irst opened in 1957, Tweetsie Railroad began as an excursion train ride aboard steam locomotive #12, the only surviving narrowgauge engine of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC). Built in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, #12 is a three-foot, narrow gauge locomotive that was used to haul passengers and freight over the ET&WNC’s 66mile line running from Johnson City over the Appalachian Mountains to Boone. 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 as 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 optioned the locomotive with the intent to move it to California for use in motion pictures. Instead, Grover Robbins, an entrepreneur from Blowing Rock, purchased Autry’s option and bought the locomotive in 1956. Robbins moved
the #12 locomotive back to its native Blue Ridge Mountains as the centerpiece of a new “Tweetsie Railroad” tourist attraction. A three-mile loop of track was constructed near Blowing Rock for the train to run on, and on July 4, 1957, the locomotive made its first public trip over the line. Tweetsie Railroad became a popular tourist attraction and evolved into one of the nation’s first theme parks. A western town and saloon were built around the depot area. A train robbery and Indian attack show were added to the train ride, playing off the Wild West theme that was very popular at the time on television and movies. The theme was enhanced by regular visits by WBTV television personality and singing cowboy Fred Kirby, who hosted a popular children’s show. In 1962, a chairlift and amusement ride area was constructed on a mountain inside the rail loop, and over the decades the park has been expanded with additional rides, attractions, shops, a petting zoo and restaurants. In 1990, the staff of Tweetsie came up with the initial idea to turn the increasingly popular Wild West show of the Tweetsie Railroad into a spooky train ride.
(From top to bottom) (1) Two skeletons guard the entrance to the Boneyard, Tweetsie’s mind-bending 3-D Maze that features the disorienting Black Hole. (2) The perpetually vibrant Spice Ghouls—a roving troupe of songstresses—strike a pose on Main Street. (3) Got a phobia of spooky clowns? If so, then you might want to avoid this jester and his sidekick. (4) Beware of these Gothic sirens and their chariot of death, the Ghost Train hearse, that waits to take unsuspecting visitors on a swift ride to the underworld. Photos by CathyCole
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High Country Magazine
October / November 2010