All Aboard?
County may help Tweetsie keep on chooglin’

By Scott Nicholson

The smoke may be clearing for the High Country’s trademark steam locomotive:

Watauga County and Tweetsie Railroad are exploring a proposal to keep the theme park at its current location. File photo

Watauga County and Tweetsie Railroad are exploring a proposal that would keep the Wild West theme park at its current location “for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Watauga planning director Joe Furman, who is acting economic developer for the county, presented a proposal to the commissioners Monday in which the county would buy land to support the theme park in exchange for a long-term commitment to keep the business operating.

The county would also provide marketing money over the next six years, with Tweetsie agreeing to add $13 million worth of park improvements and eventually reimburse the county for the property.

Two things needed to happen for Tweetsie to remain secure at its present location, Furman told the commissioners. Tweetsie general manager Chris Robbins must gain ownership of the theme park and eventually purchase leased land that comprises three portions of the approximately 300-acre park.

All other land leases have been extended through 2065, though Furman said the leased land could change owners and put the park’s local stay in jeopardy.

Under the proposal, the county would pay $3.15 million to two landowner groups, with the Tourism Development Authority providing $200,000 toward that amount from occupancy-tax revenues. The county would then lease the properties to the theme park for $1 a year for six years.

After that time, it would be leased at market value until Tweetsie purchased the property from the county.

As proposed, the TDA would provide a $150,000 annual grant to Tweetsie for marketing and promotion over the next six years, and the park would make improvements over the next 20 years.

Robbins, who was at the meeting, said the report was complete and had no additional information to present.
The commissioners scheduled a public hearing for May 20 on the proposed partnership. The county and Tweetsie have been exploring a potential economic-incentive package for several years due to concerns over leases which threatened the future of the theme park.

Rising land prices and interest in developing the land for upscale residential use had led to difficulties keeping the various tracts assembled, and the county has grown rapidly since Grover Robbins Jr. opened the park in 1957.

The group Dee Arthur Properties and three minority owners hold 142 acres of park territory, and a long-term lease had originally been set to expire last year.

Tweetsie and the property group were able to negotiate a four-year lease, but due to the uncertainty of future leases and the cost and time of moving, the theme park had been investigating other sites in the mountains and was prepared to move if necessary.

Sites in Wilkes and Caldwell counties were explored as part of that search, though Robbins maintained the park’s primary wish was to remain at its current location between Boone and Blowing Rock on U.S. 321. The park has an option on a 300-acre site in Wilkes County.

In 2006, Tweetsie reached agreement with the Broyhill family for a long-term lease on another 46 acres that are part of the park. Two of the minority owners are seeking a purchase instead of a lease. Tweetsie owns 87 acres outright.

The park attracts about 250,000 visitors a year, and a private study commissioned by the theme park showed it had an annual economic impact of $27.4 million on the region and employs more than 300 people during the season, in addition to 26 full-time jobs. Its 52nd season of operation began Friday.

Robbins said he was optimistic the pieces would come together to allow the park to remain in Watauga County, though he said the proposals were “cross-contingent.”

He has a tentative agreement to get financing and buy out the interests of two other family members and become the sole controlling shareholder.

The theme park has 140 shareholders, he said, and the family shares were divided as inheritance when co-founder Harry Robbins died last year.

Under the tentative deal, Tweetsie could buy the property from the county at any time for the original purchase price, plus expenses and interest.

Tweetsie would also agree to build a section of the Middle Fork Greenway through its property.

If Tweetsie moves or closes, the theme park would have to purchase the land from the county. The parties would still need to finalize the legal arrangements of the package.

Tweetsie’s planned expansion includes “The Hacienda,” which is an all-new area of rides, shops and guest facilities. The “Country Fair” will be renovated and expanded to appeal to the teen market and a new “Frontier Town” will be constructed. Renovations will be made to other areas of the park, which Robbins said were needed anyway.

“This means a lot if we can get it through,” Robbins said. “It’s the solution to Tweetsie’s long-term future.”