Dry Gulch USA Christmas Train - Gripe

[zstyles]

So we decided to take the kids to Dry Gulch Friday night to the Christmas train...we bought tickets a few weeks ago and were looking forward to it...arrived after driving in the middle of redneck country for about 15 minutes down a 2 lane road with no shoulders..but hey that's Oklahoma.

We get to the parking lot, not bad...parked not to far and they had lots of people with golf carts ready to give you a ride..GREAT! Arrive VERY friendly staff lining up to greet you in western themed clothing...music playing...it really is impressive....walk in..the place is brand spanking new...

We decide to ride on the Carousel first to avoid the crowds a little later...hop on for a buck...(very nice price)....get some hot chocolate for a bucks...water...2 bucks...BBQ sandwich with sides..6 bucks...all very reasonable and no gouging going on here..so far so good...rode the stage coach ride(5.00 each) vs. the open wagon ride(free) but was nice to be in a private stage coach taking about a 10 min ride around a trail with the "night before Christmas) on nice big signs around the path that we read to the kids....

We also visited with Santa at his "palace" which was the highlight of the evening..we waited for maybe 15 min's in the heated room that was brand new, had lots of benches and was more like the parlor of a house than waiting room..lots of friendly staff walking around...we go into a private room with Santa and he spends at least 5 mins with the kids which was amazing considering all the people waiting behind us....we take the pic and are ushered into the exit and can buy a pic which was 3 8x10's for around 10 bucks(not bad at all) very high quality as well...the rest of the Dry Gulch experience was great..pony rides 5 bucks(no lines)...lots of little shops to visit...very clean and open..never really felt like we were in a crowd of people..

Now for the gripe...the reason we went was for the Christmas train...it was about a 30 min wait to get on the train..but was well organized and the staff AGAIN was very friendly and made the wait easy...the train was nice...very well packed in and the view was nice...the story was the story of Jesus being born and dieing for our sins' being narrated over the speakers...it was nice...I was expecting something more in conjunction(okay so I was wanting something more commercial along with the story(elves..Santa waving...etc for the kids) but that's just me...so we are ushered into a large building to watch a short film...this is where my gripe starts)...it is willie george on the big screen theater style..telling the story about his life and why dry gulch was made...basically GRAPHICALLY telling about how his mother slit her wrists, blood all over the apartment, alcoholism, his mother not being around, his dad dying...and more...this was VERY graphic esp to a 5 year old and there were about 60+ kids around the same age with this look of "whats he talking bout mommy" on their face...I was in shock...wondering should I just get up and leave or stay...we stayed and both looked at each other like pancakes was that...along with many other parents who we heard complaining that much of those details SHOULD have been left out of that..I can understand talking bout hardship..but give me a break..your having a good time..than you talk about blood, slitting wrists..alcoholism? I know that some churches like GUTS and Church on the move are the more progressive ones..but this was a little over the top...so in case your going..SKIP the film and keep going if you have young kids....just my two cents...but the rest again..was super and I could go and just skip the train all together to be honest...

[inteller]

so let me get this straight....is Dry Gulch some sort of religious experience.  I know Jesus didn't arrive by train, and tacking Christmas on the end is one thing, but are they suckering you into a sermon of some sort?  They don't advertise it that way on the cards.

[tulsa_fan]

Thanks for the heads up on the movie, my daughter is 3 and she asks enough questions as it is.  I appreciate the rest of it being positive though, we are planning to go this year, first time.

Yes, it's always been put on by Church on the Move and its purpose is to remind people the real reason for Christmas holiday.  Sounds like there are plenty of wonderful things to do there if you want to skip the train ride and the story of Jesus' birth.  

Thanks again for the heads up.

[inteller]

Church on the move?  I'll take my train ride with a little less "evangelical".

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

so let me get this straight....is Dry Gulch some sort of religious experience.  I know Jesus didn't arrive by train, and tacking Christmas on the end is one thing, but are they suckering you into a sermon of some sort?  They don't advertise it that way on the cards.

Well the place is a church campy during teh summer with 10k kids attending..this isn't really a "religious experience" but the train is the story of Jesus dying for our sin's etc.." that was really the only part that was non-commercialized" which I think was good..yet it was the movie at the end that put the icing on the cake for me on the negative post"...

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

Church on the move?  I'll take my train ride with a little less "evangelical".

If you have kids the place is a GREAT PLACE to go..and is very affordable..but again..skipping the train ride might be best for some!(trying to keep the thread positive..remember it is Christmas!!

[inteller]

yeah that's poor form.  You shouldn't cover the gory parts of Christianity until Easter.

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by tulsa_fan

Thanks for the heads up on the movie, my daughter is 3 and she asks enough questions as it is.  I appreciate the rest of it being positive though, we are planning to go this year, first time.

Yes, it's always been put on by Church on the Move and its purpose is to remind people the real reason for Christmas holiday.  Sounds like there are plenty of wonderful things to do there if you want to skip the train ride and the story of Jesus' birth.  

The train ride was fun...and the story was well told and my daughter loved the angels etc...but after your are "herded" into a theater..which I am assuming they cannot FORCE you to stay for but it is the only exit so keep on walking and you might have to explain to them that you do NOT want to stay..

BUT AGAIN HAVE FUN!! I think total we spent maybe 30 dollars the entire night on food, drinks, pictures with santa etc...great value and very clean well secure place...

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

yeah that's poor form.  You shouldn't cover the gory parts of Christianity until Easter.

LOL...

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

yeah that's poor form.  You shouldn't cover the gory parts of Christianity until Easter.

You know, I usually don't agree with most of what you say Inteller, but this made me LOL at work and get funny looks until I showed them the thread.

I remember thinking Easter shouldn't be that bloody until I watched POTC for the first time.  Yeesh.

[sgrizzle]

Dry Gulch, as a originally remember it being advertised, was where you could ride a train to the north pole (like the Polar Express story) but you would also be exposed to the christian Christmas story along the way. I heard over the past year they tore down the North Pole and Santa is left to only one or two spots in the whole attraction now. I had not heard about the theater part yet. Seems like a good reason to skip. Can't imagine going to see "The Christmas Train" but then skipping the train ride. That movie seems completely out of context with the whole point of the park.

Leave the "in your face" graphic evangelism for Halloween like "GUTS" does.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by inteller

yeah that's poor form.  You shouldn't cover the gory parts of Christianity until Easter.

You know, I usually don't agree with most of what you say Inteller, but this made me LOL at work and get funny looks until I showed them the thread.

I remember thinking Easter shouldn't be that bloody until I watched POTC for the first time.  Yeesh.

well actually I was referring to the Killer Bunny Rabbits with Big Pointy Teeth, but whatever.

[zstyles]

I called this morning and asked the people who were in charge of the train and movie about this and why they feel its appropriate to play, they said they did research and feel that this is appropriate for all ages and children as they feel that alot of people are in this spot and this might give them a way out...!!

So the MINORITY should be force fed into the MAJORITY? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I asked them why they felt they didn't need to post some sort of "this is graphic" PG-13 warning etc to those parents who's kids are not going thru it and just want to enjoy everything else and skip over the doom and gloom(isn't there enough of that in the world right now lets be able to escape if we want to)

She basically blew me off and said this is how they do it and how they are GOING to do it and that's it!....very disappointing that they "own this" idea and this is how they do it..I also explained to them I was posting my real life review on the experience online and they really got upset and ask why I was making this my crusade agaist them!!(what the H?!)

I understand its a private place..but still...your inviting the PUBLIC and even movies have warnings when you go to the theater..I think that this was the most graphic thing my kids have ever seen...very disappointed in the staff today...

[zstyles]

I would invite others to post if they go/or went and let me know if it is just me here! I spoke with a few other parents after the train ride and they expressed the same concern as I..

Also one more thing...the ladies I spoke with said they did a "after the movie" survey on their opening night(when its just church members) and apparently got rave reviews..well DUH...everyone is already drinking that koolaid!

Don't get me wrong, I go to church, pray etc..but this was over the top inappropriate.

Okay last post of the day!

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by zstyles

So the MINORITY should be force fed into the MAJORITY?

isn't that kinda the way it works with the tin can churches?