I can take or leave the beach, but I’m a mountains girl at heart.
Our home is situated right at the foothills of the NC mountains, where we are blessed with beautiful views and what I like to call, “baby mountains,” so I’m fortunate to get a tiny taste of mountain life every single day.
Still, I’ll take any excuse to visit the mountain of Western NC so when we decided to visit some relatives, I quickly started planning our trip and it didn’t take long to figure out one of our first stops.
As a self proclaimed cowgirl since birth, who birthed a mini-me that is also obsessed with all things horses and Western life, Tweetsie is totally my jam. I knew we would have to make a stop at my favorite family friendly, Wild Western, theme park.
We’ve taken our girls a few times before and had an absolute blast. There was no doubt in my mind that this visit would be just as fun.
If you’re planning a trip to the NC mountains, Tweetsie Railroad should be on your agenda as well.
If you’re on the fence about going I’ve 7 reasons to visit Tweetsie that will have you adding this destination to your family bucket list today!
7 Reasons to visit Tweetsie
Disclosure: We were graciously hosted by Tweetsie. However, all opinions are my own, and experiences completely as described.
1. Mountain Setting
I just can’t say enough about how much I love the mountains. In fact, the mountain setting is perhaps the biggest reason why I am such a fan of Tweetsie!
In fact, mountain air has been scientifically proven to be good for your body. The air in the mountains is mostly free of gases and air pollution and has been noted to be very good for your circulatory system.
Additionally, the mountains are good for your mental health. Nature therapy is a real thing, and in the mountains it’s a lifestyle.
From the top of Tweetsie all you can see is rolling hills and looming mountains, and it is absolutely beautiful! For an added bonus be sure to visit in the fall when the leaves begin to change.
At Tweetsie, the mountain environment seems to fade the stresses of everyday life, and you’re left fully present to enjoy the precious memories being made.
2. Rides for all Ages
Unlike other theme parks, at Tweetsie you’ll find rides for kids of all ages.
Your biggest kids (husbands included) will enjoy the thrill rides like Free Fall and Round Up.
If you have small kids, even as short as 30 inches, they will be able to enjoy rides such as Bikes and Buggies, and the Boats ride.
My girl’s favorite was the Tweetsie Twister. This ride twirled them around at dizzying speeds and left them giggling and screaming to go again.
For people like me, who get nauseous looking at the twirly rides there are some slow and easy options like the Mouse Mine Train and Turnpike Cruisers.
Better yet, we’ve never been to Tweetsie and been met with the super long wait times that plague other parks.
In fact, on our most recent visit, we were able to walk on practically every ride. Many times, my girls hopped off and ran around to ride the rides again and again.
3. Historic Steam Engine
Tweetsie Railroad is home to not just one, but two historic steam locomotives.
These giant trains were once considered the pinnacles of technology. While the wonders of engineering have now expanded to quieter, cleaner, and safer modes of transportation, the steam engine remains one of the marvels of modern history.
In fact, Engine number 12, is actually the last surviving steam locomotive of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. It is the original locomotive from Tweetsie’s opening day in 1957.
At Tweetsie, part of the experience includes an interactive cowboy-and-bandit show that takes place throughout the course of the 20-30 minute train ride.
My girls erupted in giggles over the “Hot Sauce Bandits” antics and were captivated by the faux fighting and live horses. This train ride was one of the highlights of our day and for sure one of the biggest reasons to visit Tweetsie!
4. Shows and Entertainment
Another reason you want to make Tweetsie a must visit attraction on your mountain trip is one you might not have thought of.
Live Entertainment.
Tweetsie offers many entertainment options beyond the interactive show abroad their Train. You can also enjoy live music and acts throughout the day at the park.
If you visit Tweetsie Palace you can catch the Can-can reveiw while grabbing a snack in the AC. You can also catch a Magic Show there at different times throughout the day.
On top of Miner’s Mountain you’ll find Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration. This one is a favorite of my kids.
You can also visit the Tweetsie Railroad Country Clogging Jamboree on top of the mountain. This high-energy musical variety show is sure to delight viewers of all ages!
There’s no shortage of fun, live events at Tweetsie. You can even check their special events calendar for other things that may be going on in the park. When we visited several years ago they had the famous Cowboy quartet, “Riders in the Sky,” visiting.
5. Deer Park
As an animal lover, this is one of my favorite features of Tweetsie. The top of the mountain is home to an adorable mini zoo and some of the cutest critters you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting.
It’s one of the only places I’ve ever been where you can feed actual deer!
For just 50¢ you can grab an ice cream cone filled with food these little creatures will gobble up.
In addition to deer, you’ll encounter sheep, mini-donkeys, mini-horses, llamas, emus, goats and burros.
My absolute favorite were the adorable baby goats who’d escaped from their habitat and were wandering the paths in search of food and attention. Every time we’ve been there have been young goats out, and every time I love it even more!
6. Priceless photo opps
Tweetsie has been around forever. It first opened in 1957, but it’s history actually goes back to the early 1880s.
I went to Tweetsie with my own family as a child back in the 90s. Somewhere in my attic, are pictures of me and my sister atop the horse figures that live along Main Street. I’m pretty sure it’s the same horses my girls sat on just a few days ago.
If I’m honest, recreating this picture was one of my original reasons to visit Tweetsie!
Additionally you’ll find wagons and stagecoaches, teepees and trains of all kinds that make the cutest pictures to document your trip.
Up in the county fair, we even found some fun cut outs that tied right into fall and the quickly approaching Halloween season.
When I went to download images off my camera, I had close to 500 for the day. Trust me when I say, there is no shortage of awesome picture opportunities at Tweetsie!
7. Down home southern atmosphere
Whether you’re from the South or not, you’re bound to appreciate the down home southern atmosphere of Tweetsie. In fact, I’d consider it one of the biggest reasons to visit Tweetsie!
From the sweet sounds of country and bluegrass music being pumped throughout the speakers down Main Street to the smell of barbecue when you’re walking past Sparky’s Southwestern and Barbeque, you’ll feel like you’ve gotten lost inside a Western movie in the Deep South,
You’ll probably even find the rides at Tweetsie to be a bit reminiscent of an old county fair. The Round Up, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Ferris Wheel are all stapes at a good country carnival.
Don’t forget to grab a funnel cake or a candy apple before heading home! Our favorite food stop in the park is Fudge Works where we always grab some fudge or some other sweet treats.
On the way back from this trip, my husband pondered why we’d never been to Tweetsie during our college years. After all, the rides were clearly loads of fun for adults too. Even after living in Boone for 4 years, it took us having children to go to Tweetsie again. In hind sight we regret not taking better advantage of the fun that was practically in our backyard as college students.
Now we’re seriously considering season passes for next year. It’s just a quick two hour drive from our house and season passes literally pay for themselves in just a few trips. We have family nearby and I’m always looking for any excuse to head to the mountains, so it just makes sense.
So if you’re looking for me and my family next year, be sure to check Tweetsie first. Chances are, we’ll be living our best cowgirl lives up on the mountain!
Looking for more travel tips and places to visit with your kids? Be sure to check out my travel posts and follow me on Pinterest where I’m pinning all the best travel tips and ideas that come through my feed.
