Tweetsie Railroad

Infobox Amusement park


name = Tweetsie Railroad
location = Boone, North Carolina flagicon|USA
opening_date = July 4, 1957
season = May - October
area = 30 (developed) acres
rides = 16
owner = Privately Owned
homepage = http://www.tweetsie.com/|www.tweetsie.com/

Tweetsie Railroad is a family oriented railroad theme park located between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United States. In addition to a three-mile ride aboard an authentic steam locomotive, the park features amusement rides and other attractions geared towards families with children.

Park history

Opened in 1957, Tweetsie Railroad originally started out as just a train ride aboard steam locomotive #12, the only surviving narrow-gauge engine left from the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC). Built in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, #12 is a narrow gauge 4-6-0 coal-fired locomotive that was used to haul passengers and freight over the ET&WNC's 66-mile line running from Johnson City over the Appalachian Mountains to Boone, North Carolina. After the narrow gauge portion of the ET&WNC ceased operations in 1950, the locomotive was purchased by a group of railroad enthusiasts and was taken to Rockingham County, Virginia to operate over the small "Shenandoah Central” tourist line in 1952.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Hazel washed out the Shenandoah Central in 1954, and Locomotive #12 was once again put up for sale. Hollywood actor Gene Autry considered purchasing the locomotive to move to California for use in the movies, however, he decided against it due to shipping costs.

Instead, Grover Robbins, a real-estate developer from North Carolina, bought the locomotive in 1956 and moved the engine back to its native Blue Ridge Mountains for use at his “Tweetsie Railroad“ tourist attraction. A three-mile loop of track was constructed near Boone, North Carolina for the train to run on, and on July 4th, 1957, the locomotive made its first public trip over the line.

Tweetsie Railroad immediately became a popular tourist attraction. As the train ride grew into a small theme park, a mock western town and saloon were built around the depot area in order to give visitors more activities. An Outlaw robbery and Indian attack show were added to the train ride, playing off the Wild West theme established by visiting WBTV television personality/singing cowboy Fred Kirby, who had a children’s television show on the station. In 1962, a chairlift and amusement ride area was constructed at the top of the mountain Tweetsie was situated around.

Tweetsie acquired another steam locomotive, USATC S118 Class 2-8-2 #190, the “Yukon Queen” from Alaska’s White Pass and Yukon RouteRailway in 1960. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1943 for the US Army, the engine was part of an 11-locomotive fleet of “MacArthur” 2-8-2s originally purchased for use overseas. Due to World War II, the military diverted the locomotives to Alaska for use on the White Pass and Yukon, which had been taken over by the government in order to build the Alcan Highway.

Due to the success of Tweetsie, Grover Robbins built another train ride and tourist attraction in the Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee called "Rebel Railroad" in 1961. Renamed "Goldrush Junction" in 1966, it was sold to the Cleveland Browns football team in 1970. In 1976, the attraction was sold again to Jack and Pete Herschend of Branson, Missouri, who redeveloped it as a theme park, "Silver Dollar City Tennessee". In 1986, country music star Dolly Parton became a partowner with the Herschends, and the theme park was renamed Dollywood to reflect her involvement.

The name "Tweetsie" was given to the original East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad by area residents who became accustomed to the shrill "tweet, tweet" of the train whistles that echoed through the mountains. The nickname stuck with the train and became more identifiable than the railroad's actual name.

Second to the train, Tweetsie's charm has long lay in its handpicked performers and the shows they create. From vintage dance hall numbers to realistic cowboy shoot-em-ups, the park has earned a reputation for acquiring talented young entertainers and extracting memorable performances from them.

On the early morning of March 16, 2008, a fire destroyed the convert|1300|sqft gift shop and museum building. The gift shop and museum housed numerous photos and memorabilia relating to the history of the park as well as items from the late Fred Kirby who portrayed the sheriff of Tweetsie Railroad. [cite news| title=Fire Destroys Tweetsie Museum| date=2008-03-17| work=Charlotte Observer| ] Despite the fire, the park opened in May as scheduled. [cite news| title=Fire destroys gift shop, museum at Tweetsie Railroad| work=Charlotte Observer| date=2008-03-17| ] [cite news| url=http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/2169/tweetsie_railroad_fire_destroys_shops_museum.html| title=Tweetsie Railroad fire destroys shops, museum| work=Thrill Network| date=2008-03-17| accessdate=2008-04-21| ] [cite news| url=http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/16733481.html| publisher=WBTV| title=Tweetsie Railroad Fire| date=2008-03-16| accessdate=2008-04-21| ]

Historic designations

* National Register of Historic Places [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NC/Watauga/state.html #NPS–92000147] — East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Locomotive No. 12

General information

Tweetsie Railroad's operating season runs from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in October. The park is open weekends in the Spring and Fall, and daily during the Summer. In addition, the park is open on Friday and Saturday nights in October for the “Ghost Train” Halloween festival. There are special events throughout the season, including Railfan Weekend in September. This special weekend caters to railfans from around the country, focusing on the history of the locomotives and rolling stock of the park.

Tweetsie is located on US 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock.

Rides and attractions

Rides at Tweetsie Railroad include:

*The Den of Lost Thieves, a pirate-themed dark ride (New for 2008)
*Drop Tower ride (New for 2007)
*Round Up (New for 2007)
*"Tornado" spinning ride (New for 2007)
*Carousel
*Tilt-a-whirl
*Ferris wheel
*Scrambler
*Chairlift
*Go Carts
*The Mouse Mine (child-oriented loop-track train ride through a tunnel with an animatronic show)
*Several small children's rides

Other attractions at Tweetsie Railroad include the Tweetsie Palace; a recreation of an 1800s saloon, a train museum, face painting, gem panning, a petting zoo, and an arcade.

ee also

East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad

References

External links

* [http://www.tweetsie.com www.tweetsie.com] (official website)
* [http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/crumley/cyhome.htm Cy Crumley ET&WNC Photo Collection (johnsonsdepot.com)]
* [http://www.steamphotos.com/gallery/3358008 Tweetsie Railroad Photos]
* [http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1957/57-10/twet.html "Tweetsie Comes Home"] article in the October, 1957 issue of "Ties", the Southern Railway System magazine.