Carolina Crossroads

areas.

The complex was to feature an indoor theater, an outdoor amphitheater, a campground, an aquarium, water park, retail shops, and hotels. A Black Widow Billiards Center was also announced by Jeanette Lee. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Jeanette Lee Opens Black Widow Billiards Centers | date= | publisher= | url =http://triangle.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?type_news=latest&newsid=111899 | work =Triangle Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ] . As of summer 2008, only the indoor theater, amphitheater, campground, and one hotel had been completed. The theater, cornerstone of the entire development, has been mired in political and financial controversy.

A rock-n-roll themed amusement park was also planned for the site. Carolina Crossroads bought the 2nd oldest wooden rollercoaster, the Zippin Pippin, after its former home in Memphis, Tennessee, Libertyland, closed. Plans for the amusement park never materialized and Carolina Crossroads later donated nearly all of the coaster back to Libertyland. Carolina Crossroads kept one car from the roller coaster and maintain that there are still plans to build a replica of the famous coaster. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=The Zippin Pippin -- Elvis' Favorite Ride -- Is Donated to Save Libertyland | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=27810 | work =Memphis Flyer | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-21 | language = ]

Controversy

, to perform in and manage the theater. In addition to the $1.5M salary, the city of Roanoke Rapids was also to provide Parton with an "acceptable" home and car. When the theater opened on November 11, 2005, it was named the Randy Parton Theater. Soon after opening, the theater which is several hours from population centers in Raleigh, North Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia, struggled to attract customers. The break even point was reported to be 1500 paying customers per show but performances averaged only a few hundred. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Randy Partons Divorce | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.newsobserver.com/2711/story/891846.html | work =News and Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ]

As a part of the deal, Randy Parton was provided access to nearly $3 million with little oversight but reportedly was using the funds for personal travel and entertainment. In late December 2007 Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewery N. Beale confronted Parton in his dressing room before a performance. An intoxicated Parton was driven home by police but not before gaving a profanity-laced interview to a waiting TV crew. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=N.C. town finds in Parton brother a tale of woe | date=Dec, 23, 2007 | publisher= | url =http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.parton23dec23,0,6482394.story | work =Baltimore Sun | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ] Parton was also questioned by city leaders for unauthorized events held at the theater including a wedding reception for his daughter along with details about who would be marketing the theater. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Documents reveal Parton, advisers expected the city to market the theater | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2007/12/22/news/news.txt | work =Roanoke Daily Herald | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ]

The local government in Roanoke Rapids, the N.C. Local Government Commission, and North Carolina Treasurer Richard H. Moore (chair of the commission) have been questioned about their decision making surrounding the project. Questions remain on why they allowed the project to go forward and bonds be issued to finance the project based on assurances that any revenue shortfalls could be covered by sales taxes. Critics say that the commission failed to completely consider the study which relied on 2 hotels and a retail shopping facility be completed by the time the publicly funded theater was to open, which did not happen. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=N.C. Local Government Commission muffed a big one | date=2008-01-18 | publisher= | url =http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/451785.html | work =Charlotte Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ]

In November 2007 the city took control of the theater from Parton and gave it to UGL Unicco, hired to run the theater under a short term contract. By early January 2008, more than 30 acts had been booked in the first half of 2008. During that time the theater produced its first profit of $17,000. Previously it had lost more than $1 million under Parton's management. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Roanoke Rapids Theatre Turns Profit | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2314072/ | work =WRAL | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-21 | language = ]

On January 8, 2008, the city of Roanoke Rapids terminated Randy Parton's contact and renamed the theater the Roanoke Rapids Theater. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Randy Parton Theater Officially Changed To Roanoke Rapids Theater | date= | publisher=WITN | url =http://www.witntv.com/home/headlines/13549267.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ] Scheduled performances continued, with disappointing ticket sales. Some details of contracts between the city, performers and other employees remained secret until local media obtained them via the Freedom of Information Act. Some who worked for the group responsible for bringing the theater to the area later worked for the theater and were paid hundreds of thousands in salary which some employees said was unearned. Several thousand dollars in "Memorandum of Understanding" payments to Parton's daughters have also been questioned. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Ties to Parton theater paid a couple well | date= | publisher=News and Observer | url =http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/891902.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ] Scandal extended outside the project when a NCDOT official representing the area resigned after questions arose concerning fund raising efforts targeted at officials associated with the Carolina Crossroads project. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=NC DOT board member resigns over Perdue fundraising | date=2008-01-18 | publisher= | url =http://www.fayobserver.com/article_ap?id=116558 | work =Fayetteville Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-20 | language = ]

On February 18, 2008, UGL Unicco terminated its contract with the city of Roanoke Rapids citing repeated missed payments of over $100,000. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Theater's Management Cuts Ties With Roanoke Rapids | date= | publisher= | url =http://wral.com/news/local/story/2450652/ | work =WRAL | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-18 | language = ] Thereafter the city managed the theater itself; but as of summer 2008, the theater was closed indefinitely.

Project Future

The overall future of the Carolina Crossroads project, aside from the theater, remains uncertain. On January 23, 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony was held next to the theater for a retail development to include a restaurant and eight retail shops. The Hilton Garden Inn has opened, and acts have been booked at the outdoor amphitheater throughout 2008. The rest of the area remains empty, however. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Retail Development Aims to Be a Tourist Push for Roanoke Rapids Theatre | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2345770/ | work =WRAL | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-24 | language = ]

References

External links

* [http://www.carolinacrossroads.com official site]
* [http://www.rrtheatre.com Roanoke Rapids Theater]
* [http://www.rvresortatcc.com/ RV Resort]
* [http://www.wral.com/news/local/page/2156407/ WRAL Randy Parton coverage archive]