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[bthomas]

As I was waiting to get the tram back to the lot I noticed that there are advertising banners hanging on the fence around the loading area.  This is the first time I have seen these since I usually park in the season pass preferred lot and walk in.  Does anyone know how long these have been up?  I know that Humana is the official sponsor of the festivals...whats next...Kodak Moment Christmas Tree...Coke American Plunge?  It saddens me to no end that the commercialization of other parks has now hit SDC.  It's not the same park anymore guys.

[Ozark Outlaw]

I noticed a few of them on my recent trip. Actually, this does not bother me at all. I consider the tram roundabout, and front entrance to be a "non authentic theme" area. Especially since by simply turning away from the gate you see this huge parking lot. In fact, when I was there in October, there was a sweepstakes fishing boat sitting out front as well.

[Hatfield McCoy]

I saw a couple of entrepreneurial minded fellas hanging one of those as we left the park on Thursday night.  I was thinking that was a great idea for the guys hanging the sign, and an opportunity for a revenue stream for SDC as we strolled by.  I don't have as much problem with it outside in the parking lot as there is no attempt at theming out there.

[Copper]

I know that several of them were placed there for Run to the Lights, they were the sponsors, the names and logos are listed on the back of the Run to the Lights t-shirts.  The Run to the Lights route went through that area of the parking lot.  Not everything is as negative as one perceives it to be.

[rubedugans]

Not sure if you were kidding, but in the 80's the waterfall actually had a "Kodak Photo Spot" sign along the fence.

[sanddunerider]

I dont care about "photo spots",  but please keep advertising in parking lot .. Chances are more people would pay attention out there anyway..

[betamike]

I think there have been vintage Coca-Cola ads placed (and sold as souvenirs) in the City for decades now.  They also serve their brand of products so I'm thinking there's more to it than how they are "quaint"

But of course, I live in a sponsor-driven world here in Florida, so maybe I'm just desensitized to it all.

[bthomas]

The responses here are rather surprising to me.  Did the information booth run by Humana inside the park bother anyone?  Where do you think the line will be drawn with this type of revenue stream?  Could it be a very fine line that we are walking?

[Ozark Outlaw]

Exactly! Where do you draw the line? Silver Dollar City has to use sponsors to help pay the bills. So Silver Dollar City has to come up with a creative way to advertise without jeopardizing the theme. The front gate area is the perfect solution to this problem. It's all a delicate balancing act.

Sure, there are a few product placement items inside the park such as the Coca-Cola machines, Germ-X bottles, and Kodak photo spots, but those are relatively unobtrusive, and for the most part are practical products for your visit. Silver Dollar City does a fantastic job of tricking the senses into believing that you are in the 1880's, but let's not forget that we are still visiting a theme park here in 2010, and the bills still must be paid. As long as the ads aren't gaudy and "in your face" so to speak then I am okay with them.

[Hatfield McCoy]

The responses here are rather surprising to me.  Did the information booth run by Humana inside the park bother anyone?  Where do you think the line will be drawn with this type of revenue stream?  Could it be a very fine line that we are walking?

As long as the line is drawn somewhere in the parking lot, I'm fine with it.  The parking lot has absolutely no ambiance whatsover, especially since the valley has been filled in and the surrounding hills are under attack.  Its not like we are being brought into the park by horse drawn buggies, so a few signs out there along the way in don't bother me at all.  Now the boat got too close.  The entrance with the water mill and traditional picture spot is where the portal to a semi-vintage, absolutely imaginary Ozark mountain town should begin.  Where the "all ashore" begins, let there be a line. 

[sanddunerider]

yes your right of course..  let the line be where the water mill is.........after all " that is where the past begins".   They do a GREAT job inside about advertising matching the theme, and i have no problems with that as long as the signs look vintage.

as far as the Humana booth is concerned, i am just glad i am not the person that has to sit there all day in the sun!   It is in a very obvious place, But they have been a requirement of their contract.

  I did notice the person sitting there, did just that. sit there nodding at people walking by. They never were yelling at passer bys trying to "sell" there product.   They were ther to simply answer question by the public..

[Junior]

Historical perspective: Silver Dollar City has had big companies "sponsor" things around park for decades. The Wagonworks Restaurant used to be Welch's Vineyard. (I worked there in 78-79) and we had three kinds of Welch's grape juice...white, red, and concord. Coke has been a sponsor for decades, and still is to this day. Kodak has been for decades, and still is. Encyclopedia Brittanica was for a couple of years in the late 70's/early 80's and they had a sales booth set up in the Hospitality House. Currently, Germ-x and GAC are sponsors. AAA has long been a sponsor, Hormel Meats were once a staple at park restaurants, including Jack's Sandwich Shop...just look at the old Hormel signs hanging in there (If they are still there) Those signs in Jack's were there when I first visited the park in 1970. Kahn's Meats were a sponsor in the '82 Pathfinder. Veggietales, hmmmm. French's/Ott's products used to be all over the park. Sponsorship is nothing new in theme parks. As a kid, I remember that Six Flags Over Mid-America and Opryland both had sponsors of various things...shows, attractions, and so on. NASCAR had a shop in Opryland. I'm in agreement with everyone here, as long as the sponship and the ads are done tastefully, I've no problem with the stuff around park. I do remember those Kodak moments locations scattered through the park during the time I worked there. No big deal, really. Money makes the world go round!

[Junior]

Another one just popped into my head...remember "the Chevy show" at Six Flags St. Louis? Seems like Hostess Bakeries had sponsorship at Six Flags at one time, too.

[rubedugans]

SF StL has the a car to the Ninja adwrapped with "Stride" Gum logos and advertising "The Roller Coaster of Gum". It looked bad, as if they were hurting even more for money-Eventually every ride will look like a Nascar race with assorted ads, and logos.

[bthomas]

Lets just all remember where it started....I can almost guarantee it will get worse.  Unfortunately, I think a slow leak as begun and hope there is someone around that will put his finger in the hole.