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

Not sure what kind of spider this is.. but it was huge & scary on the outside of our car window. Turns out it was living in our left hand mirror.. not sure how long or where we picked it up…

Posted via email from realtyworldheritagerealty’s posterous

As the celebration gets closer, some of the questions lingering out there is, “What is there to do here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.?”

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.

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Carolina Vacations Inc is the rental company located next door to our office. We work very close together and they have been steadily increasing their web presence. I have posted a recent video that they have created. Check it out!

It has been a cold winter thus far. I have heard some say that it is the coldest winter in 20 years here in the mountains. We are in the middle of another cold snap and had a winter storm warning that expired last night. Some areas received 6 inches or more of snow and I will tell you it is cold! It will take days for some of the roads to thaw. The main roads are fine, but travelling on the side roads can be dangerous. 

I would say Cataloochee Ski Resort should be having a great year with the weather that we have had. It does not help real estate sales when you cannot access some of the homes, but the weather does create a winter wonderland!

In regards to the real estate market sales have been steady and I have heard from several other Realtors that their business has picked up this winter which is an encouraging sign during our “slow” season.  We at Realty World Heritage are plugging away and we are ahead of what we did to this point last year which is also encouraging.

Stay warm!

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.