It was time once again for the Silver Dollar City Halloween Spooktacular. This year we decided to take our granddaughter Raelynn (Ray, Reggie) with us for the weekend and make it a bit more of an adventure around Branson for her. These are usually the last of the RV trips for the season as it gets a bit too hard to predict when the actual winter weather will arrive. The RV can be out all year, but I hesitate to take the family out on RV trips when the roads can get really bad with winter weather. So we are off to Silver Dollar City. When visiting SDC we usually stay at their RV campsite just down the road from the Park. They do have a free shuttle which normally bypasses the parking congestion, but this time Vicky had smartly scheduled us to spend the day at the Park on a Monday, when crowds should be less.
Day 1
We arrived on a Saturday after about a 4 1/2 hour drive with nothing more to do than set up and relax around the RV park. We got to the campground around 2:30 pm and set up. We like the back loop of the campground, as it is a bit quieter and the spaces are a touch bigger
Ray played for a few hours on the playset they have available and met some of the kids in the RV neighborhood. Then we made a fire and roasted some marshmallows. It was a beautiful day to just be outside.
These were some high quality smore's
I made hamburgers on the grill and we all relaxed with a movie or two before going to bed early. Everyone sleeps very well in the RV.
Day 2
I was up early for coffee while the girls slept in a bit. We had an appointment for our train ride today. We were taking the Branson Scenic Railway today. First it was a big breakfast of bacon, sausage and eggs pre Ray's request then it was off to the train.
The Branson Railway
The Branson Railway started in the 1980's and uses restored cars from the 1930's-1960's. It goes about 40 miles total either north or south of the Historic Branson Depot (built in 1905). This is right in the downtown section of Branson along lake Taneycomo, which was created by the damming of Table Rock Lake and the White River.
We were on the Northern section today. 20 miles North and then turn around and come 20 miles back to the Branson Depot at a whooping 25 miles per hour.
We did manage to get the second story of an observation car for our ride
It was a really pretty day and we had the best views as we traveled up North past Reed Springs, MO
A quarter mile tunnel dug from both sides in the 1930's missing only by 2" when they met in the middle
I don't think Ray was scared much inside the tunnel, it didn't effect her ability to munch on snacks!
Ray next to the one of the restored passenger cars
After we made a trip to Hurt's Donuts for some snacks as this has become sort of a tradition when in Branson.
We got some crazy flavors except for me, I just got a chocolate long john!
We were then going to Mel's Hard Luck Diner for dinner, but they were unfortunately closed on Sundays. This place is excellent as everyone that works there as a server is also a singer and performer. They have had some very long time employees and it great food but also a great time. Plus they have enormous ice cream desserts!
If you are in Branson, you should go.
Having no diner out, it was back to the RV for Diner made by Poppi, except for Vicky, who wanted catfish from Billy Gail's, a legendary restaurant in the Branson area for breakfast and now lunches, people wait outside for hours to get in. Pancakes as big as your face! And it is right next door to the RV park.
Day 3
Silver Dollar City day. We put off going over the weekend to avoid some of the crowds and lines for Ray's sake and the price for Ray's ticket was a bit less. We decided to go around noon to get the most out of the day and try and stay till dark, but we were prepared to come back to the RV for a nap (mostly for me) if we had too!
Waiting for Ya-Ya to buy our tickets
Quality time
Silver Dollar City does a great job of decorating for every holiday
Ray started the day not wanting to get on many of the rides. She then decided to try them if Vicky went with her. Then as you will see by the end of the day, she was riding the biggest and fastest ones all by herself. In fact, she specifically told Vicky and I that she would get on by herself!
The Lady Bug
The caterpillar
The Frog, jumps up and down, while going round and round 😱
Silver Dollar City has a specific area for just "kids" rides. I am still not getting on them and we spent a lot of time here today.
Flying Dumbo
The Buccaneer
The Roller Coaster!
Balloon Ride
After all that then of course Vicky and Ray both wanted to go on a water ride! It was about 48 degrees out!
They did it!
It cost about $5 in quarters to dry them off!
It was then the easy Merry Go Round before the Train
But no, Ray was not ready for the Train (too boring) so it was back to the rides again.
More of every ride, growing in confidence
More great decorations.
Even the Roller Coaster all by herself in the front row
The High Flying Swing
More Frog, this time by herself
and Caterpillar
Finally walking back toward the Train
The Train goes around the entire park, takes about 25 minutes and usually has some kind of stop with a holiday scene or skit in the middle
This time it was the bumbling train robbers
It was getting toward dark so the Halloween Rave was starting up with the path of lights and fog. (Foggy Hollow)
This was also a short cut back to the rides
As the Sun set the lights came on
The Rave started as the Sun disappeared.
8 hours into our day at the Park, I think Ray if finished, so we make our way out of the Park, now with the lights really showing off
The tram ride back to our car, just a bit before the park officially closes for the night
It was a good day
Day 4
This is the first time any of us will have been to the Dixie Stampede. It has a great reputation of being lots of fun. It is a dinner theater with a rodeo.
You can arrive early for a "pre-show" and you can walk down the corrals and view the stars of the show in their pre-game stalls.
They each have stories along with their names to read about their strengths and what they do in the show.
There are some neat old fashioned animatronics in the saloon area with tables with giant checkers and other board games before you are ushered into the show.
You have an assigned seating section and everyone just fills in the gaps with your group. You also are placed in either the North or South side as the Rodeo is a competition and you root for your side.
Our "MC" for the evening
At one point they released about half a dozen very large bison into the arena.
There were one or two that were very feisty
A very moving Native American program with some very Cirque du Soleil special effects
Some very large longhorn cattle for the round up
Lots of funny skits and singing. Exactly what you would expect from a Dolly Parton show.
Through this whole show they are feeding you, very efficiently and the food was really good. You definitely didn't go hungry. When you couldn't clap, because the custom is you eat most of it with your hands, you stomped your feet (Stompede) to show your appreciation.
Fantastic horsemanship throughout the show
Ray really got into it, cheering for our side the whole night
Of course, it has some great comic relief
Big closing patriotic display with horses and song
It was super well done and worth it to catch this show.
Back to the RV and everyone fell asleep quickly and in the morning after a cinnamon roll breakfast, we broke the RV down and we were on the way back home.
That about does it for our Halloween Trip to Branson this year.
It was great fun to get away and Ray really had a good time. It was good spending some time with her, just the three of us as the twins will be coming along soon and they will be a handful! 💓
