This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nabila Ismail , a 30-year-old from New York who quit her corporate job to travel. It's been edited for length and clarity.
23.10.2024 - 17:49 / travelandleisure.com
Big things are coming to award-winning theme park Silver Dollar City.
In a press release shared with Travel + Leisure, the Branson, Missouri park announced a half a billion expansion plan which which will include a new resort.
Silver Dollar City Resort will begin the first phase and is anticipated to open in late 2026. Already under construction, it will be the first theme park hotel resort located in America’s Heartland and house 262 rooms offering “never-before-seen vistas of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake, along with unparalleled access to Silver Dollar City theme park.”
Courtesy of Silver Dollar City Resort
The hotel will feature a full-service restaurant and an indoor-outdoor pool. Details on guest amenities, room types, theme park privileges, and more is expected in the coming months.
Silver Dollar City Resort is just one piece of the company’s future plans.
“This is more than just growth—it’s a new era.” Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts President, Brad Thomas, shared in the release. “Over the next decade, we will mindfully transform 1,200 acres into an authentic, only-in-the-Ozarks destination starting with our first resort. The new resort will combine Silver Dollar City’s spirit of playfulness, discovery, craftsmanship and exploration with all that makes The Heart of the Ozarks so special.”
Silver Dollar City theme park is modeled after an 1880s-style Ozark Mountains village and is located on top of a national landmark cave. It is applauded for its award-winning roller coasters, standout dining, seasonal festivals, and live entertainment. Dubbed “The Home of American Craftsmanship,” the park uniquely features over 100 demonstrating artisans, from highly-skilled glass blowers to bakers, that honors the region’s rich culture.
Earlier this year, Silver Dollar City opened «Fire In The Hole,» the largest indoor family coaster in the region. The park is known for its renowned annual holiday celebration, An Old Time Christmas, which sees the addition of festive décor and over 6.5 million lights. Thrill seekers have an impressive array of roller coasters to choose from, including «Time Traveler,» the tallest, fastest, and steepest spinning coaster in the world.
It’s an exciting time of growth as the theme park destination evolves into a multi-day vacation. The company currently operates other family-focused Branson area attractions, including White Water water park, The Silver Dollar City Campground, Pink Jeep Adventure Tours, and the Showboat Branson Belle, a 1890s-style paddle wheeler.
Silver Dollar City is owned by Herschend Enterprises, who also operateDollywood Parks & Resorts.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nabila Ismail , a 30-year-old from New York who quit her corporate job to travel. It's been edited for length and clarity.
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