Mountain Coaster Reopens With A New Look & New Train
Ghost Town in the Sky is a western-themed amusement park on the top of a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. The park just reopened their steel looper now dubbed Cliff Hanger. It has been renovated, repainted, and best of all given an all new train that touts a lap bar instead of an over the shoulder restraint (which is rare on loopers). Here’s a note from the park’s web site about the new custom-built train.
“This one-of-a-kind roller coaster will have a custom-built train on it. Although there are trains that could have been purchased with standard seat configurations, Ghost Town’s roller coaster will feature all new components and a completely new, one-of-a-kind train that has open-air cars and custom seats. Coaster enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the new train will not use standard over-the-shoulder harnesses. The new seats will utilize ergonomic padded lap bars and retractable seatbelts which were specially engineered and manufactured for the coaster. There is not a train on a roller coaster like it in the world.”
-Ghost Town in the Sky
The park bills Cliffhanger as “the World’s only roller coaster that is literally located on the side of
a mountain”. While there are a few other rides that could make a similar claim, (Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce and Tennesee Tornado at Dollywood come to mind) the views from Cliffhanger do look the most impressive. Ghost Town in the Sky is located 4000 feet above sea level so views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains are likely seen throughout the park. I’m looking forward to making it out to the park soon.
What’s Your Take?
Have you been to Ghost Town in the Sky in the past? Do you plan on making back to the park now that their roller coaster has re-opened? Leave a comment below.
July 2, 2009 at 03:19
Finally, the park is starting to shine. I love any scenery on a roller coaster and this is going to top every one. I need to take some time off my day and go down there. GHOST TOWN!
July 2, 2009 at 04:59
Cliffhanger, in my opinion, has the ugliest coler scheme I have ever seen.
July 2, 2009 at 14:04
O and this roller coaster is the only roller coaster that ive seen that doesnt have a lift hill
July 2, 2009 at 17:12
Um, Matthew it does have one. It's at the end.
Right about now I feel like a massive coaster geek.
July 2, 2009 at 17:37
oh well woops my mistake pretend i never said that! well what i meant to say was it doesnt have a lift before the main drop
November 26, 2009 at 14:54
its good that they opened the coaster again. i love going to ghost town i haven’t been there in forever because it closed i hope to see more thrill rides soon.
December 14, 2009 at 18:56
I'm really excited about this because it only has lap bars! I HAVE to stop at Ghost Town soon.
January 17, 2010 at 16:58
Same here! Funny I'm so close to it(in amusement park terms), yet I've never been there. I need to go sometime soon.