Contact: Martha Hoy Bohner, Silver Dollar City, 417-338-8207, 417-338-8210, mbohner@silverdollarcity.com

BRANSON, Mo., April 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- When mid-America's most acclaimed theme park Silver Dollar City debuts its newest thrill ride, The Giant Swing, this weekend in Branson, Missouri, one of the ride's thematic elements contains a message that park guests won't see, but it is symbolic of the park's core values. Inside the 10-foot tall, handcrafted copper rooster weathervane, made by one of the park's craftsmen and perched high atop the barn setting for the new ride, is a copper box with a time-capsule message for future generations:

"Life passes so quickly, but God's word and His love stand the test of time. Our actions based upon His love will endure forever."

The entire chapter of 1Corinthians 13 follows.

Brad Thomas, general manager of the 1880s-style park, said the message reflects the heart of the park's Christian owners as well as the servant-leadership management model the company endorses. "We are not a park with preaching on the street corners, but a family-oriented theme park where we hope the love of Christ shows through in what we offer and how we treat our guests, along with servant leadership being part of all of our management principles," Thomas said.

Visited by two million people annually, Silver Dollar City is known for its demonstrating craftsmen like Rex Morton, who made the 300-lb. rooster weathervane and is one of 100 master and apprentice craftsmen who demonstrate heritage crafts daily at the park. The Giant Swing, a $6 million ride that launches riders more than seven stories in the air -- and nearly upside down -- is the latest of two dozen rides at the park.

This spring marks the park's 34th annual Young Christians Weekend with top names in Christian rock. The festival Southern Gospel Picnic presents Southern Gospel artists including Jeff and Sheri Easter and Gold City. For information, call 1-800-831-4FUN or visit www.silverdollarcity.com. 

Silver Dollar City is part of Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates 17 properties in seven states, with a mission statement that says "We create memories worth repeating…All in a manner consistent with Christian values and ethics."