A national park is meant to be an oasis — a reprieve from the traffic and crowds of urban life. Unfortunately, though, many people seek this same reprieve, meaning some national parks have become extremely crowded during peak seasons.
23.04.2024 - 06:29 / insider.com
One of my favorite hidden-gem theme parks is Silver Dollar City, nestled in the Ozark Mountains in Branson, Missouri.
It's a sister park to one of my other favorites, Dollywood. Both are owned by Herschend Family Entertainment, though Silver Dollar City opened first in 1960.
The park is a true hidden gem. First of all, it's an incredible value. Its highest-tier season pass currently costs under $300, and a one-day park ticket is under $100. For context, daily access to only one Disney park usually starts at $150 — and the most basic seasonal pass to Disney World is typically over $1,400.
The park itself is just great, too. I've visited theme parks all over the world and this now ranks as one of my favorites. Here's why I fell in love during my recent visit.
Themed to resemble an 1880s mountain village, Silver Dollar City had an authentic feel thanks to the local, multigenerational craftsmen who work in the park throughout its shops and streets.
The atmosphere felt both immersive and transportive as I discovered unique shopping opportunities, like hand-carved furniture, glass-blown home décor, and homemade candy.
Demonstrations were a big part of my experience, and I got to watch people altering leather, carving wood, and blowing glass — all things I'd never seen done in a theme park before.
Even the park's main guide, The Pathfinder, was themed.
It's designed to look like an old-school newspaper and contains a map, showtimes, and information on current events.
The park is built on top of one of the oldest attractions in the area, Marvel Cave. Theme-park admission includes a tour of the caves, which was incredible.
We traveled 300 feet down into the limestone cave for a stunning view of the Cathedral Room, one of the largest cave rooms in the country.
The park blends its history with the future in the form of precedent-setting roller coasters.
My favorites include Outlaw Run, one of the steepest wooden coasters in the world, and Time Traveler, one of the steepest, tallest, and fastest spinning coasters in the world.
There are also unique attractions at Silver Dollar City that I haven't experienced anywhere else — Grandfather's Mansion was one of my favorites.
Grandfather's Mansion is a classic fun-house-style walkthrough attraction that's been at the park for decades. It was pure fun playing with my senses through different rooms in the mansion, including an upside-down room and an off-balance room.
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But above all, my favorite attraction is Fire in the Hole. The current reiteration pays homage to the original over-50-year-old indoor dark coaster. In its newer version, the $30 million attraction combines the nostalgia of the original with the technology of today.
The ride is of a high
A national park is meant to be an oasis — a reprieve from the traffic and crowds of urban life. Unfortunately, though, many people seek this same reprieve, meaning some national parks have become extremely crowded during peak seasons.
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