Sorry if this has already been discussed somewhere
In the mid eighties I seemed to recall a trail that led around the pond to the Waterfall & the walking trail went behind it & out the other side. Any info on the waterfall & when they closed the path??
Water fall was built sometime between 1971-1976. It's only a guess that as time has passed, the concrete "rocks" have possibly aged and weakened to the point it is not advisible by their insurance carrier to allow guests to walk under it anymore. I don't know what year they began blocking the path. The "cave" at the old float trip ride, now American Plunge, was replaced a few years ago with a new concrete tunnel as it apparently aged to the point it needed replacement. Also remember the waterfall feature in front of Grandfather's Mansion? It too disappeared as the concrete aged. It has been cheaper, apparently, to remove the old water structures rather than rebuild them. The park consistantly has tried to find ways to lessen their expenses while increasing profitability. That's business, but some of the old character of the park has vanished, probably forever.
QuoteThe park consistently has tried to find ways to lessen their expenses while increasing profitability. That's business, but some of the old character of the park has vanished, probably forever.
The sad part is nobody will make a big deal about it until there is no character left. I hate to see any of it go.
I was thinking about the faces on the Miners in the FM last night, they used to have the projectors on the faces. It was a cheesy thing but kind of neat. When the moisture became to much of a problem ( after 15-20 years) They went with stagnant formed faces. That odd charm was lost on that day. Falling Rockslides, small water features...... I would love to see SDC do what Disney does and try to improve the effects, not remove them completely.
The waterfull trail was a hidden little spot that was enjoyable. It was a little off the path kissing spot for kids most of all.
At least that's what we used it for. I wish they would being these things back.
Unfortunately I think they see it as what will bring guests... A renovated waterfall and a few restored signs and details, or a major ride or new merchandise store?
That's it, Rube! :)
im glad we can have "constructive criticism" on this subject. i used to bring this stuff to peoples attention on this site in the past and wasnt treated very well for it. i understand its a business and that our opinions might not matter, but i hope everyone will continue to voice opinions good or bad on the changes. as for the changes i find myself visiting less and less every season. i will never stop going, but i wonder if maybe these changes are hindering my decisions to go more than i think?
Thank you for all of yer answers & comments. I'm so glad all of you are here to help me remember. Some memories of early eighties SDC are so vague to me & after spending hours on here reading all of the threads...it good to know I'm not crazy & others remember too!
I'm glad I was lucky enough to be able to go to the park when you could still walk behind the Falls! I Remember it like it was magic when I was little! At least they did bring it back! At least its not gone completely :)
Things evolve and so will this park and it has to to continue to capture our ever decreasing attention span. All things considered, the park has done well with the themeing but the company does need to put some effort into the effects of the dark rides. What we see as nostaligic, folks under 30 think as lame. Fire in the Hole could be incredible as it is still one of the best dark concepts I've come across. I will say this, after see the two new coaster that freefall like Verbolten and Thirteen, that would make one heck of an experience on the burning bridge in FITH.
Maybe if so many people didn't scream for major new rides every couple of years, they might be able to invest those dollars back into the older infrastructure.
Since my last couple of trips have been during Christmas, and if there isn't water, I assume it's weather related. But just wondering, is there still a little waterfall going into the Springhouse restuarant? I used to think that was the neatest little entryway, and always wanted to eat there in the old days. It just doesn't seem to be the same these days.
Lori
The water feature by the Springhouse is still there. The reason the waterfall, and the creek with the artisian well, and the bucket lift system at the corkscrew overpass are usually turned off in winter is weather related. If the water were to freeze on the concrete, it could crack and break.
Thanks! I'll have to take a look next weekend when we go!! :o
We've been at SDC the last couple of days ( weather has been beautiful!)
So, I made a point to take a look at the Springhouse. Yep there was the water feature. But help me out, didnt it once kind of look like a cave as you entered instead of the wooden wall?
I wish I was old enough to remember this!
The water feature area at Springhouse did indeed have a rock feature surrounding it at one time. It was there for years. My guess is that spot was like the waterfall in front of Grandfather's Mansion or the cave at the old float trip, (AP now) and it just got old, crumbling, and so it was replaced in a cost effective way at the time. It's too bad that over time we have lost some of these neat little atmosphering pieces, but time marches on... :)
Yep, just like today's timber fencing is tomorrow's poly-carbon upcycled fencing. :-)
Quote from: betamike on September 10, 2012, 06:54:23 PM
Yep, just like today's timber fencing is tomorrow's poly-carbon upcycled fencing. :-)
Just like yesterday's hand-painted wooden signs are today's printed computer graphics. :(
Tin types--> digital prints
Homemade style foods (albeit mass produced)--> mass produced factory foods
Handmade crafts emphasis on quality--> machine made goods emphasis on profit
Quote from: rubedugans on September 10, 2012, 08:56:36 PM
Tin types--> digital prints
Homemade style foods (albeit mass produced)--> mass produced factory foods
Handmade crafts emphasis on quality--> machine made goods emphasis on profit
Booooooooo!
Does anyone (coughBetamikecough) have photos of the old rock feature at the Springhouse?
I guess that means I am off the hook to find a pucture in my stuff then huh?
Nope, Rube. If you've got it, cough it up!
Got a few things on my plate, going through photos is near the top of the list, I have photos a' plenty, not sure about the springhouse...but there's bound to be something in the hundreds of photos!
I know I have a photo or two, but finding it is the hard part. I try to dig around and see what I can find. I looked for one a day or two ago and could not find it.
I'm with Rube and Junior. I KNOW I've got one, but I'm thinking it's in my pre-digital photos and that's a lot of stuff I'll need to look through.
Checked my 1979 photos...none in there
I've got a couple, but they are typical late 70's instamatic camera quality. I can see that there is a cave instead of a wall,but I cant see inside to that little entryway.
It's not real convienent for me to scan right now, but I hope to post sone shots I have of areas that arent there anymore.
Yes found a few just like that SDCGal!
I have to tell you all how much I enjoy being able to talk about these long gone features to someone! As much as my family enjoys Silver Dollar City today, everytime I walk by something and say, "the School used to be here", or "The Taffy Shop was here", or "there used to be a little doll shop in that corner of the Hotel" they just kind of roll their eyes and keep on heading to Wildfire!
I feel validated when someone understands how I feel about how things used to be!
SDC Gal, my wife does not "get it" either. I tell her about how things changed at SDC over the years, or how Branson had this or that back in the old days, and she just rolls her eyes! Hard to explain things to her...or my kids or grandkids...they are just interested in running to the next ride! Memories worth repeating, though! ;)
SDC Gal, Junior, et. al, on behalf of those of us who weren't alive then and do want to hear those stories: Thank you!!!!!
OK, as the occasion arises, you'll get your old time days stories! I do like telling those stories to those who have an interest. They were fun times. :)
I have told so many stories that my wife now knows them, and could tell them herself! I am lucky she puts up with me!
I realize it's been a while since this topic has been discussed, but I remember this feature. It had to come down in the early to mid '90s (otherwise, I'd have no memory of it). I have a photo of the waterfall (see below), but you'll have to excuse how nerdy I look.
Very neat! Thanks for sharing the picture. The waterfall definitely adds some audible ambiance to the park. Still miss being able to walk behind it. :)
Looks like wood chips on the ground. I remember when they were all over that area. I remember at one point during a crafts festival they had the coin press and the rope maker over there. Anybody else remember these, or have I gone senile?
No, you remember correctly. Now this will challenge many of you. Do you remember when the entire area from the railroad bridge at the Saloon all the way down to the lake was not paved, when they had just wood chips and sawdust spread on the ground? That was when the "new" area of the park was called "The Deepwoods," between it's opening in 1977 through about 1984 or '85. They began paving some of the area beginning about '81, but it was a slow process, just a little bit at a time until it was done. Wonderful on sunny days, total mess on rainy days, I can guarantee you! :)
I posted this in the "Your Ride Ideas" thread, but it works here also!
Quote from: Hollywood on July 23, 2013, 03:11:04 PM
I posted this in the "Your Ride Ideas" thread, but it works here also!
Or a bobsled style coaster that goes behind the waterfall, or both interacting with each other, or just leave it as a natural area, or refurb it with more realistic detail.
Quote from: Junior on July 23, 2013, 01:34:47 PM
No, you remember correctly. Now this will challenge many of you. Do you remember when the entire area from the railroad bridge at the Saloon all the way down to the lake was not paved, when they had just wood chips and sawdust spread on the ground? That was when the "new" area of the park was called "The Deepwoods," between it's opening in 1977 through about 1984 or '85. They began paving some of the area beginning about '81, but it was a slow process, just a little bit at a time until it was done. Wonderful on sunny days, total mess on rainy days, I can guarantee you! :)
Most definitely -- and sawdust in your shoes is a bad thing when walking the hills.
I also remember log-rolling contests there.
Quote from: Hollywood on July 23, 2013, 03:11:04 PM
I posted this in the "Your Ride Ideas" thread, but it works here also!
The run-out after the plunge is going to be a problem, though. ;)
Quote from: Hollywood on July 23, 2013, 03:11:04 PM
I posted this in the "Your Ride Ideas" thread, but it works here also!
Haha, that's hilarious! I can just imagine all the wet burgers, and fries at the Lumber Camp. :D
One of my earliest memories is wathcing the log rolling contest and losing my parents in the crowd for what seemed like forever. Might have been 5 or 10 minutes...
Prior to building the AP, as part of an employee suggestion survey, I suggested using the upper dining area of the lumbercamp as a loading area, and a flume built on the hillside, with the flume going under the falls where people used to walk. A manager told me they couldn't do that because the lumbercamp used the upper dining area too much. My thought, which I kept to myself at the time, was..."no vision" on the managers part. Ha! Funny looking back all these years and seeing a similar idea posted here! ;D