Tweetsie Railroad - Blowing Rock, North Carolina - Rail Museum and Family Theme Park

Tweetsie Railroad is a Wild West style family theme park located in Tweetsie Railroad Lane, between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is open seven days a week between May 23 and August 23, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the rest of the year. The park also holds specials events on July 4th, Labor Day and in the month leading up to Halloween.

The Tweetsie Railroad began operations in 1882 as 32 mile track running between Tennessee and North Carolina via the Blue Ridge chain of the Appalachian Mountains. The railroad was named "Tweetsie'' by local residents after hearing the "tweet tweet'' whistling sound of the trains running along the track. The trains were also called Tweetsie locomotives.

Changing times reduced the necessity for the railroad by the mid 20th century and it ceased to be commercially viable. However, one of the locomotives was revived and in 1957 it ran again to become a tourist attraction. The Tweetsie locomotive now makes scenic journeys carrying passengers three miles through the mountains at Blowing Rock.

As well as the views, the train ride has action along the way with Cowboys providing entertainment alongside the tracks. A variety of entertainment is provided at the site with live music, can-can girls and a 1800s saloon show all recreating the country and western feel. For the smaller children there is a musical show presented by a puppet rabbit and tortoise, which tells how they keep the train moving on time.

Aside from the trips on the historic locomotive, there are many rides to try out in the fun fair. There are rides with varying degrees of thrills with some such as the Free Fall, Tornado and Round Up having warnings that they are not suitable for pregnant ladies or people with heart conditions. These also have minimum height restrictions too, whereas others are suitable for smaller kids if accompanied by an adult.

Some of the more traditional rides are there too, such as the Carousel and Ferris wheel. Visitors can also take a ride on the chair lift up to Miner's Mountain, where there is the promise of more fun for kids of all ages including a magic show. Several shops are open for visitors to purchase souvenirs and even Miner's hats, Cowboy and Indian costumes and many other items

There are plenty of areas at the site to buy food and drink, catering for sit down hot meals or just snacks and drinks. Given 24 hours notice the staff will prepare box lunches for groups of 20 or more, and have it ready for whatever time is specified. As an addendum a company picnic package can be arranged for groups of 100 or more, whereby guests can eat and drink as much as they like from a choice of menus.

Previous visitors' reviews of Tweetsie Railroad are generally very favourable. It seems to be a great place to take children, although for older kids 10 and over the historical content may be more useful for school projects. Parents seem to be going back with their kids where they were once taken in their own childhood years, so it is crossing the generations.