Silver Dollar City ... Amazing History, Amazing Story... anyone here every go there?
ScarsdaleCoin
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So in my travels as a historian I cam across a wonderful story about a place called Silver Dollar City... short version as an ad gimick in the 1960's when people bought purchases like food and gas, they were given as change Silver Dollars... when they got home and spent them, people would ask where they got them and it led to free advertisement for Silver Dollar city... wish I had been there back then... LOL [ In 1960, the Herschends opened the village they called Silver Dollar City, named for the promotional idea of giving visitors silver dollars as change. While little was spent on advertising, publicist Don Richardson's idea of giving silver dollars as change to park visitors led to tremendous word-of-mouth exposure. When vacationers returning home would pay for their gas and other purchases with silver dollars, people would ask where they got the coins, and the vacationers would describe the park and their Silver Dollar City adventure. ]( In 1960, the Herschends opened the village they called Silver Dollar City, named for the promotional idea of giving visitors silver dollars as change. While little was spent on advertising, publicist Don Richardson's idea of giving silver dollars as change to park visitors led to tremendous word-of-mouth exposure. When vacationers returning home would pay for their gas and other purchases with silver dollars, people would ask where they got the coins, and the vacationers would describe the park and their Silver Dollar City adventure. " In 1960, the Herschends opened the village they called Silver Dollar City, named for the promotional idea of giving visitors silver dollars as change. While little was spent on advertising, publicist Don Richardson's idea of giving silver dollars as change to park visitors led to tremendous word-of-mouth exposure. When vacationers returning home would pay for their gas and other purchases with silver dollars, people would ask where they got the coins, and the vacationers would describe the park and their Silver Dollar City adventure. ")
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A story so nice you had to say it twice!
Thrice
Similar to when I travel to shows and I see people with candy and I ask them "where did you get that delicious candy?" and they respond "scarsdale coins table"
I have actually been to Branson, MO, but missed going to Silver Dollar City. I have one or two of their tokens somewhere.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
Never been there, but have been to Gold Hill, Goldfield, and live on Gold Mountain Dr.
bob:)
Cool gimiky idea. Wonder how long it thrived. Never been (Is it still around as a tourist trap?) but I do go to the true silver dollar city (Virgina City) every year or two when I go visit the family property in South Lake Tahoe in the Summer. Can't usually get up the hill to VC on winter visits due to snow closure.
The OP neglected to say the place was in MO so I was curious. Nice history lesson.
I was in Branson this Thanksgiving and we were going there for a side trip but the person we were to tour with had a death in the family - trip off. Besides, the weather was terrible.
Agreed - that is the real "Silver City:"
I believe that Silver Dollar City (MO) was in some way connected with the Yoakum (spelling varies) Dollar Hoax of the early 1980's. If anybody happens to go to Silver Dollar City, could you please look to see if there is any reference anywhere on site to Yoakum or Yoachum Dollars and report here?
I gotta ad my Silver Queen...
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Nice guys. I always visit the Queen and usually spend at least a good hour trying to 1-side VAM the coins. Then it's off to the Bucket of Blood for some brew!
Here's a little thread with a few pics I did about a trip up to VC in summer 2015. Couldn't get up there last summer unfortunately...
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=231384&whichpage=2
And I apologize to the OP for starting a small deviation to the thread albeit sort of on topic
I went to Silver Dollar City in 1966 with my extended family. I wasn't quite two years old at the time, but, have some distinct memories and movie footage.
I wish there was a "Double Eagle City" around these days. I'd be breaking hundreds left and right.
Note: This post is OFF TOPIC
Been in the area a bunch of times, but never went to Silver Dollar City.
Jed Clampett and kin are supposed to be from that area. Lil' Abner lived close to there too....
There are some great driving roads in the area. There are a bunch of roads South down US-65 that transverse the Ozarks. Almost all are great drives. The best is Arkansas 7.
On a more historical note, I don't know if I'd be able to find it again, but once found a marker down on Arkansas 7 that stated they took the marble from that hillside for the Washington Monument...
Ozarks / Arkansas 7
Nice thread... great pictures.... The Silver Queen is very impressive...wonder if any of those coins are 'special'...Cheers, RickO
Being from St. Louis, I have been to Silver Dollar City several times. Before the park was established the attraction on the site was Marvel Cave. The village called "Silver Dollar City" was established to give people something to do while waiting for their cave tour. Marvel Cave still has tours but is only one of the attractions at Silver Dollar City. The first time I went there in the early 70's their were no silver dollars in all of Silver Dollar City. A hand turned press was brought in later and you could mint your own token in silver or pewter.
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Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
I first visited Silver Dollar City as a kid in the 80's with my parents and now as a parent myself take my kids there every year or two...it's a great amusement park that's focused on wholesome family fun.
There use to be one in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It's now Dollywood. The youtube link is 3 mins of the attractions they offered.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=48f9cXvdiOA
Good times.