Coming to Maggie Valley this weekend for the 4th? Activities start at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds at 2pm! There is no admission fee to enter so bring the family. Realty World Heritage Realty is sponsoring a catch and release fishing booth. We will have a large pool with 300 catfish stocked and for a $2 fee for 5 minutes you can try to catch as many fish as you can. Some of the fish will be tagged and local businesses have jumped in with prizes if those fish are caught.  We will also have a full booth set up with real estate information, MLS searches, and a chance to win The Realty World $10,000 Sweepstakes. Entry forms will be available! It will be a great time and capped off by an always great fireworks show. You have not seen or heard a fireworks show until you have seen it in  Maggie Valley. The bright lights reflecting off the mountains and the big booms echoing through the Valley is  incredible. We hope to see you there!

As reported in the Mountaineer on Monday June 30, 2008 the Town of Maggie Valley and its leadership approved the annexation of 197 properties, effective June 30, 2009. There was much opposition to the decision which will effect 166 acres or .26 square miles adjacent to existing town boundries.

The areas include: Campbell Woods Subdivision, Evergreen Heights Subdivision, Nottingham, Spring Lake,and Reuben Branch Roads, Wheels Through Time Museum, the righthand side of Evan’s Cove Road and Red Ox Circle, Timberline Drive, and Horseshoe Cove Subdivision. Obviously, people in these areas are not happy with the decision due to the increase in their tax burden. In some cases the Town can not offer any further services that are already offered with the exception of a discount on their water and sewer bill.

The annexations take place at a time that state legislators are considering a moratorium against involuntary annexations.  The decision will generate $174,764 in additional revenue for Maggie Valley and will cost the town approximately $155,034 in 2009 and $125,049 thereafter.

What do you think about forced annexation? Leave us a comment on your thoughts!

Slow Market? Not here in Maggie Valley in May of 2008. Maggie Valley (also includes Ivy Hill Township) had nine residential closings compared to 7 during the same time period in May of 2007.  The solds included all single family homes!

Here is a look at home sales in Maggie Valley from the first of the year through May 31, 2008:

There are currently 291 homes for sale in Maggie Valley/Ivy Hill Township.

45 Homes have sold from 1/1/08-5/31/08. Through the same time last year 66 homes had sold in Maggie Valley/Ivy Hill. I will break down the Waynesville numbers in a seperate post.

Haywood County had a chance to say good bye to “Landy” Wednesday evening at the viewing and Thursday at the funeral.  Hundreds of friends, family, patients, etc turned out to pay their respects. What is most amazing is how everyone talked about what a kind person Landon was and how he made everyone feel special. He was one of a kind!

I personally was able to share a story that involved my daughter about 6-8 months ago and I was shocked that Landon’s family already knew the story. Landon knew that he did something special and I will owe him for it forever. And the story goes like this:

As Landon’s Realtor on a particular home in Clyde, NC Landon met me at the house to take another look at the home. He had his son with him and I had my daughter (3 years old). We were in the basement which was unfinished with a concrete floor. As we were walking up the stairs of the basement to leave, my daughter missed a step and fell off the stairs head first towards the concrete.  She was about 5-6 feet off the floor when she fell. As quick as she was heading towards the cement floor Landon reached out with his right hand and grabbed her by her ankle and pulling her back up. Landon actually hurt his shoulder and felt that it slipped out a bit. Of course we were all amazed, but we will always be in his debt for saving our daughter from a serious outcome. 

We heard numerous stories of this caring man, husband, father, friend, and dentist. The world has lost one of the great ones and will never forget his time with us. Good bye Landon and we miss you!

In the past UK tourists visited Florida, California and NYC because these were the ‘in places’ to visit. It is cheaper than most parts of Europe and there is no language barrier. 

Today the UK tourists are still looking for good value, as the rate of exchange is even better now. They tend to travel to other US destinations as well, such as Maggie Valley, North Carolina or having stag or hen nights in Vegas. A lot of families have children that they take to Disneyworld etc. They like buying clothes in the US; this is one of the big attractions at the moment. In recent years the exchange rate went from approximately $1.75 to over $2 equal to the £1.

The U.K. weather is unpredictable. We had a very wet April here in Ascot but May so far, has been warmer than usual. We had a rough summer last year but could have a good summer this year.

In the USA, restaurants are cheaper, gas is more affordable, the weather is more predictable, and the place as a whole is a good deal. These factors make the USA a consideration for a vacation or for its investment potential in real estate.

-Bon and Penny - Ascot, Berkshire, UK

Realty World Heritage Realty is proud to announce that we have taken our marketing efforts to another level. Understanding that our unique market is down due to the economy, inflation, and most importantly the fact that our main buyer pool, Floridians are suffering their worst real estate market in decades. During 2004 to 2006 when real estate was booming across the country and especially the mountains of Western North Carolina we would estimate that over 90% of our buyers were from Florida. We are still seeing Florida buyers, but obviously in reduced numbers.

So, as we continue our traditional marketing methods including local print advertising, internet blasts, open houses, direct mail, etc. We have also reached “over the pond”. During the month of May we are running an ad in a British magazine called “A Place in the Sun”. We had the opportunity to meet some folks from the magazine out in Las Vegas last November at the National Association of Realtors Convention and were very impressed with their publication. 

Recognizing that the US dollar is continuing to plummet against overseas currency it is a great time to buy for overseas investors. This is happening in bigger markets in the US especially in Florida. It is our goal to tap into the UK and European market of investors and inform them about Maggie Valley, Waynesville, and all of Western North Carolina.  With our temperate climate, four seasons, and abundance of activities it is just a matter of getting the word out to overseas investors. We believe once they get here they will be “sold” like so many other visitors. 

“A Place in the Sun” calls themselves “The UK’s Best-Selling Overseas Property Magazine” and they have a very good distribution base.  The magazine features properties and destinations to buy real estate all over the world. At this time we are trying to convince the editor that a feature on our area would be very helpful to its readers. If you want to email him and let him know how beautiful an area it is please email Richard Way: richard.way@brooklandsgroup.com . We would love for him to feature our area and your comments may assist in convincing him that a feature is warranted.

Results? Well it may be to early to tell and like any print ad there is no way of telling how many people actually viewed the ad. Or is there? With the power of the internet, our website, and google analytics we can track how many people are coming to our site, how many pages they visit, and how long they stay on the site. Incredibly, we can also track what countries and cities within the countries the users are coming from. Since the add has come out our hits from the UK have increased 45-50% in the first two weeks of the release. This does not tell us how many viewed the ad, but with the increase it does tell us that some readers saw the ad, clicked on our site, and searched for a while. With a shelf life of 6 weeks we are eager to see how many more “hits” we get from the UK and beyond.

As Realty World Heritage explores other marketing avenues and continues to think “outside the box”,we are excited to see if we can attract buyers outside of our traditional areas. The word “globalization” has been a buzz word for the last few years and I believe that we will see more overseas investments outside of the traditional markets and within lesser known areas. The power of information exchange and the internet strikes again. We would love to hear your comments!

photostory1ghost-town

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.

2008 Festivals and Events

Spring is here and there is alot of upcoming events in Maggie Valley NC!

April 4 —”Linda Davis”
Eaglenest Entertainment. 7PM. Call 828-926-9658 for ticket info. http://www.eaglenestnc.com/

April 5– “Little Miss Maggie Contest”
Carolina Nights Dinner Theater. Calling all Haywood County Girls age 5 - 10.
Must Register by April 1st. 828-926-1686

April 18 — Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Home School Day - Special school rates available to home-schooled children. Departs at 10:30am.
Call 800-872-4681 for reservations.

April 25– Josh Bates
Eaglenest Entertainment.7PM A free night of worship, fun & incredible music. 828-926-9658 or http://www.eaglenestnc.com/

April 25-27– Cherokee Survivors Motorcycle Rally.
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. 865-724-4105

April 25-27– Thunder in the Smokies Motorcycle Rally.
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. 828-246-2101 or http://www.handlebarcorral.com/

April 26 — Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Biltmore Estate Wine Dining Train. A special gourmet dinner train pairing premium wines of the Biltmore Estate. Call 800-872-4681 for reservations.

May 2– Ghost Town opens for the season.
http://www.ghosttowninthesky.com/

May 2-4– Chevy/GMC Truck Nationals
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. 423-237-1502

May 10– Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Mother’s Day Dining Train. Evening Gourmet Dinner Train with a special recognition corsage for mothers. Call 800-872-4681 for reservations.

May 10 & 11– Ghost Town will be hosting a Haywood County Bicentennial Weekend. http://www.ghosttowninthesky.com/

May 16-18– ‘Cruise the Smokies” Spring Rod Run.
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. Pre 1972 vehicles.
828-497-8122.

May 16-23– Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
“The Little Engine That Could” Two 3-day weekends!
Bryson City Depot. Call 800-872-4681 for reservations.

May 23-24– “Golden Voice of Soul” Percy Sledge
Eaglenest Entertainment. 8:30PM.Call 828-926-9675 for tickets. http://www.eaglenestnc.com/

May 24-25–Memorial Day Powwow.
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. Champion Indian dancers in competition and exhibition will stir your blood. 828-497-8128.

May 24 & 25 — Vettes in the Valley.
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Corvette enthusiasts come from all over the US to compete in this annual event. Call 828-926-0201 for more information.

May 31 — Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Carolina Wine Dining Train. Evening features a special menu pairing wines produced in the Carolinas. Departs Dillsboro Depot at 7:30PM. Call 800-872-4681 for reservations.

May 31 & June 1– “The Larkins” will be performing at Ghost Town in the Sky. http://www.ghosttowninthesky.com/