The History of Tweetsie Railroad - NC Mountain's Wild West Theme Park | Expedition Theme Park

[@stevenangel8235]

I have been to tweetsie! this past summer was my third time and we try and go as often as we can. In 2014 my grandad (dad's side) bought a condo just outside of Boone, and when we went to visit him there for the first time that summer, my dad had heard that Tweetsie was still there and operational. He hadn't been since he was a little kid, and he had moved around a lot so he wasn't sure if it was still open. As soon as he found out it was still there he made it a priority to take us. The train ride is definitely the big sell-point. though the actual train route never changes the scenarios are different every time. like I said we've been 3 times now and I think we were able to figure out that they give the cowboys and Indians a scenario but there's no real script, they always just have a ton of fun with it. Think Blazing Saddles but family friendly. As for the actors, they're most likely theater students from ASU, or Lees McRae but they're always on point and give it more than their best. I have a blast every time I go because of exactly what you said at 5:40. It doesn't have roller coasters or highly immersive theming or 3D garbage, it's just a good old country theme park for the whole family to enjoy, and the fact that it's been open for like 60+ years and that aspect of it hasn't deteriorated yet is a testament to the park's spirit. I hope this helped a bit and if you found this informative I'd love to talk about even more! PS, Please if you end up doing a Land of Oz episode, contact me I would love to be of some help for that one!

[@mistys.1160]

I visited as a young child in the early 80s and took my own children in 2008. I think it’s time to go again! Love seeing these lesser known parks history. I also went to the Land of Oz.

[@grandmemaw3605]

We went to the Tweetsie railroad town over Christmas and we had a wonderful time. Can’t wait to go back

[@Coolahan3]

Grew up in North Carolina and love Tweetsie Railroad... we always went to Disney World, but this one was one of my favorites with its own special charm.

[@iCatchLupin]

This was the first theme park I ever visited as a child, and I still have fond, foggy memories of its kitsch.

[@JSHBubby]

I worked at Tweetsie in High School for 3 years and still love it to this day ;-)

[@SkyKing58318]

Oh man...thank you for bringing back some good memories! You've heard of the "Army Brat"? Well, my dad worked for Montgomery Wards and was transferred all over the eastern half of this country, making me a "Corporate Brat." We moved to North Carolina soon after I was born, and some of my earliest memories are from that place. We even visited The Tweetsie Railroad sometime in 1960 or 1961. The train robbery sent me into terror spasms. Revisiting is on my bucket list!

[@tylermiller1540]

Taking my son here for the first time tomorrow! I've been dreaming of taking him since before he was born. I grew up going and I can't wait to take him as much as we can!

[@justahillbilly7777]

Came here from the Dollywood video to see if the location responsible for my railroad enthusiasm was done right, and for a 6 minute video, you did good. And as for my thoughts on Tweetsie as someone who has been there multiple times over the years: I can't describe just how much I enjoy that place due to it's *very* pivotal role in the shaping of my interests in life. Also, the single best event for someone to go to Tweetsie during is their Railroad Heritage Weekend, formerly known as Railfan Weekend, specifically the second day. And get there EARLY so you can see both number 12 and number 190 doubleheading the regular train then splitting up around 1:00 PM so 12 can pull a nonstop railfan service and 190 the regular Wild West train. Plus, you'll see **A LOT** of railfans with cameras and plenty of banter in the park getting as many photographs and videos as they can. Who knows, you may learn a thing or two about Tweetsie's extremely rich history of colorful people and colorful stories if you strike up conversations with both park staff and railfans alike.

[@kriztinaheckert5085]

I'm from NC and went to Tweetsie as a kid. The most distinctive memory of the trip is going on some kind of ride like Tomorrowland Speedway and finding a bunch of change (like $20 worth) and being excited to do the chance games and arcade games with it. I think the train ride with the "cowboys v indians" thing actually scared me a bit, lol

[@photokeet2159]

On a school trip a while back we went to a zip-line place right next to Tweetsie, I was really interested in the history behind the park. One of my friends with me said she went there when she was little and had fond memories of it. Great video, I’m really happy to see a video on the park!

[@molliesmith3178]

Tweetsie is a family tradition in my family. We have gone here for decades

[@devsmom0122]

I’m excited for the possibility of a video on The Land of Oz.

[@TheApoohneicie]

devsmom0122 I know! It’s right by us. They take the kids there with the school every year.

[@stevenangel8235]

please!

[@Apple-om5mr]

I love ozfest

[@haydenjarman8568]

Wow, so much of this video is nostalgic for me. I can literally feel the smoke from the train engine burning my eyes as I write this. As a kid, I didn't even know they had an amusement park section of Tweetsie. My family would literally ride the train, then ride the chair lift up to the top where the petting zoo was, and that was our whole trip. I have a VHS of me at probably 4 years old getting attacked by a billy goat up there. Also, as a kid, the normal train was just as scary as any halloween attraction you can imagine. People taking over the train, and shooting guns within feet of you. I still have a cowboy hat and a legit leather holster from there.

[@FoxInferno13]

I would have lost my tiny mind if I would have been able to ride Thomas the Tank Engine as a kid. That Ghost Train looks amazing as well. I love hearing about these smaller theme parks. Keep up the good work!

[@TheApoohneicie]

Foxy Clevinger We took my cousin to see Thomas when we was little. He was obsessed with Thomas then. He had a fit! He had the biggest grin on his face the whole time.

[@gfgd123]

I use to beg my family to go around Halloween, usually we did, and my grandpa would always take me on the ghost train while my parents and grandma did shopping and other things. A very sweet memory for me, it will definitely be a place I take my future kids to someday!

[@TrainsWow]

Nice video! In 2004 Bert Williams, the son of Ken Williams who created the Crown Metal Products train company donated all of the machinery and tooling to Tweetsie for restoring and making Crown Metal steam train parts.

[@bryanvincer7081]

I remember going as a kid in the ‘80s. I went back as an adult during the 50th Anniversary. I went to my first Ghost Train that year. So many great memories. Now my niece and nephew want to go. Thanks for the trip down memory lane and some of the history.

[@enginemedic73]

I’ve been to tweetsie railroad before and I love it because you go on a train that was made in 1879 and because of the place that it sits you are supposed to feel that you are in the 18hundreds.

[@doryna_sira]

Great video. I went to the University of North Carolina at Tweetsie (also known as Appalachian State University in nearby Boone) and can confirm the Halloween stuff is pretty awesome. I once participated in a Halloween show on ASU campus and we got the make-up artists from Tweetsie to make us zombies and so on. Everyone looked super creepy... it was great. I'm glad Tweetsie is still open, because when I was at school up there circa 2000, the Robbins family was having financial issues and it seriously looked like it was going to close. It's pretty special to the locals, and many of us college students became quite fond of it too in a cheesy fun kind of way.

[@brandonb1681]

As kids, our family would go to this place. I don't remember it too much, but I do remember Ghost Town in the Sky and Grandfather Mountain.

[@mrhis2ry]

Tweetsie, #12, ran as part of the Shenandoah Central Railroad in Penn Laird, near Harrisonburg, VA. It opened in 1953 and ran for two years on a one mile tract as a popular tourist destination. Sadly flooding destroyed much of the tract after two years of operation. It is was not rebuilt.

[@taj101276]

I remember going to Tweetsie Railroad as a small child in roughly 1980 at age 4 or 5. I would love and go back to see it again. I don't have any small children anymore, but remember this place fondly. Love to go back for the Nostalgia of childhood memories of a very long time ago.

[@aryjarvis3161]

I went there when I was super little. We saw the riders in the sky. My brother had a blast and got a lasso

[@LittleLottieCosplay]

Thank you for this episode. Going to Tweetsie was a big part of my childhood.

[@kilroywashere9343]

This place is full of memories for me

[@amusementnow4416]

Looks like a really great classic park! Nice job.

[@Dcsk8kid89]

Thanks for another blast from the past! This was one of the first parks I ever went to as a kid back when I would spend my summers with the family up in the mountains. Always wanted to check it out during Halloween!

[@JakeLX]

I have heard of this, but had never seen pictures or footage of it. The Ghost Train looks awesome. I was thinking this train reminded me of Dollywood's a little bit. I knew Dollywood used to be Silver Dollar City, but I didn't know it got started as a single-train attraction before that.

[@alikeirn]

I am FLOORED that you did a Tweetsie episode!! I just became a subscriber earlier this week, I LOVE your videos, and I performed and choreographed for Tweetsie from 2008 through 2010!! It holds a very special place in my heart - thank you!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@Lennyg845]

LoL!! When I heard the other voice at the beginning I thought you hired a voice over person!!! Never do that! We love your charming accent.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hahah well thank you I appreciate that.

[@TheApoohneicie]

The ghost train is awesome! I was volunteering at a haunted house and we went as a group trip. It was so original with the train ride and when you make stops it’s the middle of the dark woods so it’s extra creepy.

[@elflvr04]

Good video! I grew up in Raleigh. Never got to go to Tweetsie but did Carowinds,Kings Dominion, and Busch Gardens when I was a youngster. Now I live an hour from Disneyland ;)

[@PoseidonXIII]

That ghost train was wicked!!

[@JustOutnAbout]

Great video.. I have grown up going to Tweetsie and brought my son up going there when he was small. Did the Thomas several times. Haven't done the ghost train yet but hope to make it for Christmas this year. They started that event last year. ~Dawn

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Is there any park you have not been Dawn? Aha

[@CreativeCreatorCreates]

My home! I love western NC! Great video!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you very much!

[@drdremd]

It was one of my favorites as a child.

[@TheApoohneicie]

I am so excited you are doing another place near me! I’ve been so many times to Tweetsie since I was a kid. It’s awesome to see other people appreciate it.

[@PointandClickNerd]

I loved going there when I was a kid

[@railroadvelocipedeproducti2020]

Did you guys know that after the et&wnc’s closer tweetsie railroads not the only part of the et&wnc landmark the doe river gorge railroad in Hampton Tennessee which runs on the original et&wnc track from doe river camp to pardee point and there’s the East Tennessee railway at Johnson city Tennessee itself so all three of these railroads are the “Landmarks of the ET&WNC RR”

[@VaticanCity123]

I'd go to Tweetsie every weekend that my parents and I were at our place in Linville, which was quite often. It was basically my childhood and i absolutely loved it as a kid. I don't go there anymore, but maybe I should next time I'm up there. I've been to Ghost Train and I have a few things to say about it. I remember it being a bit more...scary? At least the train show was. People complained however and they had to tone it down a lot. They used to do different themes too. My favorite was a vampire theme where you were on the train with aristocratic vampires and they were trying to hunt down rogue mentally unstable vampires. Now they've added screens in the train cars and I think they've done that anniversary of a train wreck theme several years in a row? I haven't been in recent years but I remember going two years in a row and that was the theme for both years. They also used to have the upper part of the park open as well. The part where you'd ride on the bus to get up there. That used to be open, but now it's just the lower part where the train is and the carnival area that's open. I do say that it's worth a visit, both during the day and during Ghost Train.

[@bedazzled64]

This is awesome, thanks Sam! So glad you went here, I love Tweetsie!! We had a 2nd home in Blowing Rock and we'd always go here when we were up there. But never went during Halloweentime, now I need to see this

[@scrambled5948]

4:30 this isn't your ordinary ghost train. This is the ghost train reimagined. This is Tweetsie's ghost train.

[@eastcoastnews7574]

Yesss sirrr

[@aroadtonowhere]

Great Video! I Wish I was in it :-)

[@Chunks76]

Sam GREAT VIDEO!! I may go now, once again I was unaware that this place existed but we are going up to NC next summer. So this is now going to be a stop that we take.

[@TheApoohneicie]

Adam Toruno I hope you enjoy our mountains! You may want to go to Brown Mountain and try to see the lights, but they are more frequent in the fall.

[@seaweedtotter]

I have been on the Tweetsie Railroad, when I was a kid back in the 80's. When I saw that title come up, I admit a wave of nostalgia hit me. I think going there and to Ghost Town in the Sky when I was a kid has fueled a life long love of the West and trains! :) Thanks for doing this. You are really hitting all my Carolina nostalgia buttons!

[@TheEnderMineMC]

Any chance you might know anything about the animatronic animal band they had at Ghost Town in the sky? I’m curious about it but I haven’t been able to find anything online except for a few photos. So far my only lead is that they were seemingly made by Creative Presentation. I believe it’s the same company that created the Jungle Jamboree band since it looks fairly similar in style but that’s about all I know. They were by the front of the park in a building with a small theater setup inside.

[@seth8634]

Dollywood would also be a great vid!!! Love the channel btw

[@SaturnCanuck]

Awesome. Looks like fun

[@laughtrack686]

This looks really cool. Wish I was able to visit as a kid!

[@Jake-rv1ow]

I grew up going to Tweetsie as a little kid and do wanna go back there since I was like 5 or so for The Ghost Train event and I still pass it to this day coming to and back from NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway

[@thehamelsduck1600]

Great video. I would really like to go to tweetsie at some point. It’s on my list. Hopefully next summer if we go back to Tennessee. Great video thanks for sharing.

[@TheApoohneicie]

The Hamel's Duck It’s near Boone, NC. I hope you enjoy it!

[@SouthernsBBQ]

Glad to see one of these sorts of parks still around. Think you might do a video on Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I’m going to visit this Christmas so maybe after that!

[@SouthernsBBQ]

Expedition Theme Park Have fun while you’re there. Fire in the Hole is a SUPER old but historic ride. And it may be one of the few things running if the weather is wet and cold.

[@crgt4628]

I went with my family to the Tweetsie Railroad and the Land of Oz in the year of 73 and 74 in the summer Jesse James tried to rob the train but the sheriff stopping him and his gang had eight beans and night before is a tooted while they were hiding out in the woods I wish I could go back to that very day that we were there all my family has passed away now my mother my father and two sisters and my brother thank you so much for the Memories

[@chloevaughn410]

I remember going to tweetsie around like the age 5 maybe? That cowboy and Indian shootout scared me to death when I saw it

[@gohant1237]

i love that place

[@mr.darkmaremetal]

i been to tweetsie when i was little i remember the rides

[@jennrodriguezdaluz]

woah that Halloween train is amazing! i would love to see something like that!

[@eadlynjune]

I didn’t know they did a ghost train version! I’d love to go up there to see it now! Looks awesome, at least more than the Thomas the Tank Engine version of it I went to see when o was a kid...

[@bug5258]

Great video my friend. I live less then an hour from this location. Old school laid back area in them mountain.

[@TheApoohneicie]

Bug 525 I live close too! Burnsville here. My hubs went to App.

[@tcrwcrewchanneltruecrew1602]

LOVE IT EXPEDITION THEME PARK KKEP IT UP THANKS FOR HELPING MY ANXIETY SOME TIMES

[@plutohasfleas]

Another fantastic video! I love how you have a format and stick to it. It really works! I'm from Tampa, so I would love to see you do a couple videos on Busch Gardens Tampa. I think it would be really cool to see you do a few short videos about Questor/Akbar's Adventure Tours, The Python, Rhino Rally, or even the old King Tut's tomb walkthrough attraction. I think some history videos on Montu, Kumba, Congo River Rapids, and the Howl-O-Scream events could have enough information out there to make for a longer runtime. Anyways, keep up the great work!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you! Let’s just say one of the things you mentioned will be coming very soon!

[@bagofgroceries]

Rhino Rally. It was Rhino Rally.

[@brandonoliver4626]

I have season passes to this park as it is the closest park to where I live and its great. They added a Christmas train that you should cover you also didn't mention the 190 train that they added which is a younger "sister" train.

[@kimicansyn]

Please do a video on Silver Dollar City please :) its one of my childhood theme parks and has tons of interesting history on it

[@TheRealAmericanMan]

Hey! I was there last summer because it found it online and was like “what a weird place” there was a neat like giant climbing thing next door too. It has the fastest most exciting scariest Ferris Wheel I’ve ever ridden lmao.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That Ferris wheel is terrifying. I rode it at night

[@mattsnewmailbox]

Best tater salad in the state is available at the Feed and Seed at Tweetsie as well

[@Molten546]

tweetsie all other months: :D tweetsie in october: *DEMON MODE ACTIVATED*

[@mordokch]

Wow - if I lived in the US I would so be going there on halloween !

[@armydude710]

It’s insane if you do go I’ve gone for 9 years straight it’s great

[@johnvance2839]

YOU shoud tell about the ghost train no 13 that crashed at tweetsie

[@gmanley1]

Mind if you can do the Universal Studios Florida Studio Tram Tour as part of Expedition Universal Studios Florida

[@FatherAxeKeeper]

I'd love to see you do a feature on some of the old Kennywood (Pittsburgh PA) dark rides that no longer exist (at least note entirely). The Laff in the Dark (later named Le Cachot) existed from 1930 to 1998. The Old Mill was around since the 1800s! I can't find any good history videos about them online, but I know you'd do a superb job.

[@dinocas420]

I second this!

[@montanafay4425]

I used to work here loved it

[@rylan7197]

Why no mention of #190?

[@detroitdiezel7856]

I just love saying the word "tweetsie"!

[@jediarco]

Great video! That park looks so cool. I live in Orlando, FL and may just drive up there this Halloween season to check out the Haunted Railway because it looks awesome! Keep up the great work. : )

[@DatOneYTPer]

I visited Tweetsie!

[@pcbassoon3892]

I went there as a kid and the Cowboys and Indians show scared the crap out of me. It was in no way historically accurate or culturally sensitive, but it was pretty entertaining.

[@TrunksWD]

As a New Yorker I'd be interested to see the history of Playland Park in Rye, NY.

[@johnnylibertine2113]

You forgot about Rock-afire explosion in that place

[@fury325fanboy6]

I love tweesie

[@Vyppaaa11]

I've ridden that Thomas the Tank Engine train with my kids at Edaville Amusement Park in Carver Mass.

[@sidsheets1074]

I remember going to this as a kid and crying so much because it was scary (for 6 year old)

[@sidsheets1074]

The ghost train anyway

[@idunnobutyay2520]

Okay, twist my arm- now I want to go to Ghost Train

[@kirstencourtner1413]

Tweety railroad it’s good good train

[@ihatemaxx]

I live close by tweetsie!

[@TheApoohneicie]

Wait are you actually going TO Land of Oz?! Are you like here now?! I think I’m geeking out.

[@Yaaassssss546]

Please look into Edaville Railroad and Canobie Lake Park

[@KamikazeeDolphin]

This entire time I thought Dollywood would find a way to beat this park, but they came as one instead. Interesting

[@Larkinfon]

You should do a video about Historical Rye Playland!

[@123rudyc]

I come for the theme song! That song is lit! What's it called?

[@floralhyperion]

This one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKXOaYCNjLqYp7c

[@saturos3093]

PLEASE do OZ!!

[@lizrae4359]

i went as a kid in late 90s it was so fun.. except the animatronics

[@larryquisno5267]

Trains I loved

[@sonic23233]

There is a historic railroad in Pa

[@citizenofcorona8783]

I haven't been to the park but I have been to Boone!

[@TheApoohneicie]

Citizen of Corona My husband went to App. I used to spend so much time wandering around Boone waiting for him to get out of class.

[@gohant1237]

ive been there a bunch of times

[@cliptrashbin2389]

Wow I live in North Carolina I always thought north carolina was a dump no one heard of this is awsome

[@pcbassoon3892]

Lol I live in NC, but I am from SC so I know that it isn't a dump. Also, if you like roller coasters, you should try Carowinds.

[@TheApoohneicie]

Cybertron Warrior I know, right?! It was always just this little place we went in the summer or something. It’s a bit like finding out Your nondescript relative is actually world famous.

[@TweetsieRailroader]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@warriorseamonkey1693]

I like trains...

[@evangar]

"Sure would like to go to Tweetsie Railroad and throw some rocks at the Indian." - Jerri Blank

[@pcbassoon3892]

Lol. What is that from? They had s Cowboys and Indians show when I was a kid with actors. It probably wouldn't fly now.

[@evangar]

Rebecca O'Sullivan Strangers with Candy. They mention Tweetsie Railroad and throwing rocks at the Indian a number of times. They even filmed a scene at "Tweetsie Railroad" (most likely not the actual park) where Jerri throws rocks at an employee (Andy Richter) dressed as an Indian.

[@boilerwash1]

Thanks so much for the channel credit you didn't give on the footage of the shops at 3:33 which you lifted from my home video without asking. If anyone wants to see the whole thing its at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnOnaYmAn9CpaZI

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Sorry I missed putting your name in the actual video but I did credit you in the description. My bad

[@boilerwash1]

Expedition Theme Park That's fine, not that bothered that you used it, as a nonmonitized channel it just agrevates me when clips of my stuff pops up on monitized videos and nobody bothers asking. While you're at you should take a look at my Tombstone Junction videos from Kentucky. Long and interesting history on that place.