Silver Dollar City celebrating 50 year of family fun in the Ozark Mountains

Nearby is Ray Johnson, a master bladesman who is both a knife-maker and a poet. With a 12-inch blade strapped to his side, he recites his poetry as he demonstrates the art of making knives. “I still do it the old-fashioned way,” Ray told a recent group of visitors to Silver Dollar City. “I’m a toolmaker at heart.”

Also in the craft village is master furniture maker Warren Cook who has been at the park for 20 years and first became interested in wood-making in high school shop class. He uses solid wood to make the items that are offered for sale in the adjacent shop.
Visitors will also find blacksmith Wayne Rice in the craft village. He makes delicate roses from a piece of metal. Each creation is unique.

The heritage and culture of the Ozark Mountains come to life at the 1880s craft village at Silver Dollar City, which features 100 craftsmen. During the fall National Harvest Festival, which goes through Oct. 30, another 100 craftsmen from across the country are at the park. Silver Dollar City is known for its world class festivals and the National Harvest Festival includes crafts, food and entertainment celebrating the season.

After the harvest festival, next up will be the Christmas celebration which will be held Nov. 6-Dec. 30. It will feature millions of lights and jingle bells, a Dickens Christmas production and a five-story Christmas tree with 50,000 lights.

Silver Dollar City is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and it continues to be a favorite place to bring families closer together as they make amazing memories. After one visit, you become part of the family and plan your return trip. A craft village, thrill rides, entertainment and family attractions are all be found in the park.

A unique feature at Silver Dollar City is the culinary classes offered. Visitors can go behind the scenes to learn some of the culinary secrets of the home-style cooking found in the park. The school is located in a 1880s style timber-frame farmhouse.

After your culinary experience, be sure to try some of the delicious food found at Silver Dollar City. You can eat your way through the park enjoying such treats as homemade ice cream, fudge, cinnamon bread, peanut brittle, funnel cake and frozen lemonade for a cool refreshing treat. That’s just the snacks. At meal time, you will find plenty to choose from. Among my favorites are skillet succotash, a delicious combination of corn, okra, squash and chicken made in six-foot skillets. I also enjoyed the thick and creamy potato soup and pulled pork sliders (tender, slow smoked pulled pork with silver dollar city’s honey blackberry BBQ sauce). Other choices include brisket salad, double battered fried chicken, flat iron steak sandwich, zucchini and tomatoes and calico potatoes (white and sweet potatoes cooked with onions and bell peppers). Another favorite is hot apple dumplings with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

While at Silver Dollar City, be sure to spend some time on the Main Street of the park which will bring back plenty of memories for fans of the “Beverly Hillbillies.” Six episodes of the television series were filmed at Silver Dollar City. When the Clampetts went “home to the hills,” the scenes were shot at Silver Dollar City. A DVD of these episodes is available at the gift shops at the park.

The theme park offers over 30 fun-filled rides for the young and the young at heart. The newest is the River Blast—America’s Biggest Water Battle. It’s a not-to-be-missed river adventure, as passengers and spectators armed with super soaker water guns wage an all-out water war.

For the thrill seekers who like a good coaster, the Wild Fire is sure to please. It’s a high-flying, multi-looping, cobra-rolling coaster that will leave you breathless at speeds up to 66 miles per hour. Or how about launching from 0 to 53 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds? The Powder Keg combines the shocking speed of a compressed air launch with spiraling turns and hills at a speed of up to 64 miles per hour for a wild ride.

While there are plenty of rides for thrill seekers, there are many family rides as well. Climb aboard the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train and enjoy a beautiful 20-minute steam train ride through the Ozark countryside. Be sure to spend some time in The Grand Exposition, where you’ll find 10 family rides. Children can venture through Geyser Gulch, to explore the world’s largest tree house, or the Flooded Mine, where kids of all ages enjoy this boat ride through the mine complete with arcade-style shoot-out fun.

MARVEL CAVE

While at Silver Dollar City, be sure to visit Marvel Cave. This is where it all began. It was 1894 when visitors first toured the cave. The theme park later evolved around the cave. A cave tour is always included with your ticket and it is well worth your time.

A trained cave guide will host the journey providing the rich history of Missouri’s deepest cave. To begin, visitors travel 300 feet below the surface and enter the Cathedral Room. It’s the largest cave entrance room in the United States. Along the visitors’ trail are stairs and ramps. Before long, you’ll be 500 feet below the surface and have climbed 600 stairs.

On the way back up, visitors ride a unique cable train designed to take cave visitors up the half mile, 1,070 foot climb back to the surface. The tour last approximately 60 minutes.

Silver Dollar City also offers Lantern Light Tours in the cavern. You’ll take a step back in time and experience Marvel Cave just as the early explorers did. Guides dressed in period costume and delight guests with historical facts and little know stories during the tour. Lantern Light Tours begin 1 1⁄2 hours prior to park closing. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children must be at least eight years of age to participate on the Lantern Light Tours.

For more information, go to www.silverdollarcity.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.