A $23-million investment, Mystic River Falls is said to be an engineering marvel in the global attractions industry with its one-of-a-kind rotating, 4-platform, 8-story lift.  Set in an authentic pier-like design of river towns of yesteryear, Mystic River Falls is the focus of the all-new area called Rivertown that includes the new expansive Rivertown Smokehouse, with an array of meats smoked on-site, and a new cinnamon bread bakery, featuring bakers in full view to guests as they create legendary specialties.   ​

A Theme of Legacy & Lore…
        Silver Dollar City is home to the massive Marvel Cave, which, indeed, has a Mystic River in its depths.  Intensively studied throughout the ages, Marvel Cave’s passageways, water features and crannies are detailed in words and drawings as far back as 1893 through the documented work of the botanist, artist and scientist S. Fred Prince.  His book and work of art, “The Story of Marvel Caverns 1893-1942,” is safely stored within Silver Dollar City’s archives to this day.   
       As specified in several places in the book, Prince, enthralled by his inability to find the headwaters of the Mystic River, kept searching to no avail. To this day, following study by modern- day scientists, the end of the river remains a mystery.                                
 
Now to the Storyline…
       With the Mystic River headwaters unknown, the adventurers of today seek to find a fabled waterfall that could mark the end of the raging river.  They follow the path of Pearl, a young adventuress, along the challenging, winding waterways in pursuit of the legendary headwaters. At long last, Pearl and her riders discover Mystic River Falls -- and the town erupts in celebration!     ​

A Diamond Jubilee!
        As the storyline goes, the citizens of Rivertown are celebrating a 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee of the internationally acclaimed 1880s-style theme park in Branson, Missouri (founded May 1, 1960).  The fun includes award-winning BBQ with the all-new Rivertown Smokehouse presenting smoked-on-site brisket, turkey, pork, sausage and chicken, along with signature scratch-made sides and desserts. This is the largest restaurant ever constructed in the park’s history, picturesquely situated along the banks of the new ride.
        Across the way is an all-new bakery, Clara Belle’s Cinnamon Bread, specializing in Silver Dollar City’s famous cinnamon bread – only now each loaf bakes in an individual pan designed to capture all the gooey icing, butter and cinnamon.  The bakery offers peach, apple and original versions along with a variety of other items.  ​

Happy Monday everybody, welcome to our first park update since, checks calendar, March 6th!! Wow! 

Today we have an opening day update from Matt who went out to Silverwood on Saturday for their opening day. We realize theme park openings aren't really the most important thing going on in the world (or even in the top million) but we hope you can take a break from all the pain going on right now and enjoy some awesome theme park pictures. Take care of yourselves, and everybody else! - Gregg 

Welcome to Silverwood Opening Day 2020! 

Our first ride of the season at Silverwood, this is a really good solid mid level wood coaster- it's fun and thrilling enough for a grizzled veteran coaster rider, but it's also an excellent 'starter' coaster because it doesn't deal in any extremes. This season, it has sadly gotten rid of the buzzbar restraints for individual ratcheting lapbars. Theoretically, this will make the ride more efficient to operate, but there's still some bugs to get worked out- we waited extra long because the train didn't park properly in station- so the air gates couldn't open.

They had to cycle the train around again to get it in to the right spot. On top of loading every other row, and wiping the train down between riders, it was a fair delay. It took us about 45 minutes to board.

Hey there, Park Journey readers!

Like many of you, I was heartbroken when the news of Indiana Beach's closure was announced earlier this year. The park is such a unique place for amusement park fans, and it would be a shame to see it close permanently. 

Thankfully, they just announced that they are reopening!! 

I've only been to Indiana Beach once, and it was on a quiet, overcast day back in May 2018. Even with chilly weather and empty midways, the park was still a memorable place with fun and unique attractions. I never wrote a trip report from that visit, so I'm writing this retrospective as I look forward to returning again when the sun is out and the Fascination parlor is full. 

​Written by Andrew Cunningham

One of the park entrances involves walking across a suspension bridge over Lake Shafer. Hoosier Hurricane, one of the parks three wooden coasters, greets you as you make your way towards the midway. 

As you walk across the bridge and under the coaster, the park's crazy layout makes itself apparent. Rides are built all on top of each other, with many being constructed over the water when there was no space left on land.  

As one of the two major wooden coasters at Indiana Beach, Hoosier Hurricane was my less favorite of the two. However, with its out and back layout stretching up and down the park's main midway, it offers the coolest views and photo ops. 

Apologies to the coaster pic purists, however. I couldn't get any shots with a train running since I was pretty much the only person there at the time. 

Seriously, I was the only passenger on pretty much any coaster that day!

This was the station for Cornball Express, the park's other wooden coaster. The ride operators gladly let me take as many rides as I wanted.

Where to start with Cornball Express?

While Hoosier Hurricane stretches up and down the park, Cornball sits in a back corner with a fairly compact layout that weaves in between other rides. I have to say, I had heard many good things about this coaster, but I still walked away with my expectations blown. You can see in the photo above that there was some fresh track on the ride at the time, so the overall experience was smooth, fast, and loaded with airtime. 

While newer models from RMC and Intamin have really pushed the envelope of what a wooden coaster can do, Cornball Express is easily one of my favorite traditional wood coaster. 

After checking out the two marquee coasters, I took a walk up and down the main midway. Above, you can see the view up and down in both directions, rides scattered to both sides. 

Sadly, the Fascination parlor had not yet opened for the season, but I look forward to coming back and spending a good bit of time here. Did you know that Indiana Beach has one of the eight remaining Fascination parlors left in operation? If you haven't spent time with friends in one of these classic game parlors, I suggest that you do sometime soon! Darien Lake and Knoebels are other notable parks that still have Fascination. 

There also appeared to be a rooftop bar that was closed while I was there. Although, from the photo, I'm confused that it is only listed as open for 1 hour? I imagine they meant 12pm ;-)

I could see this being a really fun spot on a summer night! Anyone who's travelled with me knows that I'm not one to turn down a beer at a theme park. 

Moving back down the midway... what do we have here?

Apparently the World's Best Taco resides in Indiana, and it sits under the supports of what may be strangest roller coaster I've ever been on. But let's start with this taco shack...

For only $2.49 the world's best taco can be yours! 

I had to check it out, so I grabbed a taco and a walking taco. 

Behold! The world's best taco and a walking taco! 

I joke, but honestly it was pretty great theme park food. 

Of course, after leaving I had to go find this episode! 

Ok, ok... Moving on from the tacos...

Right next door (and partially built over) the Taco Shop is Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. 

So, apologies that I don't have a ton of photos, but this thing was a challenge to get on! The park does not allow the coaster to run with just one person on it, and as you may have gathered from my photos there weren't a ton of people around. After waiting around for a while, I was able to find some kind strangers who would ride this with me. 

So how to describe Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain? Well, it's a wooden coaster where you sit in a tiny ride vehicle that has a cage around it. Half the seats face forward, and half face backwards. You start off with an elevator lift up a mineshaft, and then drop into a series of abrupt hills and insanely tight hairpin turns. Given the seating configuration in the cage, it's very difficult to see whats coming ahead and to brace yourself, so you are pretty much tossed around like a rag doll for two minutes or so. 

It was maybe the weirdest coaster I've ever been on.  I love weird rides though, so I'm happy to hear that this thing may live on to keep the chiropractor industry in Indiana thriving. 

And with that, it was time to back across the suspension bridge and back to my car!

Despite the poor weather and low crowds, the park was staffed and I did manage to ride all of the coasters in this visit. I really enjoyed this weird, wonderful place, and I hope that the new owners find success in bringing it back to life! I'll certainly be back soon!

One last look on the way home. Thanks again for reading! 

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• Silver Dollar City 2020 Project Construction Update - June 10, 2019
• Trip Report: Fun Spot Orlando - May 16, 2019
• Trip Report: Hong Kong Ocean Park - March 18, 2019
• Scarywood 2018 at Silverwood
• Coaster Road Trip to Floribama

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