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[History Buff]

I can't find a strand on site for this, so I'll start it up.

We all like to speculate on future attractions at SDC, and if you're anything like me, you've even dreamed up your own attractions and figured out where to put them in the park.  So how creative are you?

For example, I'd like to see SDC create an area to show Ozark wildlife.  As I understand it, Dollywood has an eagle sanctuary and with the purchase of Wild Adventures, animals are now in the system.  This time, lets see some wild boar, some white-tailed deer, raccoons and bobcats, copperheads and tree frogs.  Only animals that appear naturally in the area, though.  No bison or long-horns, no ostriches or cobras.

Then, how about a roller coaster that combines the serene charm of the beginning of Fire-in-the-Hole with the extreme thrill of a spinner, all while traversing a cool track.  The name of the ride?  Ozark Twister.  It would be complete with quirky Wizard of Oz type images along the lift hill, with a simulated tornado in the distance.  Then after the wild part, the car cruises back by the same Ozarks village after the twister has hit.  I know, it would have to be tastefully done, but it could be done.  Donations could be collected for victims or real tornadoes, and an interactive, educational "museum" could be incorporated (only it would still have to fit the theme of the park).

What kind of virtual reality ride could be put in?  Doesn't Dollywood have one?  The VR rides at Disney and Universal, though expensive, and really cool.

Anyway, now it's your turn.  Who knows?  Someone may take our ideas and actually engineer them.

[CJR]

I like your ideas, especially the first one.  I actually had typed up a list of things I'd do if I were in charge.  I'll just copy and past those ideas right over.  Out of my ideas, my favorite is the first one.  I've been wanting to see HFEC do a 3D film for a long time.  Anyway, here you go:

1885 Invention Convention:
TYPE: 3D Theater
VEHICLES: 4D Theater Seats / 3D Screen/ 3D Glasses
DESCRIPTION: In the wooded hills of the Ozarks, the annual invention convention is taking place.  At the convention, inventors will show off the very latest technology and inventions of the 1880's.  All guests in attendance are required to wear safety goggles (3D glasses) in the event of an unexpected accident.  With all the inventions being new, anything can happen so be ready for anything.  Be ready to be amazed at where our world is going during the convention's limited engagement at The Silver Dollar City Convention Center.

Fire in the Hole 2.0
TYPE: Indoor Roller Coaster
VEHICLES: Coaster trains/ track
DESCRIPTION: In an upgrade to the original Silver Dollar City classic, Fire in the Hole features cars carrying more passengers in a longer ride.  Basically, the entire ride has been rebuilt telling the same story on a more personal level.  The ride now features lifelike animatronics and a musical ending written by some of the same writers that created the amazing musicals Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol, Headin' West, and For the Glory.  A town lives, dies, and is reborn in this classic retelling that is sure to become a new generation favorite.

Lost River of the Ozarks 2.0
TYPE: Circular Raft Ride
VEHICLES: Circular rafts, flume
DESCRIPTION: Featuring the same length and layout (although refurbished), the ride features a better told back story in its queue area as well as several added effects.  Although a portion of the upgrades were made outside, including a few geysers, the big change is the ride's climax after guests float into a dark cave.  In addition to the thrills of the water, guests will encounter bats, Ozark mountain lion, and even a small cave-in.  The ride is now more thrilling than ever while keeping its loved feel that its fans have come to enjoy since the ride opened in the 1980's.

Powder Keg 2.0
TYPE: Launch Roller Coaster
VEHICLES: Coaster trains/ track
DESCRIPTION: Not a whole lot will change to the actual ride.  The only major change will be unnoticed and that is an upgraded launch featuring new technology.  The reason for this is because launch rides require heavy maintenance and sometimes an upgrade.  This is that upgrade.  In addition to the upgrade, geysers will be installed toward the ride's conclusion (that were supposed to originally be included with the ride in its 2006 debut), matching the concept art originally shown.

Refurbished American Plunge area
DESCRIPTION: In an effort to improve the quality of the park, the American Plunge area has been redone giving the ride a new queue area and a widened path to the parks Wildfire.

New Table Service Sit Down Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: Giving guests the feeling that they are dining at an 1880 family's home, guests are treated to some of the most popular food in the 1880's.  Served in a great American fashion, guests will be able to order some of the finest foods in America at this one of a kind restaurant experience.  The restaurant will be the hot spot for food in the city as the only real table service restaurant in the park with waiters and waitresses.

Refurbished Train Ride
DESCRIPTION: The Silver Dollar Line, which has been entertaining guests for ages, gets a big upgrade.  New gates are installed in the station; trains are repainted, new seats installed, and a wall built over by The Giant Swing allowing the Robbery Scene to take place in its original location.

Story Time with Grandma
DESCRIPTION: After a day of running around, kids and their parents can take a seat and rest in a newly constructed garden in Tom Sawyer's Landing while listening to Grandma read a story.  Take a break from they day and enjoy a story in a beautiful garden.

[Coaster]

^I've always wanted SDC to make a 3D show. Have they ever even considered it? Anyways I liked pretty much all your ideas CJR except for all the refurbishings of the current rides. I don't think anything should be done to FITH, the train, or Powderkeg (it's practically brand new). I do however agree that if Lost River of the Ozarks got an upgrade many of us will be happy. I think your idea for that was great.

Dr. Horatio Harris' Splash Machine!

Dr. Harris has done it again! From the maker of Wildfire, comes a ride that you might just get a little wet on! This ride would replace American Plunge to make a larger, more exciting, and WETTER ride. It includes animatronics and a 50 foot drop!! The area around the ride will immerse you into the ride and if your brave enough to watch from the roadway we'll guarantee you you will get wet!

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I have a bit of an imagination. I picture this ride being something like Splash Mountain where you come out of a "mountain" for the final drop.

[History Buff]

Yes, the original plans for Powder Keg need to be activated.  The splash would add a terrific visual.  And the upgrade to Lost River is long past due.  Both of these seem like 1.0 plans that were never made, and both seem unfinished or broken as a result.

That being said, now you have me thinking...Flooded Mine 3.0:

The Flooded Mine returns to its roots - no more Shootout.  New figures (Call them audioanimatronics if you like) really engage miners as they float through in their mine carts.  FM becomes more of an Ozark "Pirates of the Caribbean" with extravagent scenes (The jackhammer guy with his false teeth reminds me of the prisoner on the PotC ride who's whistling for his dog.).  A new song plays through out the ride until riders hit a few rapids in the flood and shoot out of the Ozarks in a grand finale.

You can't replace the Flooded Mine with anything but another, even more flooded mine!

[Coaster]

To take the shootout away from the Flooded Mine is like making Silver Dollar City a zoo.

[Copper]

I could go with a refurbishment of Fire in the Hole and the Flooded Mine. To update FITH they would probably have to demolish the ride and rebuild it, I think this needs to be done. It is a little embarrassing to have Baldknobber leaning against the wall because it is broken, plus to have them move and talk would be much more exhilarating.

No, No on changing the songs in either of the rides, the songs are classics. 

Welcome to the mine game, Welcome to the toil, welcome to the trouble neith the earth and soil.
Sweat a little water you'll, sweat a little blood, and you might get out if the mine don't flood.

[shavethewhales]

I really want to see something along the lines of a massive shopping area with a wooden roller coaster twisting around and through it. Picture a Geyser Gulch for adults with a tight wooden roller coaster diving in and out and all around it. It might be tacky, but meh - if it were done just right...

[Dukefan]

I could go with a refurbishment of Fire in the Hole and the Flooded Mine. To update FITH they would probably have to demolish the ride and rebuild it, I think this needs to be done.

I think it would be cool to do a modern version of Fire in the Hole that used real fire and pyrotechnic effects, kind of like Escape from Pompeii at Busch Gardens Europe.

[Copper]

Yes, I agree. Escape from Pompeii's pyrotechnics would be amazing in a new Fire in the Hole. I would want some great audioanimatronics too. The queue line should also tell the story of Marmaros and  the Baldknobbers since not everyone visiting is from the Ozarks.

[History Buff]

OK, I concede on the new song/old song discussion.  I haven't been able to hear the themes on Flooded Mine or American Plunge at all lately, so had forgot the FM had a song and not just an instrumental version.  As for the shootout, so many people don't even bother to shoot.  The ride used to have scenes that riders would anticipate and flinch at.  We really thought the saw blade was going to cut our cart in half, and that the explosion would really flood us completely.  It was a dark ride well done, not just a carnival amusement.  That's what I miss, and the animatronics would make it even better (We don't shoot at the pirates in Disney parks.).

Here's another one:  the Ozarks has its own version of Bigfoot, named MOMO.  An attraction could be based on this, in which riders are on an expedition to prove it exists.  I'm thinking of something like the Maelstrom ride at Epcot, in which the ride stops half-way through, and then quickly reverses through scenes as if running away from the very thing we were looking for.  Could be cool.  I noticed the Magic Kingdom also has Expedition: Everest; SDC would have to make sure MOMO was something different than that, which is probably more extreme than they would like.

[Copper]

All the Flooded Mine needs is some attention to detail. I don't use the guns, and I enjoyed the ride before them. New animatronics and special effects would be great. The lights should go out when the saw falls, like what originally happened. The voices need to be turned on. The explosion scene needs to be bigger and better and the guy needs to say, "I'm getting out of here no matter what!" The ride originally had employees inside the scenes dressed as miners, but with animatronics they would be able to serve that purpose. The convict on the outside of the ride in the oar bucket needs to go up and down like he used to.

[History Buff]

The Flooded Mine was where I worried they would put the Ice House ride, but I was wrong.  There is an advertisement for ice visible in the area (Look up high.), and I thought it was a clue.  I had not seen the sign before the survey came out.

How about this for a new slogan:  "We're History!"

[Copper]

 The Ice House inverted coaster idea could work between the Expo and Echo Hollow. The ride would fall down a steep ravine and could have a couple large helixes. Cut minimal trees down, so that the "Woodsy" feel would remain. A new concession area could open near the Ice House. During the summer they could serve different kinds of iced teas, since iced tea was invented at the St. Lois Exposition. It would all tie together.

[History Buff]

How about a new area - the Osage village - in which Native American crafts and entertainment are presented?

New rides could be developed:

• A new floating canoe river ride through a scene of Osage children doing what Osage children did - including a catchy song playing all the way through (like It's a Small World.
• A suspended coaster - the Talon - themed around the spirit of the Eagle:  the lift hill would be the Eagle's nest, and the coaster would swoop down over a lake as if catching fish

Then, naturally, Native American flavor would be introduced to a whole new generation through a new eatery.

No casinos.

[shavethewhales]

^Meh, I'd rather they take that idea, but use a more tradition Ozark hillside town theme. It could be some sort of detached suburb community from SDC, in which the inhabitants are known for being a bit... odd. Kinda like the old Shanty town.