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[Old Guy]

There were two periods of tickets. The first were long printed tickets you bought at a ticket booth outside each ride. (like the one at the mine entrance, the float trip mill, or the train depot ticket window) with artsy logos, rules for that ride, some real and some like "No spitten' from the Train". They tore off a tab at the bottom and you kept the rest. I had some in a collection of memorabelia I gave to Bruce Hershend a long time ago. Then the multi ticket punch card came next. It was the cheaper option, or you could still pay by the ride. This was back when it was a free park.  A one price gate made operations cheaper to run, and let everyone ride as much as they wanted.

[firstyear1967]

I do remember the pay by the ride system.  My father told me that at one time they gave Silver Dollars as change.  I was to young to remember this.  Does anyone remember the big horse that the woodcarver made?  It used to be in the wood carver barn it had a big crack in it as the wood dried it pulled apart I guess.  I wonder whatever happened to that horse?

[Old Guy]

I do remember the horse and the crack. It was life sise and in a pen in the middle of the room. I think Pete Ingler carved it but don't bet the farm on it.

[Zephon]

My first year working there, in 1976, I punched tickets outside Grandfather's Mansion for a very short period of time.  I believe that was the last year for them.

There have been two changes that I know of to the Mill Restaurant since those days.  The first, in the mid to late 80's I think, was the addition of the Presidents Room, which is off the entry line before you get to the buffet.  The second was the addition of another dining room just to the south of the old building.  This was done in the late 90's, I think.  It is used mostly for special outings or events where they have to feed a large group.

[shorty]

Been sitting here chatting with a friend about my first memory of the park.  Since I was only a few months old don't remember much, but while reminiscing the memories begin to come back.  Ok, I do have a first memory and that is while exiting the tree house there was a star field that you walked through and it was quite dark as you couldn't really see your feet.  Just had to keep your hand on the handrails to not trip over anything on the way out.  Others include listening to the hammered dulcimer players, watching the barrel maker on the square, hearing the horses on the bridge, making your own pewter coin (on the press that has now been broken for several years), or making a mad dash to fire in the hole to make it the first ride of the day.  Sitting here thinking about it more, I remember going to the echo hollow show with Mercy.  He was a funny character and during parts of the show he would appear on the porch of the building with the water wheel (where he would "fall" off), or the building on the other side and he and another character would fill time with comedy while the singers changed.  It was sad the year that Mercy didn't come back...  I could go on for pages.....   

[Granny]

My first memory was playing at Tom Sawyer's Treehouse around 1979 or so, but my most intense memory is being scared out of my bloody mind at the Flooded Mine Ride when the lights went out and the saw started coming toward your car. Holy moly, I was so sure I was going to be cut in half. I still cringe whenever I float by that scene. As a pre-teen and teenager, we got seasons passes every summer, and would drive from Springfield about twice a week to SDC. I love to yell at my daughter, "Isabel Corley, you come back in here and put on your pants!" She's still learning the proper reply.

[knitgrrl87]

 I LOVE SDC!!!!

Its been a part of my life since before I was born.  My parents met there!  During the 86 season, my dad was a tram driver and my mom was a ranger (yes... they had park rangers back then.)  My dad would direct people to the "lovely Lucinda" (my mom) and they've been together ever since.  My parents co-workers had my baby shower in the offices above the ticket lines and everything.  My dad continued working at the ticket counter for a few years when he wasn't teaching during the summer, and I'm pretty sure we didn't buy a ticket until I was about 5.  I have such wonderful, fond memories of SDC.  Jumping on the bridge, Grandfather's Mansion, Thunderation and riding the balloons and saying the script along with Fire In the Hole.... nothing says fun like Silver Dollar City!

[Coaster]

^Oh that is so cool that your parents met there!

[betamike]

I also used to get so excited when the billboards started showing up on the road as far away as Cassville or Monett.  Man, it was like a placeholder to keep me and my sister pacified until we got there.

[Coaster]

^Our family likes to count all the SDC billboards we see as we go down the road. The first one to see a SDC billboard is the winner. They usually don't pop up until Springfield for us.

[orient express]

yea i also loved the billboards....sad that there arent too many around now

[jennamc]

I remember riding the Thunderation again & again with my brother, and always being too scared to ride in the backwards cars. I remember riding FITH for the first time, and i loved going through Grandpa's Mansion(i think that was always my first stop) My parents starting going to SDC before i was born in the early '80s, and every summer for vaction we would go to SDC, or Dollywood, or sometimes both. SDC holds such good memories for me. We would go almost every year!

[SteamFreak]

Of course I only remember the Train from my first time. Hearing that beautiful whistle...my sister and I used to know the entire hold-up script and would perform it..a lot..for our family...I still know every word hah.

[How-doFolks]

I'd have to ask my mom the 1st year i was at SDC, but i do recall the punch tickets. All i know is, The Flooded Mine song used to replay in my head for 2-3 days after we were there. 

[How-doFolks]

I forgot to add, my pa has 8mm film of some'a our trips that he put on VHS.