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Tweetsie Railroad Pulls Into Station on April 11

March 26, 2014. Full steam ahead! Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s first theme park, is set to open its doors on Friday, April 11, 2014 for its 58th season of Wild West adventure. Guests of all ages are invited aboard to enjoy a ride on Tweetsie’s legendary steam locomotives and to experience first hand the long-ago era of the Wild West. The park, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, will host an exciting lineup of special events, including much-loved favorites like Day Out With Thomas and Tweetsie’s Ghost Train® Halloween Festival, as well as first-time appearances by David Holt and the Lightning Bolts, and by Scooby-Doo and Shaggy.

Take a step back into the Old West and discover all Tweetsie has to offer, from a variety of amusement rides, panning for gold at Miner’s Mountain and making new friends with the animals in the Deer Park, to experiencing an authentic Western town. There is so much to explore for the whole family, including the park’s centerpiece: a three-mile ride through the winding and breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains on a train pulled by one of Tweetsie’s historic steam-powered locomotives.

To rest your feet and take a break from the thrill of the Wild West, sit back and relax while being entertained with one of Tweetsie’s live shows such as Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Revue, Miner’s Mountain Magic Show, and Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration. 

Tweetsie’s season wouldn’t be complete without a full line-up of special events, bringing even more magic and adventure to the park. To get your planning for the 2014 season on track, below is a quick look at Tweetsie¹s lineup of special events:

Letterland© at Tweetsie ‹ May 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 ­ Tweetsie Railroad will be transformed before your very eyes into the magical place of Letterland© during this special event. Based on the best-selling alphabet books written by Lyn Wendon, Letterland is the reading system that teaches children the alphabet and phonics by bringing letters to life.

David Holt and the Lighting Bolts in Concert ‹ May 25 ­ Tweetsie Railroad is honored to host Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt and the Lightning Bolts for a one-day only special performance. David Holt and the Lightning Bolts enliven old-time music with a new time jolt, and a sound that is full, driving and energetic.

Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 ‹ June 6-15 ­ Experience everyone¹s favorite train like never before as Thomas the Tank Engine chugs his way through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Children can meet and take pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, listen to Thomas and Friends storytelling, and enjoy activities in the Imagination Station.

SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick ‹ June 27-29 ­ Nickelodeon’s beloved characters, SpongeBob SquarePants and his best friend Patrick, visit Tweetsie Railroad to entertain and take pictures with guests. Guests can spend the day with their favorite underwater friends at North Carolina¹s first theme park!

Fireworks Extravaganza ‹ Friday, July 4 ­ No July Fourth celebration in the High Country would be complete without a day of family fun at Tweetsie Railroad. Children young and old will watch with wonder as the mountain night sky is illuminated with the High Country¹s most dazzling fireworks display. The park will remain open until 9:00 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

Cool Summer Nights ‹ July 5, 12, 19 and 26 ­ Enjoy long summer nights while keeping cool with a visit to Tweetsie Railroad during Saturdays in July, as the park stays open until 9:00 p.m. to make more time for family fun. First-time guests and regulars alike will delight in seeing Tweetsie come to life after the sun goes down. 

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy ‹ July 11-13 ­ Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? Meet the Cartoon Network¹s Scooby Doo and his good friend Shaggy during their first ever visit to Tweetsie Railroad.

K-9s in Flight Frisbee® Dogs ‹ July 19-27 ­ Watch man¹s best friend defy gravity as a team of agile four-legged athletes delight the audience by jumping, flipping, diving and catching flying discsŠright into your heart!

Riders In The Sky ‹ August 9-10 ­ Captivating audiences of all ages since 1977, the multi Grammy award-winning quartet is an event not to be missed. America¹s Favorite Cowboys fill the Blue Ridge Mountain air with sweet sounds by providing a rich blend of Western harmony and humor. A true Old West experience!

Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie ‹ September 6-7 ­ Travel through the Blue Ridge Mountains on Tweetsie¹s historic locomotives as the park hosts its annual Railroad Heritage Weekend. Celebrate the rich history of steam railroading and tour the famous Tweetsie Railroad Train Shop, where steam locomotives from across the nation are repaired and restored. The weekend will also include performances and demonstrations by the Cherokee Tsalagi Touring Program.

  

Ghost Train® Halloween Festival ‹ Friday and Saturday nights September 26 ­ November 1 ­ All aboard Tweetsie’s Ghost Train®for a nighttime ride of thrills and chills as the park hosts its 25th Annual Ghost Train® Halloween Festival. From The Boneyard to the park¹s newest addition, the Warp Tunnel, beware of the fun and creepy Halloween characters that emerge after dark at Tweetsie. The theme for this year’s event is about a fictional train wreck and its ill-fated crew and passengers. Each night of the festival will mark the anniversary of the Great Train Wreck of 1914.

Tweetsie Railroad will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting April 11, including Memorial Day Monday, and seven days a week from May 30 through August 17. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 18 through November 2, including Labor Day Monday. The 2014 season ends Sunday, November 2. The park¹s regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but will be open until 9:00 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and July 5, 12, 19 and 26 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $39 for adults and $26 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train® Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 26 through November 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., when admission is $31 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

 

Tweetsie Railroad is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2014 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook or follow Tweetsie on Twitter @TweetsieRR.