one.
SDC is a really lovely park and staff was exceptionally pleasant. I guess I was lucky because on my first visit all of the coasters were operating with all trains; on my second visit all were operating with the exception of Powder Keg.
Wow. Another great report for a park that I will probably never make it to. Especially with Dollywood only 4 hours away. I especially enjoyed the history lesson about Mr. Herschend acquiring that cave and then building the park from there. Sorry to hear the weather cut your day short.
Regarding your experience with Alpine coasters. They have 4 of them in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. Yes, they can be a bit pricey, but a real fun experience. We found a "workaround" at one of the PF coasters, Goats on the Roof. First ride is $15, but repeat rides were only $5 (when we went 2 years ago). For our group of 4, we simply bought 2, $15 tickets, then used the stubs to repeatedly buy $5 re-ride tickets. I now that may sound a little unethical, but at least we were there during "non-peak" times. Being semi-retired, I try to travel frugally whenever possible.
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Thanks for the trip report, enjoying reading your perspective on these midwestern parks. Its a shame to hear about the 1 train ops, I wonder if they were trying to save some maintenance budget on what they thought would be a slow day or if this is a regular occurrence for this park. One of the things I remember about SDC is that even though I went during their winter celebration they did have very efficient ops with multiple trains running on all the coasters (granted I haven't been there in 12 years).
The two major Herschend parks are right behind Disney on my favorite parks in the USA list, with the Sea World/Busch coming in right behind that. Though sadly the other Herschend park, Wild Adventures, is one of my least favorite parks. Herschend has owned it over a decade and they haven't done much with it at all.