Latest news with #BlueRidgeMountainLife
Wales Online
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'Cursed' ghost town theme park in the hills lies abandoned with chilling explanation
'Cursed' ghost town theme park in the hills lies abandoned with chilling explanation The once-bustling amusement park is now an eerie bastion of faded splendour It drew visitors from far and wide with its unique attractions A chillingly abandoned "ghost town in the sky", which captivated crowds in its heyday, now lies deserted amid the hills of North Carolina, having succumbed to financial woes over ten years ago. Left to decay under the mercy of the weather, the Old West-inspired amusement park, previously a magnet for movie stars and stunt performers, now languishes as a haunting reminder of former grandeur. Yet, there might be a glimmer of hope for its revival. One particularly daunting rollercoaster rises above desolate saloons at Buck Mountain's summit, at an impressive elevation of 4,650 feet. Local travel outlet Blue Ridge Mountain Life noted that some have dubbed Ghost Town Village as a "cursed amusement park." The concept of the attraction originally came about when the land was purchased from a townsman known as Uncle Dan Carpenter back in 1960. The narrative has it that R.B. Coburn stumbled upon the tale of Carpenter's sheep being lost in a vast cave on Buck Mountain, as reported by The Sun, reports the Mirror US. This Western-themed park quickly became a beloved destination (Image: Youtube ) Coburn, intrigued, sought out Carpenter who then revealed the location where his sheep had gone missing, sparking the vision for the park. Inspired by his experiences in the ghost towns of the Midwest, Coburn envisaged transforming this site into a time capsule for visitors. Article continues below The construction of the park was a Herculean task that saw the concerted effort of more than two hundred locals come together to erect about 40 constructions at the pinnacle of the mountain to comprise the ethereal township. Approximately 120,000 square feet of construction emerged, utilising 91,000 metres of lumber, 60,000 metres of plywood, and a staggering 9,000 kg of nails. The park threw open its gates in 1961, rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination in Western North Carolina and becoming a hub for TV western stars from series like Laramie and Wagon Train to shoot their scenes. Audiences were particularly captivated by the staged gunfights that took place hourly on the main street, with the unique selling point being the rides darting in and out of the mountain's flanks. One rollercoaster was called the Red Devil (Image: Youtube ) However, over time, the attraction began to deteriorate, leading to a decline in visitor numbers, akin to falling off a cliff. The park was further beset by infrastructural woes, including issues with water, power and sewage systems. Workers also started airing their concerns regarding unpaid wages, culminating in the park ceasing operations after the 2009 season. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Despite being dubbed the "cursed amusement park" by Blue Ridge Mountain Life, owing to numerous failed attempts at revival, salvation may be at hand. On May 9, a post on NAPHA's Facebook page disclosed that an interested party from Florida is considering the purchase of the now-defunct theme park. That very post also indicated that the proprietor, Jill McClure, is keen to sell it for use as an entertainment venue rather than to interests with different intentions. Article continues below However, the site has reportedly been earmarked for a housing development instead. The new owner reportedly intends to revamp the area into "a venue featuring country music, rodeos, and festivals, aiming to keep the park family-friendly."
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eerie 'ghost town in the sky' theme park lies abandoned amid 'curse'
Ghost Town Village in the hills of North Carolina once thrived with thousands of visitors but is now a shadow of its former self with empty saloons, rotting wooden buildings, and rusting rides A chillingly deserted "ghost town in the sky" stands eerily still in the hills of North Carolina, in the US, a decade after its once-thriving amusement park went under. The towering rides have been abandoned to the elements, with the Wild-West-themed park, once a hotspot for movie stars and stunt men, now a haunting symbol of faded grandeur. Yet, there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. A terrifying 1,500 metre rollercoaster looms over vacant saloons on top of Buck Mountain, standing at 4,650 ft. The regional travel guide, Blue Ridge Mountain Life, has noted that some refer to Ghost Town Village as a "cursed amusement park." The concept for the park was conceived when the land was purchased from a local land owner named Uncle Dan Carpenter back in 1960. According to The Sun, R.B. Coburn had heard a tale about Uncle Dan Carpenter losing his sheep in a large cavern on top of Buck Mountain, reports t he Mirror US. Coburn sought out Carpenter who showed him where he had lost his sheep, sparking the dream for the park. Coburn believed the location held immense potential to transport tourists back to the old ghost towns of the Midwest that he had once visited himself. The task of building the park was colossal. Over two hundred locals joined forces to construct around 40 buildings, creating the ghost town at the peak of the mountain. Approximately 120,000 square feet of structures were built, utilising 91,000 metres of timber, 60,000 metres of plywood, and 9,000 kg of nails. The park's opening in 1961 drew huge crowds, making it a top destination in Western North Carolina and a popular filming location for TV Western stars from shows such as Laramie and Wagon Train. The hourly staged gunfights on the main street were a significant attraction, and the ride's unique selling point was its steep plunges in and out of the mountain. However, the park gradually fell into disrepair, leading to a decline in visitor numbers. The owners struggled with infrastructure issues, including water, power, and sewage problems. Employees began to express concerns about unpaid wages, and the park ultimately closed after the 2009 season. Despite being dubbed the "cursed amusement park" by Blue Ridge Mountain Life due to numerous failed attempts to reopen, the National Amusement Park Historical Association remains optimistic. According to a Facebook post by NAPHA on May 9, a potential buyer from Florida has expressed interest in purchasing the abandoned amusement park. The post also mentioned that the current owner, Jill McClure, intends to sell the property for entertainment purposes, rather than to a buyer who would repurpose it. The land is now earmarked for a housing development, but the buyer intends to turn the area into "a venue featuring country music, rodeos, and festivals, aiming to keep the park family-friendly."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ghost Town in the Sky could see a revival: What to know about potential sale
A wild-west themed amusement park in Maggie Valley may see a revival, according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Regional travel guide website Blue Ridge Mountain Life noted that some refer to Ghost Town Village, formerly known as Ghost Town in the Sky, as a "cursed amusement park." The gloomy title refers to the many failed attempts to reopen the park, which was once a popular attraction but has not been open since 2009. The NAPHA made a Facebook post on May 9, stating that a potential buyer from Florida expressed interest in buying the defunct amusement park. The same post said that current owner Jill McClure, who inherited the property, aims to sell it for entertainment purposes rather than to a buyer who will use it for housing. The buyer envisions "a venue featuring country music, rodeos, and festivals, aiming to keep the park family-friendly." So far, the NAPHA has mentioned only preliminary consideration of purchasing the park from the potential Florida buyer. However, current owner McClure has clarified that she hopes to sell the park, regardless, for entertainment purposes. Blue Ridge Mountain Life co-owner Larry Deane explained in a post on the website that the reasons behind Ghost Town Village's initial closure were "extensive." "Over the many years, the park just slowly ran into disrepair, having some significant infrastructure issues like water, power, sewage," Deane wrote. "After all, providing those services on the top of a mountain for an amusement park isn't easy." Deane also cited the decline in popularity of the "wild west" theme in as a reason why Ghost Town Village was closed. As the abandoned park is private property, it is unlawful to enter the area without permission. "It is illegal to enter the property, and you will be charged with trespassing per our conversation with local authorities," Deane wrote. More: Mother's Day tariff trouble: Flower costs rising. See Western NC grower options Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ghost Town in the Sky, Ghost Town Village may attract new owner
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ghost Town in the Sky could see a revival: What to know about potential sale
A wild-west themed amusement park in Maggie Valley may see a revival, according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Regional travel guide website Blue Ridge Mountain Life noted that some refer to Ghost Town Village, formerly known as Ghost Town in the Sky, as a "cursed amusement park." The gloomy title refers to the many failed attempts to reopen the park, which was once a popular attraction but has not been open since 2009. The NAPHA made a Facebook post on May 9, stating that a potential buyer from Florida expressed interest in buying the defunct amusement park. The same post said that current owner Jill McClure, who inherited the property, aims to sell it for entertainment purposes rather than to a buyer who will use it for housing. The buyer envisions "a venue featuring country music, rodeos, and festivals, aiming to keep the park family-friendly." So far, the NAPHA has mentioned only preliminary consideration of purchasing the park from the potential Florida buyer. However, current owner McClure has clarified that she hopes to sell the park, regardless, for entertainment purposes. Blue Ridge Mountain Life co-owner Larry Deane explained in a post on the website that the reasons behind Ghost Town Village's initial closure were "extensive." "Over the many years, the park just slowly ran into disrepair, having some significant infrastructure issues like water, power, sewage," Deane wrote. "After all, providing those services on the top of a mountain for an amusement park isn't easy." Deane also cited the decline in popularity of the "wild west" theme in as a reason why Ghost Town Village was closed. As the abandoned park is private property, it is unlawful to enter the area without permission. "It is illegal to enter the property, and you will be charged with trespassing per our conversation with local authorities," Deane wrote. More: Mother's Day tariff trouble: Flower costs rising. See Western NC grower options Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ghost Town in the Sky, Ghost Town Village may attract new owner
