| When I visit Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, I often get miffed at the lack of attention to their own theme. There are so many simple things that could be done to maintain the illusion that visitors have gone back in time to an 1880s mining town. Dollywood used to have a similar theme, but when Dolly Parton came on board as an investor, the theme has broadened. I had some apprehension, but their theme somehow works. In the pictures here, you can see an entire "land" that is more 1950s than 1880s. There is a "street" that goes through the middle of the area, including yellow stripes down the center. There is a 50s diner here, just across from the "garage" in which a hotrod car appears to be being serviced. Even the music in the area was 50s oriented; anything else would have been distracting. |  |
That fits, since the anchor attraction in the area is an extreme, wooden, launched rollercoaster named Lightning Rod. If you're familiar with Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City, you may see similaritie When I visit Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, I often get miffed at the lack of attention to their own theme. There are so many simple things that could be done to maintain the illusion that visitors have gone back in time to an 1880s mining town.
Dollywood used to have a similar theme, but when Dolly Parton came on board as an investor, the theme has broadened. I had some apprehension, but their theme somehow works. In the pictures here, you can see an entire "land" that is more 1950s than 1880s. There is a "street" that goes through the middle of the area, including yellow stripes down the center.
There is a 50s diner here, just across from the "garage" in which a hotrod car appears to be being serviced. Even the music in the area was 50s oriented; anything else would have been distracting.
Dollywood used to have a similar theme, but when Dolly Parton came on board as an investor, the theme has broadened. I had some apprehension, but their theme somehow works. In the pictures here, you can see an entire "land" that is more 1950s than 1880s. There is a "street" that goes through the middle of the area, including yellow stripes down the center.
There is a 50s diner here, just across from the "garage" in which a hotrod car appears to be being serviced. Even the music in the area was 50s oriented; anything else would have been distracting.
That fits, since the anchor attraction in the area is an extreme, wooden, launched rollercoaster named Lightning Rod. If you're familiar with Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City, you may see similarities with this ride. s with this ride.
The restraint system is familiar, with shoulder guards holding passengers in on the inversions and turns and including ankle restraints. Lightning Rod is probably the most extreme ride I have experienced. Not far into the ride, on this ride - one of the fastest wooden coasters in the world - I was ready for it to be over. No such luck since this is also a relatively long ride. Thankfully, it was one of the last coasters we would ride on that day.
This was a day of rides with the kids for us, but my favorite thing to do in a theme park is appreciate the theme. This area had oil cans and, outside of a little drive-you-own-car attraction, there was even a used car lot. It's all effective in immersing guests with the theme.
The restraint system is familiar, with shoulder guards holding passengers in on the inversions and turns and including ankle restraints. Lightning Rod is probably the most extreme ride I have experienced. Not far into the ride, on this ride - one of the fastest wooden coasters in the world - I was ready for it to be over. No such luck since this is also a relatively long ride. Thankfully, it was one of the last coasters we would ride on that day.
This was a day of rides with the kids for us, but my favorite thing to do in a theme park is appreciate the theme. This area had oil cans and, outside of a little drive-you-own-car attraction, there was even a used car lot. It's all effective in immersing guests with the theme.
