Hi all,
I used to spend lots of time at SDC. I never worked there, but was a captain at the Sammy Lane Pirate Cruise Water Padgent. We used to get tickets really cheap back then. In fact, if I remember right, it was free when I first moved to Mt. Branson.
Did Grandpa move out of his mansion, it was always a fun place to spend some time, on either side of the mirror!
I also wonder if the tree house is still there? The infinity room was a great place to be if you had the right state of mind for it.
But the most fun I ever had there was down by Fire in the Hole, where the undertaker could keep you entertained for hours. I have a grandson now and live in Emmett Idaho, I wish something like SDC was around here.
I was a boy scout leader for a short time and had one of the sons of the owner in my group, I cant remember his last name, do they still own it? I wish they would come out this way and build an amusement park in this area, we really need something like that around here.
Besides, we only get about 9 inchs of rain a year, and that rainmaker could make lots of money here.
Fang Doodle
Hey Fang. Yeah, Grandpa's Mansion is still there, though it's starting to lapse a little due to age. They're in an interesting position with it because if they do too much to fix it up, they'll have to add wheelchair access throughout the whole thing, and how are they going to do that with the narrow staircase and the crooked room? Who knows what will happen to it as the years progress, though I'm sure there will always be a grandpa's mansion at SDC.
The tree house is a gonner. It's still there, but it won't be for much longer. From what I've picked up it's in complete disrepair due to some support issues. A brace was put in, but it was not sufficient. Also, wheelchair issues. We've been expecting it to come down for a couple of years now, and it looks like this will be the year for it with all the Landing revival and new-age Tom Sawyer emergence. Will it ever come back? Who knows. I'll be sure to keep pestering them about it though - I want to see them bring the concept back somehow, and I'm sure they could do it magnificently these days.
Quote from: fang on October 03, 2008, 11:57:56 PM
I was a boy scout leader for a short time and had one of the sons of the owner in my group, I cant remember his last name, do they still own it? I wish they would come out this way and build an amusement park in this area, we really need something like that around here.
Besides, we only get about 9 inchs of rain a year, and that rainmaker could make lots of money here.
Fang Doodle
The Herschends. Yes, they still own it.
What ever happened to the waterfall at GM front door? Seems a bit odd to not have it there.
The fake rock stuff started to break all over park, so for the most part it is gone. I wish they would have made a new one. I shouldn't say this, but that is how most things go around here. Quick and easy fix.
I had forgotten it was there. I know this will just kill some of you but I really wish they would take out the waterfall back by the entrance to WildFire and American Plunge. It does not fit in anymore and as far as I know it is not really used for anything.
I like to eat at the Lumber Camp by the waterfall.
^Me too. I love that view...it's very peaceful.
I am very pro-waterfall as well. I am saddened to hear about Grandfather's waterfall loss. It was an extra sensory experience just before you walked in. To me, it was a perfect aural symphony: Roaring of the waterfall giving away to eerie music box sounds just inside the parlor.
It would just be another piece of SDC history that is being taken away from us. I hope it never leaves.
Didn't they used to have some stuff close to that lumbercamp waterfall?
^They used to have some shows near the lumbercamp waterfall (log balancing, etc). That went away in the eighties. Up until ten years ago you used to be able to walk the path behind the waterfall. That's closed off now.
Hard to believe it's been 10 years since you could walk behind the waterfall.
Quote from: sdcforever on November 10, 2008, 05:18:28 PM
^They used to have some shows near the lumbercamp waterfall (log balancing, etc). That went away in the eighties. Up until ten years ago you used to be able to walk the path behind the waterfall. That's closed off now.
Why was the path behind the waterfall closed off. It was kind of cool to walk behind there. A couple of years ago, I was sitting at the back porch of the lumbercamp, and watched two cats playing around by the waterfall. I thought that was kind of unusual.
Quote from: adairmd on March 29, 2009, 05:36:59 PM
Quote from: sdcforever on November 10, 2008, 05:18:28 PM
^They used to have some shows near the lumbercamp waterfall (log balancing, etc). That went away in the eighties. Up until ten years ago you used to be able to walk the path behind the waterfall. That's closed off now.
Why was the path behind the waterfall closed off. It was kind of cool to walk behind there. A couple of years ago, I was sitting at the back porch of the lumbercamp, and watched two cats playing around by the waterfall. I thought that was kind of unusual.
I'm guessing it was closed off for safety reasons.
Wish they would bring back the lumber jack shows. They could use another quality show area in that region -- and there is a lot of wasted space there that could be used to put in bleachers for the show.
Here is the Sawyer's Viewmster version of the waterfall...
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/grandfathersmansion.jpg)
I miss the waterfall in front of Grandfather's Mansion. I wish they wouldn't have gone the cheep rout. Here is the big sign that use to hang next to it. In Rube's photo you can see just a little section of it on the left. Oh and "Pratt's" Sue is her first name she is married now so she has a different last name, but she is in charge of theme at SDC. This sign is at Dollywood.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3404615117_790d7ba420_o.jpg)
^^Thanks for posting the pic. Nice to see the waterfall again. Memories. :)
We were there Easter weekend. Took the boys to the tree house and there it was closed.
I hope they never take down Grandpa Mansion. If I remember correctly the water fall used to splash as you walked in. The bridge was wet. INSURANCE is my guess.
SPOILER ALERT!!! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE PHYSICS/REASONING BEHIND THE ANOMOLIES WITHIN THE GRANDFATHER'S MANSION DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINKS ABOUT TILT HOUSES.
Otherwise Enjoy!
www.dafe.org/attractions/history/tilthouse/tilthouse.php (http://www.dafe.org/attractions/history/tilthouse/tilthouse.php)
http://www.sandlotscience.com/MysterySpots/Mystery_Spots_1.htm (http://www.sandlotscience.com/MysterySpots/Mystery_Spots_1.htm)
Nice read and great find!
Quote from: saladdays on November 11, 2008, 11:16:38 AM
Hard to believe it's been 10 years since you could walk behind the waterfall.
That was one of my first memories of SDC, I was probaly 4 or 5 and my dad would hang me over the edge so i could reach the water.
I have to say I do remember the waterfall and the one you walked behind. I took my husband there and looked at the waterfall, and told him that you could walk behind it and he didnt believe me. Finally vindicated after 4 long years!!! lol.
Around '82-'84, the Juniors at the diving bell cleaned and swept the mansion and treehouse each morning prior to park opening. We went through a checklist to make sure special effects were all up and running. (How I wish I would have saved some of those lists.) We reported damage or broken effects to maintenance who came in and did repairs. We got to know the two attractions well, and sometimes during the day we'd walk through them to make sure all was well in there. It was an odd job to have, but it was fun...if you check some of the threads on SDCFans.com, you will see some of the "secrets" behind these attractions. Have fun searching for my old postings on these...
hate to admit it, but i had forgotten abot the waterfull.. good pic!!