News: Ghost Town to install new coaster and drop tower

Posted at 8:20 AM EST (1320 GMT)

Feb. 13th, 2007 -- Ghost Town in the Sky until recently looked the part of a real ghost town, due to five years of neglect.  Cables on the cable car ride are worn out, the concession buildings have worn out roofs and many rides appear neglected as well, some beyond repair.

But Ghost Town’s management and local businesses are hopeful.  Even as crews resurrect this ghost, local motel owners are already receiving reservations from tourists that are planning to visit the park this summer.

The owners are ambitiously moving forward to finish renovations early so employees will have plenty of time for training.  Workers have a little more than three months to go before opening day.

To make sure the park’s ski lift is in perfect working order, sources say they brought in the foremost incline expert in the world. He said the Ghost Town lift is the steepest in the nation, ascending at a 77-degree angle in sections, and also a very popular part of the amusement park experience.

The park’s plans don’t just include refurbishing old rides, but installing two new ones as well.  A 100-foot drop tower is planned along with a new family-friendly roller coaster.  These are added, even as a few had to be sent to the scrap yard.

As the park continues to refurbish the park and get closer to opening day, Maggie Valley moves farther and farther away from becoming a ghost town itself.  Without the success of the park, the town would surely struggle to survive.

For more information on this story visit the Haywood County News.