Can you hear the whistle blowing? Tweetsie Railroad is back for its 60 th Anniversary Season!

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1 Can you hear the whistle blowing? Tweetsie Railroad is back for its 60 th Anniversary Season! North Carolina s First Theme Park Opens for 2017 Season CONTACT: Leah Knepper (919) ; lknepper@fwv-us.com Cathy Robbins (828) ; pr@tweetsie.com 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 60 th 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 60 th Anniversary season at North Carolina s first theme park will include annual events such as the July 4 th 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,

2 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 4 th 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 60 th 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

3 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 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 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.

4 Railroad Heritage Weekend August 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 100 th 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, Hours and dates vary; check Tweetsie.com before planning your visit.

5 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 ( ).