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[Zephon]

Headin' West?...I don't really know, other than to say that it ran the course that was set out for it from the beginning.  I think they only intended for it to run 3 or 4 seasons.  As a matter of fact, Dickens Christmas Carol was only supposed to run for 3 or 5 at the most, but can you imagine the ruckus that people would raise if they dropped it?  Joel has mentioned that once Jack told him the only thing he could do that would cost him his job would be to cancel DCC.  That's funny.

[tiffanylynnt]

Headin' West?...I don't really know, other than to say that it ran the course that was set out for it from the beginning.  I think they only intended for it to run 3 or 4 seasons.  As a matter of fact, Dickens Christmas Carol was only supposed to run for 3 or 5 at the most, but can you imagine the ruckus that people would raise if they dropped it?  Joel has mentioned that once Jack told him the only thing he could do that would cost him his job would be to cancel DCC.  That's funny.

[mhguy77]

We took a part day at the city on the 30th with a non-ride loving friend and really had a  good time.
The cowboy festival was nice and is it just me or did there seem to be a overabundance of gourds? Lots of gourd crafts.
The stunt show was ok, I thought it was a little disjointed and didn't really think there was much if any of a story to it. 
I did sit up on the  top of Echo Hollow right under the craft school, I think that's the smoking area ( I don't smoke but ended up there)
I love Echo Hollow but was unable to get back up the steps if I went down them.  I have a heart issue that doesn't provide me with the energy needed.  Maybe my vantage point was not the best for the show but using the outside theater is a great idea.
We did enjoy the festival for the most part, they really played the cowboy thing up this year more than any other I remember.
I didn't miss Heading West, frankly I forgot all about it being there last year till I read about it on line here.  We may try to go back down this next week for the day just to see the leaves change.  My last trip before Christmas. The last apple dumpling of the fall season, I think a coffee mug is calling me as welll from the potters shop.  Before I left the city I did ask about the seasons pass price next year and they said they would knwo the end of this month what the price would be.

[sanddunerider]

we also sit in the smoking section the 1st time, the 2nd time I braved the stairs and we sit on the center section, lower section about 2/3 rds of the way up...really made a difference on what you see and expierence...

[biscuitcreek]

Had a review all typed up and it disappeared before I could post it.   Let me try again.

Went to the park on 9/30, a beautiful day to be there. Nice crowd but not overly crowded. Rode TNT, FM (first time ever to ride in car #1), FITH, and the train.  People on the train were really impressed with the construction of Outlaw Run. Train robbery skit got off track when a woman claimed to be Alfie and Ralphie's mother. The 3 actors seemed to have problems ad-libbing.  I can remember a few years ago when the actors who were in the skit could really ad-lib.  Saw the stunt show and it was okay -- definitely room for improvement and I do think it has much potential.
However, the stairs are a challenge for many people.

Watched/listened to Les Gilliam and his band for part of a set. Dance floor stayed pretty full. Red Gold is a much better place for the barn dance than the Carousel Barn. Oopsie-Daisy was out on the dance floor dancing quite well with her partners. Went to see the Sons of the San Joaquin in the Opera House.  Made it through 2 songs and got up and left along with several others.  Don't know if the guys were sick or what but they were not in tune during either song we heard.

Saw one of the cowboy poets (really enjoyed his funny stories but not a big fan of cowboy poetry). Also went to the chuckwagon by RedGold and got a tasty sample of Mexican cornbread.  Saw one of the singing cowboy poets at Boatworks -- fair.  Went to the dancing horse show on the square.  Way too small of an area for a horse demonstration.  The handler made some comment about not expecting to have to cope with the black grass of the park (asphalt). The horse stumbled off the stool at one point.

We did look at some of the crafts as we walked around.  Bought some lye soap and a frozen lemonade. Overall a very nice day.

I really miss the festival of American Music and Craftsmanship in the fall.  I liked the variety of music that SDC used to have during that festival.

[mhguy77]

Sandune I may try that this upcoming weekend, I hate to admit I have a problem with stairs, makes me feel old and I sure don't want to admit to that!.

I really miss the festival of American Music and Craftsmanship in the fall.  I liked the variety of music that SDC used to have during that festival.

That was a big favorite of mine as well, the barn dance doesn't do it for me, some of the old bluesgrass and country was great fun and it was done in a not so polished fashion. Made it seem all that more real.
A few years back they also had foods from across the country with Mexican and BBQ and fried fish all laid out on the parameter of the red gold with music on the stage and a small area for dancing. I really enjoyed that. They took away the food this or maybe last year.  It was a let down.  I would love for that to return.

[StaceySue]

I thought this year was the last year for Headin' West.  You mean it's not there this year?   

We are going this coming weekend.  I hate to say it, but now I'm a little sad. 

I guess I will watch Hercules and Paint Your Wagon now to make up for it. 

I was looking forward to watching it one more time, though. 

[Kentucky Optimist]

Well, here it is, my one and only trip review for 2012...
This was our first trip with the baby (11mo old) so it was a real adventure to pack items for the city like diapers, a stroller and baby food.  We were in the city from Wed Oct 3rd to Sat Oct 6th.  The weather on wed & thursday was amazing- perfect for strolling through the city, riding rides, shopping, checking out crafts, and the weather gave me a great chance at my first attempt at taking some "artsy" photos of the city (see flickr link below).  Wed attendance would have been low except for a large number of local school groups (middle and high school aged choir groups) that really helped to fill out the city. We had the park to ourselves on thurs-sat, as thursday was a low attendance day and the weather was cold and rainy on Friday & Saturday.  I was really impressed with the amount and quality of craftsmen present.  We had a great chance to stop and talk to quite a few of them and many of them had lots to say to us (ok, maybe it was because attendance was low and they were bored, but we enjoyed it).  Also, the park was really clean and well decorated for the Harvest Fest.  Had the opportunity to watch many "in house" demonstrating craftsmen (log hewing, sorghum press, etc.).  We even got to watch Violet Hensley play, which I really enjoyed because I can remember getting to watch her about 25 years ago.  I thought the trick horse on the square, rescued mustangs and the demonstrating chuck wagon cooks were a nice touch and the shows they were putting on seemed to draw nice sized crowds.  We watched the opening ceremonies the first day.  Getting to watch about 30 Vets march in unison and put up the flag was really touching.  We also had breakfast at Molly's Mill that day which was great because I'd never eaten there before and it lived up to reviews that others on this board had given it.  My wife had a different skillet each of the four days and enjoyed all of them.  I had the pork tenderloin (for the first time), it was pretty good, but maybe not as good as I was expecting.  I think my best lunch at the city was at the Riverside Rib House, the guy serving my combo sandwich didn't know what he was doing and I ended up with enough brisket and pulled pork to make 3 sandwiches.  Instead of a "half and half" it was a pile of brisket and pulled pork so big I could hardly find the bun.  You won't hear any complaining out of me about that!    I haven't been to the city since a lot of the food price increases have taken effect and I was a little shocked at how expensive lunch was.  It seemed like most all lunch entrees were $9-$10 plus a soda at $2-3, which is way up from where I remember from previous years.  The quality was good though and I just had to remind myself I was on vacation.  Of course we managed to find an excuse to get an apple dumpling despite our big lunches.  I was surprised that the price of the buffets (the mine restaurant, molly's mill, etc.) seemed to be a pretty good value, a lunch, drink and dessert "out in the park" actually appeared to be more expensive than the buffet price.
We didn't do too many shows, but we did have a chance to see the stunt show and catch the homestead pickers a few times.  I agree that the stunt show can't seem to decide if it's a musical, a comedy routine or a stunt show.  I like the idea of using EH for events other than GAC and I hope they continue to expand on those type of shows- even if the stunt show wasn't a home run.  We were hoping to catch some of the barn dance, but the Red Gold hall is closed for about a month as they set up for the "It's a Wonderful Life" show.  We got to tour half dollar holler for the first time and I was really impressed with how well it blends into the surrounding area without being a distraction.  We also rode the train and OR looks like it will be a first class ride! During our shopping I did notice one thing that really surprised me- the price of the mass produced items sold in the gift shops seems to have really gone up, but the craftsmen produced items seems to be about the same or even less than I remember.  I almost bought a piece of art glass at the glass shop that was labeled as "made by SDC craftsmen."  It wasn't much more expensive than other decorative items across the street in the Christmas shop (made in china) and I would have bought it if I thought it would have survived the long drive home in the station wagon.  My dad and I had a memorable experience on saturday night.  The weather was cold and wet (it had sleeted earlier in the day) and the park was practically deserted.  Everyone else in our group went home, but my dad and I stayed behind to try to catch the 4:00 Homestead Pickers show.  After the show we took one last walk thought the park and happened to drop into the Carousel barn because it had been crowded the last few times we walked by.  We got to meet and talk to Lee Aaker (the child actor from Rin Tin Tin).  He seemed genuinely interested in talking to us and my dad had a great time getting to meet him.  We were the only ones there and it was a really neat experience.  I had no idea who he was, but my dad remembered his role in specific episodes and seemed to really enjoy getting to talk to him.
All in all we had a great time to hang out with family and enjoy the events, people and environment that create the ambiance of SDC.  I'd love to make it back for the Christmas fest, but making the trip with a 1 yr old was such a chore that I think it will have to wait until he is a little better in the car.  I posted a few of my pictures from the city to a flickr account that you can find here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentuckyoptomist/sets/72157631754935718/

It was a great visit to the city and we really enjoyed getting to introduce our son to something that has been a tradition in my family for nearly 30 years!

[sanddunerider]

Great trip for you and yours..congrats.   we were there sunday again, sat was nasty....  looks like you got a "taste" of about everything..

again, congrats on your maiden trip with the whole family

[DeweyBald]

GREAT pictures Kentucky!  Thanks for sharing. 

[Junior]

Nice trip review and photos, thanks!

[How-doFolks]

Nice long review, Thanks!

[HikerDan]

Made a trip to the City today (saturday) and was met by an enormous crowd in the parking lots at 10:00 AM; an extreme and unusually large crowd swarming the place early.  With us living close by and having other options in which to spend our day we decided to forsake the hordes and leave the City without ever having stepped out of our car.

We drove towards Branson from SDC and was absolutely dumdfounded by the line of cars amassed and attempting to make their way towards Indian Point Road---the line stretched all the way past Shepherd of the Hills and into Branson on past the RFD TV Theatre.

Maybe some type of unannounced corporate event happening at SDC today.

Too bad for the folks from out of town just wanting to visit the place for a day and try to have a good time; some of those people had to of spent hours just trying to get in the parking areas by noon.

Anyone have an idea why the place was so oversold today?  It's not the OTC yet.     

[chittlins]

I. don't think its War Eagle Crafts Fair related. Maybe it is, locals fleeing.

[biscuitcreek]

Made a trip to the City today (saturday) and was met by an enormous crowd in the parking lots at 10:00 AM; an extreme and unusually large crowd swarming the place early.  With us living close by and having other options in which to spend our day we decided to forsake the hordes and leave the City without ever having stepped out of our car.

We drove towards Branson from SDC and was absolutely dumdfounded by the line of cars amassed and attempting to make their way towards Indian Point Road---the line stretched all the way past Shepherd of the Hills and into Branson on past the RFD TV Theatre.

Maybe some type of unannounced corporate event happening at SDC today.

Too bad for the folks from out of town just wanting to visit the place for a day and try to have a good time; some of those people had to of spent hours just trying to get in the parking areas by noon.

Anyone have an idea why the place was so oversold today?  It's not the OTC yet.     

Have heard from other folks I know that Branson had a major increase in visitors since mid-week -- lots of motels with "no vacancy" signs on the strip, lots of folks camping at the State Park.