Tucked away in the Ozarks is a theme park that has been around nearly as long as Disneyland Resort – though its history extends far beyond the Happiest Place on Earth. Opening in 1960, Silver Dollar City was built atop Marvel Cave, a natural wonder that had already been drawing in tourists to the area for decades prior. Southern Missouri might not be the first place you think of when listing must-see destinations for the best theme parks in America, but it absolutely should be.
I had the opportunity recently to visit Silver Dollar City on behalf of the city of Branson, Missouri, and I can say with full confidence that if you have the opportunity to visit, you absolutely should. Silver Dollar City has something for everyone, and I’m not just saying that to sell you on a long weekend in the Ozarks.
Do you want a quaint craft village where you can spend the day shopping and talking to local artisans? Silver Dollar City has it. Would you rather spend your day braving some of the most thrilling roller coasters in the country? Silver Dollar City has it. Or, is your idea of a day in a theme park spent trying top-notch food while sneaking in a couple of trips around on slower dark rides? Yup, Silver Dollar City has it. It appeases thrill-seekers, foodies, grandparents, toddlers, teens, and everyone in between.
Let’s break down Silver Dollar City in a brief 101-style guide with all of the essential must-know information on how to master your first visit (or brush up if you’re heading back for your second, third, or twentieth!).
Top Rides and Attractions
Silver Dollar City is filled with rides of all shapes and sizes. It has your slow-moving introductory rides for the littlest ones in your travel party all the way up to some of the wildest roller coasters you will ever experience. You can check out their website for the full rundown of what’s available, but for the purposes of this guide, I’m just going to highlight a few that you simply cannot skip (depending on your thrill tolerance).
Marvel Cave: Yes, you can still visit the cave that started it all. This one-hour guided walking tour takes you 500 feet below the earth’s surface before riding a cable train back up.
Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train: Who doesn’t love a steam train ride around a theme park? Silver Dollar City’s train takes you through picturesque forested areas surrounding the park. Just keep your eyes peeled for robbers.
The Flooded Mine: This old-school, slow-moving boat ride, complete with targets to shoot at, is a riot. Seriously. Think Pirates of the Caribbean meets MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack.
Fire in the Hole: 2023 marks the finale of the O.G. Fire in the Hole, which first opened in 1972. Halfway between a dark ride and a roller coaster, Fire in the Hole will reopen in the 2024 season as a brand-new ride in a brand-new show building.
Time Traveler: Because a big roller coaster with launches and inversions wasn’t thrilling enough, Time Traveler boasts rotating cars, so you never know which way you’ll be facing. It’s essentially a way more intense version of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It’s worth noting that this ride was extremely comfortable and just the right length to where I didn’t feel queasy, though if you’re easily prone to motion sickness, you’ll probably want to sit this one out.
Outlaw Run: I can best summarize Outlaw Run by the woman who sat behind me on the steam train as we passed by its tracks. She took one look and said, “Nope, never again.” Arguably the most intense ride at Silver Dollar City, do not let its wooden roller coaster appearance fool you. It’s the world’s only wooden roller coaster with a double barrel roll.
Powder Keg: Perhaps my favorite roller coaster that I rode during my visit to Silver Dollar City. It’s big, it’s fast, it’s intense, but it’s also incredibly smooth. I sat in the front, completely unaware of how the ride begins. Rookie mistake.
WildFire: Think The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Orlando. In fact, WildFire was manufactured by the same company that built Hulk. This coaster, however, is built alongside the surrounding Ozark forests, making for a pretty view – as long as you can keep your eyes open.
Dining Options
Do not make the mistake of assuming that Silver Dollar City can’t compete with the likes of Disney or Universal when it comes to unique and tasty dining options. Some of the best food I’ve ever had at a theme park was at Silver Dollar City, whether it was the barbecue from Rivertown Smokehouse or the classic Cinnamon Bread (also made famous at its sister theme park, Dollywood).
Be sure to visit Silver Dollar City’s website before your visit to read the full rundown of available dining options. If you’re heading to Silver Dollar City for a full open-to-close day (which I recommend if you’ve never been before), you’ll want to make sure you have all three meals covered:
Breakfast: Molly’s Mill Restaurant (pro tip: this opens prior to the park, so be sure to get your fill of its breakfast buffet before heading to the rides and craft village)
Lunch: Skillets! There are plenty of options available, from Lumbercamp Falls Skillet to Buckshot’s Skillet Cookery.
Dinner: I loved the selection of barbecue from Rivertown Smokehouse, but there are other great dinner options available. There’s Crossroads Pizza, Lady Liberty Dining Pavilion, Dockside Grill, and a number of other dining spots to grab a quick bite to eat.
Snacks and Sweets: Cinnamon Bread is a must; I don’t make the rules. Head to Clara Belle’s to try the original or one of their specialty flavors. You can even pick up some sweets on your way out from Eva & Delilah’s Bakery to enjoy the next day with coffee.
Little tip: It’s worth mentioning here that Silver Dollar City is a completely dry theme park.
Entertainment
If your favorite part about a theme park is the entertainment, you will easily keep your day filled with things to do at Silver Dollar City. It felt like everywhere I turned had some sort of performance happening throughout the day, and it never took too long before I would hear live music coming from some corner of the park. Highlights include the Frontier Follies (celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023), Horsecreek Band, and the Homestead Pickers. Additional acts are plentiful, including magicians, tons of live music, and more. Check your times guide when you arrive for current showtimes.
Seasonal Festivals
There is always something going on at Silver Dollar City, but if I could make a personal recommendation for when you should try to visit, it would be during one of its later-in-the-season festivals. This means you should aim for mid-September through December.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
If you’re into all things fall, this one’s a no-brainer. Taking place from mid-September through late October, the Harvest Festival brings 16,000 pumpkins to Silver Dollar City, turning the park into an autumnal wonderland. Aside from the seasonal decor, the park also features a ton of seasonal menu items across its dining locations, as well as at select food booths open for a limited time. The Harvest Festival also features a dance party, glowing walking trails, and more. This is 100% for everyone in the family, with not a single spooky entity in sight.
AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS
Silver Dollar City goes all-out for the holidays. If you miss The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can get your fix from early November through late December in Branson. 6.5 million lights, seasonal entertainment, and limited-time treats are just a few highlights from An Old-Time Christmas.
Top Tips For Your Visit to Silver Dollar City
- The landscape at Silver Dollar City is filled with hills and inclines, so be ready to put your legs to work. Wear your comfiest walking shoes and plan your day accordingly. Meaning don’t get caught zig-zagging your way up and down the hills throughout the day.
- Consider adding a TrailBlazer Pass to fit as many rides into your day as possible. This allows you to bypass the regular standby queue on most of the park’s top attractions. The basic TrailBlazer Pass gets you 8 uses in 1 day and costs $49 per person per day, while the Super TrailBlazer gives you unlimited uses in 1 day and costs $79 per person per day.
- Talk to the craftsmen! These are the best of the best in their respective trade, and they’ll love to fill you in on what they’re currently working on. From candy to pottery to woodcarving, some of the craftsmen have been with Silver Dollar City for decades. Demonstrations take place throughout the day.
- Speaking of crafts, the booths and shops close at different times throughout the evening. While some close with the park, others close a few hours prior. Do not leave your shopping and perusing of crafts to the end of the day! I would suggest starting with the crafts first thing in the morning and bringing any souvenirs back to your car before you explore the rest of the park. Or, take a midday break from rides to slow down and check out the many craftsmen exhibits.
- Silver Dollar City also owns and operates the Showboat Branson Belle, a multi-course dinner and show experience that takes you out onto Table Rock Lake. The showboat is not docked within the parameters of the theme park, so you’ll need additional time to drive over to the boat. My tip is to book this on a separate day from your visit to Silver Dollar City.
DISCLAIMER: This was an experience where I was hosted by Silver Dollar City and Explore Branson. Hosted trips will always be disclosed to you, the reader. Being hosted or comped does not in any way affect opinions expressed on The World of Spark.