July 30, 2025
Heart & Soul
It was the summer of 1963, and the scent of woodsmoke rolled through the hills. Silver Dollar City was only a few years old—a young theme park carved into the heart of the Ozarks with plenty of promise and pioneer spirit.
That summer, a college student named David Sigmon arrived in The City from Springfield, looking for a summer job and a place to sleep. When he mentioned to a co-worker that he had nowhere to stay, help came quickly.
“Pete said I could crash at his place,” David recalls. “I learned later that Pete was Pete Herschend who founded the park with his family. Nicest guy ever back then and still is to this day.”
Two years later, a spirited young woman named Mary Alice joined the park’s small but lively staff. It was at a company meeting that she first laid eyes on David.
“I saw him across the room and thought he was the cutest boy in the whole place,” she remembers with a smile. “But he was dating someone else at the time.”
That summer romance didn’t last, and before long, David and Mary Alice began spending more time together. They were both in college in Springfield, and soon their story began to unfold.
Back then, park employees floated from role to role depending on the day. Mary Alice worked with the Street Troupe and filled shifts at the blown glass shop and General Store. David did everything from robbing trains on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line to leading visitors through Marvel Cave.
“This entire park was a wonderland of fun,” Mary Alice says.
The two laugh when remembering the adventures they shared with fellow staff, especially after hours.
“We’d go caving at night after work,” Mary Alice says. “We’d come out covered in dirt and bat guano.”
David grins. “I remember one night there were a bunch of bats flying around, bumping into us. Mary Alice didn’t squeal or scream—not even once. That’s how I knew she was the girl for me.”
And she was. David and Mary Alice were married in 1967. Now, nearly six decades later, they’re preparing to celebrate 58 years of marriage—a love story rooted in that one unforgettable summer.
“Life was simple back then,” Mary Alice reflects. “Our story was simple. We literally grew up loving each other. That’s all it takes.”
Now living in Oklahoma, the Sigmons return to the Ozarks each year. They walk the winding streets of Silver Dollar City, marvel at how it’s grown, and catch up with old friends—especially their lifelong pal, Pete.
For them, Silver Dollar City will always be more than just a theme park.
Heart & Soul
