Abandoned Roadside Attractions Of Smoky Mountains - Ghost Town In The Sky To Cherokee North Carolina 

Thank you for watching! instagram.com/tampajay

I am 71 years old, I remember going to Ghost Town in the Sky as a kid.

Aw man that’s my childhood right there. Use to visit Ghost Town and Cherokee all the time growing up!! Been up that observation tower many times. I took my daughter on her first visit to Santa’s Land in 2019 and had so much fun. We rode the Rudicoaster over and over. I love that place because it hasn’t changed one bit in decades but they keep it clean and well maintained for it to be so old. The Cherokee museum is very good and worth a visit. And don’t forget to experience Unto These Hills !!

When you first get into Cherokee, on the right, before the casino, once stood an amusement park, called Frontier Land. It had a log fort, rides, maybe a train. I went there in the 60s, so my memory isn't real clear, but as a kid, I loved it and was disappointed when it closed down.

I remember going to Ghost Town In the Sky as a kid. I am now 72 and still have pictures with my Daddy and Mama. Cherish these memories. Life goes so fast❤️❤️ Need to check out Tweetsie Railroad ❤️❤️

The Ghost Town Village is such an awesome concept. I can’t believe something like that can’t make it there. That place should be packed.🤙🏻

“Is this Heaven?” It sure looked like it! Just made my Memorial Day 100x better!

Viewpoint!!! Enjoy your videos from central Fl.

I'm enjoying the video. My daughter and I used to go to the Smokies every year and I've seen all the places that you are showing. She passed away in 2021 and this is first time I've been able to watch anything that shows the mountains.🌻

Heard about ghost town all my life, finally visited there in 99 with my wife and kids, best time ever , most fun I ever had at a theme park. We spent the night at a Best Westren just accross the way from the park. Best memory ever.

Jay when me and my brother and two sisters were kids back in the 60s, we went several times to Cherokee with our grand parents. We always stayed at the Qualla Motel just outside the main town of Cherokee. That's where my Papa always wanted to stay. Cherokee has changed a lot since those days. The chairlift used to be in operation and my brother and I rode it once to the top and back down. There used to be an area near the river by those two foot bridges that you walk across to the shops that had pony rides for kids. The stores there in town had a magical feel to them back then, as opposed to how they are today. I remember all of those old abandoned motels being open back then and thriving. There used to be a very nostalgic restaurant on the left as you head towards hwy 19 towards Maggie Valley that was a great place to eat. I don't know what the building is used for today. I also remember on the same location where the casino is today, used to be another old cowboy town amusement park called Frontierland. But sadly it closed down a long time ago and the casino was built. We also went to Santa's Land at least once if not twice. I don't think the Rudy coaster was even there during the 60s when we went there. Unless I just don't remember it. I remember there not being very much to do there at all back then. We never got to go to Ghost Town In The Sky back then. But I have seen the front of it just like you videoed for us. I guess these days I am more of a Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge person than a Cherokee person. I guess because I remember Cherokee when it was in its' heyday and there was so much more to see and do there than today.

Maggie Valley and Cherokee are beautiful. I love the view

It's fun watching you explore a place that I know like the back of my hand. I lived in NC for 41 years and have spent a lot of time in the western end of the state. Maggie Valley was where the state's first ski resort (Cataloochee) was, and I can remember when it was open.

We went to the Ghost Town Village when I was a teenager (Circa 1983) but my step mom took one look at the funicular and wasn’t having it; so all I saw was the parking lot. The lift was broken, not that she would have ridden that either. It’s one of those places that’s remained on the back roads of my mind. Glad there’re remnants that still stand.

This brought back so many memories. We had a blast there when we were kids. Now, I need to go back!

Love this video tampa jay and I also love your channel too.

Adam the Woo has been up there as well. He did in one of his earlier videos 12 years ago. Yeah Ghost Town in the Sky has a very strange history. Jacob has a done a great job covering the history of the park.

Back in the 90's I stayed at one of the Maggie Valley inns. I don't remember which one but I remember sitting outside the room, in a rocking chair, watching the lights twinkle up on the mountains. It took us a minute to figure out they were probably houses and the leaves on the trees moving made it seem like they were twinkling. Such a simple thing but I still remember it all these years later. I also remember the reservation was a bit depressing so it's nice to see things have improved there. Wonderful trip down memory lane for me. Thank you!

Jay , used to go there all thru my childhood on weekends ! Few hours from Myrtle Beach SC! Used to love it !

I am so loving your videos. You are playing my whole childhood in this one. The roadside places usually sold about the same thing, jams, jellies, blankets, pottery and sometimes dishes. But my favorite were the ones selling apples. We would go in the fall and the smell of the apples would drive you to stop and buy some. The best time to go is after Labor Day, they say the only ones there are newlyweds and nearly deads😂

Seeing these old motels is insane to me, like imagine having been someone who stayed at one of these places and now seeing what they look like now.

Your videos always brighten my day, Jay ❤

I road that little train as a child many times . Great video

My parents took us to ghost town all the time on vacations when I was a kid. And I took my kids when they were young before it shut down. It was an awesome park!

I remember going to Ghost Town as a kid while visiting my grandparents in the early 80s. Wonderful memories. Thank you Tampa Jay for the video!

Very beautiful! Thank you for sharing your adventure. I appreciate your view of different places. Nothing better than a moonpie!

That's cool. Like the golf course

Can’t wait for the next one!!! You’re awesome!!! Thanks 😊😊😊

This was a awesome video. so many memories flood back from when it was all still an active area.❤ I rode that roller coaster at Santa’s land 6 times in a row with my older sibling. It was a very slow day there and we where there early. the operator just let us keep ridding it over and over again. 😂

Tampa Jay, congrats on your way to 100K ! As a long time viewer, Soo nice to see your success. Everyone hit the like button and push Jay over the top. 👍

I saw you on Adam the woo channel . Fun video. Really like the content. 😊

What a beautiful place. This is the America I want to see. I loved your last smokey mountains vlog, so I'm glad you're doing more. Great work, Jay!

You're the man my dude. Im a Baltimore fan we play you guys the 31st should be a good game.

Thanks Jay :) I really enjoy all of the roadside attractions and the abandoned ones as well. The Cherokee stuff at the end was also interesting...

Another video from one of my favorite RU-vidrs

Thank you for the relaxing video. My children have stayed in hotels in that area. Not only is this a beautiful stretch of road, but so much to see. Have fun and stay safe Tampa Jay. ❤🙏

Precious memories, how they linger

You're in my neck of the woods as we say. Born and raised in nearby Franklin NC, which is equally beautiful if not more. I was just there last week visiting my family. Haven't been to Ghost Town since I was a kid back in the late 70s. Spent my whole life going to Cherokee. Nice job showing a slice of WNC❤

Great video, Jay! I'm a new subscriber! Thoroughly enjoyed this adventure!

Hello Jay! just came across your channel! I was excited to see Ghost Town. Im 59, went there as a kid.. It was called Ghost Town in the Sky! I have pictures of being there with my parents. I have a picture of John Russell (the western actor holding me there) I cherish it! It was just neatest place once you got on the mountain. I really thought I was in the wild west. I remember the gun fights. Then it closed down for a long time then for a brief time it opened in the 90s after I had my children and I took them too!!! Great Memories!!!!!

The name on the restaurant was view point.. I spent most of my childhood going to ghost town. We loved it.

Love these roadside videos. Keep em coming :)

Love love Cherokee, North Carolina. I haven’t been there since the 80s still looks the same beautiful. I want to live there.

I was born in Asheville, NC. I remember seeing these sites when I was in my teens. It is wonderful to see them again.

I drive by these places alot when I go for a day trip. Breaks my heart to see these dreams shattered on the road side. Nice to see these things as I have too much anxiety to get out myself. Thanks for adventuring.

Great memories, back in 1975 right where the Casino stands use to be an attraction called Frontier Land. Took my kids there on our Family vacation and went to Ghost Town in the Sky during our stay. Thanks for waking up some beautiful memories. Awesome video

Ya'll had fun up in er mountains? I love to hear the stream. Love to see the mountains. Another world! Thanks for the videos.

Oh wow I went to Ghost town in the Sky when I was 10 like 89.. anyway I love that part of North Carolina Cherokee and Maggie Valley. Beautiful Americana!!! Fun video

Welcome to NC Jay! Another great episode.

You are cool 😎

I grew up here and I remember when all those shops was open going into Maggie Valley. The shop with the missing letters was called VIEW POINT. Loved going to Santas Land as a kid. Not much to see in Cherokee except for the casino. Thanks for visiting and sharing this video.

This is an amazing vlog mate they need to think of reopening some of them attractions especially the Halloween style that wouldn’t cost that much money the theme park would cost a lot to do up but still a great one to watch I can’t wait for all your Halloween scare fest to come back I’m actually going to a few in liverpool uk and around our country this year

Man TJ. You're cruising along. Give or take 5 days and you're at 100k subs. I sure do like the Tennessee and N,Carolina area you're at. Nice out there. Today we remember those that gave all. Man I live that ghost town

Love your content!

6:16, That motorcycle museum is one of the best, if not the best in the nation. Hope you went inside.

Fantastic video man! Ghost Town in the Sky is pretty cool. Also the restaurant im guessing was Viewpoint? Keep up the great work!

When i get my car, im going on a road trip to NC. Great video beautiful

We went to six gun territory as a kid in early 70s. Mid 70s Louisiana, MO had a ghost town way up a tenuous sky ride. Wheels O time near Peoria is a great museum as is the Barber motorsports facility in Alabama. Congratulations on your new channel!

Thank You Jay! Enjoy your videos!

A blessed Memorial Day to you and Cris the Girl. Thank you for this great channel.🙌

Love that area! I've always wanted to vacation in that area, in particular a place called the Swag in Waynesville! So much beauty there! Thanks for taking us along!

Beautiful scenery great series ➡️

Every one Was heartbroken 😢when all of Wonderful places closed down but they was nothing no body Could do but cry 😢

Hi Tampa jay You tube channel Love my favorite one fan BIG 😎

Glad to see you're in my neck of the woods. I went to ghost town alot as a kid. I love what you do keep it up. Also love the creature features.

Found by fluke, love the vid and love your style! New sub! 😊

Hi Tampa Jay!! Fabulous thanks so much!!! View Point??? I love you and Adam the Woo. Love you guys at the games so cool and fun!!!! Thanks

been there and rode the roller Coster and what a beautiful place

Thanks awesome places I enjoyed watching

Great video.thanks for posting. I want to go back to Maggie Valley soon.

I stayed at The Drama Inn across the street from the Cherokee Center... it was nice and retro

I used to go to Ghost Town back in the early to mid 1960's. It was fun to do as a kid.

I think I have seen you on Adam's channel. A couple of years ago I actually went up to the top of Ghost Town. It was sad how people had busted out the windows in the buildings. I wouldn't recommend anyone doing what I did. I would never damage property, but I'm fascinated with abandoned areas. I'm obsessed with abandoned places. I'm from NC and live a few hours away. Thanks for visiting. By the way Mtn. Mike once had an Ewok carved, but I was afraid to buy it out it in my yard because someone stole my cement alien!

Watch out for the tics,boss lol I mean..for real. We spent e weeks outside of Rogersville in the mountains with my daughter in law and grandson last June....trust me ticks lolol..she had been there 6 months and had already adapted to the " search for tics" habit. Anyway.....yes...this part of our beautiful country is incredible. Thankyou for all the adventures. Love this. You're the best!❤

Very beautiful area. Past through a lot of this back in October.

So cool! Great abandoned place. I've watched expedition theme parks vlog, now I got to watch Jacob the carpet baggers. The building up front, kind of looks like an old Howard Johnson restaurant of the 60s and 70.

Been through Cherokee many times heading from Georgia to Gatlinburg area. Love the Cherokee! It’s beautiful during Christmas. The museum is awesome! Have you ever gone through Cades Cove?

Great video. I've been in the area . Very peaceful place

Whoooo! .5k and your there The biggie 100k. Congrats 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 You and Krista brighten our Whoooorld From Gwynn and jimii Spokane Washingtonl

Had my picture made with a Native American in full heritage head dress and ceremonial clothes. That headdress was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. My mom bought me a pair of moccasins at that abandoned store. That's View Point. Novelty shop. Been to Ghost Town in the Sky many times. I got to dance on the saloon stage with the cancan dancers when I was 12 years old. The restaurant you passed had the very best food in Maggie Valley. My brother rides "The Dragon" on his Harley-Davidson . I grew up in Newport, Tennessee. My family spent many weekends in Maggie Valley and Cherokee. Been to Santa's Land several times. It was a popular place for school field trips. You could get a picture with a Native American at the Tomahawk Mini Mall also. You had to pay them to get the picture. The moccasins have not changed over the years. My husband and I took our son to Ghost Town and rode the skylift to the top. My husband rode with my son. I rode alone. It was a scary ride once you started going on the straight up part. There were gunfights in the street as part of the entertainment at Ghost Town and Frontier Land. Dollywood sits where there was a western theme park years ago

When this area of North Carolina was being marketed to Floridian families, my parents bought a timeshare. This place was a must visit every summer until I was 25 or so. When they built the casino, this wonderful area became neglected, but I have so many memories here.

I heard about this place from someone who used to go as a family when it was fully operational. They were there when something went wrong with a reenactment and an actor passed. He attempted the hike after it was closed but saw a bear and they left! Great footage bud! Keep it up!

My parents live in Maggie valley it’s such beautiful little area.

The inn is awesome, you need to stay there sometime. The owners are awesome. There’s a creek behind it with a cookout area. Very cool!!

That was the old motel called princess motel,Sam Beck used to own and run it,I spent alot of time at that motel growing up it's some of my favorite memories,we used to help him cook at the old sequoia restaurant in downtown he used to run,I would sit at the creek and shuck corn and sting and break up beans for him to take to his restaurant, lots of good memories,the big chief motel and gift shop used to be across the road from the princess motel

Im from Charlotte NC we took our kids to Gost Town when they were little had lots of fun sadens me that it closed!

Maggie Valley is a hidden gem man. Great video! 👍

I don’t blame Cris for getting annoyed with the Gatlinburg traffic because this is usually like the busiest time but those back roads make me nauseous and I don’t know how you guys can handle it 😂 but I do find Maggie Valley Interesting especially the Ghost Town in the sky. I’m pretty sure I went by there as a kid but I never went in it.

Great video Jay! Next time you’re up there there’s a road called The Tail of the Dragon. It’s an 11 mile road with 318 turns. Great drive though the Smokies.

Loved this video. Ghost Town was a really fun place. I wonder if that restaurant said View something. I worked at Santa’s Land. That hotel hasn’t been closed quite that long. It was open when hubby and I moved here in 2001. There were some celebrities that used to come to that Indian tattoo place. Rumor has it they will be building a new museum and tearing that one down. Glad you had such a great time. It really is gorgeous here in Western NC.

I have been to Cherokee many times and do not remember that attraction. But it is been a while since I was there.

I was thinking that looked like something from dumb and dumber and you said Rocky Mountains so another part of the vlog made me happy

Mornin Jay!!, Dude, I stopped at some of these places last week . Freakin sick!!!

I was just there three weeks ago Love it there go as much as I can! Great Video! Been to all of them spots almost all lol

My Grandmother had a couch that matched that pattern too ! ( frame 22:50 ) Her's was a " Hide-A-Bed ". Looks beautiful up there, an lots of cool things to see. Even if they have " No Vacancy's " !!! lol :~)

Stompin' Ground used to host "Fire on the Mountain" on TNN, it was a latenight music show. Was my first experience seeing Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys.

We bought some stuff at the shop too with the two guys in the truck great video man

There are “No Tresspassing” signs everywhere on the Ghost Town property. It is very clear that no one is to be there.

🤙Jay, you're full of surprises. Used to work for the fire department? Cool! 🚒

Now i'm afraid to sleep without the lights on. Thanks TJ