However, the park struggled to make payroll and employees complained they were not being paid. An anonymous donor provided the money which allowed Ghost Town to reopen for the 2009 season. Failure to secure a loan was expected to mean the loss of 200 jobs and a loss of revenue for local businesses from park visitors. By May, the rides had not been inspected and the owners needed $330,000 in order to reopen. The Great Recession of 2008 was blamed for the park’s problems, but owners insisted the park would reopen and would continue to operate. In 2009, after $11 million had been spent, $6 million of that on the Cliff Hanger roller coaster, Ghost Town filed for bankruptcy. The Cliff Hanger, like many of the rides in the park, garnered a reputation for constantly breaking down. The coaster reopened in October 2009, but closed a few days later after more mechanical issues. It eventually reopened in June 2009, but two days later, the ride closed after inspectors found a hairline crack on one of the train’s frames. It was repainted yellow and renamed the Cliff Hanger for the reopening of the 2007 season, however the ride remained closed due to necessary state code updates. The roller coaster operated until the closure of the park in 2002. Without proper security in place, the park was subject to vandalism. The amusement park sat empty and unmaintained for the next four years, giving many the impression that nobody would buy the park due to the condition of the rides. A few days later, Coburn decided to close the park and sell the property. In July 2002, the chairlift malfunctioned, leaving passengers stranded for over two hours in the rain. Since the chairlift and incline railway are the only ways tourists can access the park, they both required constant repair. Coburn’s ownership, Ghost Town suffered from a lack of maintenance and mismanagement. The Red Devil, featuring a red and white paint scheme, opened in September 1988 with little fanfare. Unfortunately, its summer opening was delayed due to construction and harsh weather conditions. He hoped the new attraction would bring in 25-30% more guests. The new coaster was part of a park refurbishing plan by Coburn. In 1988, he hired Hopkins Rides to build a new $2 million steel roller coaster on the side of Buck Mountain. Coburn sold Ghost Town in 1973, but bought it back a decade later in 1986. The town was completed in May 1961 and consists of about 120,000 square feet of building space. Approximately 300,000 feet of lumber, 200,000 feet of plywood, and 20,000 pounds of nails went into the construction of Ghost Town. When construction began in 1960, over 200 locals were hired to build the 40 replica buildings that comprised the Western Town, located at the mountain’s peak. It moves at a rate of 310 feet per minute and scales 3,370 feet. The chairlift is the longest in North Carolina and the second-longest in the United States. In the spring of 1962, a two-seat chairlift was added parallel to the incline railway to take visitors up the mountain. Tourists could only reach the mountaintop amusement park by riding the incline railway or the chairlift up to the top. The railway created an exciting ride up to the top of the mountain with varying slopes ranging from 30 to 77 degrees. The incline was created with a 25-ton bulldozer attached to a winch secured to another bulldozer, which pulled the bulldozer up the mountain. A double incline railway was constructed to bring visitors to the top of Buck Mountain. At its peak, Ghost Town attracted over 400,000 visitors each season. New rides and attractions were added throughout the years. The heart of the park is the Old West town that includes two saloons, a school, a bank, jail, and church. Each hour a gunfight was staged in the middle of the street with guests lining up to watch. The park is divided into several towns located at different elevations of the mountain, each with a different theme. The park was designed by Russell Pearson and constructed at a cost of $1 million. In 1960, he purchased Buck Mountain at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains for the location of his new attraction. Coburn was inspired to create a Western-themed amusement park after visiting several ghost towns in the American West. Coburn, a Virginia native who moved to Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Ghost Town in the Sky was the vision of businessman R.B. As Dollywood and Pigeon Forge soared, Ghost Town began fading. It was promoted as “North Carolina’s mile-high theme park.” At one time, Ghost Town served as a worthy rival to the pre-Dollywood Silver Dollar City/Goldrush Junction theme parks. Ghost Town in the Sky opened on May 1, 1961, and quickly became one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions.
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