Silver Dollar City is partnering with O'Reilly Auto Parts (based in nearby Springfield, Missouri) to create a new "transit department" to shuttle guests between the parking lot and the front gate. There will be three types of vehicles, each with a different theme - stagecoach (typical smaller shuttle bus), carriages (full size flat-front school-style bus holding 40+ passengers) and welcome wagon (traditional tram type vehicles). I haven't been to SDC (yet - that's on the agenda for next summer's big amusement park trip), but this seems like a great addition, especially with the new resort opening next year. More info here: https://www.laughingplace.com/parks/silver-dollar-city-reimagined-parking-transport/

It's nice to see a park focusing on making it easier for guests to get to/from their vehicles instead of taking trams away like so many other parks have done over the years.

With its trademark Herschend hospitality, food, entertainment, and special events, Silver Dollar City is easily one of the best regional parks in the United States.

I'm still a little confused as to what this is for. Is it a replacement for the trams, or an addition to them? Whatever it is, it seems cool!

4 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I'm still a little confused as to what this is for. Is it a replacement for the trams, or an addition to them? Whatever it is, it seems cool!

I've only been to SDC once and if I remember correctly, there haven't been trams or anything in the past....it was a trek to the front gate when I visited. Dollywood is hilly, but SDC is even more so and their parking lot(s) are a bit treacherous from what I remember.

 

Edit to add - I looked back at some info from 2021 and there apparently were shuttle busses. During my visit, I didn't see or know about them.

We took a shuttle bus during our visits. It stood out to us that they were using a full-sized touring bus one time.

If I am understanding correctly, it looks like they are just putting new “skin” on their existing trams and buses. I was just at SDC last month and they were already using trams and buses.

Also a corporate sponsor apparently, which will likely help cover the costs of the service

It'd be nice if Kings Island could get a sponsor and bring back the trams. Maybe some day in the future.

They'd have to reconfigure the front gate/drop off area...plus where would the trams stop? I don't remember where they stopped in the parking lot. At this point of time, it would seem like a higher liability than it previously did. Maybe not...but at least KI is fairly flat compared to SDC and the parking lot is just right there.

Trams used to pull right up to the front gate: 

Found on Flikr from David Bowers 

 

I mean, there would need to be some reconfiguring of the parking lot done whether they're brought back or not. KI's parking lot needs a lot of work as it is beyond just repaving. The easiest solution would just be to have them go up and down the old Columbia Road between the main entrance and Soak City entrance. That would at least provide service to 2-3 stops along the southern part of the parking lot. Doing that much may only require the installation of the station platforms. 

Up until this year there were still a few Six Flags parks that still had trams, including Magic Mountain and Over Texas. Parking lot trams would be another good way to improve guest experience at the bigger parks (even if they only ran on weekends) for less money than a coaster or a few new flat rides. They could even be electric if some investments were made to cover part of the parking lot in solar panels (a project that could also be sponsored).