Silver Dollar City Announces Largest Single Branson Project To Date; New Theme Park ``Celebration City'' to Highlight 20th Century America

Business Wire, July 24, 2002

Business/Entertainment Editors

NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available

BRANSON, Mo.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 24, 2002

The Silver Dollar City Corporation (SDC) is announcing Celebration City(TM), a new forty million-dollar, multi-faceted theme park for Branson, Missouri.

The park will highlight some of the most colorful and entertaining eras of 20th Century America and is scheduled to open in late Spring 2003 on a 112-acre parcel just off Highway 76, formerly the site of Branson USA.

"Celebration City(TM) will be unlike any other theme park anywhere -- giving Branson something all-new for 2003," said Mel Bilbo, CEO and President of the Silver Dollar City Corporation. Bilbo, who leads the corporate vision to become America's Favorite Storytellers, says they aren't ready to reveal all the design plans for the property, but will confirm that Celebration City(TM) will carry on the Silver Dollar City tradition of theming on a grand scale while bringing the past to life.

"Our lives were forever changed by the new frontiers of 20th Century civilization and technology," said Bilbo, referencing impactful and life-changing time periods that included the onset of electricity, the development of the automobile, and later, the creation of spectacular high technology. "The premise is to celebrate America every day by presenting multiple layers of themed entertainment to include more than two dozen rides, games, restaurants and shows, then culminating at night with a tremendous outdoor laser production show."

Matching the excitement of the nighttime skies being beamed to full color will be another Celebration City(TM) icon and a great American tradition: a massive wooden roller coaster soaring 10 stories tall. Wooden coasters enjoyed monumental popularity throughout much of the 20th Century. "Coaster aficionados will tell you there is nothing that compares to the clickety-clack of the wooden track and the thrill of the ride," said Bilbo.

One of Silver Dollar City's objectives with this development is to help `grow' Branson's tourism industry. "This new venture, focusing on families with kids, will help to define the next phase of tourism for the Branson area," said Bob Montgomery, who has been selected to run the new park. Montgomery brings extensive expertise in theme park development, having worked on numerous Lego attractions around the world.

Silver Dollar City representatives say what's perhaps going to be most impactful about this new property is how it could affect all Southwest Missouri tourism. "With this park we will provide another new reason for people to travel to the area, or to return," concludes Bilbo, noting that Branson recently advanced from the 18th to the 16th most popular tourist destination in America.

Silver Dollar City Inc. owns or operates 12 properties in four states, including Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. with partner Dolly Parton, and Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Complete SDC property information is available at www.silverdollarcity.com.

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