Can you hear the whistle blowing? Tweetsie Railroad is back
for its 60th Anniversary Season!
North Carolina’s First Theme Park Opens for 2017 Season
CONTACT: Leah Knepper (919) 277-1176; [email protected]
Cathy Robbins (828) 264-9061; [email protected]
Blowing Rock, N.C. (March 9, 2017) — On April 7, 2017, the Blue Ridge Mountains will echo
the familiar “tweet, tweet!” of Tweetsie Railroad’s historic steam engines when the theme park
opens for its 60th Anniversary season. Guests will experience a Wild West adventure complete
with family-friendly entertainment, rides and special events all season long. Guests visiting the
park on Saturday, April 15, will even get to spend time with a special guest: the Easter Bunny!
The 60th Anniversary season at North Carolina’s first theme park
will include annual events such as the July 4th Fireworks
Extravaganza, Day Out With Thomas™, K-9’s In Flight Frisbee®
Dogs, the award-winning Ghost Train® and more. Daytime
operations for Tweetsie Railroad will continue through October
29. For the first time, the theme park will extend its nighttime
operations, every Friday and Saturday night, November 24
through December 30 to debut Tweetsie Christmas, a special
holiday event.
Tweetsie Railroad offers plenty of fun for the entire family.
Whether it’s hopping aboard a train pulled by a historic steam locomotive to experience an
exciting three-mile Wild West adventure through the Blue Ridge Mountains, panning for gold,
meeting cowboys and Can-Can girls, or strolling through an authentic Western town, the theme
park has something for everyone. Families looking for even more delights can explore
amusement rides, gem mining, and the Deer Park Zoo – home to more than 90 animals
including deer, emus, goats, llamas and miniature horses. Tweetsie Railroad also offers plenty
of live entertainment including the Country Clogging Jamboree, Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Review,
and Tweetsie Railroad’s own Hopper and Porter show.
Miner’s Mountain will soon be home to two new shops for guests to enjoy: Miner’s Mountain Ice
Cream Shop and Face Paint Parlor. Miner’s Mountain Theater, home to popular live shows
including Hopper and Porter and the Magic Show, has also been renovated and expanded.
The 2017 season will feature a variety of events that will provide many opportunities for exciting
and memorable trips to Tweetsie Railroad:
David Holt and the Lightning Bolts in Concert — Saturday, May 27
Four-time Grammy recipient David Holt comes to Tweetsie Railroad to give visitors an old-time
music experience with a new twist. Come enjoy all-American music and humorous stories at the
noon and 3:00 p.m. shows.
Day Out With Thomas™: The Friendship Tour 2017 —
June 9-18
Thomas the Tank Engine™ has come all the way from the
Island of Sodor to Tweetsie Railroad. To make sure Thomas is
right on time and available to take photos with guests, Sir
Topham Hatt will be managing the station during the event. A
limited number of tickets are available; buying tickets for this
event in advance is highly recommended.
Fireworks Extravaganza — July 4
It’s no secret that Tweetsie Railroad has always presented the biggest July 4th fireworks display
in Western North Carolina, and this year’s extravaganza will be the park’s most spectacular
show ever! Join Tweetsie Railroad in celebrating its 60th anniversary and America’s birthday
with an evening of park rides and entertainment; the park is open until 9:00 p.m., and the big
fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m. Guests can make the night even more special with an
optional dinner and a V.I.P. viewing area.
Cool Summer Nights — July 8, 15, 22 and 29
Cool off in the mountains this summer at Tweetsie Railroad’s Cool Summer Nights. The Wild
West entertainment and park rides will be open until 9:00 p.m.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ — July 7-9
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are making their first visit to Tweetsie Railroad
this summer to enjoy the park and meet their fans. Be sure to catch appearances from the
world’s most famous mutant turtles at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
K-9s In Flight Frisbee® Dogs — July 22-29
These aren’t your average canines! You’ll be blown
away by incredible performances by this team of
talented dogs performing acrobatic routines. There will
be three shows daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00
p.m., plus a special evening show at 7:00 p.m. on
Saturdays.
The Backyardigans™ — August 4-6
Explore the park and meet your favorite costumed characters from the hit Nickelodeon show,
The Backyardigans. Pose, hug and take pictures with Pablo, Uniqua and Tyrone during their
appearances at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Riders In The Sky — August 12-13
Riders In The Sky, America’s Favorite Cowboys, will perform their famous Western music and
comedy blend at noon and 3:00 p.m. each day. The quartet has been together for more than 30
years and has received Grammy Awards for “Best Musical Album for Children” with the
production of “Woody’s Round Up” from “Toy Story 2” and the companion album for “Monsters
Inc.”
Railroad Heritage Weekend — August 26-27
What do steam locomotives and the Blue Ridge Mountains
have in common? A history that goes back to the 1800s!
Come celebrate Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie
Railroad with special train rides, performances by the
Cherokee dancers, crafts from the Tsa-La-Gi Touring
Program, and tours of the Steam Locomotive Repair
Shop. This year’s Railroad Heritage Weekend will also
celebrate the 100th birthday of the famous “Tweetsie”
locomotive, Engine No. 12.
Ghost Train® — Friday and Saturday nights, September 22 –
October 28
Tweetsie Railroad will host a Halloween celebration the whole
family can enjoy. Ghost Train includes trick-or-treating, the Freaky
Forest, the Haunted House and more. The Ghost Train has been
named one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the
Southeast Tourism Society. A limited number of tickets are
available; buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.
Tweetsie Christmas — Friday and Saturday evenings, November 24 – December 30
A new holiday tradition has begun! Celebrate all of the joys of the holiday season when the park
transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas. Enjoy a train ride through an
enchanted land of twinkling lights, visit with Santa, see Christmas shows and more. Your family
can even pick out the perfect Christmas tree while you’re here! A limited number of tickets are
available; buying tickets for this event in advance is highly recommended.
About Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad opens for its 60th Anniversary season on April 7, 2017. Hours and dates
vary; check Tweetsie.com before planning your visit.
Daytime admission is $45 for adults, $30 for children (ages 3 to 12) and free for children 2 and
under. Admission prices for Ghost Train and Tweetsie Christmas are $38 for adults and
children.
Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North
Carolina. For more information about the 2017 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com
or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.898.3874).