Opening Day At Tweetsie Railroad Is April 13th!
Tweetsie will open for the 2012 Season on April 13th!
- April 13 through May 28, 2012: Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day Monday, May 28, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Note: Tweetsie Railroad is closed Monday-Thursday through May 31. - June 1 through August 19, 2012: Open 7 days a week, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Tweetsie will be open until 9:00 pm on July 4th for the Fireworks Extravaganza, and July 7, 14, 21 & 28 for Cool Summer Nights.
Note: Tweetsie Railroad is closed Monday-Thursday beginning August 20. - August 24 through October 28, 2012: Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday, September 3, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- We will also open Friday and Saturday nights September 28 through October 27 for the Ghost Train® Halloween Festival. Gates open 7:30 pm.
Tweetsie Railroad will be closed for the winter beginning October 28, 2012.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Fall Color Report From ASU!
Howie Neufeld, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Physiology
Appalachian State University
This has been an interesting week in the mountains. Beginning on Friday, the temperatures dropped, and the winds picked up.
Jesse Pope, chief naturalist up on Grandfather Mountain, reports that on Saturday winds reached 60 mph with gusts up to 74 mph.
Luckily, for most trees, they were still holding on to their leaves quite tightly, so even though some were blown off, most are still there, and if we don’t get more wind storms like that one, they should turn color quite nicely in the next two weeks.
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Tweetsie’s “Ghost Train” Begins September 30th!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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2011 RailFan Weekend at Tweetsie Railroad!
For more information, visit http://tweetsie.com!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Opening Day at Tweetsie is April 29th!
Tweetsie Railroad is proud to operate two vintage steam locomotives: the #12 “Tweetsie” and the #190 “Yukon Queen”. When you visit Tweetsie Railroad during the operating season, the train will be pulled by one of these historic engines.
Locomotive #12 is the last surviving narrow-gauge steam locomotive of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC), which ran train service from Johnson City TN to Boone NC from 1919 to 1940. When the Tweetsie Railroad theme park opened in 1957, this was our sole locomotive.
In 1960, Tweetsie Railroad acquired another steam locomotive, the #190 “Yukon Queen” from Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon Railway.
Both locomotives are coal-fired narrow-gauge engines, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. #12 was completed in 1917, and #190 in 1943. Before entering service at Tweetsie Railroad, the locomotives were put into operating condition by veteran engineer Frank Coffey, who trained new generations in Tweetsie’s on-site steam train repair shop.
For more info, visit: http://www.tweetsie.com!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Tweetsie Railroad Hits the Silver Screen!
Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure Premieres in Blowing Rock!
After filming at locations throughout the High Country, including Tweetsie Railroad, Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure will premiere at Blowing Rock School on November 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Approximately one third of the motion picture, which is based on the popular Mandie children’s book series, was filmed at Tweetsie Railroad in April 2010 including scenes in the park’s Old West Town and Tweetsie’s historic steam engine No. 12. Set at the turn-of-the-century, the movie is filled with rich history about Mandie’s Cherokee Indian heritage and life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, which made Tweetsie Railroad an ideal setting.
“There were several reasons we chose to film at Tweetsie Railroad,” stated Joy Chapman, one of the film’s producers. “Tweetsie offered so much that fit in perfectly with the Mandie stories including the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the authentic Main Street and an early 1900’s steam locomotive. In addition, the Mandie book series is geared towards children and perfect for family reading, and it doesn’t get more family-friendly than Tweetsie Railroad!”
Several of the film’s stars will attend the November 6 premiere which benefits Blowing Rock C.A.R.E.S., a non-profit organization helping local families in need of food, non-perishable items and clothing. Attendees are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items. Tickets are available for purchase at Blowing Rock School (828-295-3204) for $8 each.
Both the first movie in the Mandie series, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, and Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure will be available for purchase at the premiere, and drawings will be held to win autographed photos of the film’s cast, including Lexi Johnson as Mandie.
The Mandie books, authored by the late author Lois Gladys Leppard, have been charming the hearts of young readers for almost 20 years and over seven million copies are in print.
Check out the website at: http://www.mandieandthecherokeetreasure.com
Win A High Country Get-Away!
Win a one-night stay at the Inn at Crestwood in Boone, NC and 2 tickets to the Mountain Home Music concert!
Be the 75th person to answer this question correctly and you will WIN! All answers need to be emailed to highcountrycontests@gmail.com to qualify!
Question: What North Carolina River located in the High Country is said to be named after an Indian princess who drowned herself after losing her lover?
The Winner gets a one-night stay at the Inn at Crestwood in Boone, NC and 2 tickets to the Mountain Home Music concert!
The Inn at Crestwood is nestled in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. Crestwood is definitely a place to come and relax and get-a-way from the daily grind. Each guest room, suite and cottage at Crestwood is uniquely designed with the ultimate mountain experience in mind. They featuring private terraces, whirlpool baths, gas-log fireplaces; amenities such as afternoon wine & cheese, continental breakfast, turn down services and more. You can enjoy unforgettable panoramic views, distinctive dining, celebrated local art and relaxing spa services all in one harmonious setting. For more information about the Inn at Crestwood visit their website: www.crestwoodnc.com 
Mountain Home Music holds concerts throughout the year featuring the tradition sounds of the area! Musicians, dancers, storytellers and poets come together to delight you with sounds of Appalachian music. The Appalachian tradition includes Celtic, old-time, bluegrass, dulcimers and African American forms of artistic expression. When you attend a Mountain Home Music concert, fun can be had by people of all ages, couples or families. For more information about Mountain Home Music and upcoming events please visit their website: www.mountainhomemusic.com
Disclaimer: The Mountain Home Music concert tickets are through September 2011. You will need to call and make your reservation with Crestwood first to see if there is any availability for the evening of a Mountain Home Music Concert!
The Winner will be contacted via Email from High Country Host to get their contact information. The Winner will be mailed the Give-A-Way Package! Included in your package will be the Inn at Crestwood’s information and a Fall and Winter Schedule for the Mountain Home Music concerts!
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Woolly Worm Festival This Weekend!
For the 33rd year the town of Banner Elk has welcomed both old and new friends to the annual Woolly Worm Festival.
This family event co-hosted by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Organization of Banner Elk welcomes more than 23,000 people to the community to make family memories and also to win the prestigious title of predicting the High Country weather and the chance to win the $1000 bounty.
Visit: http://www.woollyworm.com
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Climb on board the 2010 Ghost Train at Tweetsie! Spooktacular Fun!
Visit: http://tweetsie.com/special-events/ghost-train
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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Tweetsie’s “Day Out With Thomas!”
Day Out With Thomas™ is a family event that offers aspiring engineers and their families the unique opportunity to take a ride with the classic storybook engine, Thomas the Tank Engine™ at regional heritage railroads across the country.
Since Thomas the Tank Engine left the depot more than 60 years ago, this Really Useful Engine and his Island of Sodor friends have chugged their way into the hearts of preschoolers and grownups worldwide. Based on The Railway Series of classic stories authored by a father who loved trains and wanted a shared experience with his son, Thomas & Friends™ is a rite of passage that inspires the imagination while teaching the life lessons of friendship, exploration and cooperation.
Visit: http://www.tweetsie.com
For more info on The High Country of North Carolina, call (800) 438-7500, or visit www.MountainsofNC.com.
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