Ashby Frank
Mandolinist, Singer, Songwriter

IBMA was a ton of fun, but now it’s back to the real world on the road… well kinda.

Justin and I left Nashville on a 8 hour drive for our week at the Silver Dollar City Theme Park here in Branson, MO on Tuesday, and arrived here at the hotel at about 1AM Wednesday morning.

Our first “gig” of the week was a 8:45 photoshoot for the park’s billboard design that will be up all over the region over the next few months, and it went well. There aren’t many 8 AM’s that find me with my eyes open, so it was kinda rough especially since I didn’t get to sleep until pretty late.

I have a pretty hard time falling asleep immediatly after I’ve been driving all night, so I didn’t get more than 4 hours of sleep. One of my quirks I guess.

All week long, our sets are at 10:30, 1:30, and 3. Between the sets we get to walk around the park and visit the great food vendors, woodworking shops, rides and other booths and shops that they have here at this park.

I’m a rollercoaster fanatic, and there are three really great ones here at Silver Dollar City. Today is day two, and I’ve been on all of them at least three times already! Pretty sweet deal for “work”. They play Bluegrass all over the park over the speakers that they have hidden everywhere, and I think it’s pretty cool to be walking up to a roller coaster or around the Theme Park and hear my friends come over the speakers. Kind of surreal actually… AND they have giant sculptures made out of butter! Wow. That alone is worth the visit! hehe.

Actually, this is a wonderful place to vacation and if you’re within a decent distance, you should come check it out! It’s not your normal “theme park” at all. There’s live music everywhere, lots of shops with furniture, crafts, and country decor and such, and they’re always having some kind of festival.

Well two days down, three to go! Hope everyone else is having a great week.

Here’s my favorite coaster in town… WILDFIRE!:

Tags: Branson, Missouri, Silver Dollar City