Latest news with #NationalAmusementParkHistoricalAssociation
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."
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Dollywood crowned ‘favorite theme park' again in 2024
Dollywood earned the title of 'favorite theme park' in the country for the third straight year in 2024. That's according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association's (NAPHA) recently released yearly NAPHA Amusement Park Attractions Survey of its members. Dollywood's first-place ranking for 'favorite theme park' – one of a handful of categories that the survey looks at – for 2024 marked Dollywood's latest instance of receiving the title, after notching it with the NAPHA's members in 2022 and 2023. The park, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is also tied for first in that category with two other theme parks in 2021, per the NAPHA. Dollywood has over 50 rides and attractions. More than 2 million people visit Dolly Parton's park each year, according to the park's website. No. 2 for 'favorite theme park' went to Disneyland, the Walt Disney Co.-operated park in Anaheim, California. 4 The Lumber Jack's Pizza restaurant at the Dollywood theme park, pictured on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 4 The entrance to Dollywood is viewed on October 18, 2016 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Getty Images In the survey, Dollywood was also dubbed the second 'most beautiful park' behind Busch Gardens Williamsburg, according to the NAPHA. When it came to traditional amusement parks, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania emerged as NAPHA members' favorite for that category. 4 American singer and songwriter Dolly Parton poses for a portrait with her guitar at Dollywood circa 1993 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Getty Images 4 Dolly Parton at the Dollywood Dewitt tour to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Dollywood and Passholder Preview Day held at the Celebrity Theater at Dollywood on March 14, 2025, in Pigeon Forge, TN. Curtis Hilbun / / MEGA Knoebels Amusement Resort's Phoenix roller coaster was also named the 'favorite wood roller coaster' for 2024 for the 14th year in a row, the NAPHA said. Other categories included in the NAPHA survey included 'favorite steel roller coaster' and 'best new attraction,' which Cedar Point's Millennium Force and Six Flags Great Escape's The Bobcat, respectively earned. The NAPHA's members have over 130 different parks under their belts on average, it said.
