This past weekend the hubby and I met my folks for a day at a local theme park, Silver Doller City. If you haven't heard of it, you're not from here. I'm told it's known worldwide, which may be true, but I just can't imagine anyone travelling any distance for the specific purpose of visiting 
the park. Don't get me wrong - it's nice - maybe it's just been that growing up in the vicinity of Branson takes away some of the thrill. SDC really plays up the down-home Ozarks image of music, shows, and crafts. Some aspects are pretty neat, and some sit on the border of lame and hokey. It's pretty much what you'd expect from Branson, catering mostly to tourists who want to see down-home "authentic" Ozark hillbilles.
the park. Don't get me wrong - it's nice - maybe it's just been that growing up in the vicinity of Branson takes away some of the thrill. SDC really plays up the down-home Ozarks image of music, shows, and crafts. Some aspects are pretty neat, and some sit on the border of lame and hokey. It's pretty much what you'd expect from Branson, catering mostly to tourists who want to see down-home "authentic" Ozark hillbilles. Still, it's not a bad way to spend a beautiful late-September day. And, we had the added bonus of seeing Violet, my illustrious fiddle teacher, who has had her fiddles and herself displayed in a booth every year during the Craftsman's Festival in September and October for many years now. I even played a few songs with her, accompanied by her grandson on the guitar, and some other guy I didn't know also on the guitar. My ears only burned mildly hot with embarassment, and I actually felt confident in my meager playing abilities while spectators watched and clapped.
We soon left Violet to deal with her many admirers, in order to meander around the park, browse the crafts, and get in some thrill rides. Silver Dollar City isn't by any means well known for ultra-trilling rides, and in the realm of today's amusement parks, SDC's rides would be considered pretty tame. Still, now with real roller coasters and a giant barn swing ride, it's made great improvements. And it helps that neither hubby or I have extensive amusement park experience, as much as we'd like to. Neither of our ride resumes reach beyond regional parks, and unfortunaly we've never been on any of the bigfamous rides featured on television.
My main goal of the day was to try out Powder Keg, which was new to me. There's a good reason this coaster is called "Powder Keg." Unlike most coasters which slowly pull off the embarking platform and inch up the first hill, keeping riders in anticipation of the first drop, Powder Keg pulls forward and stops on a piece of track which moves sideways and upwards to pull forward onto the main track. THEN, after a few tense seconds, the coaster cars are instantly blasted forward from zero to ninety (well, actually 0-53 mph), up the first hill to fall down a screaming drop, which you're totally unprepared for because you're still thinking about the unceremoniously quick start.
Unfortunately, hubby and I were not aware of this fact.
Unfortunately, hubby and I were not aware of this fact.
From our vantage point waiting in line we couldn't witness it and be warned, either. Instead we happily boarded, and I even remarked to Marden, "This must be a pretty pud coaster...it only has lap bars.
" He agreed. Our cars pulled out onto the movable track, putting us on the main track, where we sat. I presumed we were waiting for the last set of cars to clear a certain point before we started lumbering up the hill. Not that I gave it much thought...we were busy chatting and waving at Mom and Dad who were on the observation platform. Mr. and Mrs. Oblivious. I was in mid-sentence when we were unceremoniously jerked forward, leaving my innards in place while the rest of my body went screaming down the track. At least that's what it felt like.
" He agreed. Our cars pulled out onto the movable track, putting us on the main track, where we sat. I presumed we were waiting for the last set of cars to clear a certain point before we started lumbering up the hill. Not that I gave it much thought...we were busy chatting and waving at Mom and Dad who were on the observation platform. Mr. and Mrs. Oblivious. I was in mid-sentence when we were unceremoniously jerked forward, leaving my innards in place while the rest of my body went screaming down the track. At least that's what it felt like. I think my exact words were, "I don't think Mom has the camera turned onNNNAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" I can't type Marden's exact words becuase this is a family-friendly blog.
We rode Powderkeg three times, once waiting extra long to get seated in the front car.
I think we hit all the rides, which doesn't take long at SDC. We avoided the water rides, but made sure to hit "Fire in the Hole", which hasn't changed a bit since I was in early elementary school, when the ride was shortened. I barely remember the longer ride, but found more details on the old ride thanks to Fire in the Hole's very own Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_In_The_Hole_(Silver_Dollar_City)
It's pretty weak in terms of a "thrill ride"...but very nostalgic.
All in all, it was a great day, and we left happily exhausted. I hope I'm never "too old" for theme parks and funnel cakes.
2 comments:
I too will always have a special place in my heart for Fire in the Hole, but Powder Keg made me pee my pants a little. I know it's not much of a coaster in the real world, but that start surely puts everyone's guts in their thoat! Glad you had fun :)
Did "Fire in the Hole" have its letter of authenticity prominently displayed?
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