Silver Dollar City Unveils New 2027 Family Coaster

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, has unveiled Miner’s Mountain Express, a new family coaster inspired by the real mining history surrounding Marvel Cave. The attraction is scheduled to open in spring 2027 as part of a $150 million investment in the park’s next chapter.

The ride will send guests aboard runaway mine cars on an expedition across Daredevil Pass, where they’ll dodge boulders, navigate rugged Ozarks terrain and plunge past a flooded mine shaft while searching for a lost entrance to Marvel Cave.

The story draws inspiration from the Marble Cave Mining Company, which operated on the site in the 1880s. The cave was eventually renamed Marvel Cave after prospectors discovered that the cavern contained no marble.

An authentic 15-story headframe from a working Missouri mine will tower over the attraction. More than a half-mile of track will make Miner’s Mountain Express the longest family coaster in the Midwest, according to Silver Dollar City.

“For over 65 years, Silver Dollar City has entertained our guests through fun story-based adventures. This family coaster has been designed so that multiple generations of families can enjoy the mountain-themed adventure together,” said Brad Thomas, president of the Silver Dollar City Company. “Annually, Silver Dollar City welcomes visitors from every state in America. In 2027 and beyond, this family coaster and our all-new resort continue our growth strategy to invite even more guests to discover the Ozarks for their vacations and getaway weekends.”

The three-minute, 18-second ride will feature two towering lift hills and 15 airtime moments, which the park says is more than any other coaster at Silver Dollar City. Riders can be as young as 39 inches tall when accompanied by a supervising companion, allowing children and adults to experience the attraction together.

But the coaster is designed to be more than a collection of statistics. Its theming will incorporate weathered mining structures, rockwork, authentic equipment and other details inspired by Ozarks history.

Miner’s Mountain Express will be located in Daredevil Pass, a newly created section of the park connecting WildFire, PowderKeg and American Plunge. Guests will first pass beneath the 15-story headframe before beginning their expedition.

The track will follow the natural contours of the Ozark Mountains above Marvel Cave, a United States Registered Natural Landmark that was first explored by the Osage centuries ago. The cave ultimately became the inspiration for the creation of Silver Dollar City.

“For Miner’s Mountain Express, we asked ourselves how families could step into the park’s own origin story, which literally began with a hole in the ground called Marvel Cave,” said Erica Rutledge, senior creative director at Herschend Creative Studios. “Every building, every tool and every detail was thoughtfully designed to honor the people who came before us while creating an unforgettable adventure for today’s families.”

The attraction will also introduce a fictional character into its Ozarks-inspired story: legendary mining foreman Jedidiah “Jed” Campbell. His belief that “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” will encourage riders to continue searching for the lost entrance to Marvel Cave.

According to the park, the adventure emphasizes perseverance over luck as families make their way through the mining expedition.

Miner’s Mountain Express is being developed through a collaboration between Silver Dollar City and MACK Rides of Waldkirch, Germany, the family-owned manufacturer behind the park’s Time Traveler coaster. Silver Dollar City’s Maintenance & Construction team, designers and craftsmen are also working alongside Herschend Creative Studios on the attraction’s construction, theming and storytelling.

The new coaster is part of a larger expansion for Silver Dollar City that also includes the Silver Dollar City Resort, which is also slated to open in 2027. Together, the projects represent a $150 million investment intended to expand the park into a larger multi-day destination while continuing to highlight the heritage of the Ozarks.