Silver Dollar City,
an internationally-awarded theme park near Branson, Missouri,
is built on history. The “City,” as many fondly call the 1880s-styled theme
park, bases every ride, attraction, and festival on Ozarks history and culture.
Hours of thought, research, and planning by Silver Dollar City staff go into a
story line that envelops each state-of-the-art ride, show, or attraction
introduced to the park. The Grand Exposition, a family and children’s area with
an old fashioned carousel and a child-sized roller coaster, is themed around
the great world fairs and expositions of the 1800s. Red-Gold Heritage Hall, a
large theater and exhibition floor, copies the tomato canning factories that
once boosted Ozarks economy. Homestead Ridge steps back into history with
McHaffie’s Homestead, the Oak
Trail School,
and Wilderness Church.
The Giant Barn Swing is set inside—well, a red barn. Powder
Keg roller coaster blasts off like a stick of dynamite, reminiscent of the
mining days in Marvel
Cave, the natural cave
beneath the sidewalks, theaters, rides, and restaurants of Silver Dollar City.
In fact, the Town Square
is built on the site of the old mining town, Marmaros—a once bustling community
filled with men mining bat guano from the cavern’s depths.
Naturally, the same planning and consideration went into
Silver Dollar City’s 2015 launch of “Fireman’s Landing,” an $8 million all-new
area with six new family rides and four interactive play zones. Themed as an
1880s volunteer recruitment fair with firefighter training activities, the ten
new adventures recognize the contributions of community heroes who serve as
firefighters. The theme has historical background in the fiery blaze that gobbled
up the town of Marmaros
over 100 years ago. In creating a story line for the new area, Brad Thomas,
General Manager of Silver Dollar City, says: “We fast forward to the fictional
story of Fireman’s Landing—a place where the citizens share a desire to band
together to prevent such an event (as the fire that destroyed an entire
community)—to be ready with volunteer recruits who have trained to test their
preparedness. (The training happens in fun on the rides!) The message carries
that everyone can give back through volunteerism and community spirit.”
Kids love to meet Fireman’s Landing official chief rescue
dog Lucky, a costumed character that encourages new recruits to have fun and be
ready in the firefighter’s tradition of neighbors helping neighbors. He starts
each day leading the Fireman’s Pledge.
Fireman’s Landing expands into a previously undeveloped
region of the park. The new addition brings the number of park rides and
attractions to more than 40 and increases capacity to the possibility of 21,000 total rides per hour—21,000 people riding one time, or fewer people
riding multiple times. With this new area of play and entertainment,
Silver Dollar City launches its biggest family year ever.
Centered around the headquarters of Fire Station #3, rides
feature Firefall, an eight-story fire tower free-fall drop ride for the more
daring “recruits.” Other rides include, Fire Spotter with soaring balloons for
spotting fire dangers; Fire Wagon Frenzy, a bouncing ride for bucket brigade
volunteers; Lucky’s Dizzy Dogs, a bouncy ride on Dalmatians racing around a
fire hydrant; Up The Ladder, a smaller tower drop ride for junior recruits; and
Fireman’s Flyer, a low-flying swing ride for little firefighters.
Attractions include Firehouse Splash Yard with squirting
water jets and pump hoses for outdoor play. Inside Fire Station #3, which is
enclosed and temperature controlled for season-long comfortable play, youngsters
are outfitted with buckets, pumpers, foam ball cannons and targets for
showering mock fires. (The foam ball cannons have been personally kid-tested by
our great-grandson, Timothy!) Firefighter’s Fire Escape is an obstacle course
of tubes, mazes, climbing structures and slides. And Firefighter’s Junior Fire
Escape is a soft play area for toddlers. Fireman’s Landing has something for
every age in every family.
“As we open a new
area that salutes the spirit of community firefighters, we want to celebrate
the real heroes who serve and invite them to make memories with their
families,” continues General Manager Brad Thomas. “From the March 14 opening
through May 3, the park is offering free admission to firefighters, and
discounted admission available for their families.”
Fireman’s Landing Five-Alarm Grand Opening, with
firefighters from around the country participating in the event, happens on
April 11. The Showboat Branson Belle,
a property of Herschend Family Entertainment, parent company of Silver Dollar
City, is also honoring firefighters, offering a free lunch or dinner cruise,
plus discounted family admission. Showboat Branson Belle launched its 20th
Anniversary season on March 7. Details on how to obtain these tickets and
offers are at www.silverdollarcity.com,
under the special offers section, or by calling 800-831-4FUN(386).
Silver
Dollar City
hosts seven world-class festivals and events throughout its season, opening in
2015 on March 14 for select dates and for its regular season on April 9 and
running through December 30. Throughout the year, 100 resident craftsmen
demonstrate America’s
heritage crafts—many still practiced in the Ozarks. Rides range from high speed
roller coasters with names such as Wildfire, Thunderation, Outlaw Run, and
previously mentioned, Powder Keg, to an authentic steam train ride. Music and
entertainment with state-of-the-art sound and special effects happen in both
indoor and outdoor venues. In a wooded, park-like setting, Silver Dollar City
is a place for families and individuals to create memories worth repeating.
