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Parton to promote culture of the hills at Ghost Town
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Published: June 19, 2009
WAYNESVILLE - She has performed everywhere from Nashville to Glasgow, Newcastle to Nottingham. And now globetrotting country music star Stella Parton has parked her tour bus atop Buck Mountain in Maggie Valley.
She's the newest addition to the team at Ghost Town amusement park.
"This is an enchanted valley, I believe. I would like for Ghost Town with all of its enchantment and passion to be alive again," Parton said. "Of course, I have grandiose dreams that we can create something larger than life and turn this (park) into one of the most sought after cultural attractions in Appalachia.
"Everything good that happens for Ghost Town is going to benefit the entire community."
As the park's new entertainment consultant, Parton will work closely with Entertainment Director Robert Bradley to bring world-class entertainment and headline acts to fill the seats of the newly renovated American Heritage Theatre.
"I am looking forward to working with Stella," Bradley said. "We both have a lot
of ideas for changing some aspects of the park theme and entertainment, and we will work together … to bring about changes that are best for the park. This is especially a big chance for me to bring to life some ideas I've had for years. Stella brings the experience and professionalism that we need to pull it off."
A member of the well-known Parton clan, Stella is more than familiar with quality entertainment and Appalachian culture -- she has lived it all her life and brings to the Ghost Town table a vast network of industry contacts.
Like her sister, Dolly, Stella is a woman of vision and action. And she dreams big.
"I grew up in a family of dreamers," Parton said. "My mother and dad taught us that if there is a will, there is a way. If you could dream the dream and work hard enough at it, you can make it happen. I see enough people up (at Ghost Town) doing just that.
"I see the potential up there, and when I see potential I want to be a part of that team. It's a dream and a vision, and it's a dream and a vision that I have bought into like everybody else."
Parton has recorded and released 22 albums. And she has agreed to share her talent with audiences at Ghost Town, headlining three main events throughout the season.
In addition to working with Bradley to plan a showcase of musical entertainment, Parton will also oversee development of the park's newest attraction: the Appalachian Cultural Center -- a portion of the park designated to showcasing the uniqueness of the Appalachian Mountains, its people, music, crafts and culture.
"Appalachian culture is so dear to my heart because I am an Appalachian child," Parton said.
Parton's ideas for the cultural center include more modern, high-tech, audience interactive attractions, in addition to live demonstrations by Appalachian crafters, musicians and entertainers.
"This is one of the most exciting things to be a part of in quite some time," said Parton in a recent press release. "I feel the rich Appalachian culture should have exposure worldwide. There is a treasure trove of gifted musicians, craftsmen and historians in North Carolina and they will all have the opportunity to be showcased at the Appalachian Cultural Center.
"I am proud Ghost Town has seen the vision and invited me to participate. We look forward to having many statewide dignitaries participate in this extremely important project and to have the opportunity to inform and entertain the many tourists that will visit Ghost Town and the Maggie Valley area."
In early 2000, Parton embarked on an Appalachian musical journey of her own when she produced and released a series of albums showcasing Appalachian music, including: Appalachian Blues and Appalachian Gospel. She is currently working on Appalachian Christmas and Appalachian Lullaby and said she hopes to have her annual Appalachian Christmas Show at Ghost Town.
By using the park's cultural center, Parton would also like to see Ghost Town take a more active approach toward preservation and education efforts after "having seen the tremendous success of what Dollywood has done," she said. "Of course, we don't have the marketing (power) or money right now, and we aren't trying to turn Ghost Town into Dollywood, because Ghost Town was a theme park before there was a Dollywood, but I have seen over the last 20 years the success of that park (Dollywood) and the offshoots it has brought -- such as the literacy program that started in Tennessee and now reaches around the globe....
"The more successful we are here the more of those kinds of things we can do.... Those are the kind of projects I would like to see us be able to do at Ghost Town."
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