Author Topic: SDC's 2008 Project (Read 4445 times)

SuperSteve · « **on:** May 11, 2007, 09:03 »

Since MiG's editor heard tale of SDC's next expansion being as large as the one this year, I've been at lost as to thinking what they could be planning to spend the 6-8 million dollars on. With that kind of money, you could get almost any major flat, or even a good-sized wooden coaster. I'm really doubting it'll be a coaster, or at least not a big one, but I still think 2008's ride/attraction will be geared more towards more mature thrill seekers, seeing as they put so much emphasis on kid's attractions in 2006. So maybe we're looking at a new huss ride? On the survey sent out before the 2007 project was chosen, three ride concepts were listed: the Giant Swing, a Huss Frissbee, and a Huss Topple Tower. Obviously the Giant Swing was chosen and built, but maybe the frisbee came in a close second and will be built this year...

Or maybe there won't be one huge ride built this year; maybe they'll just build some shops or a static attraction, possibly with a filler ride or rides on the side.

The park really could go any direction and do well...

Any thoughts?

retsamemag111 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2007, 05:10 »

Well voyage down at HW only costed $6.5 million, so its not like SDC cant build a huge top ten wooden roller coaster.

Jason · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2007, 08:23 »

Wood!!!

Even though Wildcat is right down the road.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2007, 08:58 »

Quote from: retsamemag111 on May 12, 2007, 05:10

Well voyage down at HW only costed $6.5 million, so its not like SDC cant build a huge top ten wooden roller coaster.

Only $6.5 million!? Damn, these woodies are getting cheap! Mind you, I heard there was significant re-tracking already this year, but still...

So they could get a coaster with this sized investment, but the question is - will they? Speaking in business-wise, they really don't need another big-hit attraction right now. With the massive PR campaigns that have gone out with the last two projects, they just don't need much else right now to reel in the crowds. Plus, the next 'big' expansion is only a couple-ish years away, so it seems like that would be the next big coaster. Maybe this'll be just a family coaster though, like a Gerausteler (sp?) Spinner or something along those lines.

Ooooo, anyone remember what was on that survey back in 2004-2005? I remember a mine train coaster concept, a kid's play barn, a shot tower, and there were plenty of other things, maybe they'll bring back one of those.

retsamemag111 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2007, 07:28 »

To me i think of SDC and Dolly Wood very similar so i was just wondering are they run by the same company? If so then DW has Thunder Head, an amazing wooden coaster, and the new Mystery Mine. SDC might get one of these types of coasters in the next few years because they are so popular down at DW.

How much money did Mystery Mine cost?

SuperSteve · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2007, 07:40 »

^Yeah, the Hershend corporation runs both DW and SDC, along with White Water, Dolly's Splash Country, all the Dixie Stampedes, Stone Mountain, Ride the Ducks... and MM cost $17 million, so that is what I am assuming the next 'big' investment is.

Jason · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2007, 07:44 »

I hope that it's not a MM ride.

Cory · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2007, 10:02 »

Pretty please be a wooden coaster...

SuperSteve · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2007, 10:32 »

Quote from: Jason on May 12, 2007, 07:44

I hope that it's not a MM ride.

Why not? I've never ridden it myself, but it looks absolutely amazing, and that ending... I'm sure that if SDC built one, it would much better than MM anyway. I imagine it being more coaster with less dark ride, like a Gerstauler (sp?) Black Mamba. Maybe it'll tear through some ozarkan village. o

Personally, if I had my pick, I'd want them to go for another B&M, or a large S&S or Intamin coaster. Really though, an E-fighter would be enough to be my wet-dream for the park.

Dustijn · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2007, 04:41 »

From the horse's mouth "there will be no coaster for 2008"

Also from the horse's mouth "when we build our next coaster we are going to stick with something that we know works and has less downtime than what we have built recently."

SuperSteve · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2007, 08:28 »

^Ah, didn't think so, but it takes something 'from the horse's mouth' to stop me from setting my hopes impossibly high.

Anyhoo, it sounds from that like they weren't so happy with Powderkeg's downtime. It has been down a lot, but man, it still pwns some serious ass! I hope they don't rule their coasters out forever... I guess they did buy a Screamin Swing from them though.
Still, does MM have a lot of downtime? I haven't heard of it having much, but if it does start having problems, maybe they'll go back to B&M! Seriously, has anyone ever seen Wildfire down?

For this year though, I'm still stumped, and I kinda want to stay that way for now (it's fun, isn't it?), but at least we know now that it won't be a coaster.

Cory · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:45 »

Makes sense that there won't be a coaster next year, being that CoasterCon in 2009 will visit SDC...

Ben · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2007, 06:39 »

Quote from: SuperSteve on May 12, 2007, 10:32

Why not? I've never ridden it myself, but it looks absolutely amazing, and that ending... I'm sure that if SDC built one, it would much better than MM anyway.

Mystery Mine is not worth it period.

After riding it once I really didn't need/want to ride it again. If SDC built one the only good thing about it would be that the crowds would be away from Powder Keg and Wildfire at least for a little while.

It really is a shame that the park doesn't have a wooden coaster yet. It seems to me that a wooden coaster would just be a perfect fit for the park.

If you ask me the Euro fighter should go at Celebration City (without all the overdone theming and the pacing problems of MM) and then put a medium size terrain woodie at SDC. Get all this done by Coaster Con and we are in business.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2007, 08:10 »

^That's almost exactly what I was saying before, but I didn't know about MM not being worth it.

Really, couldn't you see a generic model G-fighter, along the types of Rage, at CC? It wouldn't be any worse than the Jack Rabbit. And yeah, the rumors of SDC getting a massive woodie have been around for almost as long as the park, so maybe they'll pursue that dream first. I wouldn't be surprised to see a second MM turn up at SDC someday though.

sfgam2006 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2007, 05:07 »

I think a woodie would put Silver Dollar City at a similar level with Dollywood. That would also put Silver Dollar City at 6 coasters while Dollywood would still only have 5. Infact, I think a woodie would make SDC an overall better park than Dollywood with more flats and still great theming/food/etc... like Dollywood.

- sfgam2006

Dustijn · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2007, 04:14 »

^Have you ever been to Dollywood? DW has got nothing on SDC. SDC is the whole package and has a lot more to do than DW. DW is a park that is still struggling for an identity.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2007, 04:19 »

I just got back from a 3 day trip at the park. For all 3 days I saw Tom Sawyer's closed, and the tree house was nailed shut! Obviously they don't plan to open the tree house for a good while, and I don't know whether Tom Sawyer's will open later or not. Maybe that rumor of a mid-town/Tom sawyer's re-vamp could come true after all... it certainly seems like it. I just wish they would bring back the area's former glory rather than razing it for something completely new.

Dustijn · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2007, 04:37 »

Huck's Hideaway has been closed for 2 years now because it is not structurally sound anymore. They tried to anchor it down (which is why the Runaway Ore Cart was removed so they could put in the brace) but that didn't help as much as they hoped it would.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2007, 07:52 »

^Wow, that explains a lot, but surely this means that something new will have to be done to the area; I can't see them keeping a dilapidated tree house up with that location being so prime for anything. So many things could fit in well there: a drop tower, a large set of shops, or best of all: a new tree house.

Let's face it, kids love tree houses, and the old tree house from back in the day was a massive hit. When they took out all the games and novelties for the 'shadow machine' it got pretty boring, but there's so much that can be done with it...

Dustijn · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2007, 08:22 »

By why replace that when they have new rope climbs and what not over at Geyser Gulch. Technically they have already been replaced and are living on "borrowed time"

SuperSteve · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2007, 08:41 »

^True, it does make more sense just to do something else with the area, but the tree house at least was special and unique. I actually went around the geyser gulch area, and there's really not all that much to do there. Quite a lot of the massive structure they call a tree house in geyser gulch is nothing more than empty passageways and useless thematics. There's really not a whole lot to do there.

Now I wouldn't care too much overall if they razed Tom Sawyer's fort, but I think they could really benefit from a new tree-house - done right, with a plethora of interactives. Still though, a G-fighter right in the middle of the park could be nice.

Ben · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:10 »

Quote from: Dustijn on May 28, 2007, 04:14

^Have you ever been to Dollywood? DW has got nothing on SDC. SDC is the whole package and has a lot more to do than DW. DW is a park that is still struggling for an identity.

For once, I have to COMPLETLY agree with you Dustijn. DW is a nice enough park but without Thunderhead it would be a complete waste of time and effort. SDC is a nice park to visit even if you aren't riding anything.

I am really not trying to bash DW, it is just that SDC is SOOO much better it pains me to hear people say the oposite.

tinaalsgirl · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2007, 11:06 »

All I know is I REALLY want SDC to keep a Mark Twain themed area, no matter if it gets moved or whatever. What with Disneyland changing Tom Sawyer Island into a pirate island, it seems SDC's the last hope we have of Twain getting recognition at a theme park.

Plus, I'd love to see them add Twain characters to roam around.... I'd totally audition to be Becky Thatcher (I look young enough that I think I'd pull it off [similar to how many Disney characters are played by people WAY older than the character, like Alice and Snow White]).

Joy

SuperSteve · « **Reply #23 on:** Jun 1, 2007, 08:37 »

I've got some photos of the closed Huck Finn's area and tree house here -> http://www.superstevessupersite.com/park_galleries/SDC/sdcgal.html
Just scroll down to 'Tom Huck's'

Anyway, I was thinking wishfully today - what if instead of getting a Gerstlauer Myster Mine, they opt for a B&M Dive Machine version? I mean, it couldn't cost too much more, and they've always done fantastically with Wildfire.

Dustijn · « **Reply #24 on:** Jun 1, 2007, 09:45 »

They would probably opt for an inverted if they get another B&M anytime soon. Personally I would say wood will be the next coaster on their agenda

SuperSteve · « **Reply #25 on:** Jun 5, 2007, 12:35 »

I'm pretty much confident now that SDC will spend their 2008 project budget in the Landing area. A letter sent to me by someone from the park explained that they themselves don't know for sure what will be done for next year, but I'm almost certain that they'll inevitable decide to do something with the area - including taking down the aged tree house. :sad11:

I'm thinking this because I heard recently that the Grand Expo was originally designed to go in the centre' city, but was moved to a new area later in the project. This means that they are indeed planning to re-build the area at some point or another, they just don't know exactly how yet. I'm really glad they didn't put the Grand Expo in the middle of the city though, that would have been awful. A new landing or some type of peaceful shopping square is really the best fit for the area in my view.

Dustijn · « **Reply #26 on:** Jun 24, 2007, 09:20 »

From the Home Office: it sounds like you might start seeing clues for the new attraction for next season arriving in the park in the near future also be watching the SDC blog as Sam is supposed to give some clues on there as well. No Mystery Mine for next year, but what is coming will not disappoint!

SuperSteve · « **Reply #27 on:** Jun 24, 2007, 09:43 »

Something good's coming, that's all I need to know. Hmmm, I've never known SDC to be big on dropping hints, at least not this early and specifically, this must be an extra-interesting project.

Dustijn · « **Reply #28 on:** Jun 24, 2007, 09:44 »

They have never had a blog before either

Jason · « **Reply #29 on:** Jun 25, 2007, 05:59 »

I'm just glad that it's not a misery mine.