What is Silver Dollar City?
Silver Dollar City is a theme park and so much more. It initially opened in 1960. Before it was a theme park it was a cave attraction. It is an 1880’s themed park that is very family friendly. It is open from mid-March until late December. They have 7 roller coasters and many other unique and fun rides you can’t find anywhere else. The employees are simply amazing. Each and every employee gives outstanding service each time we have visited. Silver Dollar City is truly unlike any other theme park.
It is owned by the Herschend Family Entertainment company, which also owns Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, TN and Wild Adventures in Valdosta GA along with water parks, aquariums, attractions, dinner shows, and lodges. Silver Dollar City was featured on TV show “Undercover Boss” where the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment went undercover to see how the park operates from a guests point of view.
Our Experiences at Silver Dollar City
I don’t remember my first visit but I know we went regularly when I was a little kid. Each visit brought unique and special moments. We usually went in the summer and I remember riding the water rides. Tom & Hucks River Blast is the one I loved the most and Cash’s favorite ride today. You hop on a boat with water guns and you get to spray at people in the other boats and people around the ride. My grandparents love the food and the shops.
Today I love riding the many roller coasters including the parks oldest ride Fire in the Hole! The park constantly updates and maintains but it never loses the old time charm. The seasons change the park greatly and we have visited during winter, fall, spring and summer. On our most recent visit went with some friends in spring.
The History Behind this Unique Park
Silver Dollar City has a unique history. The park started out as cave attraction.
Marvel Cave
Silver Dollar City was originally a cave attraction. People came to visit Marvel Cave which is at the front of the park and you can still take a tour through it.Marvel Cave, located at the front of the park was what first brought people to the area. It was one of the Ozark regions first attractions. Originally it was used to mine for lead, there wasn’t any lead but they thought there war marble. They changed the name to Marble Cave. The “marble” they saw was actually bat guano. They mined out the guano and actually found limestone.
In 1889 the cave and land around it was purchased by William Henry Lynch. He proposed to make the cave an attraction for the public. He opened it in 1894. It didn’t take off like he hoped and he had to close and reopen in 1990. The cave remained with the Lynch family until it was purchased by Hugo Herschend 50 years later.
The Theme Park
Silver Dollar City originally had 5 shops, a log cabin, a street production and a church. It got its name from a promotional idea of giving visitors silver dollars in change. The first year of being opened it gained 4 times more visitors than the cave. (over 125,000 visitors) They didn’t start charging admission until 1968.
The Entertainment
When you first walk into Silver Dollar City they give you a daily guide which kind of resembles a newspaper. It shows the times and locations of the shows and activities. They also have a mobile app you can get here where you can see the show schedules, wait times and much more.
There are many types of entertainment including festivals and shows. They have many old time entertainment shows filled with acting and singing, along with magic shows and more. They not only have old time shows but also bring in entertainers from around the world. We got to see Vitaly Beckman who is a very talented illusionist who even fooled Penn & Teller and an extreme Pogo stick team. You never know what you might see on your next visit to the park.
The Rides
As I mentioned earlier they have 7 roller coasters and all kinds of rides. Surprisingly the lines are usually not too bad. The only one we have had to wait a long time for is the Christmas train ride. So if visiting in the winter be sure and plan for a train ride earlier in the day to beat the crowds.
I say no visit is complete without a ride experience on Fire in the Hole and the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train. The train ride is fun for the whole family and has show in the middle of the train ride where old time train robbers attempt to rob the passengers.
The Food
Oh I’m drooling already. Silver Dollar City has such a selection of homemade food. They have a delicious country style all american family buffet near the entrance. Along with many other restaurants and food vendors. One of my favorites is Eva & Delilah’s bakery. They make pretzels, bread, pizzas and more. They also have fudge shop, candy shop, and so much more. In my many visits I haven’t found food there I didn’t like. You can see a list of the food options, locations and open dates on the official site here.
The Storefronts and Demonstrations
They have so many unique stores. The coolest part of most of the stores are seeing the products being made in the demonstrations. They have glass blowers creating magnificent pieces of art all which are for sale in the shop. They also have a blacksmith, leather worker, candle makers, knife makers, woodcarvers and much more.
The Seasons Festivals
Every season brings a whole new light to the park. There are 6 different festivals.
Festival of Wonder
The festival of wonder is in April. We experienced this on our most recent visit. They have many unusual acts and performances. That is when we saw the extreme Pogo stick team and the famous illusionist.
Bluegrass & BBQ Festival
You can enjoy bluegrass and BBQ in May. (We have not yet visited this festival but hope to soon)
Star-Spangled Summer
From June to August you can enjoy the summer festival. I have visited many times during this festival. Be sure to bring extra clothes to enjoy the water rides!
Southern Gospel Picnic
You can enjoy picnic style dinners and gospel music.
National Harvest & Cowboy Festival
This season brings different craftsman into town and they have many beautiful fall decorations.
An Old Time Christmas
From November through December you can hang out with Rudolph and his friends, enjoy Christmas shows, over 6.5 million Christmas lights and a 5 story special effects Christmas tree.
Where is Silver Dollar City exactly?
It is in Branson, Missouri in the United States of America. You can see where it is in relation to you with our map below.
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Have you been to Silver Dollar City?
We were here in 2010 and loved it. It’s so refreshingly different from Disneylabd. Did you enter the cave, too?
Silver Dollar City sounds so fun! I’ve never been to Missouri, but the Ozarks are on my list of places to visit one day. Silver Dollar City sounds like a great day out – I’d love to see the mine and eat some fudge!
Silver Dollar City sounds like a great family activity in Branson. So interesting to hear that it used to be just a cave attraction. I am sure the kids loved the ride with the water guns. It is a good tip to get the mobile app so you don’t miss any of the things happening on the day you visit. Love that they celebrate a whole range of festivals – maybe something for everyone.
I have not been to Silver Dollar City but it sounds like a great place to go with kids in Branson. The cave looks like a great place to explore.
It’s interested that they decided to turn Silver Dollar City into a theme park and add all these other attractions to it. It seems to me that Marvel Cave should have been enough to attract visitors to this place, but probably not. At any rate, I’m sure that for families with children a theme park sounds like a lot more fun, but for me visiting a cave sounds way better than riding a roller coaster.
Honestly haven’t heard of this place before until now!! It’s good to know there is an alternative to the usual theme parks!! I think this is more intimate and better for families! Your family is beautiful!!
Have not heard of Silver Dollar City though it looks like a great alternative to 6 Flags. Much smaller and more intimate. Fascinating history and great to see what it has become. Fun family getaway.
Silver Dollar City reminds me a lot of Knotts Berry Farm in California. It’s got an old western vibe. I love places like this actually! Very cool that they have six different festivals to enjoy throughout the year
You had me at 7 rollercoasters! I absolutely love roller coasters, and theme parks are my favourite. It’s interesting to know that Silver Dollar City was earlier visited for the marble cave. Also, it’s amazing that the queues aren’t bad in the theme park, that is the one thing that spoils the experience for me!
The mobile app is a great tip, the last time I was at Silver Dollar City there were no cellphones… guess its been awhile! I bet it is amazing in the fall