Ghost Town in the Sky
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGhost Town in the Sky was a mountain-top Wild West-themed amusement park in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, later rebranded as Ghost Town Village.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Ghost Town in the Sky was a Wild West-themed amusement park built on Buck Mountain above Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The attraction was conceived by R. B. Coburn and developed during a period when roadside tourism, Western television programs, and scenic mountain destinations were expanding in the United States. Its unusual location, at elevations reaching approximately 4,650 feet, became central to the brand: visitors originally reached the park by an inclined railway or a long chairlift rising from the valley floor. The attraction promoted itself as North Carolina's mile-high theme park. Construction began around 1960 after local investors supplied capital through debenture bonds. The park included a recreated Western settlement of roughly 40 buildings, staged gunfights, frontier-themed entertainment, and mountain transport systems. It opened on May 1, 1961, and quickly became one of western North Carolina's best-known tourist destinations. During its strongest period, annual attendance reportedly reached approximately 620,000 visitors, with typical annual attendance around half a million. The park also hosted performers associated with television Westerns and later became a venue for country-music entertainers. The business changed ownership in 1973 when it was sold to National Services in a stock transaction. That ownership period was later characterized as difficult for the relatively small regional attraction. Coburn reacquired the property in 1986 and added the Red Devil roller coaster, which became one of the park's signature rides. Over time, however, the park experienced deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable rides, maintenance problems, and declining attendance. A major turning point came in July 2002, when a chairlift stoppage left visitors stranded for more than two hours. The park closed shortly afterward and remained shut for several years. Ghost Town was sold to Ghost Town Partners, LLC, in August 2006. After a reported $38 million renovation program, it reopened in May 2007. Most rides returned, although several major attractions and the inclined railway did not. The reopening coincided with publicity surrounding the film Dean Teaster's Ghost Town, which had been filmed at the property. The park's recovery was short-lived. The 2008 financial crisis reduced regional tourism, and the business entered bankruptcy in 2009 after substantial spending on improvements, including the Cliffhanger roller coaster. Questions about ride inspections, financing, payroll, and the ability to reopen became recurring issues. A catastrophic mudslide in February 2010 damaged the property and surrounding area, while the failure of retaining walls contributed to evacuations and road damage near the mountain. Creditors pursued foreclosure as the park accumulated substantial debt. Although American Heritage Family Parks proposed a takeover, the park did not reopen under that arrangement. Bankruptcy protection subsequently weakened, and the property was purchased at public auction in February 2012 by Alaska Presley, a longtime figure associated with the attraction. Presley reopened the entrance and chairlift for limited visitor activity in 2012 and explored several redevelopment concepts. These included partial operation of the Western-themed attraction, a Holy Land-inspired project called Resurrection Mountain, and later a broader rebranding. In 2015, management announced that the property would become Ghost Town Village, emphasizing gunfights, the chairlift, Appalachian retail, ziplines, a museum, paintball, arcade activities, and horseback riding rather than attempting to restore the former roller-coaster lineup. The planned 2016 reopening did not occur. Further proposed identities included Ghost Town Adventures and Appalachian Village. Various prospective operators and investor groups considered purchasing or reopening the property between 2018 and 2020, but financing, vandalism, infrastructure, inspection requirements, water systems, and other site problems repeatedly delayed progress. The supplied reference describes a completed purchase in 2021 and plans for major redevelopment, but does not provide enough later detail to establish the current operating status. As of the cited March 2023 account, the property's status remained connected to ongoing litigation. The brand is therefore best classified as an historically important but presently uncertain amusement-park brand rather than a confirmed operating attraction.
History
Ghost Town in the Sky originated in the late 1950s and early 1960s as the project of R. B. Coburn, who envisioned a Western-themed tourist attraction in the mountains of North Carolina. The selected site on Buck Mountain was promoted by Alaska Presley, who later became an owner and redevelopment figure. Local investors helped finance construction through debenture bonds. Designed by Russell Pearson, the park was built in 1960 with approximately 40 replica Western buildings. More than 200 local workers reportedly participated in construction, creating a settlement at the mountain summit together with access infrastructure, entertainment areas, and visitor facilities. The park opened on May 1, 1961. Its principal novelty was the combination of a recreated frontier town with a high-altitude mountain setting. Visitors initially traveled from the valley to the park by a double inclined railway and later by a two-seat chairlift. The chairlift became a major attraction in its own right because of its length and elevation gain. The Western Town featured staged gunfights and other frontier performances, while the park also hosted television Western personalities and touring entertainers. During its peak years, the attraction drew hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and became an important contributor to the economy of Maggie Valley and surrounding Haywood County. In 1973, the park was sold to National Services through a stock exchange. The available historical account suggests that the attraction received insufficient attention under that ownership. Coburn regained control in 1986 and invested in new attractions, including the Red Devil roller coaster. The later Coburn period was marked by declining maintenance standards and unreliable operations. Multiple rides, including the Red Devil, Goldrusher, Sea Dragon, Monster, Mountain Town Swings, Undertaker, Dream Catcher, Casino, Round Up, Lil Devil, and Silver Bullet, were reported to suffer frequent breakdowns or closures. The mountain transport systems also required continuing repair. Attendance fell to approximately 340,000 by 2008. The park's first major closure followed a chairlift incident on July 16, 2002, when passengers were reportedly stranded for over two hours. The property then remained closed and poorly maintained for roughly four years. In August 2006, Ghost Town Partners, LLC, acquired the park and undertook an extensive renovation. The attraction reopened on May 25, 2007, with most rides operating, although the inclined railway, train, and Monster were not restored at that time. The reopening was coordinated with the premiere of a locally filmed movie, Dean Teaster's Ghost Town, and was accompanied by hopes that the park would regain its role as a regional tourism anchor. The recovery did not last. Tourism weakened during the 2008 financial crisis, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after more than $11 million in additional spending, including a reported $6 million for the Cliffhanger roller coaster. Ride-inspection delays, financing problems, and concerns about payroll complicated efforts to reopen for the 2009 season. Although an anonymous investor reportedly provided emergency funds and the park opened with some attractions unavailable, the season ended with further financial distress. A proposed purchase by the owners of the Smoky Mountain Railroad did not obtain financing. In February 2010, retaining-wall failures triggered a massive mudslide. The event affected the park, buried the Rich Cove access road, damaged homes, and led to the evacuation of more than 40 residences. Public funding was allocated for cleanup of the access route. At the same time, creditors pursued foreclosure over unpaid obligations. A proposed acquisition by American Heritage Family Parks received judicial approval in principle, but the attraction remained closed. In 2011, the bankruptcy administrator recommended dismissal of the case after concluding that Ghost Town Partners had not supplied an adequate reorganization plan. Alaska Presley purchased the property at public auction in February 2012. Limited public activity resumed later that year, including access to the entrance area, gift sales, chairlift rides, and tours. A full reopening proved difficult because years of inactivity had left the site exposed to vandalism, theft, infrastructure deterioration, and inspection requirements. Water systems also required extensive work after existing wells were found unsuitable or inadequate. Presley considered several alternative development concepts, including Resurrection Mountain, a Holy Land-themed attraction, and winter programming. In 2015, management announced a rebranding as Ghost Town Village. The proposed concept focused on gunfights, the chairlift, Appalachian-themed shops, ziplines, a museum, paintball, arcade activities, and horseback riding, acknowledging that restoring the former roller-coaster portfolio was financially impractical. The proposed 2016 opening was cancelled, and the property was again marketed for sale. Later efforts under the Ghost Town Adventures and Appalachian Village names also failed to produce a confirmed sustained reopening. Prospective investors encountered funding challenges, site security problems, repairs, vendor issues, staff shortages, water and ride-inspection obstacles, and the complex legal and physical condition of the mountain property. The supplied reference records continuing purchase and redevelopment activity into the early 2020s, including a reported purchase completed in 2021 and plans for substantial investment. However, the available material does not establish the final operating condition, current ownership structure, or a definitive reopening date. By the March 2023 status cited in the reference, the property was involved in ongoing litigation. Ghost Town therefore remains historically significant as a North Carolina mountain amusement park, but its present brand and operating status are uncertain.
- 2021
Reported completion of a new purchase
[1]The reference reports that a new ownership group completed its purchase and planned large-scale investment, although later operating details are unclear.
- 2016
Reopening cancelled
[1]The planned Ghost Town Village reopening did not take place and the property was again offered for sale.
- 2015
Ghost Town Village rebrand announced
[1]Management proposed a new operating concept centered on heritage entertainment and non-coaster activities.
- 2012
Auction purchase by Alaska Presley
[1]Presley acquired the property at public auction and restored limited visitor access.
- 2010
Mudslide and foreclosure proceedings
[1]A major mudslide damaged the property and surrounding area while creditors moved toward foreclosure.
- 2009
Bankruptcy filing
[1]The operator filed for bankruptcy after financial pressure, weak tourism, and heavy development spending.
- 2007
Renovated reopening
[1]The park reopened after extensive investment, although several major attractions remained closed.
- 2006
Acquisition by Ghost Town Partners
[1]Ghost Town Partners, LLC, acquired the closed property and began a major renovation program.
- 2002
First major closure
[1]A chairlift failure preceded the closure of the park and its placement on the market.
- 1986
Coburn reacquires the park
[1]R. B. Coburn bought the attraction back and built the Red Devil roller coaster.
Products and positioning
A scenic, experiential mountain attraction combining a recreated Old West settlement, live frontier entertainment, amusement rides, and aerial access to a high-elevation site. Later repositioning efforts shifted toward Appalachian tourism, family activities, and mixed-use redevelopment.
Themed environment · 1961
Recreated Western Town
The park's central themed environment consisted of replica frontier buildings arranged as a Western settlement on the mountain summit. It supported staged gunfights, visitor exploration, historic-style retail, and live performances. The town was the principal expression of the original Ghost Town brand and remained important in later reopening and redevelopment proposals.
Mountain transport attraction · 1961
Chairlift
The chairlift carried visitors from the valley toward the high-elevation park site, rising approximately 1,250 feet over a route of roughly 3,370 feet. It was both a practical access system and a scenic attraction. Its operation became central to several reopening attempts, while maintenance and inspection issues repeatedly affected availability.
Mountain transport attraction · 1961
Inclined railway
The original double incline railway provided an alternative route from the lower parking area to the upper park. It was one of the attraction's defining engineering features but was not restored during the 2007 reopening and remained part of later restoration discussions.
Roller coaster · 1986
Red Devil
Built after R. B. Coburn reacquired the park in 1986, the Red Devil became one of Ghost Town's best-known rides. Like several other attractions, it later suffered from operational and maintenance problems and was not part of the reduced activity proposed under the Ghost Town Village concept.
Roller coaster · 2009
Cliffhanger
The Cliffhanger was a major late-period investment intended to modernize the park's ride portfolio. The project reportedly consumed a substantial portion of the operator's expansion spending before the 2009 bankruptcy, illustrating the financial risks of attempting to rebuild the attraction through large capital projects.
Drop ride · 2009
Geronimo Drop
Geronimo Drop was acquired from Libertyland in Memphis and added to the park's proposed or operating ride lineup during the late-2000s reopening period. Its availability was affected by the broader inspection and financial problems surrounding the park.
Family leisure program · 2016
Ghost Town Village activity program
The 2015 rebrand proposed replacing the former emphasis on roller coasters with gunfights, Appalachian gift shops, ziplines, a museum, paintball, an arcade, horseback riding, and chairlift access. The concept was intended to reduce dependence on expensive ride restoration and broaden the site's appeal.
Controversies
2023
Ongoing lawsuit over property status
As of the cited March 2023 account, the property's status was the subject of continuing litigation. The available reference does not provide sufficient detail to identify all parties or the claims at issue.
2009
Bankruptcy and unpaid-employee complaints
The park entered bankruptcy after financial difficulties, while the reference also records complaints that employees were not being paid. These issues formed part of the wider collapse of the Ghost Town Partners operating period.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Ghost Town Adventures proposal
Western North Carolina
Lamar Berry and partners explored a purchase and redevelopment under the Ghost Town Adventures name, including work on the mountain lift and a proposed reopening.
Outcome. Investors withdrew, and the proposed project did not secure the funding required to proceed.
- 2015Ghost Town Village rebrand
Western North Carolina
Management announced a shift away from the original amusement-park model toward heritage entertainment, Appalachian retail, outdoor activities, and family attractions.
Outcome. The planned 2016 opening was cancelled, and the property was again marketed for sale.
- 2007Renovated reopening and film premiere
Western North Carolina · United States
The reopening was coordinated with the premiere of Dean Teaster's Ghost Town, a film shot in the Western-themed portion of the property. The combined event sought to generate publicity for the renovated attraction.
Outcome. The park reopened, but subsequent financial and attendance problems prevented a durable recovery.
- 1961North Carolina's mile-high theme park
North Carolina · United States
The park marketed its exceptional mountain elevation as a core point of difference, presenting the attraction as a high-altitude theme park rather than an ordinary roadside amusement facility.
Outcome. The positioning helped establish Ghost Town as a major regional tourism attraction.
Brand decisions
2021
Pursue large-scale redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property had experienced repeated failed reopening attempts, infrastructure deterioration, and ownership changes.
Action taken
The reference reports that new owners completed a purchase and planned a major redevelopment investment.
Aftermath
The available material does not establish whether the redevelopment was completed or whether regular public operations resumed.
2015
Rebrand as Ghost Town VillageStrategyBackground
The former coaster lineup was considered too expensive to restore, while the property still faced infrastructure and inspection problems.
Action taken
Management proposed a heritage- and activity-oriented attraction featuring gunfights, chairlift access, shops, ziplines, a museum, paintball, arcade activities, and horseback riding.
Aftermath
The announced 2016 reopening was cancelled and the property was again put up for sale.
2009
Continue operating during bankruptcy pressureStrategyBackground
The operator faced weak tourism, high costs, uninspected rides, and financing pressure before the 2009 season.
Action taken
Management sought emergency funding and reopened with some attractions unavailable while pursuing a longer-term improvement plan.
Aftermath
The park closed again after the season amid continuing bankruptcy and payroll problems.
Requested emergency loan. $330,000 (May 2009)
2007
Reopen with a reduced ride portfolioStrategyBackground
Ghost Town Partners sought to revive the closed attraction through a major renovation, but several rides and the inclined railway were not ready for the reopening.
Action taken
The park reopened with most rides operating while the railway, train, and Monster remained unavailable.
Aftermath
The reopening generated renewed attention but did not prevent later bankruptcy and closure.
Reported renovation spending. $38 million (By the May 2007 reopening)
Sources1 sources
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