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Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => SDC Memories/ Park History => Topic started by: DollarCityBoy on November 11, 2010, 10:18:25 AM

Title: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: DollarCityBoy on November 11, 2010, 10:18:25 AM
Does anyone remember when the Flooded Mine was converted into some sort of Candy Factory during Old Time Christmas sometime in the 90's? It had some Christmas song playing during the entire ride, and there were candy canes and lollipops everywhere. I remember the line being so long, because everyone wanted to see what the Christmas version of the ride was like. I believe it was only open for one Christmas season, and never returned. I remember it being so amazing, that would be cool if they brought that back one year.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Junior on November 11, 2010, 10:59:35 AM
I have heard something about this before, but never experienced the ride at Christmas.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 11, 2010, 01:03:21 PM
that would be neat, i would like to see that...  And i still think RB, could be modified according also.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on November 11, 2010, 07:07:11 PM
I brought up the same memory on the Flooded Mine Question Thread-Old Guy posted the following:
QuoteOne Christmas, the flooded mine was transformed into a candy mine.  Prisoners were reclothed in red-and-white or green-and-white stripes and they were supposedly mining candy.  Christmas lights and big plastic candies of all kinds (peppermints and ribbons, etc.) were strewn all through the mine, and it really was something for the season.

It included bubbles in the water, elf costumes on all convicts, a sickeningly sweet musical number that repeated again and again...
Lollipops were everywhere, HUGE wrapped lollipops. Look behind the candy demonstration area at Brown's and you'll see some of the candy/ signs used in the holiday ride.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 11, 2010, 07:11:11 PM
i will check it out next time down.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: betamike on November 11, 2010, 07:27:04 PM
Yep, this was during my time at the Candy Factory.  If you ask June, she will remember it as well.  Also, I think there are a few old Candy Cane props in the basement of the Factory last time I looked.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: jmc75 on November 11, 2010, 08:48:09 PM
Was there last Saturday rode the mine ride a couple times. They had santa hats on but that was it.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 11, 2010, 08:51:10 PM
santa hats?  thats cute/funny...
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on November 11, 2010, 11:48:37 PM
Well, at least they are making an attempt with the Santa Clause style hats. :D

I have never heard of this winter wonderland version of the flooded mine. I sure wish there were some pictures floating around on the internet of it. I would love to see a return of this for a year, or two! It's amazing the transformation that Silver Dollar City goes through each year during the Holiday Season.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 12, 2010, 05:25:42 AM
would nice to see some pics.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: betamike on November 12, 2010, 04:30:52 PM
Probably a rare find if they do exist.  This lasted just one holiday season waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the early 90's and that was it.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Duelist on November 12, 2010, 06:55:50 PM
That was in 1993 and the song still haunts me...
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on November 12, 2010, 08:14:13 PM
googled my heart out for this but to no avail........goin to keep lookin though
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on November 12, 2010, 09:59:07 PM
I have none. I am sorry to let you all down.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 12, 2010, 11:33:18 PM
wow! ::)  you know it is rare if rube doesnt have any picutres..  out last chance may be junior? ???
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on November 12, 2010, 11:42:36 PM
I bet deep inside a file cabinet somewhere at Silver Dollar City are some photos of this event. Surely, there must be! Finding someone who can access such files is the trick.  ;)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 13, 2010, 08:38:47 AM
thats right ozark, how about junior?  something you can coem up with?
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Junior on November 13, 2010, 09:43:10 AM
No, I don't have any photos of this...my time on park as an employee ended in '84, several years before the Christmas celebration cranked up in the area. Plus, there was a period of time when I did not have a chance to visit the park very often, and usually I didn't take a camera with me!  :P
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on November 13, 2010, 09:53:16 AM
 :( :'( :'(
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: saladdays on November 17, 2010, 10:25:27 AM
I'm pretty sure I remember this, although I can't point out anything else on that version of the ride other than what has already been said.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: History Buff on November 20, 2010, 06:56:37 PM
I have some pictures, but they are in my memories.  There has to be an app for that - getting images out of my imagination and transferring them to digital.  The whole place looked like when Willy Wonka brought the kids into the waterfall room or his chocolate factory.

I can't believe rube doesn't have a magical incantation to pull some pictures from the mist for us - look out - the world may implode very, very soon!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: mbrownx4 on November 21, 2010, 06:36:55 AM
Boy, I remember that ride with the candy and the "song".  Drove me crazy...half the time couldn't make out the words.  Wasn't a favorite of mine.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: betamike on December 10, 2010, 01:01:27 PM
Hey kids, indeed there is an old prop from this version of the flooded mine hanging over a chocolate vat warmer in the candy basement.  I got so caught up in talking to June that I forgot to take a picture of it.  It's an old sign with an elf that says Chocolate Pump #1...or something of that sort.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on December 10, 2010, 01:18:22 PM
No photo....NOOOOOOOOO. Guess I'll never see it then. Thanks for the info as to where some of the items are though!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: betamike on December 10, 2010, 01:59:23 PM
In the words of the Terminator:  "I'll be baaaack"
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Copper on December 10, 2010, 10:29:44 PM
I had these on my computer, took them a couple of years ago.  Good seeing you betamike!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5250142117_1cac68826e.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5250745922_bfd1934fef.jpg)

I will ask around about photos.  I may be forced to go to the man responsible for decorating the Flooded Mine that season, wearing waiters and all.


Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: betamike on December 10, 2010, 10:53:35 PM
Yay!  Thanks for posting these!  I knew I wasn't crazy....how many times have I walked under that Candy Mine sign...LOL!

It was great seeing you too!!!!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: DollarCityBoy on December 13, 2010, 08:54:52 AM
Well I am glad to see so many responses to my post! This site is so great, I love being able to share so many thoughts and memories about SDC with other people who truly love the park and its wonderful history.
Another question about the Mine though, that I can't remember. Did they dye the water brown to look like chocolate? After seeing those signs about the chocolate, that got me to be thinking about the water, I do remember something was different about the water too.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on December 13, 2010, 08:56:25 AM
No...It was filled with bubbles.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on January 02, 2011, 08:14:45 PM
I know it is a tease, but after getting a BIG box of SDC family photos from 1982-present, I have found 2 photos of the interior of the Flooded Mine during the Christmas Celebration. I will have to begin scanning tomorrow when I have the access to a scanner. Stay Tuned, It has been almost 20 yrs, you can wait another day!

-These photos are not great, but it does show the "falling rocks" section decorated with big suckers/ lollipops and lights-
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: DollarCityBoy on January 02, 2011, 09:48:19 PM
IM SO EXCITED!!!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on January 02, 2011, 11:02:29 PM
PLEASE....do not get your hopes up...it is a very small glimpse into the ride, very little is actually seen but you can tell what it is.

I have narrowed it down to between 1992-1994 I think. I will hammer down the exact year when I get out the photos tomorrow afternoon!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Junior on January 03, 2011, 08:09:31 AM
I'm eager to see those shots, Rube. I never even knew they decorated FM that way until I'd read it on threads on this website. Hurry, get posting! Thanks!  :)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on January 03, 2011, 10:06:09 AM
Here is one of them...again, it isn't great, It is kinda like the footage of Bigfoot, or Loch ness Monster, it is proof that it existed!

(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/IMG_1777.jpg)

The other one is a bit better. This one is leading into the falling rocks room, the other is inside the room, about 10 ft further downstream than this one.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on January 03, 2011, 12:49:50 PM
And...the better of the 2 that I have..
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/IMG_1775.jpg)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Andymeets1880s on January 03, 2011, 04:40:03 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen....the unseen dark side of Willy Wonka's factory! :o

Anybody else kinda creeped out by the green gingerbread man? :o


LOLOL!  :D :D :D
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Junior on January 03, 2011, 04:58:02 PM
It's funny seeing the FM like this! A dark ride, intended to be maybe a bit spooky, dangerous. Gas leak in a flooding mine...possible explosion, and a rock slide, too, at the time. Plus, being surrounded by dangerous prisoners. The "Christmas theme" seems a bit out of place, but, really,  not much stranger than what they do now...putting Santa caps on all the figures!! Thanks for these shots, Rube. I really enjoyed seeing them.  :)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: DollarCityBoy on January 03, 2011, 05:27:23 PM
Yes, the green gingerbread man with the red eyes IS creepy! It is amazing to see my memories of it in actual pictures; thanks so much Rube!
I also want to say it was 1994; I would have been 5 & 6 in 92 & 93, and I remember being older than that when it was a Christmas theme.
Thanks again!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on January 03, 2011, 06:28:05 PM
Quote from: Andymeets1880s on January 03, 2011, 04:40:03 PM
Anybody else kinda creeped out by the green gingerbread man? :o

At first, I could not remember where I had seen the creepy green gingerbread man before, but I finally figured it out! He looks just likes Mr. Burns from the Simpson's episode when Homer mistakes him for an alien. ;D

Exhibit A.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Files (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Files)

Anyway back on topic, those are some incredibly rare, and interesting photos Rube! You absolutely blow me away each, and every time. However, as intriguing as the concept was, I feel content with just the Santa hats on all of the inmates. ;)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on January 03, 2011, 06:34:31 PM
Thanks! I am glad to help the memories! I was so excited last night finding these 2 photos among a bunch of exterior building christmas light shots. It was like finding a gold nugget while panning for gold (I assume at least since my efforts were fruitless last time I tried).

My sister graduated in 96' and she was wearing a letterman's jacket that she got in her first few years playing sports. She didn't play in later years, so it was just process of elimination! I remember vividly standing in line and the inmate/ elf working said "Hey Angie", my sister shocked stared at that this stranger-a young man- who knew her name. She wondered how he knew her name. The charade went on for a few minutes until it was broken to my sis that her name was emblazoned across her jacket. It turned out that he had grown up in the neighboring city about 5-10 minutes away but had never met her, he just used this trick all the time to entertain guests in line. Great memories!

I now have hundreds of photos from the 80's so be sure to check my Waybackmachine thread for updates!
http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=522.0 (http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=522.0)
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Copper on January 03, 2011, 10:23:15 PM
The photos are amazing Rube!  There is a 1993 Christmas map on Tinman's Flickr page that list the mine as the Candy Mine.  I am not sure if they did this more than one season.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: sanddunerider on January 05, 2011, 08:04:06 PM
hey rube!  thanks for the pics. as usual they are great!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: DollarCityBoy on October 22, 2011, 06:59:49 PM
So folks, what do we have to do to bring this back to OTC this year??? I would love to see it return.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: rubedugans on October 22, 2011, 07:06:23 PM
Let's see, haven't seen it since 93/94, that leaves 17-18 years in between, It was almost like the ride you know and love...crossed with a bit too much cough medicine & egg nog. But there's nothing better than seeing the regular convicts all decked out in elf costumes for the holiday season!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: Avalanche04 on October 22, 2011, 07:19:10 PM
greate phots's there, i cant wait too see more. like i said in another thread i dont think we will be able too make it down like i thought :'(  but there still is a small chance  ??? due too my surgery anyway i have my fingers crossed cause the wife and i have never been during the christmas season and we would love too come down.
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on October 22, 2011, 07:36:53 PM
my kiddo would die to see the old christmas in the mine! what a fun experiance! I had to have been about 6-7 about that time and well on account I never been during christmas season....
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: thelarsonsix on October 24, 2011, 08:37:07 PM
Quote from: Ozark BBQ on January 03, 2011, 06:28:05 PM
Quote from: Andymeets1880s on January 03, 2011, 04:40:03 PM
Anybody else kinda creeped out by the green gingerbread man? :o

At first, I could not remember where I had seen the creepy green gingerbread man before, but I finally figured it out! He looks just likes Mr. Burns from the Simpson's episode when Homer mistakes him for an alien. ;D

Exhibit A.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Files (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Files)

ROFL!!!!
Title: Re: The Flooded Mine (Christmas of 90's)
Post by: stlphotogal on October 27, 2011, 02:18:16 PM
LOL, am just seeing this, Rube. I DO remember that guy saying my name...unfortunately I'm still gullible :)
I always seem to have been the one to get 'pranked' at SDC - from this time, to when Terry scared me as a scarecrow to that damn life preserver on the boat ride, lol.