Archived Opinion

Ghost Town’s obituary is written

Ghost Town’s obituary is written

To the Editor:

Frankie Wood conned Alaska Presley into believing he could bring Ghost Town back and was able to get her financial backing. He also conned the Maggie Valley aldermen into re-zoning several properties so he could develop RV parks and small cottages to house over 200 Ghost Town workers. To date, no development has happened?

Since the passing of Alaska Presley, her heir, Jill McClure, has been stuck with sharing profits/losses with Wood (actually no profits). He has refused to share any financial data with Jill McClure. What is he hiding? Ms. McClure has filed a lawsuit against Wood. 

Recently, Corky Hendrick, the Ghost Town Facebook administrator, has come forth with additional information saying the revival was never Frankie’s true intention. She said she asked Wood why he needed RV Parks to open Ghost Town. His reply was “if he could get the town to change the zoning laws then he could also build condos and cottages he wanted on Ghost Town.” She no longer believes he wants to bring back Ghost Town. She then posted a letter to that effect on the Ghost Town Facebook account and immediately received a threatening email from Wood’s attorney saying she would be prosecuted if she did not immediately remove the post because she was not authorized to make such posts. After she investigated, she learned Wood never bought rights to the Facebook account from the developer (6-Gun Territory). Now the developer gave her permission to post to their Facebook account. 

Wood’s scheme is slowly unraveling and in due time will prove this was just another one of his scams. The Mountaineer has written numerous articles on Wood’s background showing he has had many previous schemes that never materialized. 

Obviously Wood follows P.T. Barnum’s philosophy that a sucker is born every minute. It seems all the articles and people’s complaints have fallen on deaf ears. I agree that that Ghost Town is dead! May it rest in peace. The aldermen have been conned. As Corky said,Wood should be run out of town on a rail.

Ron Rookstool

Maggie Valley

Leave a comment

13 comments

  • I'm so sad for Ghost Town and for the many people that have never been able to experience it. I remember going as a child, probably in the early 70's then again in the late 80's taking my small children. I loved it, they loved it and now here we are in the 2000's wanting to take our grands for a beautiful experience that seems will never happen.? Call me nuts or call me crazy, but I'll continue to keep my hopes for a return someday.... We love Ghost Town and all the one's that made it a wonderful experience..Fingers crossed.

    posted by Johnina Lipford

    Monday, 10/10/2022

  • I'm so sad for Ghost Town and for the many people that have never been able to experience it. I remember going as a child, probably in the early 70's then again in the late 80's taking my small children. I loved it, they loved it and now here we are in the 2000's wanting to take our grands for a beautiful experience that seems will never happen.? Call me nuts or call me crazy, but I'll continue to keep my hopes for a return someday.... We love Ghost Town and all the one's that made it a wonderful experience..Fingers crossed.

    posted by Johnina Lipford

    Monday, 10/10/2022

  • I was really looking forward to Ghost Town opening back up , iv never been and I also have FAMILY TIES WITH GHOST TOWN !!!!!! My 2nd Great Grandfather is Harmon Teaster, but aside from family ties to the park all my life since I was a lil kid iv always wanted to go but iv never had the chance to do so.

    posted by Rebecca Strickland

    Saturday, 10/08/2022

  • Thank you Corky

    posted by Erma Huntley Rhodes

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • Thank you Corky

    posted by Erma Huntley Rhodes

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • I think it was all from the beginning a scam to get land open up for development

    posted by James Gilmore

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • I can back Corkys statement with the words straight out of Frankie mouth

    posted by McKinley Caldwell

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • I have never been to the top of the mountain to enjoy the park and was personally looking forward to the reopening. Hearing this news is devastating and it breaks my heart.

    posted by Stephen Parrish

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • So sad, I remember going to ghost town in the 60's...First vacation with all our family, was looking forward going back....Hate that a con artist spoiled everyone's plans....

    posted by Ronnie Trent

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • I'm not a resident of Maggie, but one real estate agent who also went to my Church was of the opinion that Wood is just a con artist.

    At this point, the amount of money needed to reopen Ghost Town is huge. The place seems to need a rebuild, and I doubt that anyone will be interested in putting out the sort of money required for a park like Ghost Town when such parks seem to be having a hard time no matter where they are located. Ghost Town had a good run. Remember what was, and move on.

    posted by Quartermaster

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • Well said

    posted by beverly Slone

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • The best thing that could happen to Maggie Valley is if ghost town burned to the ground. Then Maggie would be forced to move forward and evolve its identity. Stop living in the past and embrace the future.

    posted by Turd Ferguson

    Friday, 10/07/2022

  • So sad that he took advantage of Mrs Presley who sincerely hoped to bring Ghost town back

    posted by Mary Ann Hardy

    Friday, 10/07/2022

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