(WBIR-Maggie Valley, NC) It seems the western North Carolina amusement park, Ghost Town in the Sky will no longer be a 'ghost town' as owners promise new attractions in the coming months.
"The museum, the walking trails, all the shops on the mountain," Alaska Presley explained some of the features of the park -- located 4,400 feet above sea level in Haywood County. Presley is one of the original investors of the park when it opened in 1961.
"I never thought I would be here,' Presley added. "I never thought I would be in this position -- really."
Over the years, the western-themed park has experienced highs and lows on the mountain. At its peak, Ghost Town brought in more than 400,000 visitors on an annual basis. Years later, financial issues forced the park to close.
This weekend, started the season for the park -- with the reopening of the 'western town' portion. The cowboy shootouts and can-can dancers are some of the new attractions back at the park.
"It's been a hard road, a whole -- let's put it that way. But in large, it's worth it," she added.
However, some attractions will remain closed -- like the "Cliffhanger Roller Coaster" and the "Geronimo Freefall." There's no plans for either ride to open anytime soon.
The park will be open from Fridays through Mondays for the summer season. There are plans for further development, including adding a 'Holy Land' area that would replace where the freefall attraction is currently located.
For more information, visit Ghost Town in the Sky's website.
Web Extra: YouTube clip of an old Ghost Town in the Sky commercial
