Many have tried -- and failed -- to revive Ghost Town

Feb. 15—MAGGIE VALLEY — Ghost Town in the Sky, a western theme park started by R.B. Coburn in June 1961, was once the defining element in Maggie Valley.

The amusement park lured numerous businessmen to the valley to open motels, restaurants and other businesses. It wasn't until 1974 that the 250 year-around residents voted to incorporate.

While Ghost Town was a clear economic driver early on, the amusement park's on-again, off-again operations couldn't be counted on as a regular tourist draw in the past 20 years.

Here's a brief history of Ghost Town's beginning, as well as the numerous attempts to revive the amusement park.

Timeline

Founder R.B. Coburn owned and operated Frontierland in Cherokee and another theme park in Florida. He visited Maggie Valley in 1960, and with encouragement by current owner, Alaska Presley, opened a third park in Haywood.

The park operated continuously until 2001, though Coburn sold it for a time and then bought it back.

Ghost Town, and early Maggie business owners said all the advertising spots purchased by Coburn turned the valley into a tourist destination.

Many of the early business owners moved to the area to serve the burgeoning number of visitors who flocked to Ghost Town to not only experience the staged gunfights, old-time saloon atmosphere, complete with can-can girls, but meet many of the television and music stars who were brought to the park.

In the 1960s, the going rate to bring mega-stars like Dan Blocker of "Bonanza" fame was $5,000 a weekend, according to articles featured in The Mountaineer.

Here's a timeline of significant events in Ghost Town's 50-plus history in Haywood County.

The Coburn years

1960 — 2002 — R.B. Coburn purchased land atop Buck Mountain (which, for a time, became widely known as Ghost Mountain) for a third theme park. He removed several small knolls on the mountain top to build an Indian Village, a Mountain Town and a Mining Town. In all 40 buildings were constructed.

1961 — Ghost Town opens in June and visitors were transported to the park via an incline railroad, which tied into the western theme.

1962 — When Ghost Town opened for the season, visitors could use either the incline railroad or a chair lift. Cost to visit the park was $1.50 for children; $2.50 for adults. Stars of the popular television shows "Lassie," "Laramie" and "Wagon Train" created a popular draw for tourists and locals alike.

1966 — Ghost Town was packed with visitors who stopped everything at the top of the hour to watch the staged gunfight in the streets.

1970 — Coburn sold all his parks to National Services for a stock swap. Reports at the time said Ghost Town struggled after the small park got lost in the shuffle of a company with much larger concerns to manage.

1982 — Ghost Town performers were invited to the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the gunfighters and can-can girls spent a day entertaining fair-goers.

1983 — County music stars, Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire and the Statler Brothers were among the "star" attractions at Ghost Town, where all were involved in special filming project.

1984 — A site is prepared for the $1 million Silver Bullet, a roller coaster that would barrel 900 feet down the face of Buck Mountain, and become a signature attraction at the amusement park. The name was chosen because Coors was an early sponsor of the ride. The roller coaster's name was later changed to the Red Devil and then to the Cliffhanger.

1986 — R.B. Coburn bought Ghost Town back and put in the Red Devil roller coaster, promoting it as the only thriller ride built out over the side of a mountain. He operated the park through the 2002 season.

2002 to 2006 — Ghost Town was closed

Ghost Town Partners LLC years

In 2006, Ghost Town Partners LLC purchased the park from owner and founder R.B. Coburn in August. The group secured two separate loans in a total amount of $10 million from BB&T to buy the park.

At that time, eight investors personally guaranteed certain percentages of the loan, totaling 125-percent of the entire amount. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also guaranteed 70 percent of the loan.

2007 — Ghost Town opens in May amid a flurry of excitement. Park officials won't disclose visitor numbers, but overall, the number of people coming to Haywood County climbed by 22 percent. Park management promised to work on bringing three popular attractions back — the incline railway, the Cliff Hanger and the miniature train that looped the theme park.

2008 — The theme park reopened in 2008, but that was the year the economy tanked largely due to the mortgage housing crisis that rocked the nation's economy. The major goals planned for the year were never accomplished.

March 2009 — Park owners filed for protection against hundreds of creditors to whom they owed a cumulative $2.5 million, in addition to the $9.5 million owed on the mortgage, but continued to operate under Chapter 11 bankruptcy through the following summer season.

May 2009 — Al Harper, owner of Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City and other scenic railways in Colorado and Texas and one of the investors in Ghost Town Partners — offered to buy the park out of bankruptcy for $7.5 million. Though he pledged to put up his three railroads as collateral, he ultimately was unable to secure funding.

October 2009 — Ghost Town closes

February 2010 — A 35-foot wall of mud came crashing down Buck Mountain from a retaining wall on Ghost Town in the Sky park property. The slide was preceded by days of snow and hard rain. Tons of mud and debris flowed over Rich Cove Road — the access road to Ghost Town — and displaced 40 residents. Lawsuits were filed against Ghost Town Partners, as well as the local contractor and engineer.

September 2010 — Ghost Town Partners LLC is in default on two separate mortgages, owing Branch Banking and Trust a total $9.6 million plus an additional $1 million in unpaid interest and fees, according to court papers. That didn't include the unpaid bills owed to dozens of local businesses.

The Alaska Presley years

In February 2012, Alaska Presley purchases Ghost Town out of foreclosure for $2.5 million. She had ambitious plans for the mountain, including installing a zip line, reopening the western theme park which entailed upgrading water, sewer and transportation infrastructure, refurbishing the buildings and getting the rides going.

The next phase was dubbed Resurrection Mountain, where a large cross would be at the top of the mountain and a garden tomb at the base.

Spring 2012 — Presley announces begins extensive renovation work including plumbing, water storage tanks, and work to recover from 2010 landslide that originated on Ghost Town property.

July 2012 — After delays caused by failed chair lift and ride inspections the park opens for its first season in more than three years.

July 4, 2013 — Opening day was once again delayed due to failed inspections and lack of adequate evacuation route. The park closed two days later after gunfighters walk off the job when Robert Bradley, a Ghost Town gunfighter since 1962, was shot in the leg with a gun that was supposed to have been loaded with blanks. State investigation found that Ghost Town had no first aid staff on hand and fined the park $2,000 for using real guns.

Fall 2013 — Presley forms Alaska Presley Faith Foundation to proceed with Resurrection Mountain idea.

February 2014 — Presley approaches Maggie Valley requesting funding to create a winter attraction at the foot of Fie Top. Town leaders declined, saying they could not use tax dollars to fund private investment, but offered to assist with grant applications.

July 2014 — Ghost Town opens nearly a month later than planned, again for failed ride inspections.

January 2015 — Ghost Town was listed for sale, but the listing was quickly removed. Presley again pursues a plan to erect cross on mountaintop, but progress is halted due to NC ridge top protection laws.

June 2015 — Opening plans were delayed, then cancelled when difficulties arise including insufficient water pressure, chair lift problems and additional evacuation route requirements.

December 2015 — Presley announces plans for yet another reboot attempt, this time as Ghost Town Village, an Appalachian village theme with vendor marketplace, newly revamped adventure attractions, and a carnival ride section.

May 2016 — Despite the hype, and help from outside groups, Ghost Town Village began to show signs of problems with rumblings on social media of trouble on the mountain between Presley, vendors and support staff.

June 2016 — The announcement is made on Facebook that Ghost Town Village will not be opening after all, and after much careful consideration, Presley has chosen to list the property for sale.

May 2018 — Lamar Berry formed Ghost Town Adventures and Alaska Presley issued a news release stating she was thrilled to be working with the team taking over Ghost Town. Investors bailed on the project and Berry left town.

December 2018 — Ghost Town Maggie Valley, LLC was formed by Spencer and Valerie Oberle, who had been working with Berry. The $10 million investment needed to open the park never materialized, so the project was abandoned in December 2019.