TRAVEL DATES: May & June
WRITTEN BY: Brandy Caitlyn
So, I will start off this blog with a DISCLAIMER, yes a disclaimer. I want to make sure that anyone that reads this knows that these dates I attended were several years ago. The previous owner Alaska allowed us to enter this location when it was under her possession. We did not trespass at any point. Alaska no longer owns this property and I can not provide any information on how to access it in this day and time.
So, I am writing about the amazing “Ghost Town In The Sky”. If you are younger you may not even know what I am talking about. You arrived here though, so buckle up and get ready to learn about this mysterious place in the sky. It is a staple in history!!
I learned about this place many many years ago as my parents went to the location when it was actually operational. I was told so much about the uniqueness that it had and the fun they had going.
Know about it 📌
Ghost town opened in the year 1961 for people to come experience a western town, high in the sky. It had roller coasters, smaller rides, restaurants, gun fights, a haunted house and more. It is something that people dream about going to, like a flash into the past.
The park closed down in the year 2002 after issues with a chairlift to the location. You’re probably thinking, a chairlift? The park had an entrance base at the bottom of the mountain in Maggie Valley and had a lift that took passengers up the mountain to the park itself.
The park was re-purchased around 2007 where it cost millions to fix the damages. The park re-closed around 2009-2010.
Alaska Presley purchased the park back around 2010 where she had intent to fix the place up and it never officially happened.
The old front of the business still remains in the small town of Maggie Valley North Carolina. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the old building that you parked in and traveled up to the park. I have stopped in and admired the building many times , I note that it has such beauty. I previously looked in the window when I was younger and saw it sitting like it was before with souvenirs and informational pamphlets.
The park sat for at least four years after its closing with no one purchasing it or attempting to fix it up. This made the park “open” for trespassers and vandalism. Are you thinking, open (she just said it was closed down)… When I say open I do not mean that they were welcome by any means. I mean that this location was not particularly monitored 24/7 well and people were finding ways to come through the mountain, accessing it.
If you look on the internet at many posts about this place you will see people trying to trespass to explore, damaging things and blatantly showing disrespect.
People broke things, tore through things, stole things and I’m sure much more.
I will say I do not condone this behavior AT ALL. I think that we should respect history, the mountains and honestly things that DO NOT BELONG TO YOU.
That being said, I will continue on, but remember THIS IS FROM MANY MANY YEARS AGO with permission. DO NOT seek this property without going through the proper channels to see it the correct way.
When I went to ghost town it was like a second world just sitting there. Sitting there in its awe, where it was just left, abandoned.
It was just like you would imagine an old ghost town would be. It had the asthetic of the “ghost town” you would think out of the movies..
The first thing I noted when we entered was where the sky lift ended. When you enter the sky lift is to your left. Past the skylight is the only big rollar coaster that sits there, with its yellow beauty. Near this roller coaster is the loading area and other buildings.
To the right of the sky lift was a building and the path that leads up to the mid level of the park.
On the lower level I observed what looked like an old haunted house. There was a hearse sitting out front with an awesome paint job for the house. Unfortunately the bad apples damaged it breaking out windows. The car sat there out front as I’m sure it did many times over the years while it was operational.
As you traveled up to the mid level or the park there was more buildings and to the left was what I called the main level. It had the old buildings that lined each side of a dirt road and wrapped around.
This was what I saw when we walked up near the mid level, near this was the railroad tracks the old train still sat on. One thing I love is old trains, even if it’s tiny trains.
Walking through the ghost town was incredible. There was so much to see. We looked through the windows admiring the old beauty.
There was a layer of fog/mist that stood over this part of the town that day. It added to the old mystery of the town.
Just sitting there in the mountain fog, resting silently and in its old glory.
The buildings were incredible. Looking at the structure and how they designed the area. Some places had been broken open due to the absoultely disrespectful trespassers.
Walking through this level it had beautiful views and a beautiful little white church at the end. I imagined that back in the day they could have church there watching over the mountain edge. Hearing the word of God.
The next area that I remember seeing years ago was the mid level other portion and that tracked to the top portion.
I saw the old pieces of history just sitting there. Imagining the employees running around having the time of their lives acting like they do at other theme parks with a actual “theme”.
Old roller coasters just sitting there. Nature growing up around it where it no longer moves and carries screaming kids having fun.
The old wires still laying there and the mechanics that once made this ride run. rotting away.
After I passed the small roller coaster I saw where other old rides had to sit that they removed to use elsewhere I assume.
I was many buildings that looked like they once housed entertainment for families.
Walking around I observed more things in the upper area that still remained.
There were rides still sitting there like they had never been touched before.
From this area you could see beautiful views of the North Carolina mountains.
This whole area is breathtaking as it just sits there abandoned in the sky. Silently resting in the clouds where many people don’t even know what lies above them.
After you have read this blog, I hope that you have a snippet more about history now in your brain.
I will say again, we had permission from the previous owner. The guard allowed us in with her permission. Do not seek this property, appreciate the history that you have been given and respect whoever owns this property now.
As always. Remember, respect the Earth. Respect nature. And #LeaveNoTracesBehind.
You can learn more about the location from the below sites!
- https://www.romanticasheville.com/ghost_town.htm
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.loveexploring.com/galleries/amp/91788/inside-the-eerie-abandoned-theme-park-full-of-secrets
- https://www.thesmokies.com/when-will-ghost-town-in-the-sky-reopen/
Much Love, B.
A Travel Loving Momma 
WOW! what a fun little trip! Thanks so much for sharing the history, that’s super interesting. I’ve always been fascinated by ghost towns. You took such beautiful, eerie photos too!
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Thank you so much!! I am fascinated with it too! The history places can tell is always amazing!
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