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[oldsdcer]

Since this is the 50th year for SDC, when was your first visit and what do you remeber of the City.  My first visit was approximetly 1966, I was 11. The City ran from town square to the FM. The Train and FM were the only major rides that were there along with other smaller rides that were powered by animals. You had to pay for each ride individually then. They would have a contest between Confederate and Union Troops firing cannons at a target down into the valley from where the School House is.   Branson only really came up 76  to where the Grand Country Inn is and that was where the WAl-Mart store was with an entertainment area of carnival rides / miniture golf  in the parking lot.  The only shows were the Baldknobbers, Presleys, Foggy River Boys, and the Brashlers. SDC and SOTH were the only big attractions available. The fish hatchery at the Dam still used gravel bed ponds for the trout. I remember having a blast camping at Table Rock State Park in the back of our station wagon.

[sdcforever]

Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint an exact year.  I could if I had access to my old photo albums, but we're out of town right now.  I believe it was 1986 or 1987.  LROTO was a new ride, and this was well before TNT was built.  What I remember most was how much fun my sister and I had on the Wilderness Waterboggan (it hadn't been renamed and refurbished yet) and the Run-Away-Ore-Carts.  We really enjoyed FiTH, which was pretty extreme for a four or five year old.   We also spent a lot of time in Tom Sawyer's Landing and Huck Finn's Hideaway (we especially enjoyed the ball pit).  We saw a lot of shows and had fun participating in the street shows, which were more numerous back then.  We always made sure to get "deputized", and I still have most of those badges in photo albums.

[KBCraig]

I know that it was before 1973, because we moved that year, and I know we had been once or twice before then. So, I'm guessing either '71 or '72, when I would have been 8 or 9. From 1974 on, we went every year until I graduated college, with two exceptions (I was off doing ROTC stuff).

We would also visit Dogpatch a couple of times, the trout hatchery, the Passion Play at Eureka Springs a couple of times, the battlefield at Pea Ridge, and Mammoth Spring.

But, the core of our visit was always SDC and Shepherd of the Hills, plus a stop to visit the SOTH book store. Music-wise, we saw the Foggy River Boys, Brashears, and Presleys, and had pretty much settled on the Presleys as our favorites. I think that's where we first saw Shoji Tabuchi, before he became a big name. I don't think we ever saw the Baldknobbers.

[History Buff]

I thought it was 1969 or before, but things are fuzzy.  My brother was born in '70 and I don't remember him there at all.  Yet I tend to remember being terrified of FitH, and throwing a huge unsightly fit to keep my parents from making me ride it.  This was after I got scared in the tunnel on the AP, or maybe it was FM.  I was also a little scared of the Diving Bell filling with water.  After seeing the fake one going under the surface of Lake Silver, I was convinced that thing was real.  In those years, characters in the square were so funny, and Shad ran for mayor.  That guy was the face of SDC in my mind.  We loved the comedy shows in the Riverfront Playhouse during its heyday.  Of course the cave was a must.  One year, our vacation entailed our visiting every cave we could find in Missouri and Arkansas.

Things that weren't there:  Wildfire, Powder Keg, Buzz Saw Falls, Land of Lost Crafts, Lost River, Giant Swing, Carousel Barn, Ferris Wheel, Kiddie Coaster, Carousel, Skychase, Balloons, Boatworks Theater, Geyser Gulch, Splash Harbor, Toy Shop, Pottery Shop, ThuNderaTion, Taffy Shop, the old Basket Shop, the fire equipment in the Square, Big Skillets and Churned Ice Cream, Dockside Theater, Waterboggan, Gandy Dancer, Red Gold Heritage Hall, Grand Exposition, Culinary and Craft School, Eva and Delilah's, Echo Hollow, Heartland Home Furnishings, Tom and Huck's River Blast, Opera House, Frisco Barn and more.  The park wasn't even open for a Christmas season.

Yet those trips are the ones I remember the most.

[Firstvisit1967]

My first visit was in 1967.  We went in the cave, we rode the train, the mine, the lost river, and the stage coach.  We went in Grandfathers mansion and up the tree house.  Each place had a ticket that was punched.   I was four years old.  My family stayed in Springfield as my mom was not about to stay in those old fishing cabins.  What a long drive it was down 65.  Remember getting behind trucks on those hills.
The only thing on the hill was the SOTH, Silver Dollar City, and a place that sold concret molds.  I think it is now Dickens???  Remember the flashing light that was located where Walgreens is now?

The next summer when we returned we stayed in Branson.  The new motel on the hill is the first one on the right when you start up 76 from downtown Branson.  We rode the Sammy Lane Pirate boat.
We went to the fish hatchery and SDC.  Remember the gun fights in front of the ice cream shop.  We saw glass blowing, candy making, and a funny blacksmith that talked with my dad forever.  The best place to go was the mill where they made flour and cookies. 
Does anyone remember the horse at the wood carvers shop?

[StaceySue]

I don't remember much about my first visit.  I was about 3 (summer birthday) in 1977.  I remember other visits as a kid, though.  I remember riding the carousel inside the carousel barn.  I also pounded my initials into a leather bookmark in there.  On one visit, I painted a wooden duck with wheels in there.  I loved to dip candles, and I ended up with quite a collection.  My oldest daughter likes to dip candles now. 

I remember the year they opened the Land of Forgtten Crafts, or something like that.  You walked behind the waterfall to get there.  They pressed "silver dollars" there.  I also remember a huge White Water sign in the parking lot that sparkled.  I always wanted to touch it, but I was always on the tram when I saw it.

I usually got to pick out a huge stick of candy in the candy shop.  I remember seeing several shows in what used to be the Gaslight Theatre.  I remember one with a convict and one with audience members "haunting" a house.  I saw the saloon show with Carrie Nation.  I liked later saloon shows better.

We often camped at Compton Ridge.  We also made several trips during Young Christians Weekend when I was in middle school.  My eighth grade trip was to SDC.  My friends and I made a  "tintype" for the occassion.  I still have  it. 

My favorite show in Branson as a kid was the Puppet Palace.  We also saw SOTH several times.  I remember seeing the show at the Bob-O-Links.

In 2005 my husband and I were married in the Wilderness Church.  We had a great weekend with our friends and family in SDC and Celebration City. 

I have loved watching the park change over the years.  I know that I am in the minority, but I love seeing what is new.  I don't miss most of the things that are no longer there.  Maybe an exception would be coming out of the treehouse in the sparkle room and going in the children's entrance to the toy shop (now the Christmas Store).  I think I miss Celebration City far more than any SDC feature or attraction.

[KBCraig]

What year did the punch tickets end, and the stagecoach? I think I have a vague recollection of both, but I'm not sure.

[rubedugans]

My first visit was in 1981. I have no memories of that since I was only months old at the time! I remember things beginning with the 1984 season and on. The diving bell and the leak that was sprung- as I have said before was my earliest memory of SDC,Later I have fond memories of being in the parade on main street, my Mom being pulled in to one of the street troupes acts, Homemade Root Beer, Walking behind the waterfall, the land of forgotten crafts was always one of my favorites, wagon wheel making, log rolling on the lake, "pressing" coins, The Gandydancers, The sparkle room at Hucks Hideaway. The list could go on and on!

[Firstvisit1967]

This is my second response to the question.  I started thinking about first visits. 
My first visit, my brides first visit, our kids first visit, my first visit with my grandparents, and my first visit with my grandkids.
Riding the train with my grandparents and riding the train with my grandson on my lap.  Riding FITH as and 8 year old boy in the front seat, and riding it with my five year old grandson in the front seat.
It is crazy how a place that is a for profit business can hold so many truely special family moments. 

[Junior]

First visit was 1970, just a few months or so after the Beverly Hillbillies episodes from SDC aired the first time! I remember the two types of tickets...a lower priced ticket got you in the park and into shops and craft exhibits only. The higher priced "Passport" ticket allowed you to get into Grandfather's Mansion, Treehouse, stagecoach ride, Jim Owens' Float Trip, Flooded Mine and train! On our way out of park the second day we visited, some of the Hatfield and McCoy troupe stopped my family on Hill Street to talk to my brother and I. I was eight, he was six. One of the Hatfields gave my brother and I a bullet used in the street feud earlier that day! He showed us how we could blow into the bullet shell and make it whistle! The first time my brother and I blew into the bullet in the family car, mom confiscated it until we made it home! I got to see Shad Heller at the blacksmith forge, and our family "dined in the mine." Fabulous time! Great memories! Just eight years later, just prior to my 16th birthday, my family moved to Branson and I GOT A JOB AT SDC! That summer job lasted from 1978-1984.

[Zephon]

I'm not sure of the year of my first visit, but it was in the early sixties, maybe '62 or '63.  The only thing I remember was walking across the swinging bridge to enter the park.  Jae and I were talking about those early years just today.  In those days, the train ran the other direction and the depot was where Bittersweet Gallery is, just west of the upper end of the corkscrew towards the treehouse.

KB,
1976 was the last year for the punch tickets, my first year to work there and I punched them in front of Grandfather's Mansion for a short time.  In 1977 they went to the all inclusive ticket at a bit higher price, around $7 I think.

[Mrs. Gumper]

My first visit was with my family in 1965 or 66. A film crew was doing a SDC promotional film. The crew filmed my brother asleep on my mother's lap. The film was produced by an oil company. Years later I became a member of the entertainment department.

Speaking of 50 years, I was thinking about contacting some past entertainers to produce a 50 at 50 reunion for SDC entertainers 50 and older. Any thoughts?

[KBCraig]

KB,
1976 was the last year for the punch tickets, my first year to work there and I punched them in front of Grandfather's Mansion for a short time.  In 1977 they went to the all inclusive ticket at a bit higher price, around $7 I think.

Ah, okay, I went several years with the punch tickets, then. I'm starting to remember now... it was like a race to complete the whole ticket.

[KBCraig]

Just eight years later, just prior to my 16th birthday, my family moved to Branson and I GOT A JOB AT SDC! That summer job lasted from 1978-1984.

Wow, we're close in age (I'm 46), and during that same time frame I dreamed of being able to work there!

There were a lot more entertainers around the city then. Now it seems like you have to go into a show to see a performance.

[fdevine1]

Well, I  happen to be a late comer. I'm nearly 70 and only discovered SDC about ten years ago. I never have been much of an outdoor person, so didn't think I'd be interested. My friend Angie and her husband tricked me. You see I love Christmas and she knew if she could get me to SDC at Christmas time I'd be hooked, so that's what they gave me for Christmas. They took me wiht them, paid for my ticket and they were right. I fell in head over hills, crazy in love wiht Silver Dollar City. I even like it in the summer and i hate hot weather. lol.

I love the shows, especially the saloon and the Cajun Connection. And of course the wonderful productions like A Christmas Carol.

Next to Old Time Christmas, my favorites are the World Fest and the Fall Harvest one. The food is out of this world and the smells, ah heavenly.

The minute I get on the tram or the trolley, the excitement starts and when I walk through the gate I usually close my eyes and get a big dose of the scents and sounds. That's when all the weight s of the world just fall awy and I relax completely.

Frances