Great content. As someone who frequented that park as a child, thank you for the memories. The old roller coaster, before being remodeled in the early 2000’s was known as “The Red Devil”
As a young kid in the 70's, I visited "Ghost Town In The Sky" several times during its time as a popular place to visit. They had can can girls doing shows in the saloon and shoot outs in the streets. When they shot off those pistols and shot guns, they used black powder and the "boom" would cause people to scream as the smell of that burned powder would float across the crowds which would be 3 or 4 deep on those boardwalks (sidewalks). My future husband and I rode that coaster and hoped it was safe. The scariest part of the coaster was the location....hanging on the side of this mountain over looking Maggie Valley was the scariest part. The first time I visited was around 1976. I was only a kid and it was super cool. The next time was 3 years later...still cool, fun and packed. That last time we were there in the 90's, I realized the park was destined for doom. The owner at that time was out and about and literally begged us to come back the next day as his guest. It was so sad. I suspect many things lead to GTITS demise was a) western shows were no longer as popular on tv b) the TN side of the mountain was becoming more popular with Dollywood and all the musical theaters opening in and around Pigeon Forge. It was such a magical and wonderful place in the 70's. When you used your left hand to open the door to the chapel, it brought back such wonderful memories. The view from the large window behind the pulpit was breathtaking to a youngster. Several tourists, along with my family, gathered in the chapel and I started singing a "church song"....everyone joined in and it was very special. You flew in and around "Ghost Town" and then landed in the parking lot and hiked up and did an excellent tour even though you had to hike back down in time for your flight home. Most excellent Mark. You took me down a precious memory lane from my childhood and combined this with my love of flying. Wishing you and your beautiful family a healthy, prosperous and happy New Year. Love your content.
I went there when I was little, and what I remember of it, it sure was amazing! I definitely remember going up the mountain on the chair lift, and my dad posing for a picture on a big rock on the mountain! I sure do miss those times! I also remember hearing the Mckammys live on stage singing that wonderful gospel music, and how glorious it was hearing it bounce off the mountains! It’s such a shame how this country has turned its back on God.😔 God bless you!✝️🧎🏼♂️
Went there as a kid too but you have a much better memory than me ! Maybe I was very young idk. Think I was 6 or 7 not sure. Sad to see these old places wasting awsy.
Mark, Great work...Than You! Beign a Gunfighter from 2007 to 2009, 2013 6 different Gunfights a day! This is truly a sad video to see the vandalism! I played Digger The Undertaker.. Thank You ! God Bless Community!
Hey Digger, truly some memories. I remember you! A friend or two that worked there used to sneak me in, and I would spend all day there. My late friend Forrest got a job driving the train a couple summers. Later in life, I made parts for the mechanical characters and parts for all the rides and roller coaster. Miss working with Perry Littrel. I remember when he passed. It is truly sad all the vandalism. And Yes, great work Mark! Took an old man back to a different time! Although I could see all the vandalism and degrading, I could also see and hear all the noise and excitement of yesteryear!
Question for you, you said you worked there as Digger starting in '07.....I've got to imagine that Digger was one of the most recurring members of the cast. Who was Digger before you? It feels like there's a lot of history to be had in this aspect of the park alone. I think the last visit I made to the park was probably in....'89? I'd have to check and verify that.
@@grumpyoldbiker1118 , I think was Chris T. He then became the Doctor when park reopened in 07. Once in awhile he would do Digger that Year when I Played Deputy. Yes Digger was a fun character weasel of the town and richest too! Digger. 💰🩺⚰🪦🎩
@@patrickdigger3177 The people and the timelines are interesting to me. I think it'd be cool if that info was documented somewhere. It makes for a pretty unusual addition to ones resume, doesn't it? Lol. Being from Clay County, we made the trip over a few times when I was a kid, and I was always enamored with the gunfights. I figured that had to be the best job in the world. Thanks for the history and the insight! I'd love to hear more.
@@grumpyoldbiker1118 , Won't you go to UA-cam ghost Town in the sky gunfights 2007 ( then watch 2008, 2009) and see The skits/characters get better...I'm Digger in tall hat having Stephoscope around my neck(have to make sure their dead)! Digger. 💰🩺⚰🪦🎩
Most under-appreciated content creator on the platform. That was an absolutely fantastic video, and the destination looked amazing. It’s got me wondering more and more about it, and what drove it to fail because it looks like a great place to have a tourist destination.
I had to do a little fiber work up there the last time they were open. It really was disappointing at what they were charging for basically a chairlift ride. You get to the town and there was a couple shops open, a couple little circle kid rides. A gun fight in the city and a saloon show. I literally saw everything they had to offer on a lunch break. Food like old gas station pizza and a canned drink. They said that roller coaster will never be ran again, something about it not being worth the work for it to pass inspections. If someone with crazy money wanted to buy it and then fix it up and take a loss by not overcharging to go there it could certainly be brought back to life.
I went here as a kid in the late 90's with my little brother and Mom and Dad. It was the only vacation we ever took as a family. Thanks for posting this. Brought back a lot of memories.
When I was a kid back in the 70’s my family vacationed near Maggie Valley, NC and we spent a day at Ghost Town In The Sky. I definitely remember the gun fighting in the street and a guy falling from a 2nd story balcony right in front of me. It all seemed so real to a kid. I’m now 60 years old and I will always have memories of that cool place. Thanks for the great video.
Took my son there when he was a kid. He's 50 now. It was a great place to visit with all the rides and gun fights in the streets every hour. Great video, Great memories!
I enjoyed this video so much. I never even knew that park existed. It’s sad to see what happened to it. It was someone’s dream once, so you hate to see a place like that fail, but I’ll bet it brought a lot of joy to a lot of people back then. Thanks for all the effort you went through to show us as much as you did.
YT recommended this and when watching with my wife we both remember not only going there with our families when we were kids, but also she and I going when we got married. Great memories, great video and enjoyed the nostalgia. Stay safe.
Wow! You just brought back a ton of memories! I got my private pilot in Asheville and spent hours flying in WNC, but never that low or slow. Thanks for the amazing video!
Great video. Been there when I was young back in the 60's. My wife had worked there one summer when she was in High school. She would tell me stories from that time. She worked in the Hat Shop. Greetings from the Old Jarhead in WNC (one of Kurt's friends & one John F) I've heard the stories
Thats an amazing video. What a crazy spot to explore! Thanks for my cameo and shoutout! (I am the guy on the motorcycle). I actually drove up the backside after I saw you but got intimidated by all the no trespass and camera signs so didnt walk in from the road side..maybe I will hike up sometime. Great content.
Wow!! My parents took me there back in the 70's. It was cool watching you tour the place because it brought back memories and I had several moments where I realized that in some places that you were walking, that I had walked the same spot some 45 years ago! Thank you for sharing, sir! Blue skies!
Thank you for that journey my friend. I used to go there as a kid. Takes me back. Kind of sad to see it in that condition. Makes me feel ancient (I’m 39).
My family and I used to go every year in the 70s. I loved the sky lift and Wild West shootout. Time sure changes things. Thank you for showing it again!
Thanks so much for the memories. As a kid growing up through the 60s &70s, my dad loved to go to Maggie Valley and Cherokee, NC. And either going up or coming back from south Alabama, we always stopped at Lookout Mountain. But I remember Ghost town with the old shootouts they performed in the streets, the blacksmith, the jail, and don't forget the saloon. That was my dad's favorite, I think, because of the cancan girls. Lol That was a time when vacations were cherished when the old roadside theme parks, small zoos, and other attractions were popular before all the Interstates were built. Now you really can't enjoy a good vacation because of all the traffic, the crowds and long lines to stand in for a two minute ride. Even going back to the Blueridge mountains and renting a cabin is like living in a sub division. They build so many up the side of the mountains that you can almost stick your hand out your window into the cabin window right next to you. Kids nowadays have absolutely no idea of a remembered layed back vacation. I truly miss my dad and mom and those wonderful vacations we took growing up. 😢❤😊
Precious memories! I remember as a kid in the 80s and early 90s every summer we would stop at the swinging bridge in Bryson city on the way to stay in Cherokee before the casino came to town. We'd go to ghost town every year. Now my dad and sister have passed on but thankful for the memories we had together like ghost town.
It was nice reading your memory you posted ! Yes, it's very sad to me could not keep the place going. Or turn it into something else to attract tourists. So many memories for so many tourists once there and to see it deteriorate. You are right about kids today have no ideal what a wholesome relaxing vacation today is like. Good awesome days are gone , nothing but stress now and too many people to do anything now ! It's truly sad when you look back how life was good compare to now . . . . God bless you !
My uncle worked there. Those chair lifts scared the crap out of me when i was little, but it was so exciting. I remember they had cowboy gun fights at certain times of the day. Memories❣
My family and I went there in the 80’s, I was maybe in 5th grade. I loved it, I was in Maggie Valley in 2017 tried to go back but found it was closed!!! What a disappointment. Thanks for the video brings back a lot of memories!!!
Oh wow! Was excited to see this 1! I'm 50 now but went there as a kid many years ago! Sad to see it like that now but awesome view! I remember they had a swing ride that swung u over the mountain and u could look down at the trees.
Say brother I just stumbled across your channel. I’m a big fan of old abandoned amusement parks and ghost towns and this was absolutely excellent. I Doug the way you flew there when I first saw the caption. I thought you were going by helicopter or something but the way you did it, bro, that was amazing that must’ve been a half flying into something like that man there are places, amusement parks and stuff. I remember as a child growing up that are no longer there and I wish I could go back and see them even if they were abandoned to this day, but they’re all eithertownhomes or parking lots or whatever damn shame but the 60s 70s early 80s man kids these days just don’t know what it was like growing up back then as to what they have to deal with now thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the memories, I went there in the 60s with my parents, and took my kids there in the 90s. The gun fights and the Indian dances were my favorites. I also loved the flying swing that went out over the mountain when it got going.
I also went there as a kid in the late 60s and early 70s. This brought back great memories. I appreciate you sharing this with us. BTW, the chair lift getting up there terrified me. That is definitely my strongest memory.
Was there when i was around 10 now at 72. I remember walking down the street and seeing the gunfights! Thanks for the memories. By the way I flew a powered parachute for about 6 years. Nothing like it.
Mad respect dude! New sub here from Alabama. Me and my hubs have always wanted to get an ultra-lite and see the skies like that. I know you must feel so free to fly the way you do. I'm about to binge watch you're vids. Stay safe and keep'em up there .Thank you for sharing your passion and taking us along for the ride! ❤
My grandparents took my brother and me up to Ghost Town in The Sky back in the late 60's. The tram ride was cool, and the shootouts were fun. Great perspective from your paraglider. Tx!
Great clip ! Went there a few times as a kid . Last time was a school trip, probably 6th or 7th grade about 1970 . I remember a couple of the rides swinging you over the mountain ! Loved the chair lift to get there . Everything sure looked larger as a kid . Sure is a shame to see it rotting away . 😔
This was randomly in my "recommended" feed and I'm so glad it was! I miss western North Carolina and enjoyed the awesome video of so many places I remember. Had to instantly subscribe. Thank you.
Well its certainly a ghost town now! I went up there back in ‘89 (18yrs old ) with friends from HS 3 hrs away and we ended up partying with the “ Can Can girls” in the saloon after they got off. Fun times indeed. Hate they closed it. AWESOME flight dude. I remember the shootouts they had in the road. Thats a crazy steep “hill”you hiked up. Biltmore is a cool tour too. Great stuff ! Thanks
Ghost Town in the Sky. That is the Red Devil Roller Coater. The first coaster with a loop I ever rode. There was a tram and a ski lift type “ride” to get up to the park. Man this brings back memories! Thanks for the ride back in time!!!
It's really sad how much is left behind and forgotten in places like this abandoned park! You can almost hear the laughter and sounds of people having fun during the days gone by into the past.
I was there about 60 years ago ! I remember going from Fla to Ind before Interstates were completely built north to south, so we went past Ghost Town in the Sky. Parts of that trip was still on dirt/gravel roads and radiator shops were every where, for busted radiators from slung gravel. No A/C in car.
Very cool; I've never seen any videos like this before. Thank you for sharing. I don't ever remember going to this place; however, I do remember seeing it's commercials on TV 'Maggie Valley's Ghost Town in the Sky'. This place reminds me of being at 'Gold Rush Junction' when I was little in the 1970's-1980's; it turned into several places as time went on, and now, it is 'Dollywood'. 😊
Lived in the area when I was seven or eight until we moved to Florida I'm now 67 but this was just too cool to see thank you for that. On one trip I suddenly jerked away from my mother's hand as the chair lift seats circled down to pick you up, you had to be quick because it didn't stop, for some reason I just wanted to go solo to the top of the mountain this time, mom's still snap the picture of me from the seat behind me black and white of course ..still have it somewhere, still remember the old west train rides and such, would be great to see it revived
This is Craaazy! I was across the street snowtubing with my family when you shot this video. I was watching you fly around and land. I can see our SUV in the parking lot when you took off.
Believe it or not but I've been here back when I was about 13 yrs old. The Viking boat you walk past around the 16:00 min mark was terrifying! Awesome to see!
I went there several times as a kid and was fortunate enough to take my kids the last time they opened in 2007 or 2008. It’s truly sad to see what’s happened to it but your video brought back some great memories.
Used to go there as a kid, that and Santa's Land. I remember being so scared riding the lift. Thanks for the video, I def got some old nostalgic feels from it.
Wow! Amazing video and such a cool place. Its sad watching you walk through a place that was once loved and enjoyed by so many people. We have lost so many local amusement parks in the country. 😢 I think it is due to the rising cost of insurance, taxes and upkeep. This park is someplace I wish i had gotten to when it was open. Thanks for sharing this adventure. Fly safe friend!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Maggie valley. Ghost town in the sky. You definitely gave me some nostalgic feel. Gosh I remember this place. Thanks again sir
@timburton9514.. Hi Tim, you are correct. In the early 60's, Burt worked at Ghost Town in the Sky as a stuntman falling off rooftops for $100 a week. Something else interesting is that Ghost Town is where Burt met fellow stuntman Herbert "Cowboy" Coward. He is the guy who played the toothless villain in Burt's 1972 movie, Deliverance whom Burt shot with the arrow. Herbert got his toothless grin when he was knocked with a pistol during a staged gunfight there at Ghost Town in the Sky. He came from a huge family having 8 brothers and sisters and being illiterate and not being able to read and write he was as much a hillbilly in real life as he was in the movie. Burt remembered him through the years and then recruited him for the movie knowing he would be perfect for the part. Sadly, Herbert "Cowboy" Coward passed away just 6 months ago in North Carolina at the age of 85 along with his girlfriend, a pet Chihuahua and a pet squirrel in a car accident after being struck by a 16 year old kid driving a truck. He stayed in regular contact with Burt over the years and before his death in 2018, Burt was quoted as saying, "I only had three real friends and Herbert was one of them because he never asked me for nothin."
@@90daysinvegas53 WOW !!! Thank you for the history !! First time hearing this and so glad I came across it ! Truly a shame it is deteriorating , so many many memories are there ! Truly sad !!!!!!!
Wow just seen this and man I sure do miss the Ghost town. It's been years or I was a little kid when I was there last sure does bring back memories. Now in my early 40s seeing it now it's so said that it's gone down. It's like Cherokee on up the road it's gone down also but thanks for sharing this walk down memory lane. God bless 🙏
This makes me so sad to see this place in such a shape. We always took our four kids to Ghost Town in the Sky every summer in the 90s. We would stay all day. They loved it. I have pictures of all of us on those chairs you rode up on. I wish someone would open this back up. I have a lot of wonderful memories there with my kids. Enjoyed your video 👍
Oh Mark, what a trip down memory lane. That was my first loop roller coaster I ever road, and the gunfight on the streets were a sight to see!!! good old Maggie Valley .
I went once but was too young to remember. I do remember seeing their commercials on the local news channel at 6am when I was getting ready for school as a child. Cool Video!
ditto to the last comment. I was following your video because of interest in paramotoring but your trek around ghost town in the sky brought back some good memories. Thanks for filming it. It was special for me to see it again. Visited several times ages 8-11, sometime in the early 70's. :)
Oh such happy childhood memories! My family visited this place every year all of my growing up years. My parents were a big fan of Smokie mountain, Cherokee and Chattanooga. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother, we had a vacation caravan lol The last time i went as a child was probably in the early '70's. I was a teenager by then. I made sure my kids had the same experience as i had there. Its sad that era has ended.
I was here as a kid in the early 1990’s. Warms the heart. Grandparents used to take us they passed away some 20 years now. Crazy. Thanks for the video.
I went here as a kid. Probably 40 years ago now. Such great memories. Sad to see that it has fallen into disrepair. Kids today will never know the thrill of the old west shootouts and carnival rides literally in the clouds that once happened here.
The local Knoxville TN TV affiliates used to advertise all the time when it was operating. Finances dried up, some friends of mine use to know to back store, they’ve passed on, I don’t remember. During its hay day in the 70’s, I was in the military, was a little busy to theme park. Sure due appreciate the video, assume job. Glad you enjoyed the flight. God Speed, and safe flying,,,,,,, Semper Fi,,,
Great to see an update on this place it’s one of my favorite abandoned places it’s so fascinating I’m hoping one day soon to visit before it’s too late
I had so many good times there with my family as a kid. The anticipation of the chair lift ride to the top (that rail car never worked anytime I went there!), the shows in the theaters and the gunfights in the streets....Hurts to see her in such a sad state of disrepair. The story behind how the place got into that state is pretty interesting if you're into that sort of thing. It may not be the thriving park it once was, but the scenic views are still out of this world. And if ya think it was crazy on the ground, you can imagine what it was like on the coasters, or the chair ride that swung out over the ridge! At this point I think it's so far gone that it doesn't have a chance of being brought back, but you can never say never. I gotta admit, that's one helluva way to travel, Sir! "Go-around" takes on a whoooole new meaning!
there a good chance the rides will be sold for scalp metal and everthing else torn down. also running them park is expensive. 1 you going to need thounds and thounds of insurnace. because you will get sued. { all the insurnace alone will make you broke}. 2.financial people you have to deal with. 3 budget people. 4. marketing people. 5 office people. 6 creative people to design shows, pardes. rides, gift shp , restaurnts and hotel. and an other group to build them.
Hey Grumpy! Do you have the story of how it fell into closure and subsequent disrepair? I am into those sorts of things, and with all these comments, I'm sure many of the old-timers would also love to hear it. It would be great if it were added to the description of the video along with @PatrickDigger3177's story from above! Thanks!
@@CaptTony107 There are better accounts out there, but as I understand it the roller coaster there failed a couple.of safety inspections. Other rides may have as well. I think that was the beginning of the end. It was gonna take millions to get everything up to par, and I believe it was even reopened for a brief period of time. If I recall correctly Jacob The Carpetbagger did a pretty good video on the place. Possibly Adam The Woo as well back from his urbex days. There are quite a few vids on UA-cam about it. I travel back to Western NC with the bikes every couple of years and would love to get permission to actually RIDE up to the lot, but the opportunity to do that is probably drying up pretty quickly.
Hey Mark; Really enjoyed your video, it sure brought a good memory! My wife and I were married in July of 1979 and Maggie Valley and Ghost town in the sky is where we went on our honeymoon!
I loved this video! I remember going to Ghost Town and thought it was the coolest thing ever!! I wish I could have taken my children and grandchildren. It was a blast. Thank you for sharing
We stopped there on a whim once back in the 90s. That place was really cool. I still have polaroids of my kids meeting the gunfighters out in the street.
We went to ghost town as a kid, now I’m 64. There was a train track with a car that pulled the cable car up the mountain and we were scared. They also had the chair lift I believe but we didn’t ride that. It was magical as a kid for us 3 kids with the dance hall girls and my favorite memory of Frosty Root beer in a mug. Gunfights in the streets, etc. How cool is that? We also went to frontier land but tgat wasn’t as good. Thanks
My family took me there back in the 90s. They had a sky lift on one side and like a big train/tram on the other you could take either one up or down. It was really cool cowboys had shootouts in the street in front of the saloon. I have pics here somewhere from it.
I remember going there when I was a kid! Our family vacationed around Gatlinburg and Cherokee back in the 60’s and 70’s about every year. I remember going up the chair lift and I remember gun fights in the street. Always looked forward to going there!
Thank You, it brings back childhood memories and I took my children and wife there while it was still in 0peration. I have a brother and a sister that was born in Sylva N.C.
Thanks for the memories I had when I went there with my parents when I was around 10. I'm now 72, you do the math. I can still picture that place and some of the things that were there, gun fights, etc. I heard they tried to fix the place up and reopen many years ago but never got off the ground. It's a shame that today's kids can't enjoy this kind of fun. Thanks again for bringing this wonderful place back into my life.
I remember going to this place as a kid..rode mosty of those rides and always loved the shoot outs in the street and seems like there was a bank robbery..great video man thanks for this
Great content. As someone who frequented that park as a child, thank you for the memories. The old roller coaster, before being remodeled in the early 2000’s was known as “The Red Devil”
Support beams stress cracks everywere condemned ride.
It was our "Go To amusement park. There and Tweetsie.
As a young kid in the 70's, I visited "Ghost Town In The Sky" several times during its time as a popular place to visit. They had can can girls doing shows in the saloon and shoot outs in the streets. When they shot off those pistols and shot guns, they used black powder and the "boom" would cause people to scream as the smell of that burned powder would float across the crowds which would be 3 or 4 deep on those boardwalks (sidewalks). My future husband and I rode that coaster and hoped it was safe. The scariest part of the coaster was the location....hanging on the side of this mountain over looking Maggie Valley was the scariest part. The first time I visited was around 1976. I was only a kid and it was super cool. The next time was 3 years later...still cool, fun and packed. That last time we were there in the 90's, I realized the park was destined for doom. The owner at that time was out and about and literally begged us to come back the next day as his guest. It was so sad. I suspect many things lead to GTITS demise was a) western shows were no longer as popular on tv b) the TN side of the mountain was becoming more popular with Dollywood and all the musical theaters opening in and around Pigeon Forge. It was such a magical and wonderful place in the 70's. When you used your left hand to open the door to the chapel, it brought back such wonderful memories. The view from the large window behind the pulpit was breathtaking to a youngster. Several tourists, along with my family, gathered in the chapel and I started singing a "church song"....everyone joined in and it was very special. You flew in and around "Ghost Town" and then landed in the parking lot and hiked up and did an excellent tour even though you had to hike back down in time for your flight home. Most excellent Mark. You took me down a precious memory lane from my childhood and combined this with my love of flying. Wishing you and your beautiful family a healthy, prosperous and happy New Year. Love your content.
This gave me chills. It's nice to hear about your memories of the place. It's incredible the things that come and go. Happy New Year!
I went there once as a kid in the 70s. Still looks familar.
I went there when I was little, and what I remember of it, it sure was amazing! I definitely remember going up the mountain on the chair lift, and my dad posing for a picture on a big rock on the mountain! I sure do miss those times! I also remember hearing the Mckammys live on stage singing that wonderful gospel music, and how glorious it was hearing it bounce off the mountains! It’s such a shame how this country has turned its back on God.😔 God bless you!✝️🧎🏼♂️
Went there as a kid too but you have a much better memory than me ! Maybe I was very young idk. Think I was 6 or 7 not sure. Sad to see these old places wasting awsy.
Yes I remember..
I'm 62 now and went several times as a kid Thanks for the memories
I used to go there as a kid in the early 60s. Thanks for the tour. 👍🏻
I’m 62 now. But when I was a young feller, our family went to that park. Enjoyed the train ride and the wild West show. Brought back memories.
It probably seemed pretty magical to kids years ago when it was newly opened
Me too ...my grandparents too my sister and me...i never forgot that day for sure!!!
Took
Mark,
Great work...Than You!
Beign a Gunfighter from 2007 to 2009, 2013
6 different Gunfights a day!
This is truly a sad video to see the vandalism!
I played Digger The Undertaker..
Thank You !
God Bless Community!
Hey Digger, truly some memories. I remember you! A friend or two that worked there used to sneak me in, and I would spend all day there. My late friend Forrest got a job driving the train a couple summers. Later in life, I made parts for the mechanical characters and parts for all the rides and roller coaster.
Miss working with Perry Littrel. I remember when he passed. It is truly sad all the vandalism.
And Yes, great work Mark! Took an old man back to a different time! Although I could see all the vandalism and degrading, I could also see and hear all the noise and excitement of yesteryear!
Question for you, you said you worked there as Digger starting in '07.....I've got to imagine that Digger was one of the most recurring members of the cast. Who was Digger before you? It feels like there's a lot of history to be had in this aspect of the park alone. I think the last visit I made to the park was probably in....'89? I'd have to check and verify that.
@@grumpyoldbiker1118 ,
I think was Chris T.
He then became the Doctor when park reopened in 07.
Once in awhile he would do Digger that Year when I Played Deputy. Yes Digger was a fun character weasel of the town and richest too!
Digger.
💰🩺⚰🪦🎩
@@patrickdigger3177 The people and the timelines are interesting to me. I think it'd be cool if that info was documented somewhere. It makes for a pretty unusual addition to ones resume, doesn't it? Lol. Being from Clay County, we made the trip over a few times when I was a kid, and I was always enamored with the gunfights. I figured that had to be the best job in the world. Thanks for the history and the insight! I'd love to hear more.
@@grumpyoldbiker1118 ,
Won't you go to UA-cam ghost Town in the sky gunfights 2007 ( then watch 2008, 2009) and see The skits/characters get better...I'm Digger in tall hat having Stephoscope around my neck(have to make sure their dead)!
Digger.
💰🩺⚰🪦🎩
Absolutely loved this video. So many memories. I was born in 1973 and my parents took us every summer.
Most under-appreciated content creator on the platform. That was an absolutely fantastic video, and the destination looked amazing. It’s got me wondering more and more about it, and what drove it to fail because it looks like a great place to have a tourist destination.
I appreciate it!
That story has MULTIPLE layers going back decades. Still being worked out with lawyers
There's a few documentaries/ youtube videos about the place. Pretty neat wish I made it there looked fun
Burt Reynolds was a gunfighter there when he was in college at FSU.
I had to do a little fiber work up there the last time they were open. It really was disappointing at what they were charging for basically a chairlift ride. You get to the town and there was a couple shops open, a couple little circle kid rides. A gun fight in the city and a saloon show. I literally saw everything they had to offer on a lunch break. Food like old gas station pizza and a canned drink. They said that roller coaster will never be ran again, something about it not being worth the work for it to pass inspections. If someone with crazy money wanted to buy it and then fix it up and take a loss by not overcharging to go there it could certainly be brought back to life.
The summer camp I went to from 1979-1986 took us there every summer, loved the memories
I went here as a kid in the late 90's with my little brother and Mom and Dad. It was the only vacation we ever took as a family. Thanks for posting this. Brought back a lot of memories.
When I was a kid back in the 70’s my family vacationed near Maggie Valley, NC and we spent a day at Ghost Town In The Sky. I definitely remember the gun fighting in the street and a guy falling from a 2nd story balcony right in front of me. It all seemed so real to a kid. I’m now 60 years old and I will always have memories of that cool place.
Thanks for the great video.
I'm turning 60 in a couple months and share the very same memories of Ghost Town as you do. That fall!
Took my son there when he was a kid. He's 50 now. It was a great place to visit with all the rides and gun fights in the streets every hour. Great video, Great memories!
I enjoyed this video so much. I never even knew that park existed. It’s sad to see what happened to it. It was someone’s dream once, so you hate to see a place like that fail, but I’ll bet it brought a lot of joy to a lot of people back then.
Thanks for all the effort you went through to show us as much as you did.
YT recommended this and when watching with my wife we both remember not only going there with our families when we were kids, but also she and I going when we got married. Great memories, great video and enjoyed the nostalgia. Stay safe.
i did?
One of the most entertaining videos I’ve seen on UA-cam! Thank you so much for taking us along on a great adventure.
Wow! You just brought back a ton of memories! I got my private pilot in Asheville and spent hours flying in WNC, but never that low or slow. Thanks for the amazing video!
As a kid a trip to Ghost Town was a super treat. The chairlift to the top of the mountain was a thrill too.
Great video. Been there when I was young back in the 60's. My wife had worked there one summer when she was in High school. She would tell me stories from that time. She worked in the Hat Shop. Greetings from the Old Jarhead in WNC (one of Kurt's friends & one John F) I've heard the stories
Thats an amazing video. What a crazy spot to explore! Thanks for my cameo and shoutout! (I am the guy on the motorcycle). I actually drove up the backside after I saw you but got intimidated by all the no trespass and camera signs so didnt walk in from the road side..maybe I will hike up sometime. Great content.
Thanks for the pictures and video! It was nice to meet you.
Nice GS ..you need a Sargent seat for those long hauls!
No trespassing signs….
What do those mean,
Wow!! My parents took me there back in the 70's.
It was cool watching you tour the place because it brought back memories and I had several moments where I realized that in some places that you were walking, that I had walked the same spot some 45 years ago!
Thank you for sharing, sir!
Blue skies!
What a really cool adventure. Thank you for taking me along.
Thanks for watching
Thank you for that journey my friend. I used to go there as a kid. Takes me back. Kind of sad to see it in that condition. Makes me feel ancient (I’m 39).
My family and I used to go every year in the 70s. I loved the sky lift and Wild West shootout. Time sure changes things. Thank you for showing it again!
Growing up in Greenville SC, I remember going there with my parents, grandparents and great aunt and uncle. Very nostalgic.
Thanks so much for the memories. As a kid growing up through the 60s &70s, my dad loved to go to Maggie Valley and Cherokee, NC. And either going up or coming back from south Alabama, we always stopped at Lookout Mountain. But I remember Ghost town with the old shootouts they performed in the streets, the blacksmith, the jail, and don't forget the saloon. That was my dad's favorite, I think, because of the cancan girls. Lol
That was a time when vacations were cherished when the old roadside theme parks, small zoos, and other attractions were popular before all the Interstates were built. Now you really can't enjoy a good vacation because of all the traffic, the crowds and long lines to stand in for a two minute ride. Even going back to the Blueridge mountains and renting a cabin is like living in a sub division. They build so many up the side of the mountains that you can almost stick your hand out your window into the cabin window right next to you.
Kids nowadays have absolutely no idea of a remembered layed back vacation.
I truly miss my dad and mom and those wonderful vacations we took growing up. 😢❤😊
Precious memories! I remember as a kid in the 80s and early 90s every summer we would stop at the swinging bridge in Bryson city on the way to stay in Cherokee before the casino came to town. We'd go to ghost town every year. Now my dad and sister have passed on but thankful for the memories we had together like ghost town.
Must have been nice to be able to afford to go on trios. I can only imagine what that's like
It was nice reading your memory you posted ! Yes, it's very sad to me could not keep the place going. Or turn it into something else to attract tourists. So many memories for so many tourists once there and to see it deteriorate. You are right about kids today have no ideal what a wholesome relaxing vacation today is like. Good awesome days are gone , nothing but stress now and too many people to do anything now !
It's truly sad when you look back how life was good compare to now . . . .
God bless you !
My uncle worked there. Those chair lifts scared the crap out of me when i was little, but it was so exciting. I remember they had cowboy gun fights at certain times of the day. Memories❣
Two of my favorite things, PPG and exploring abandoned places.
Me too
Thanks for the memories! I believe our church youth group attending Maggie Valley in 1982. It was great to see the place again. Good memories.
So fascinating. America has so many examples of this that if you don’t live in or around you would never know. Thanks for the video.
My family and I went there in the 80’s, I was maybe in 5th grade. I loved it, I was in Maggie Valley in 2017 tried to go back but found it was closed!!! What a disappointment. Thanks for the video brings back a lot of memories!!!
Oh wow! Was excited to see this 1! I'm 50 now but went there as a kid many years ago! Sad to see it like that now but awesome view! I remember they had a swing ride that swung u over the mountain and u could look down at the trees.
Say brother I just stumbled across your channel. I’m a big fan of old abandoned amusement parks and ghost towns and this was absolutely excellent. I Doug the way you flew there when I first saw the caption. I thought you were going by helicopter or something but the way you did it, bro, that was amazing that must’ve been a half flying into something like that man there are places, amusement parks and stuff. I remember as a child growing up that are no longer there and I wish I could go back and see them even if they were abandoned to this day, but they’re all eithertownhomes or parking lots or whatever damn shame but the 60s 70s early 80s man kids these days just don’t know what it was like growing up back then as to what they have to deal with now thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the memories, I went there in the 60s with my parents, and took my kids there in the 90s. The gun fights and the Indian dances were my favorites. I also loved the flying swing that went out over the mountain when it got going.
I also went there as a kid in the late 60s and early 70s. This brought back great memories. I appreciate you sharing this with us. BTW, the chair lift getting up there terrified me. That is definitely my strongest memory.
Was there when i was around 10 now at 72. I remember walking down the street and seeing the gunfights! Thanks for the memories. By the way I flew a powered parachute for about 6 years. Nothing like it.
Mad respect dude! New sub here from Alabama. Me and my hubs have always wanted to get an ultra-lite and see the skies like that. I know you must feel so free to fly the way you do. I'm about to binge watch you're vids. Stay safe and keep'em up there .Thank you for sharing your passion and taking us along for the ride! ❤
My grandparents took my brother and me up to Ghost Town in The Sky back in the late 60's. The tram ride was cool, and the shootouts were fun. Great perspective from your paraglider. Tx!
Great clip ! Went there a few times as a kid . Last time was a school trip, probably 6th or 7th grade about 1970 . I remember a couple of the rides swinging you over the mountain ! Loved the chair lift to get there . Everything sure looked larger as a kid . Sure is a shame to see it rotting away . 😔
This place rocked. The gunfights were fantastic.
Wow. I remember visiting there back in the 80s. Pretty neat place. Thanks for the video.
This was randomly in my "recommended" feed and I'm so glad it was! I miss western North Carolina and enjoyed the awesome video of so many places I remember. Had to instantly subscribe. Thank you.
Well its certainly a ghost town now! I went up there back in ‘89 (18yrs old ) with friends from HS 3 hrs away and we ended up partying with the “ Can Can girls” in the saloon after they got off. Fun times indeed. Hate they closed it. AWESOME flight dude. I remember the shootouts they had in the road. Thats a crazy steep “hill”you hiked up. Biltmore is a cool tour too. Great stuff ! Thanks
Ghost Town in the Sky. That is the Red Devil Roller Coater. The first coaster with a loop I ever rode. There was a tram and a ski lift type “ride” to get up to the park. Man this brings back memories! Thanks for the ride back in time!!!
It was great back in its day. I have rode the roller coaster. been there for my senior party and went every summer as a kid . Great memories ty
I went there in the 70's & 80's... I recall the building as you get on the top, That had the best fudge around.
It's really sad how much is left behind and forgotten in places like this abandoned park! You can almost hear the laughter and sounds of people having fun during the days gone by into the past.
I was there about 60 years ago ! I remember going from Fla to Ind before Interstates were completely built north to south, so we went past Ghost Town in the Sky. Parts of that trip was still on dirt/gravel roads and radiator shops were every where, for busted radiators from slung gravel. No A/C in car.
Very cool; I've never seen any videos like this before.
Thank you for sharing.
I don't ever remember going to this place; however, I do remember seeing it's commercials on TV 'Maggie Valley's Ghost Town in the Sky'. This place reminds me of being at 'Gold Rush Junction' when I was little in the 1970's-1980's; it turned into several places as time went on, and now, it is 'Dollywood'. 😊
Remember going here as a kid in the 90’s.. still have the photo of me and my dad riding the chair lift up the Mountain! Used to be a cool place to go!
Lived in the area when I was seven or eight until we moved to Florida I'm now 67 but this was just too cool to see thank you for that. On one trip I suddenly jerked away from my mother's hand as the chair lift seats circled down to pick you up, you had to be quick because it didn't stop, for some reason I just wanted to go solo to the top of the mountain this time, mom's still snap the picture of me from the seat behind me black and white of course ..still have it somewhere, still remember the old west train rides and such, would be great to see it revived
12-year old me is remembering so much from the sights in this video. Thank you for sharing!
Went there back in the 90's. That coaster was pretty cool. Good live bluegrass music too. Thanks for showing it off.
This is Craaazy! I was across the street snowtubing with my family when you shot this video. I was watching you fly around and land. I can see our SUV in the parking lot when you took off.
That is pretty awesome. How did you find this random video?
Believe it or not but I've been here back when I was about 13 yrs old. The Viking boat you walk past around the 16:00 min mark was terrifying!
Awesome to see!
I went there several times as a kid and was fortunate enough to take my kids the last time they opened in 2007 or 2008. It’s truly sad to see what’s happened to it but your video brought back some great memories.
I've been here back in the early 90s also. I went here with a friend and his mom and dad. What a cool place.
I remember Ghost town in sky. We went there in the 80's and again in the 90's. We loved it.
Used to go there as a kid, that and Santa's Land. I remember being so scared riding the lift. Thanks for the video, I def got some old nostalgic feels from it.
I remember stopping here on a family vacation around 1964 or 65. I was around 4 years old, but clearly remember snatches of it.
I absolutely loved this video! Brought back wonderful memories. Thank you.
My new wife and I were there in 1977 or 1978. Got our old time pic taken at the old tyme pic shop 👍🏻 thanks from east ky 👍🏻
When I say “new” i mean then, we’ve been married 47 years now 👍🏻
Wow! Amazing video and such a cool place. Its sad watching you walk through a place that was once loved and enjoyed by so many people. We have lost so many local amusement parks in the country. 😢 I think it is due to the rising cost of insurance, taxes and upkeep.
This park is someplace I wish i had gotten to when it was open. Thanks for sharing this adventure. Fly safe friend!!
Went there quite a few times when I was a kid. I remember the chair lift going up the mountain and I remember the gun fight shows. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Maggie valley. Ghost town in the sky. You definitely gave me some nostalgic feel. Gosh I remember this place. Thanks again sir
Been there many times. Great memories. It was open for a long time. I was told Burt Reynolds worked there when he was younger
@timburton9514.. Hi Tim, you are correct. In the early 60's, Burt worked at Ghost Town in the Sky as a stuntman falling off rooftops for $100 a week.
Something else interesting is that Ghost Town is where Burt met fellow stuntman Herbert "Cowboy" Coward. He is the guy who played the toothless villain in Burt's 1972 movie, Deliverance whom Burt shot with the arrow. Herbert got his toothless grin when he was knocked with a pistol during a staged gunfight there at Ghost Town in the Sky. He came from a huge family having 8 brothers and sisters and being illiterate and not being able to read and write he was as much a hillbilly in real life as he was in the movie.
Burt remembered him through the years and then recruited him for the movie knowing he would be perfect for the part.
Sadly, Herbert "Cowboy" Coward passed away just 6 months ago in North Carolina at the age of 85 along with his girlfriend, a pet Chihuahua and a pet squirrel in a car accident after being struck by a 16 year old kid driving a truck.
He stayed in regular contact with Burt over the years and before his death in 2018, Burt was quoted as saying, "I only had three real friends and Herbert was one of them because he never asked me for nothin."
@@90daysinvegas53 WOW !!! Thank you for the history !! First time hearing this and so glad I came across it ! Truly a shame it is deteriorating , so many many memories are there ! Truly sad !!!!!!!
Great video!! Thanks! You brought back memories and a future trip!
Wow just seen this and man I sure do miss the Ghost town. It's been years or I was a little kid when I was there last sure does bring back memories. Now in my early 40s seeing it now it's so said that it's gone down. It's like Cherokee on up the road it's gone down also but thanks for sharing this walk down memory lane. God bless 🙏
This makes me so sad to see this place in such a shape. We always took our four kids to Ghost Town in the Sky every summer in the 90s. We would stay all day. They loved it. I have pictures of all of us on those chairs you rode up on. I wish someone would open this back up. I have a lot of wonderful memories there with my kids. Enjoyed your video 👍
Great adventure...I went there as a school kid....65 now! Good adventure...good memories
I love it man i haven't been there in 50 years, thanks for sharing this with us !!!!😊😊😊
Oh Mark, what a trip down memory lane. That was my first loop roller coaster I ever road, and the gunfight on the streets were a sight to see!!! good old Maggie Valley .
and the story on why it didn't make it was due to water.
I went once but was too young to remember. I do remember seeing their commercials on the local news channel at 6am when I was getting ready for school as a child. Cool Video!
I remember going in the late 60's as a kid. Was a great entertainment venue at it heyday
We went there many times as children, great memories. Many thanks for the video and very well done.
That ending with the airliner as you passed each other was awesome man!
Man I use to love this place. It was our vacation to go up there. Went with church once as well. Great cowboy duels and just a fun time 😢
ditto to the last comment. I was following your video because of interest in paramotoring but your trek around ghost town in the sky brought back some good memories. Thanks for filming it. It was special for me to see it again. Visited several times ages 8-11, sometime in the early 70's. :)
Oh such happy childhood memories! My family visited this place every year all of my growing up years. My parents were a big fan of Smokie mountain, Cherokee and Chattanooga. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother, we had a vacation caravan lol The last time i went as a child was probably in the early '70's. I was a teenager by then. I made sure my kids had the same experience as i had there. Its sad that era has ended.
Stayed in a cabin in Maggie Valley July 4th weekend 1995, spent a day at Ghost Town with my family and had a blast! The shows were awesome.
I was here as a kid in the early 1990’s. Warms the heart. Grandparents used to take us they passed away some 20 years now. Crazy. Thanks for the video.
I went here as a kid. Probably 40 years ago now. Such great memories. Sad to see that it has fallen into disrepair. Kids today will never know the thrill of the old west shootouts and carnival rides literally in the clouds that once happened here.
The local Knoxville TN TV affiliates used to advertise all the time when it was operating. Finances dried up, some friends of mine use to know to back store, they’ve passed on, I don’t remember. During its hay day in the 70’s, I was in the military, was a little busy to theme park. Sure due appreciate the video, assume job. Glad you enjoyed the flight.
God Speed, and safe flying,,,,,,,
Semper Fi,,,
Great to see an update on this place it’s one of my favorite abandoned places it’s so fascinating
I’m hoping one day soon to visit before it’s too late
do it!
I had so many good times there with my family as a kid. The anticipation of the chair lift ride to the top (that rail car never worked anytime I went there!), the shows in the theaters and the gunfights in the streets....Hurts to see her in such a sad state of disrepair. The story behind how the place got into that state is pretty interesting if you're into that sort of thing. It may not be the thriving park it once was, but the scenic views are still out of this world. And if ya think it was crazy on the ground, you can imagine what it was like on the coasters, or the chair ride that swung out over the ridge! At this point I think it's so far gone that it doesn't have a chance of being brought back, but you can never say never. I gotta admit, that's one helluva way to travel, Sir! "Go-around" takes on a whoooole new meaning!
there a good chance the rides will be sold for scalp metal and everthing else torn down.
also running them park is expensive.
1 you going to need thounds and thounds of insurnace. because you will get sued. { all the insurnace alone will make you broke}.
2.financial people you have to deal with.
3 budget people.
4. marketing people.
5 office people.
6 creative people to design shows, pardes. rides, gift shp , restaurnts and hotel. and an other group to build them.
Hey Grumpy! Do you have the story of how it fell into closure and subsequent disrepair? I am into those sorts of things, and with all these comments, I'm sure many of the old-timers would also love to hear it. It would be great if it were added to the description of the video along with @PatrickDigger3177's story from above! Thanks!
@@CaptTony107 There are better accounts out there, but as I understand it the roller coaster there failed a couple.of safety inspections. Other rides may have as well. I think that was the beginning of the end. It was gonna take millions to get everything up to par, and I believe it was even reopened for a brief period of time. If I recall correctly Jacob The Carpetbagger did a pretty good video on the place. Possibly Adam The Woo as well back from his urbex days. There are quite a few vids on UA-cam about it. I travel back to Western NC with the bikes every couple of years and would love to get permission to actually RIDE up to the lot, but the opportunity to do that is probably drying up pretty quickly.
I remember riding up that chair lift when i was a kid it was so fun to watch the western show/play
Really appreciate the effort, I feel a less fit person wouldn't have been able to show us all that. Great stuff love watching.
Hey Mark; Really enjoyed your video, it sure brought a good memory! My wife and I were married in July of 1979 and Maggie Valley and Ghost town in the sky is where we
went on our honeymoon!
Oh my goodness. First time watching the channel. I feel a binge coming. Wow.
This sweet little place has seriously deteriorated since I saw it.
I loved this video! I remember going to Ghost Town and thought it was the coolest thing ever!! I wish I could have taken my children and grandchildren. It was a blast. Thank you for sharing
Lifelong Buncombe county resident. I love your videos. This is amazing content!
We stopped there on a whim once back in the 90s. That place was really cool. I still have polaroids of my kids meeting the gunfighters out in the street.
We went to ghost town as a kid, now I’m 64. There was a train track with a car that pulled the cable car up the mountain and we were scared. They also had the chair lift I believe but we didn’t ride that. It was magical as a kid for us 3 kids with the dance hall girls and my favorite memory of Frosty Root beer in a mug. Gunfights in the streets, etc. How cool is that? We also went to frontier land but tgat wasn’t as good. Thanks
My family took me there back in the 90s. They had a sky lift on one side and like a big train/tram on the other you could take either one up or down. It was really cool cowboys had shootouts in the street in front of the saloon. I have pics here somewhere from it.
SO glad I was able to take my wife and son here in the 90s just before it was permanently gone. Ski lift up, bus back down.
I went there in the 90’s as a kid it was awesome pretty cool to see it now wish someone would buy it and open it back up
I remember going there when I was a kid! Our family vacationed around Gatlinburg and Cherokee back in the 60’s and 70’s about every year. I remember going up the chair lift and I remember gun fights in the street. Always looked forward to going there!
I spent so many years as a kid up there... sad to see it in such disrepair. But it was so cool to see it too. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Thank You, it brings back childhood memories and I took my children and wife there while it was still in 0peration. I have a brother and a sister that was born in Sylva N.C.
I love Sylva, vacation there often.
Thanks for the memories I had when I went there with my parents when I was around 10. I'm now 72, you do the math. I can still picture that place and some of the things that were there, gun fights, etc. I heard they tried to fix the place up and reopen many years ago but never got off the ground. It's a shame that today's kids can't enjoy this kind of fun. Thanks again for bringing this wonderful place back into my life.
I remember going to this place as a kid..rode mosty of those rides and always loved the shoot outs in the street and seems like there was a bank robbery..great video man thanks for this