The Wilderness Church at Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO
This past weekend, our family kicked off the spring season with our annual trek to Silver Dollar City.
SDC is a Christian-owned and operated family theme park in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks and it’s all about fun, family, food, and fellowship in a Christ-centered setting. It’s a little slice of heaven and one of my favorite places where time stands still!
“World Fest” was set to wrap up on Sunday (May 4th). Next up is the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, followed by Star Spangled Summer, Southern Gospel Picnic, National Harvest Festival, and Old Time Christmas. (Can’t wait!) Since we purchased our usual season passes, we hope to make it to all of them. (Alas, the National Kids Fest is no more, but that was great fun, too.)
I adore these old Ozark hills that I talk about so often. That’s why they’re the setting for my novels.
The people, the culture, and the history here are unique. We’re a friendly lot steeped in tradition, while cognizant, too, of “progress” and the changing times.
SDC allows me to revisit history and the old ways of doing things. I revel in tourists’ oohs and ahhs as they wander the park, admiring our heritage captured in the surrounding beauty of “God’s Country.” (And, of course— snippets of interesting conversations make great story fodder!)
The entrance to your favorite family getaway!
If you already have a season pass (which I highly recommend because it’s more cost efficient that way) you’ll move through admission lines pretty quickly. Even on the park’s busiest days, we’ve never waited more than five minutes or so to enter.
Now, if you don’t have a season pass, don’t fret. You’ll still have lots of fun, but you’ll just have to wait in line a little longer to buy your ticket, unless you do it online. (On a hot, humid day that’s common in the Ozarks, any minutes you can shave off your wait makes a difference.)
There’s a lot to see and do.
Rides, shows, craft demonstrations, a cave tour, and an evening concert will round out your day.
My best advice: arrive early, stay late!
Some DOs:
- DO bring water bottles. (Park drinks are expensive and water hydrates better. However, for those who enjoy sodas, there are many options available. For instance, you can buy a refillable SDC mug for a higher price and refill at a discount throughout the day and during subsequent visits.)
- DO wear comfortable shoes. (You might bring flip-flops to wear on the water rides, but I don’t recommend navigating the up-and-down hills in them. And high heels? Definite no-no.)
- DO bring a change of clothes if you like. (If it’s a hot day, you’ll dry in a hurry. If you plan to stay for the concert in Echo Hollow that evening, you may want fresh, dry clothes.)
- DO plan a budget and stick to it. As with any theme park—food, drinks, souvenirs, and extras can get expensive. Plan accordingly. You might want to pack sandwiches for lunch so you can splurge later.
- DO bring a camera. There are tons of wonderful photo opps throughout Silver Dollar City and the friendly folks who work there are happy to help you.
Some DON’Ts:
- DON’T expect to move fast. Lines can be long so a cheerful attitude helps!
- DON’T bring a lot to carry—go light, if possible. Silver Dollar City has hills, friends. Lots of ’em!
- DON’T forget to take advantage of the park’s free maps and/or get the SDC app for your phone. Time savers, and ohhh, so helpful!
- DON’T smoke in the non-smoking areas.
I thought you might like to see a few recent photos.
Enjoy!
Dark chocolate truffle sprinkled in sea salt.
Yes. You will eat. You will want to sample each and every goody in the park because the food looks and smells so tasty. (This little guy above was almost as big as the palm of my hand. Note was. I ate the entire thing in one sitting.)
Relax! (It was a rare moment of weakness and one that doesn’t happen too often. I’m sure you’ll do fine, too.)
Brown’s Candy Factory at SDC is a family favorite!
I should let you know… there’s a peanut brittle demonstration at various points throughout the day. Free samples are involved.
And speaking of treats, there’s something for every taste.
From tater twists and funnel cakes to Dippin’ Dots and ice cream bowls, Silver Dollar City offers a variety of snacks.
Calling all foodies…
There’s also a cooking school on the park grounds for those who want to try their hand at creating their own masterpiece.
When we visited the park this past weekend, carrot cake was on tap. (There’s an extra charge for this, but it sounded delicious… and fun!)
The history behind SDC’s culinary school.
Even if you choose not to take the cooking class, be sure and step inside to take a look around. The building itself is a feast for the eyes.
A magnificent chandelier made entirely of handblown glass by SDC’s very own artisans.
And about handblown glass, don’t miss Hazel’s Handblown Glass Factory where you can see an actual demonstration by SDC’s expert craftsmen. Incredible!
One of the pretty pieces on display and available for purchase at Hazel’s.
And more…
Lovely red (handblown) glass tree ornaments.
Or… if blue’s your taste, they have those, too!
Now that I have you thinking Christmas… another favorite place is the Christmas Shop. There you’ll find Christmas trees (and decorations) to suit every fancy.
A “gingerbread tree” and one of my personal favorites.
An eye-fetching display of nutcrackers.
The Reason for the season.
One blog post barely touches the tip of the Silver Dollar City iceberg, but if you plan to visit my neck of the woods, SDC is a must.
Oh, did I mention— don’t forget to bring your camera!
One of many park vantage points where you can see the old Ozark hills (and trees) for miles.
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Tell us about where you live.
What do you like best? Where are some must-dos?
If you write, do you include your home setting in your novels?
For more about the Ozarks, you may be interested in:
Today’s Story…Why Blend the Past with the Present?
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The Ozarks are unique. One place you’ll want to be sure and visit:
Need an idea for a family getaway? Try this little slice of heaven:
Blessings Always,
Comments 5
I loved this post. Circumstance make it unlikely that I’ll ever visit, but I wish I could.
If you come to New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns is a must-see. And take the walk down; you’ll walk down a lit path, off which are enormous dim halls fading into an eternal darkness and quiet that’s unlike anything you’ll experience elsewhere.
Author
Andrew, I’ve never been to New Mexico although that’s on my Places to See list. I’d love to see the Carlsbad Caverns! Do you set your novels in New Mexico?
If you and Barbara do visit the Ozarks one day, I shall roll out the red carpet! (And of course, I’ll locate some gluten-free chocolate for you.)
Oddly enough, my dream job as an academic would have taken me to the edge of the Ozarks (Missouri – Rolla). Didn’t happen.
I set ‘Blessed Are the Pure Of Heart’ and ‘The Last Indian War’ in NM, but haven’t really tried to be too regional. New Mexico as a setting was well-done by Tony Hillerman, and WILL be well-done by Jennifer Major, so I’ll stand aside!
I’m an Ozark Mountain girl, too, and my family often gets season passes to Silver Dollar City. As part of a fundraiser, I once dressed up in one of their Olde Time dresses and worked as a bus boy and “direction-giver.” 🙂 No place on earth quite like it, y’all!
Author
Kayla, it’s a fun place and we enjoy the atmosphere there. On those really warm days, we always wonder how the friendly folks who work there don’t overheat in their costumes. Must be a trick.
Have a super-blessed day!