Ghost Town Village facts for kids

A pretend gunfight in the spring of 1961

Ghost Town Village is an old Wild West-themed amusement park in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. It used to be called "Ghost Town in the Sky." The park sits high up on Buck Mountain, about 4,650 feet above sea level. People called it "North Carolina's mile-high theme park." As of August 2025, the park is closed, and its future is being decided in court.

Exploring Ghost Town's Past

Where is Ghost Town Located?

A mock gunfight for visitors in 1964

Ghost Town in the summer of 1964

The chair lift taking visitors up the mountain in 1964

The park is on top of a mountain ridge near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To get there, visitors once rode a long chair lift or a special funicular railway. These rides started at the bottom of the mountain and climbed over 1,250 feet to the park. The main "Ghost Town" area was at 4,600 feet, with the highest point at 4,650 feet.

Tales of the Mountain Land

A local story says that the park's founder, R.B. Coburn, heard about a large cave on Buck Mountain. A local landowner, Uncle Dan Carpenter, supposedly lost his sheep there. Coburn wanted to add cave tours to his park idea. However, they could never find the cave entrance again.

Since the park was built in 1960, the ground in that area has sometimes collapsed. This happened between the "Indian Village" and "Mountain Town" sections. Coburn filled in the area and paved it to make it stable for rides. Even in 2007, a small landslide happened. In 2010, a much bigger landslide occurred, damaging the park. Some people think these collapses are due to the hidden caves.

Building a Wild West Dream

R.B. Coburn, who moved to Maggie Valley, dreamed up Ghost Town. He was inspired by his trips to the western United States. Local people helped fund the park by buying special bonds. The park was designed by Russell Pearson and cost about $1 million to build in 1960.

Over 200 local workers helped build 40 replica buildings for the Western Town. These buildings used a lot of lumber, plywood, and nails.

Opening Day Excitement

Ghost Town opened its doors on May 1, 1961. It quickly became a very popular place for tourists in Western North Carolina. Visitors rode a double incline railway or a two-seat chair lift to reach the top. At the time, the chair lift was the longest in North Carolina.

In the early 1960s, the park hosted stars from popular TV Western shows. Hourly staged gunfights on the main street were a huge attraction for visitors.

Ghost Town's Golden Years (1960s-1986)

At its busiest, Ghost Town welcomed up to 620,000 visitors each year. It usually averaged about 500,000 visitors annually. The chairlift could carry 1,200 people every hour. The park was very important for the local economy of Maggie Valley.

In 1973, the park was sold to a company called National Services. Some people felt that the park didn't get enough attention under this new ownership.

Park performers even showcased their talents at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982. In 1983, famous country music stars like Mel Tillis and Reba McEntire performed at the park.

In 1986, R.B. Coburn bought the park back. He then built the park's famous Red Devil roller coaster.

Challenges and Decline

In its later years under Coburn, the park started to have problems. It wasn't managed well, and maintenance was lacking. Many rides, including the Red Devil roller coaster, often broke down and were closed. This made visitors unhappy, and fewer people came to the park.

The chairlift and incline railway also needed constant repairs. By 2008, the number of visitors had dropped to 340,000.

First Closure

On July 16, 2002, the chairlift stopped working, leaving passengers stuck for over two hours. Because fewer people were visiting due to the park's poor condition, Coburn closed Ghost Town a few days later. He put the park up for sale. It stayed closed for four years, and many thought it would never reopen.

Attempts to Reopen

A New Start in 2007

In August 2006, a new group called Ghost Town Partners, LLC bought the park. They spent $38 million on repairs and improvements. Ghost Town reopened on May 25, 2007. Most of the rides were working again, except for the incline railway and a few others.

A movie called Dean Teaster's Ghost Town was filmed at the park and premiered that same weekend. Tourism in the area increased by 22% that year.

Financial Troubles (2008-2009)

The 2008 financial crisis made things difficult for tourism and the park. In 2009, after spending over $11 million, Ghost Town filed for bankruptcy. The park blamed the economy and high gas prices.

An anonymous investor provided money, allowing the park to open for the summer of 2009. A new ride, Geronimo Drop, was added. However, Ghost Town continued to struggle and closed again at the end of the 2009 season.

More Closures and New Owners (2010-2015)

On February 5, 2010, a large mudslide happened at the park. It damaged homes nearby and the park itself. This led to more delays in reopening.

In 2012, Alaska Presley, a local businesswoman who had been involved with the park from the start, bought it for $2.5 million. She hoped to open at least part of it. In June 2012, the park's entrance and chairlift opened for gifts and tours.

Over the next few years, the park faced challenges like vandalism, theft, and expensive repairs. New laws also required costly updates to water systems and ride inspections. Presley even planned a "Resurrection Mountain" section, a replica of the Holy Land.

In 2015, despite plans, the park couldn't open due to water pressure and chairlift problems.

Rebranding and Continued Struggles (2015-2019)

On October 22, 2015, the park announced it would be renamed Ghost Town Village. It planned to reopen on June 1, 2016, with new attractions like ziplines, a museum, and horseback riding. The old roller coasters and rides were too expensive to fix. However, the park did not open in 2016 and was put up for sale again.

In 2018, another group called Ghost Town Adventures tried to reopen the park. They planned renovations, but their investors pulled out. Another group also tried to buy it but couldn't get funding.

By 2019, a reopening was planned for spring, with a new name, Appalachian Village. But the park was still being sold due to vandalism. New investors were looking into buying it by October 2019.

Recent Developments (2020s)

By July 2020, work and the purchase of the property were still moving forward. The new owners completed the purchase in 2021. They planned a $200 million investment to bring the park back to life. They also planned other upgrades for Maggie Valley to handle more tourists. The goal was to keep the original feel of the park.

However, the COVID pandemic and local concerns about increased tourism caused delays. On April 4, 2022, Alaska Presley, the park's owner, passed away at 98. This made the park's future uncertain, as she still owned the property. As of August 2025, various lawsuits have been filed to decide the park's ownership and future.

What You Could See at Ghost Town

The park is divided into different "towns" on the mountain, each with its own theme. These include the "Indian Village," "Mountain Town," and "Mining Town."

The main part of the park was a recreated Old West town. It had two saloons, a schoolhouse, a bank, a jail, a church, and other businesses. Every hour, a pretend gunfight took place in the street. The "Silver Dollar Saloon" had can-can dancers, and the "Red Dog Saloon" featured live country music.

The "Indian Village" showed what Indigenous life was like in the Old West. "Mining Town" let people pan for gold and silver. "Mountain Town" had shows about life in the Smoky Mountains.

The "Heritage Town Square" was added in 2007. It had a museum about Ghost Town's history, a restaurant, and some rides.

The Cliffhanger Roller Coaster

The park's main roller coaster was called Red Devil when it opened in 1988. It was renamed Cliffhanger in 2007. This coaster was special because you boarded it at the top of the hill. After you got in, the train rolled around a curve and then dropped into an inverted loop. The track went over the edge of the mountain, offering amazing views.

The Cliffhanger had many problems and delays. It opened in June 2009 but closed two days later because of a small crack found in a seat. It reopened later that year but closed again after more issues. In 2010, it had another problem during a test run and remained closed.

Other Rides and Attractions

Ghost Town also had a smaller roller coaster for children called Tumbleweed (originally Lil Devil).

Higher up on the mountain, there were other amusement rides and music halls. Some rides, like "The Gun Slinger," even swung out over the mountainside! During Halloween, the park sometimes had a "House of Terror" haunted house.

Here are some of the rides that were at Ghost Town:

• Bumper Cars: These closed in 2002 and reopened in 2007.
• Chairlift: This was the main way to get to the park. It reopened in 2007 after a long closure.
• Cliffhanger: The park's big roller coaster, known for its unique top-of-the-hill start.
• Sea Dragon: A swinging ship ride that opened in 1995 and reopened in 2008.
• Dream Catcher: A paratrooper ride that reopened in 2007.
• Geronimo Drop: A drop tower ride added in 2007.
• Gunslinger: A swing ride that reopened in 2007.
• Merry-Go-Round: A classic carousel that reopened in 2007.
• Round Up: A spinning ride that reopened in 2007.
• Tumbleweed: A small roller coaster for kids that reopened in 2007.
• Tilt-A-Whirl: A spinning ride that operated from 1961 and reopened in 2010.
• Undertaker: An indoor scrambler ride that was moved outdoors and renamed in 2007.

The Apache Kid Performer

The "Apache Kid" U.S. Army Scout, Haskay-Bay-nay-ntayl, around 1860

Robert Bradley, known as "The Apache Kid" at Ghost Town, was a key performer. He was also a main investor in the movie Dean Teaster's Ghost Town. Robert's role honored his grandfather, Mr. Jim Jumper, who was a full-blooded Eastern Band Cherokee.

Robert's acting career began in 1961 when R.B. Coburn saw him perform a spectacular fall in a gunfight. Coburn was so impressed that he hired Robert on the spot. Robert became known for bringing "The Apache Kid" character to life. R.B. Coburn was fascinated by the real-life U.S. Army scout, Haskay-Bay-Nay-Ntayl, and saw a resemblance in Robert Bradley. The movie Dean Teaster's Ghost Town includes many elements of Ghost Town's "The Apache Kid" in its portrayal of Jim Jumper.

Images for kids

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  Ralphene Rathbone preparing for a scene in Dean Teaster's Ghost Town. She played Mrs. Marian Burnett.

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  Dean Teaster directing Herbert "Cowboy" Coward and Princess Lucaj on the movie set in October 2006.