We loved our visit to Silver Dollar City. The beautiful Ozark Mountain setting, immersive 1880s theming and surprisingly good theme park food make this Branson park feel completely different from the big theme park destinations in Orlando.
But we also came away with one observation: Silver Dollar City has some seriously intense roller coasters.
Our kids love thrill rides, and the adults in our family enjoy a good coaster too. Even so, rides like Time Traveler, Outlaw Run, WildFire and PowderKeg can be a lot. These aren’t necessarily the rides where you casually bring along the youngest member of the family for their first big coaster experience.
That’s exactly why Silver Dollar City’s newest announcement caught our attention.
The park has announced Miner’s Mountain Express, an all new family roller coaster opening in spring 2027. And while there are plenty of impressive statistics attached to the new ride, there’s one number we think parents should pay particular attention to:
39 inches.
That’s the minimum height to ride Miner’s Mountain Express with a supervising companion, and it could make this one of the most important family additions Silver Dollar City has made in years.
What Is Miner’s Mountain Express?
Miner’s Mountain Express is a new MACK Rides family coaster coming to Silver Dollar City in spring 2027.
The new attraction will take riders on a runaway mining adventure inspired by the real history of Marvel Cave, the natural landmark that ultimately led to the creation of Silver Dollar City.
According to Silver Dollar City, the coaster will feature more than half a mile of track, two lift hills and 15 airtime moments during a ride lasting 3 minutes and 18 seconds. The park is calling it the longest family roller coaster in the Midwest.
Miner’s Mountain Express at a Glance
Opening: Spring 2027
Minimum height: 39 inches with a supervising companion
Manufacturer: MACK Rides
Ride time: 3 minutes, 18 seconds
Track: More than half a mile
Lift hills: 2
Airtime moments: 15
Location: Daredevil Pass at Silver Dollar City
Those coaster statistics sound fun. But for families, we’re going right back to that 39 inch height requirement.
Why the 39 Inch Height Requirement Matters
There is a big difference between a kiddie coaster and a family coaster.
A good family coaster lets younger kids feel like they’re finally getting to experience one of the “big rides” while still offering enough excitement that older siblings and parents actually want to ride too.
In other words, family friendly doesn’t have to mean boring.
Silver Dollar City says Miner’s Mountain Express has specifically been designed as a multigenerational experience. With a 39 inch minimum height when riding with a supervising companion, many younger children may be able to experience it alongside parents and older siblings.
For families traveling with kids of different ages and different thrill tolerances, attractions like this are incredibly valuable.
It Fills a Real Gap in Silver Dollar City’s Coaster Lineup
To be clear, Silver Dollar City’s thrill rides are one of the things the park does exceptionally well.
But there is quite a jump between some of its attractions for younger children and its signature roller coasters.
Time Traveler is a spinning coaster. PowderKeg launches riders. WildFire features five inversions. Outlaw Run is an incredibly fun wooden coaster, but nobody is confusing it with a gentle ride through Fantasyland.
That’s great for thrill seekers. It can be harder when you’re visiting with a family that includes a younger child who wants something bigger than a kiddie ride but isn’t ready for Silver Dollar City’s most intense attractions.
Miner’s Mountain Express appears designed to land right in that sweet spot.
The coaster will be located in Daredevil Pass, alongside thrill rides including WildFire and PowderKeg. That could make it especially useful for families who don’t necessarily want to split up every time the bigger kids head toward another coaster.
Silver Dollar City Was Already a Great Family Theme Park
Miner’s Mountain Express isn’t suddenly making Silver Dollar City family friendly. It’s making an already family friendly park even better for families with mixed ages.
That’s an important distinction.
Silver Dollar City is an incredibly beautiful park, particularly because of its natural Ozark Mountain setting. Its 1880s theme gives it a genuine sense of place, and the park’s craftsmen, live entertainment and seasonal festivals offer plenty to do beyond roller coasters.
And then there’s the food.
Silver Dollar City has some of the best theme park food we’ve encountered, and eating your way through the park can practically qualify as an attraction of its own.
The overall experience is also refreshingly different from Disney or Universal. Silver Dollar City doesn’t feel like it’s trying to recreate an Orlando theme park in Missouri. It knows exactly what it is, and that’s part of its charm.
2027 Is Shaping Up to Be a Big Year for Silver Dollar City
Miner’s Mountain Express isn’t the only major addition on the way.
The new Silver Dollar City Resort is also scheduled to open in 2027 as the first project in the company’s half billion dollar, 10 year development plan for the destination. The 262 room resort will include family suites with bunk beds, indoor and outdoor pools, a full service restaurant and door to door transportation to Silver Dollar City.
Silver Dollar City says resort guests will also receive park benefits including expedited ride access, with additional benefits still to be announced.
That combination makes 2027 an especially interesting year for families who may have had Silver Dollar City sitting on their “maybe someday” vacation list.
The Family Quest Take
We already considered Silver Dollar City one of the more underrated family theme parks we’ve visited.
It’s beautiful, genuinely immersive, has fantastic food and offers an experience that feels distinctly different from the major Florida theme parks.
Our biggest hesitation for some families has simply been that several of the park’s standout coasters get intense pretty quickly. And that’s coming from a family that actually likes roller coasters.
That’s why Miner’s Mountain Express feels like such a smart addition.
A 39 inch minimum height with a supervising companion gives younger children the opportunity to experience a substantial coaster with the rest of their family without requiring Silver Dollar City to water down what it already does so well.
If the finished attraction delivers on the theming and ride experience Silver Dollar City is promising, Miner’s Mountain Express could become one of the park’s best attractions for families traveling with children of different ages.
And it gives us another very good reason to start thinking about a return trip to the Ozarks.
Planning a Silver Dollar City Trip?
You don’t have to wait until Miner’s Mountain Express opens in 2027 to visit. Silver Dollar City is already worth considering for a Branson family vacation, especially if your family enjoys theme parks, great food and attractions that feel a little different from what you’ll find in Orlando.
Before purchasing tickets, we recommend comparing current Silver Dollar City ticket options. Undercover Tourist currently offers Silver Dollar City admission, which can make it easy to compare ticket choices while planning your trip.
CLICK HERE TO COMPARE TICKET PRICES
Family Quest Central may earn a commission when you purchase through some links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
For official attraction updates and opening information as 2027 approaches, visit Silver Dollar City.
Sources
Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts, official park and attraction information.
Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts, Silver Dollar City Resort development and 2027 opening information.
Undercover Tourist, current Silver Dollar City ticket availability.
Silver Dollar City Miner’s Mountain Express FAQs
When will Miner’s Mountain Express open at Silver Dollar City?
Miner’s Mountain Express is scheduled to open in spring 2027. Silver Dollar City has not yet announced a specific opening date.
What is the height requirement for Miner’s Mountain Express?
The minimum height requirement is 39 inches with a supervising companion. That relatively low height requirement is one of the reasons we think this new coaster could be such a strong addition for families with younger children.
Is Miner’s Mountain Express a kiddie coaster?
No. Silver Dollar City is describing Miner’s Mountain Express as a family coaster, not a kiddie coaster. It will feature more than half a mile of track, two lift hills and 15 airtime moments during a ride lasting more than three minutes.
Where will Miner’s Mountain Express be located?
The coaster will be located in Daredevil Pass, an area of Silver Dollar City that also includes thrill attractions such as WildFire and PowderKeg.
Is Silver Dollar City good for families with young kids?
Yes. Silver Dollar City already offers family rides, children’s attractions, live entertainment, seasonal festivals, crafts and plenty of experiences beyond roller coasters. Miner’s Mountain Express should give families another substantial ride that younger children may be able to enjoy with parents and older siblings.
