[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E556-E557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT AND SILVER DOLLAR CITY ON 
                          ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 2010

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Silver 
Dollar City on its upcoming 50th anniversary.
  The Herschend family established Silver Dollar City on May 1, 1960, 
in Branson, Missouri, on top of Marvel Cave to preserve and celebrate 
the folk history, storytelling, music and craft traditions of 1880s 
America. The park originally featured two authentic log structures, a 
town square with a demonstrating blacksmith, a general store, and an 
ice cream parlor. A crew of 17 ``citizens'' entertained about 125,000 
visitors in the first year.
  Fifty years later, Silver Dollar City now counts over 2 million 
visitors annually, employs more than 2,000 individuals, and contributes 
over $100 million a year to Missouri's economy. The award-winning theme 
park is the ``Home of American Craftsmanship,'' showcasing a colony of 
100 resident craftsmen, in addition to its rides and attractions and 
world class festivals. The success of Silver Dollar City, in addition 
to the natural beauty of the Ozarks and the creation of Table Rock 
Lake, has helped launch Branson into a world-renowned tourism 
destination.
  In the years since Silver Dollar City opened, Herschend Family 
Entertainment has grown to become America's largest family-owned theme 
park company--owning and operating 24 properties spread across nine 
states, including iconic sites like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, 
Tennessee. Herschend properties attracted over 8.6 million visitors in 
2009 and supports 6,600 jobs across the country. These parks celebrate 
our shared cultural heritage as Americans, our country's vast natural 
features and wildlife, and the community spirit that made America what 
it is today.
  In addition to operating its entertainment business, the Herschend 
family, along with Silver Dollar City and its many other properties, 
touch thousands of lives through charitable giving and volunteer time 
to hundreds of nonprofit groups every year. In my congressional 
district alone, the Silver Dollar City Foundation contributes over 
$100,000 per year in Stone and Taney counties through its Care for Kids 
Program.
  To Pete and Jack Herschend, and the team at Silver Dollar City, I 
offer my congratulations on their 50th anniversary.

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