The beauty of the Ozarks displayed from heights of one of "Wildfires" loops.
This “Branson Tourism Center (BTC) Up Close and Personal” interview is a continuation of an interview with Brad Thomas (BT), the General Manager of Branson’s most popular attraction, the 1890’s theme park, Silver Dollar City. During the entire 2010 season Silver Dollar City will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with special events, activities, a special birthday celebration the weekend of May 1 and the opening of a new $7 million water ride, “Tom & Huck’s River Blast.”
“Many of the people coming to Branson or who are interested in Branson want more information about Branson’s attractions, shows, stars, and personalities,” said Paul Miller, General Manager, Branson Tourism Center. ‘“BTC’s Up Close and Personal’ is designed to provide that information in a convenient ‘Question and Answer’ format. The interviewing will be done for BTC by Gary J. Groman, a 24 year resident of the Branson area, local columnist and free lance writer.” The first installment of the interview covered Silver Dollar City’s “Rides.” This installment will cover some of what makes Silver Dollar City “unique” among other amusement and theme parks.
BTC: What should guests who have never been to Silver Dollar City before expect when they visit?
BT: Silver Dollar City is a unique kind of park that presents entertainment rides and attractions for the entire family in a beautiful natural Ozark Mountain setting.
BTC: What is it that makes Silver Dollar City so unique?
BT: All the rides, festivals, shows, entertainment, craft demonstrations and other activities; the friendliness and passion of our employees for making sure our guests have a great experience and the integration of the natural beauty of the Ozarks into the park. That synergy results in a unique and memorable theme park experience that is unmatched at any other theme or amusement park.
BTC: What do you mean by “for the entire family?”
BT: There are components and entertaining elements for kids, for mom and dad and for grandparents. Silver Dollar City offers the entire family package so that the kids can have fun, but so can grandma and grandpa. [Note: Click here for Installment 1 in which Thomas discusses Silver Dollar City’s “Rides.”]
BTC: Why the emphasis on the entire family?
BT: That’s what Silver Dollar City has been about for 50 years, families having fun together.
BTC: What part do Silver Dollar City’s employees play in making Silver Dollar City unique?
BT: Silver Dollar City has a heritage of having employees who take extreme pride in what they do and in taking care of our guests. We are very proud and thankful for the personality and friendliness of our employees.
BTC: When did that heritage begin?
BT: From opening day in 1960 to 2010 we’ve had a cast of characters as employees who truly loved to live and breathe in this place called Silver Dollar City.
BTC: Is a large part of the experience that guests will have at Silver Dollar City related to the character and quality of its employees?
BT: Absolutely. The experience at Silver Dollar City is about rides, festivals and shows, but beyond anything it’s about the people. We have employees who have been here for as long as 42 years and they truly take pride in what they do and their passion is to serve our guests.
BTC: Did Silver Dollar City recently win an important award based on its employees friendliness?
BT: We did. There’s a magazine called “Amusement Today” which services the theme and amusement park industry. Each year they poll a selected pool of voters who… have a proven history and track record of visiting multiple amusement and theme parks on their vacations and holidays and travel all over the world, Last year we were selected by those voters as having the most friendly employees of any park in the world. [The specific award was the prestigious “Amusement Today Friendliest Theme Park Golden Ticket Award” awarded in September 2009.]
BTC: Is that including the Disney Parks?
BT: Yes, sir.
BTC: You mention that the natural beauty of the Ozarks is a large part of Silver Dollar City’s uniqueness. Would you explain what you mean?
BT: In its beginning stages, as Silver Dollar City started to evolve from the Marvel Cave Attraction, Mary Herschend, established the policy that when a tree was cut down, three substantial sized trees had to be planted in its place. That policy has been followed ever since and the result is a park surrounded by and built into the trees and Ozark hills that is unlike any other major theme park in the world. Perhaps a perfect illustration would be our coaster, “Wildfire.” Alone, it is an exciting, exhilarating world class a ride. When the excitement of the ride experience is coupled with the spectacular view of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake from its highest point and as it loops upside down it provides a unique one of a kind experience not available anywhere else. [A tour of Marvel Cave is included in every admission to Silver Dollar City. Click here for related article.]
For additional information or tickets for Silver Dollar City or any of Branson’s other shows, attractions and activities or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center. It is one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.
