More Silver Dollar City, August 1970
Today I'm sharing the last five scans from Silver Dollar City, near Branson, MO. Be sure to see the first part - I'd link to it, but as I am composing this second part, the first part has not published yet. Time is a flat circle, whatever that means. Below is another photo of the Flooded Mine attraction, which looks like something they put extra effort into. Notice the train station in the distance - more on that in a sec.
Instead of the standard Western-town gunfight, Silver Dollar City switched things up by having a battle between two strapping ladies. "Kirk was better, you yellow-haired devil!". "Why, you musta drunk too much rotgut, you sidewinder. Picard is better!".
Here's one of the trains from the Frisco Silver Dollar Steam Train. Wikipedia sez: The railroad opened on May 27, 1962, making it the oldest operating ride at Silver Dollar City. It is themed after American railways in the 1800s, more recently and specifically off the Frisco. The ride includes an 1800s themed train depot, a water tower, a trestle overpass bridge, a train wreck scene, a staged train robbery, a tunnel, a rectangular shaped roundhouse and an at-grade railroad crossing. It consists of a total of seven steam locomotives, with four of them in operating condition as of 2023. The railroad is 1.52 miles long.
Oh boy, a stagecoach ride! It appears as if there was a bit of railing to help keep guests from falling off, which is mighty neighborly (but no fun). Again from Wikipedia: In the early years of the park, an authentic stagecoach took guests on a bumpy ride around the perimeter of the town square pulled by sturdy draft horses. It was removed five years after the park opened. I wonder if their stagecoaches ever fell over or collapsed? Or exploded?
Hmmm, those don't look like "sturdy draft horses" to me, in fact they look like mules. Mangy mules, too! Sure, they're flavorful, but they're still mules. I wonder if they would launch three or four coaches at once, since we are eating a coach's dust in the previous image, and serving up some filth in this one?
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Silver Dollar City!
7 comments:
I love that matching couple in the second pic. They even ‘line up their stripes together.’ That probably takes years of practice and lots of coordination.
I’ll be back later…am looking forward to reading everyone’s comments.
1) Oh yeah, I remember these. At least, I remember the rockwork... and those bent pipes. Not sure we figured out what those were for. Were they just 'old mine decor', or did they serve some practical purpose?
2) Kirk? Picard?... Pffft. Janeway was the best! The lady in pink should be brandishing a rolling pin. I think the gal on the right has lost her skirt (the tan colored one on the ground), and that white garment she's wearing is her bloomers. Identical t-shirts on the couple in the background. [Edit: Dang it, Sue. You beat me to it!] ;-p
3) Those railroad stats are quite impressive. Lots of things going on, in and around, the train.
4) & 5) Major, I'm sure you're right about those "sturdy draft horses" actually being sturdy draft mules. Unless the horses had 'ear extensions' done. I can't imagine why horses would want ear extensions. Ear reductions, yes. But extensions? That's just silly.
Silver Dollar City sounds like it has a lot going for it. And it's still there! (As of 2023). Being close to Branson, I would think that they would have a steady flow of tourists. Thanks, Major.
Love these pics. Silver Dollar City has always appealed to me for its forested setting. And not only is it still there, it was rated the best park in America by USA Today in 2024 (not a single Disney or Universal park made the top 10 because parks usually publicize the survey if they want to win). It's on my bucket list, mostly for the Flooded Mine.
To see Part 1 of the Silver Dollar City photos, click HERE or copy and paste https://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com/2024/08/silver-dollar-city-august-1960.html into your favorite browser. Be sure to press “Enter” or “Return” for best results.
I had forgotten the train station was so close to the Flooded Mine. The geography of that park is kind of a jumble in my mind. But I do remember an outstanding serving of BBQ ribs and corn on the cob. Which reminds me - hey, woman - ain’t my oatmeal ready yet? I’s a-gettin’ powerful hungrified, and it ain’t improving’ my mood none, ya hear?
I think SDC released their stagecoaches in “bouquets” of two or three, racing to see which would return to the load area first before falling over, collapsing, or exploding. Exploding Stagecoach is my thrash metal bluegrass bagpipe band.
Andrew, I wouldn’t wait too long on going to see the Flooded Mine. I don’t have any inside information, but you’ve already missed the original Fire in the Hole and who knows what charming old ride will end up on the chopping block next. So glad there are young people like you that are still interested in historic dark rides.
Major, sincerely praying for you and your family’s safety and that you finally have power again today. Thanks again for all you do for us.
When stagecoach lines dispatched multiple coaches together with the same departure time and destination they called it a “BRIGADE”. This was a Conan practice - something never depicted in movies or tv shows. The British called it a “RAKE” … in England , Australia and New Zealand.
…….”The More You know………..”
Conan = common
That steam locomotive may have worn the Frisco herald, but that’s about as European an engine as you could get! The boxy thing along side the boiler is one of the side tanks where the water was carried.
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