May 30, 2009

Silver Dollar City

A bit of nostalgia.  Last time we were in Silver Dollar City there was a cave, and above it there was a small city of Ozark craftsperson's demonstrating and selling their crafts.  That was it.  It was a fun day seeing the cave and watching locals demonstrate various crafts and everyday skills from years past.  Today things are different.  The cave is still there and the tour is great.  One humongous cave.  The first room you enter (by an endless series of stairs – actually only 600) is huge.  Picture below shows stair tower used to enter cave.  Only a small part of underground is in picture.

  They once had six hot air balloons inflated in it and none of them touched each other or the cave walls or ceiling.  There are formations but not as many as many caves. 

Several active rivers and falls inside the cave are fun to see.  Left picture is top of one fall, right picture is bottom of same fall.  Color of lights changes.  This fall is about 20’ high.  Two days earlier this chamber was completely filled with water.

 

Above ground is different.  The craftsmen are still there but you have to look to find them.  They are scattered among the many shops selling Ozark crafts and art.  These are scattered among the many food shops and vendors.  The whole thing is in and around rides and entertainment.  Several stages with live entertainment and rides and fun stuff for all ages. 

Train ‘robbers’.  Note greenery.  The whole Ozarks area is like that.

Everything from fast roller coasters to huge swings to water rides of many types to rides and fun stuff for very small people.  The whole thing is in and around Ozark flora, most of it natural or induced natural. 

I think it is a better presentation than Disneyland or Disney World.  The atmosphere is fresh and clean without trying to be something different and the stores, although there are many, sell store specific  items.  There is not a Silver Dollar City logo everywhere you look (how many mouse ears did you see in the last minute ?).

We went for the experience so we did it all (almost).  We passed on the two jerkiest coasters but did do one that had us upside down most of the time and we did ALL the water rides.

We were SOAKED much of the day.  We came prepared with zip lock bags for cameras and wallets.  The day was warm and we dried pretty quickly.  We actually missed some of the native demo stuff because we were busy doing rides.  It was a fun day. Not like we remembered but still fun.