Rainy Silver Dollar City

It rains a lot in the Ozarks. It has rained every time I have went. Usually it's just scattered sprinkles. But, sometimes it's a downpour!

My family still enjoys Silver Dollar City in the rain. The upside is very few other guests are there. So the lines are not bad at all, and most rides, unless there is lightening keep operating. With exception of Powder Keg, the mechanisms of its startup won't work in the rain, Outlaw Run and Thunderation.

We invested in good quality rain ponchos. In a pinch you can buy ponchos at Silver Dollar City. But, the last 10 years they have been terrible quality and shredded in a hour or two. We bought really good ones from Alliexpress and Frog Toggs from Walmart. They have lasted several years. We store them in a Summit compression bag for backpackers. I have the Large size and we can fit 2 adult Frog Toggs, 4 Teen size Alliexpress ponchos and 3 child size Alliexpress ponchos in the large Summit Compression bag. The bag is also water resistant. We clip it to our stroller wagon on rainy/predicted rainy days.

The ponchos work great for light/medium sprinkles. Light enough where rides are still going and it's still enjoyable to walk around, going in and out of shops or craft demonstrations or stand in lines for indoor shows like The Saloon, Red Gold Heritage Hall, Riverfront Playhouse, or the Opera House. 

However, sometimes there is a complete Gulley Washer Downpour! Then it's not as enjoyable to walk around or to even stand in lines to go to indoor shows. 

We rarely leave the Park though because we still can have fun doing indoor activities. 

If you are in Fireman's Landing most people head straight to Firehouse Play Place. While it is completely dry and temperature controlled, so it is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I really don't recommend it, unless it's your absolute only option. If you do choose to use it for shelter, I would try to escape and choose a different location as soon as the rain allows. As it is the absolute most popular during the rain, and unless the park is completely empty it's insanely crowded during rain. 

The same rule applies for the Culinary School. That porch is just ridiculously crowded, unless the park is utterly and completely empty.

I suggest the outdoor theaters that have roofs. The shows will keep you entertained and they generally have plenty of seats, and unlike the indoor theaters you can come and go and don't have to wait in a line in the rain to go in. Boatworks and Dockside Theater are the two that offer this.

We generally pack our Lunch. But, eat Dinner at a Silver Dollar City restaurant. 

For picnic lunch inside, we really love Wagon Works. We have a lot of different refill mugs and the drink machines are extremely accessible out of the rain there. Along with having a lot of seating under a roof. At least 3 floor levels of seating with a roof. When it's really empty the wagon is fun to sit in. Otherwise we love sitting in the lowest level by the fireplace, especially if they have a fire going.

Also the Rivertown Smokehouse has lots of seating underneath a roof. And the drinks are accessible from the roofed area, not ss easily as Wagon Works, if they have q lot of people because you need to go through the exit to get to the drink machines and not have to go in the rain. So, if real busy not as easy, if not busy, very easy to get refills without getting in the rain.

Other good places is upstairs at Lumbercamp, amazing views of the waterfall is a huge bonus and generally also pretty empty, however you have to leave the sheltered area to get drinks. 

Beside the Lumbercamp is brabd new seating with roofs for Fried Fancie's that's also dry, however also will have to leave the shelter for drinks.

You can also eat on the porch of the Culinary School if it's not packed with other people. 

For meals we buy from restaurants - our favorite in the rain because of the temperature controls of cool in the Summer, warm in the Winter. Is any of the Buffets. Molly's Mill, and the Reunion Hall. 

Of course you can also do Wagon Works.

Crossroads Pizza is also indoors, but like Firehouse Play Place and The Culinary School back porch it gets ridonkulously busy and crowded so not our first choice in the rain, unless the rain has absolutely drove out all the other guests.

You could also do anything around Lumbercamp and take it under the roofs to eat. But, I would only do that if it's lightly sprinkling. If it's a downpour you will be out in the rain in a line and waiting for the food. And again same applies for Rivertown Smokehouse, mainly of there is a line you may be waiting outside in the rain before ordering. If not many people in the park, then you have a good chance at being able to go inside Rivertown without a line outside.

Clara Belle's Cinnamon Bread and Starbucks Coffee, and Hannah's Ice Cream Parlor are also good dry places to have a snack and wait out rain. But, only if the park is extremely empty. Otherwise, rain or shine those places stay hopping and crowded. But, when not very many people are on the park, they are my favorite indoor snack places. 

We also have the Keenz Stroller Wagon with the All Weather Rain Guard. It keeps everything 100 percent dry.

This is a great Video by John and Amy and how they like visiting Silver Dollar City in the rain.

https://youtu.be/Q4dA6dD60tw