Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley NC needs our HELP!

We received this letter from Ghost Town in the Sky.. Hope you’re able to help!

-Realty World-Heritage Realty

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All friends of Maggie Valley and Ghost Town in The Sky,

I can’t thank you all enough for the support and continued emails regarding beautiful Maggie Valley and Ghost Town in The Sky. Today, we passed the final State of NC inspection for our House of Terror and Scenic Train and we are extremely thankful for Jonathan Brooks, Tommy Petty and Preston White of the NC Department of Labor for their continued assistance.

We have invested millions of dollars and thousands of man hours getting Ghost Town back in shape and the NC Department of Labor has been extremely helpful. We are on the verge of getting everything in this park open and operational for the first time since we acquired the park in 2006 and are now one inspection away from that significant milestone. Today at 5pm, we are scheduled to open the House of Terror and the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster to a host of dignitaries and media as well as local elected officials, business owners and those dependent on Ghost Town’s survival. I can’t impress upon everyone enough the critical nature of this inspection to take place today or tomorrow. We are mindful of the stress on the department with current economic conditions and budgetary concerns that face almost every state in the nation.

We realize the inspectors in this region are extremely busy, but need our supporters to call Commissioner Cherie Berry or Andy Frazier asking them to allocate the necessary resources to get this done today or tomorrow. They have the resources in our area to help us but apparently due to budget cuts and being short inspectors in this region, they are not able to get to us.

GT will pay for overtime, if necessary, just to get this done. They must be made to realize that this is essential to our economy and the future of the Park, and the success of this Park means added revenue for the State, and continued employment for Maggie Valley and all of Western North Carolina.

With this in mind, please join us in making the NC Department of Labor understand the extreme need to support the tourism industry here in Maggie Valley and to get the inspection done on our Cliffhanger Coaster. Please contact the following to urge them to do everything possible.

Honorable Cherie K Berry, Commissioner, NCDOL Phone 919-733-7166 Email: cherrie.berry@labor.nc.gov
Andy Frazier, Deputy Commissioner, Standards and Inspections, NCDOL Phone 919-807-2794 Email: andy.frazier@labor.nc.gov
Jonathan Brooks, Elevator & Amusement Device Bureau Chief, NCDOL Phone 919-807-2770 Email: jonathan.brooks@labor.nc.gov

Once again, it has been a significant challenge to get Ghost Town in The Sky back to its former stature as one of the largest economic engines in Western North Carolina. On behalf of our employees, investors and myself, I want to express our heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude to all of you that believed in us and continue to make us a success.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, you can email me any time at steve@shiver.com

I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and we all look forward to seeing you here in Maggie Valley, NC at Ghost Town in The Sky.
Travel Safe, Steve Shiver, President/CEO Ghost Town in The Sky

I’ve gathered a few events that may interest you this coming 4th of July..

Maggie Valley, NC   “Red, White and Boom in Maggie Valley“Maggie Valley will play host to its fourth annual fireworks festival, “Red, White & Boom!” from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The event, hosted by The Town of Maggie Valley and the MV Chamber, is free, and includes an afternoon festival and a dazzling fireworks display launched over the festival grounds.

In addition to the fireworks, visitors will enjoy an afternoon full of live entertainment, crafts, kids’ inflatables, games, souvenirs & food. Scheduled performers include entertainers from Hoss Howard of Cherokee, which will take the stage around 7 p.m. The Hominy Valley Boys open at 5:15 p.m.

For more information contact the Maggie Valley Chamber 828.926.1686 or CLICK HERE to visit their website

Maggie Valley, NC   @ the Maggie Valley Club

3-4pm  Pool Games

4-7pm  BBQ, Music, Bocce & more!

$13 for Maggie Valley Club members; $14 for non-members; $7 for kids

for more info, contact the Maggie Valley Club (828) 926-1616

Maggie Valley, NC   Jude’s Coffee & Cremery

7-9pm  Ice Cream & Karaoke

Call (828) 944-0220

Lake Junaluska, NC

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Annual craft fair in Nanci Weldon Gym

• 11 a.m. — Independence Day Parade at Lambuth Inn

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Kid’s Area at Nanci Weldon Gym

• Noon — Barbecue lunch at Nanci Weldon Gym

• 7:30 p.m. — Junaluska Singers in Stuart Auditorium

• Dusk — fireworks display

Waynesville, NC “Stars and Stripes in Waynesville”The 19th Annual Stars and Stripes Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 4, in downtown Waynesville. The event features sidewalk sales, live street entertainment, refreshments and family fun.

As part of the event, SARGE’s Animal Rescue will hold a pet adoption day on the courthouse lawn during the event. In addition, International Fare will dish out Mediterranean Food during the event.

Other entertainment is as follows:

• 11 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. — Fiddling Dills sisters and friends, near Gatekeepers

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Madison Horns, mini park at corner of Main and Depot Streets

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Karin Lyle and Friends, fiddle and dulcimer, Miller Street park area

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.— Poetry People with Michael and Scott, roving the streets of Waynesville.

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — The Hominy Valley Boys, parking lot between UBC and LN Davis

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Steve Whiddon, “Pianoman” at the Strand

• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Uncle Sam, roving

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Grey Wolf Band near SunTrust Bank

• 1:30 p.m. — Haywood Community Band, courthouse lawn

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. —The Cruz’s, Miller street park

Please note: Main Street will not be closed, but the top of Miller Street will be closed due to pedestrian safety.

For more information contact 828.456.3517.

Cullowhee, NC (Western Carolina University) “Two patriotic shows at WCU”

Musical theatre students and faculty from Western Carolina University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts will perform a star-spangled variety show at two locations in Western North Carolina in advance of a Fourth of July concert at the Roanoke Island Festival Park.

The troupe, known as the WCU Catamount Starz, will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Cashiers United Methodist Church. Both performances are free of charge.

The program, “What a Country: A Celebration of America,” features a selection of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, Broadway, patriotic and light classical song

and dance.

Cullowhee, NC  “Regional Art and Craft Show”

The 20th Annual “Summertime” Mountain Artisans Fine Art and Craft Shows will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, at the Ramsey Center on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The show will feature over 100 original artists and crafters. For more information, call 828.524.3405 or CLICK HERE to visit their website.

Franklin, NC   “Fireworks and Fun in Franklin”

The 4th of July Fireworks & Fun Day, sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Macon County Veterans Memorial Recreation Park just south of Franklin off U.S. 441. The celebration will conclude at dark with the largest fireworks display in the area.

There’s plenty of food and entertainment to be had by all. The fun gets underway at 9 a.m. with the annual 4th of July Horseshoe Tournament, located behind the Macon County Community Building. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per team or $12.50 per individual.

Kids are sure to enjoy the Fun Land inflatable play area, featuring Euro-bungee, ladder golf, a 1/10 scale NASCAR remote-control race track and the infamous “Plunger Toss”. The “play all day” fun land bracelets are $15, individual tickets are $1.

There’s also an all-day music and entertainment lineup. Here’s the schedule:

• 1 p.m. — Frog Town 4

• 2 p.m. — Rye Holler Boys

• 3 p.m. — Dave Stewart

• 3:30 p.m. — Brian Sanders

• 4 p.m. — Touch of Class Band

• 4:45 p.m. — Eric Haggart

• 5:15 p.m. — C-Squarse

• 6 p.m. — Children’s Choir

• 7 p.m. — Sundown

• 8 p.m. — Raffle/Awards/Announcements/ Bulls Eye Bingo

• 8:15 p.m. — Presentation of Colors and Salute to Armed Forces

• 8:30 p.m. —Loose Cannons (Army Ground Forces Rock Band, Ft. McPherson, GA)

• 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks

Bryson City, NC   “Bryson City Freedom Fest”

The Bryson City July 4th Freedom Fest celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. with the Firecracker 5K race that takes runners on a scenic route up Deep Creek Road. Race begins at Riverfront Park.

An entertainment stage, food and craft vendors will set up on Main Street, Town Square and Everett Street, which will be closed to traffic from the town square to Mitchell Street. Specialty foods include BBQ, hot dogs, hamburgers, shaved ice, funnel cakes and other desserts, candy apples, and kettle corn. At 1 p.m., compete in a Watermelon Eating Contest.

Dress up your pet for the “Strut Your Mutt” Pet Contest at 10:30 am at Riverfront Park, sponsored by PAWS. Categories include “Best Tail Wag” and “Looks Most Like Owner.”

Music is a main attraction from 10:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. The festival will top off with a fireworks show, launched from the top of airport hill.

The entertainment schedule is as follows:

• 10 a.m. — VFW Post 9281

• 10:30 a.m. — Grampas Music

• 11:30 a.m. — The Rye Holler Boys

• 1 p.m. — Watermelon Eating Contest

• 2 p.m. — Karaoke Block

• 3 p.m. —The Freight Hoppers

• 4 p.m. — The Elderly Brothers

• 5:30 p.m. — Blues Brothers, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Show

• 7:00 p.m. — Big House Radio

• 9:45 p.m. — The Star Spangled Banner

• 10 p.m. — Fireworks

For more information, contact the Swain County Chamber of Commerce at 828.488.3681.

Cashiers, NC “Cashiers Mountain Music Festival”

The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the inaugural production of The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival benefiting the Cashiers Preservation Foundation, beginning at 11 a.m. and running until the start of the town’s annual fireworks display at dusk on Saturday, July 4, at the Village Green in the heart of Cashiers.

This all-day live music concert is loaded with bluegrass and mountain music and will feature such nationally recognized acts as The Isaacs, Lizzie Long & Friends, Sierra Hull and the High Windy Band; as well as regional acts including Rye Holler Boys, The Hims, Tucker’s Town, Mountain Faith and the Sweet Tater Band.

There will be plenty of concessions, so bring your chairs or blankets and enjoy the music in this beautiful mountain setting. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 ages 6 to 12 and children under 6 are free. No coolers, pets or firearms. Please call the Chamber at 828743.5191 or CLICK HERE for more information.

Many of the event information was gathered by Smoky Mountain News. CLICK HERE to visit their site.

Posted via web from realtyworldheritagerealty’s posterous

2008 SEASON BEGINS AT GHOST TOWN IN THE SKY

Maggie Valley, NC –   Ghost Town in the Sky, North Carolina’s mountain top family theme park, will open for the 2008 season on Friday, May 2.  Ghost Town is famous for its Wild-West theme, live-action shows and beautiful setting on top of Buck Mountain, which is elevated over 4000 feet.  The park is nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains and is 4 miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Milepost 255 in Maggie Valley.  Maggie Valley is 14 miles east of Cherokee and 34 miles west of Asheville.

 A day at Ghost Town starts by taking a twenty-minute chairlift ride with 75-degree inclines up the side of a mountain.  The multi-level, 90-acre park features live action shows, rides, crafts and live music.  Musical guest performances, along with a series of cartoon and comic book characters, have been scheduled throughout the season.  A complete entertainment and special events schedule can be found on http://ghosttowninthesky.com/Special/upcomingEvents.html.

 Ghost Town originally opened on June 11, 1961 and remained opened until 2002.  The landmark re-opened for the first time in five years under new ownership in 2007 and has been a vacation destination for decades.

 Greater Variety of Entertainment for This Season

New in 2008 is American Music Hall which will hold live musical performances and daily entertainment shows.  The new Hall is 7000 square feet and seats over 500 guests featuring country bands to legendary gospel singing groups. 

 Ghost Town gunfights are being created and staged by Robert Bradley, who has performed at Ghost Town for forty-five years. “We have added explosive new scenes and three different gunfight shows daily,” said Bradley. “Our shows, gunfights and performances are being offered in such a way that all of our guests can wind their way around the park and enjoy all of it, and they can join us again on the very next day and be thrilled by a completely different series of shows and performances,” states John Buccafusco, Ghost Town’s Entertainment Director.

 New for children this year is a gem-mining attraction where kids can find up to twelve different gem stones, and gold-panning attraction.  Enjoyed by all ages will be the Scenic Train which circles Ghost Town’s Wild West Main Street. Ghost Town will also host live wolf demonstrations five days a week.  Local and Naturalist Robert Gudger will enlighten park guests about how man and wildlife in the mountains can co-exist.  Sharing the spotlight with Gudger will be Rick Byrd and his Native American Dance Team presenting the pageantry and color of their authentic dances.

 Ghost Town is re-vamping the existing food options and will also open two more food venues, the Timberwolf Café and the Iron Horse Grill. The Timberwolf Café is inside the American Music Hall.  Guests can enjoy a full-service lunch while also enjoying the live entertainment. 

  The Cliffhanger Will Open In June

The highly anticipated re-opening of The Cliffhanger Rollercoaster, located literally on the side of Buck Mountain, is scheduled to open this June.  Since originally built in 1985 there have been improvements in coaster equipment and materials as well as improved safety standards which have impacted the originally planned opening of the rollercoaster last year. he Cliffhanger has several qualities that set it apart and makes this a unique experience.  It has a top speed of roughly 56 miles per hour.  As a rider leaves the terminal, the illusion is given that you are going to fall off the mountain.  An exciting loop generates three g-forces of pressure as riders travel 2,063 feet along a fun-filled ride.  The cars alone are very uniquely engineered, creating an open atmosphere to enjoy the views. “There are only a handful of loop coasters in the world that exist without a shoulder harness restraint,” states Larry Moyers of Rotational Motion.  The cars have no side panels either. Aside from the cars on the train, the Cliffhanger is so unique because the station (where guests enter and exit the ride) is built higher than the loop.  Riders experience the loop within 7 seconds of beginning the ride!  With typical coasters, you experience the lift at the beginning to travel to the coaster’s highest point; The Cliffhanger, the terminal is at the highest point, and the lift is at the end of the ride. Another example that sets the Cliffhanger apart is the distinctive and beautiful setting that surrounds the coaster.  

 In keeping with the tradition of the park, Ghost Town in the Sky’s new ownership group had a daunting task to create a safe environment for the guests.  The goal was to keep the uniqueness and tradition of the Red Devil while bringing the coaster to new safety standards by adding components.  An outside company, Rotational Motion, had the difficult task of re-designing and updating the coaster. Moyers states that “over 10,000 man hours have been put into the manufacturing of the cars.”    Kevin Bailey, General Manager of Ghost Town states, “This is an engineering feat.  We have had four different engineering companies and three outside contracted crews in addition to our own construction crew during such a tedious process.” The Cliffhanger will boast a magnetic brake system to assist the existing air brakes and to improve rider comfort.  The new seats will utilize ergonomic padded lap bars and retractable seatbelts which were specially engineered and manufactured for the coaster.   “The seatbelts were created to have a triple back up system”, Moyer states, “and the lap bar system has less than ½ inch of travel for a secure and comfortable fit.”  Other new features include polyurethane wheels for a smoother ride and synthetic lubricants instead of petroleum based will be used for less friction and a better ride.

 In addition to the improved safety standards at Ghost Town, the park offers an affordable vacation or getaway.  Currently a season pass, which gives passholders unlimited access to Ghost Town each day that it’s open to the public, is on sale for the same price as two admission tickets.  Coupons for daily admission are being distributed throughout the season by third-party partners, such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Food Lion, throughout the Southeast as well as print advertising and direct mail distributed throughout the Eastern United States.  “We want to be affordable and give a good value.  With the rising cost of gas and a slow economy, coupons will help encourage folks to choose Ghost Town as their entertainment destination,” says Hank Woodburn, founding partner of the new ownership group that took over the park in 2006.

 The original owner, R.B. Coburn, passed away recently on April 1, and Ghost Town is celebrating his life and his accomplishments of making Maggie Valley a tourist destination by establishing Founders Day each year on June 11.

 Daily admission tickets and season passes are available at www.ghosttowninthesky.com or at the ticket gate located at the entrance to Ghost Town.