SEGMENT 1
Joseph starts today’s episode off by introducing the topic of the episode, Maggie Valley. Joseph makes a big announcement about the future of the Meadowlark Motel, they will be opening a heritage center! The previous guest Bob Plott will be running this project with Joseph. Moving on from the project, Joseph introduces the guest for today’s episode, Teresa Smith. Teresa discusses how she began her involvement with the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce & Area Visitors Bureau. Teresa continues by talking about her love for Maggie Valley. Joseph shares this love of Maggie Valley and gives an anecdote explaining the feeling of the area. Along with the business side of her job, Teresa loves interacting with people. Joseph shares a story showing Teresa’s love for the people and the mountain charm of the people in the area. Teresa discusses some of the services and programs the chamber offers guests of the park.
SEGMENT 2
Coming back from the break, Joseph asks Teresa to talk about the origin of the name Maggie Valley. Teresa tells the story of a man who opened a post office and when asked for the name of the town, gave his daughter’s name. There is a Miss Maggie, who previously has walked around town picking up trash, but now, May through October walks around waving to guests and residents alike. The mascot of Miss Maggie sets Maggie Valley apart from other towns as their mascots are often animals. Teresa describes the growth of the town, which coincided with the opening of Ghost Town. Ghost Town is a theme park on top of a mountain, which brought tourists and residents to the area. In the ’90s though, Ghost Town started fading out of the mainstream. Teresa often receives calls asking about a ghost town, reminiscing fond memories of it before its closing in 2012. There are plans for Ghost Town though as it recently transferred owners.
SEGMENT 3
Joseph discusses the revival of the town of Maggie Valley beyond Ghost Town and asks Teresa why she thinks this is going on. Teresa sees the boom going on in the town as a result of the calming feel of the town as opposed to some other parts of the park. The two discuss activities to do within the town. Moving on, the two discuss motorcycles in the town. The traffic they have brought with festivals and museums has helped the town. Moving on from motorcycles, Teresa and Joseph discuss the presence of breweries in the town. Teresa goes on to share info about upcoming events at the festival grounds such as drive-in movies and car shows. There have also been drive-in concerts at the festival grounds, which have been very popular. The people of Maggie Valley love their biking, taking advantage of the bike trails in the park. Joseph makes a note of the interesting fact that “ATV” is the most searched term on his website with resources about the park.
SEGMENT 4
Joseph introduces the last segment of the episode by introducing the topic of safety in the town. Teresa continues on the topic by sharing how safe she feels in the town, with Joseph joking that he would feel ok leaving his car unlocked with the keys in it. Teresa has been very impressed with the businesses in the town’s reaction to the COVID pandemic, staying very safe and following guidelines. Tourism in Maggie Valley has increased since the town has opened back up, likely as a result of the town being so remote. The two discuss the locations most tourists come from, citing New York and Florida as big contributors. Moving on, Teresa talks about the future for Maggie Valley, noting that tourism will likely remain busy, with hotels preparing for a busy summer. Teresa shares resources for listeners to find upcoming events in the Valley and details about them. Joseph ends the episode by sharing his own resources.
TRANSCRIPT
00:00:27.030 –> 00:00:37.050 Joseph McElroy: howdy thanks for joining us on this week’s episode of gateway to the smoke this podcast is about America’s most visited National Park.
00:00:37.530 –> 00:00:46.470 Joseph McElroy: The great smoky mountain national park and the surrounding towns I’m not better said it right, the great smoky mountains National Park in the surrounding towns.
00:00:47.460 –> 00:00:57.030 Joseph McElroy: This area is filled with ancient natural beauty a deep storied history and rich mountain cultures that we explore with weekly episodes.
00:00:57.930 –> 00:01:11.970 Joseph McElroy: I am Joseph Franklin McElroy man of the world, but also a deep root in these mountains My family has lived in the great smoky square around 200 years my business has traveled but my heart is in culture.
00:01:12.930 –> 00:01:24.270 Joseph McElroy: This episode is dedicated to my hometown Maggie valley North Carolina, which was the original gateway to the smoke, the first I want to make a big announcement.
00:01:25.080 –> 00:01:32.280 Joseph McElroy: You know, I have a resort in the mountains, called the middle Arc motel and it’s been a long time destination.
00:01:33.210 –> 00:01:40.500 Joseph McElroy: location and Maggie Valley, that my family’s own regeneration, we have constantly strived to better serve our guests.
00:01:41.250 –> 00:01:58.260 Joseph McElroy: and enrich their vacation experience in the great smoky our motel management team has done an outstanding job surviving a pandemic well upgrading our facility and adding various forms of entertainment and other services to the resort, and they will continue to do so, however.
00:01:59.430 –> 00:02:10.440 Joseph McElroy: We wanted to add an entirely separate segment of our business the metal Arc smoky mountain heritage Center with Bob plot, as a general manager.
00:02:11.010 –> 00:02:14.910 Joseph McElroy: We feel strongly that this will further enhance what our resort has to offer.
00:02:15.390 –> 00:02:25.950 Joseph McElroy: While offering entertainment entertaining and educational heritage-related programs activities and events that will not only bring visitors to the region.
00:02:26.280 –> 00:02:31.620 Joseph McElroy: But will perpetuate the great legacy of the smoky mountain history, music, and folkways.
00:02:32.340 –> 00:02:38.490 Joseph McElroy: Some of you might remember I first met Bob during a pilot episode of the gateway to the smokies podcast.
00:02:38.970 –> 00:02:47.460 Joseph McElroy: I think it was maybe the second or third one, and he did with us, and then, after several sub subsequent meetings that we had he shared a vision for this project.
00:02:48.180 –> 00:02:59.910 Joseph McElroy: And it’s a vision that actually coincided with what I’ve been thinking about for the Meadowlark and we are actually started trying to engage in some aspects of it, but he had a completely.
00:03:01.980 –> 00:03:07.320 Joseph McElroy: Planned out the vision because he has a deep history of writing about the heritage of the mountains he’s got five books.
00:03:07.650 –> 00:03:15.000 Joseph McElroy: he’s done a lot of things, so I heard, I wholeheartedly endorsed and shared this vision and combined it with some of my ideas.
00:03:15.420 –> 00:03:26.700 Joseph McElroy: And we have now launched it and we’re confident that we will be successful and I think Bob is the perfect person for this job and we will be excited him having to enjoy their
00:03:27.360 –> 00:03:37.410 Joseph McElroy: he’s a lifelong native in North Carolina and his family’s been in the region for more than 200 years and it’s and it’s whom the North Carolina state dog the plot hound is named after.
00:03:37.830 –> 00:03:43.350 Joseph McElroy: And he says he’s beyond thrilled to be part of this project, he sees this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
00:03:43.830 –> 00:03:54.240 Joseph McElroy: opportunity to do something is wanted to do for decades, but it never found the partner to share a common vision and honoring and preserving Appalachian heritage and culture.
00:03:54.600 –> 00:04:02.670 Joseph McElroy: by educating entertaining both visitors and locals and offering them memorable entertaining and immersive program and event options.
00:04:03.000 –> 00:04:18.780 Joseph McElroy: We can’t wait to get started, and have some big announcements I’ll be sharing with you soon so as you can see we’re excited and making big strides to celebrate gay the smoky mountain heritage and establish Maggie Valley, is the gateway to the smokies.
00:04:19.800 –> 00:04:21.660 Joseph McElroy: Against all competing.
00:04:22.710 –> 00:04:23.640 Joseph McElroy: pretenders.
00:04:26.370 –> 00:04:35.610 Joseph McElroy: today’s guest on the gateway to the smokies is Theresa Smith and she is executive director at the Maggie valley chamber and area visitors bureau.
00:04:36.750 –> 00:04:40.380 Joseph McElroy: I think she has led the Chamber for nearly 10 years Hello Teresa.
00:04:41.130 –> 00:04:41.400 How.
00:04:42.480 –> 00:04:43.680 Joseph McElroy: Are you doing.
00:04:44.100 –> 00:04:45.930 MVChamber: doing great doing great.
00:04:46.410 –> 00:04:51.810 Joseph McElroy: So, so what was your journey to become the become part of the chain of the chamber.
00:04:53.820 –> 00:05:15.000 MVChamber: Well, my good friend and first boss ever James Carver who owns the Maggie valley restaurant called me one day and said we would like, for you to run for the Chamber board I was working at the Maggie valley country club at the time as their property management person and.
00:05:16.200 –> 00:05:19.680 MVChamber: I said well gosh James I don’t know if I.
00:05:20.790 –> 00:05:27.150 MVChamber: would even be elected to the board, and he said, are we really need you on there, so I said okay put my name down.
00:05:28.530 –> 00:05:31.050 MVChamber: was elected to the board and served on the board.
00:05:33.300 –> 00:05:41.910 MVChamber: For about 10 years and then, when the position became available they asked me if I would step into that and I said sure.
00:05:42.840 –> 00:05:44.160 MVChamber: wow I am.
00:05:44.610 –> 00:05:50.670 Joseph McElroy: fabulous so you’ve been involved with the Chamber for almost 20 years, then right.
00:05:50.730 –> 00:05:52.680 MVChamber: I must be 20 years can you believe that?
00:05:53.040 –> 00:05:56.760 Joseph McElroy: Well yeah I can I can because I’ve been around part of that.
00:05:58.830 –> 00:06:00.960 Joseph McElroy: So what do you love about Maggie Valley.
00:06:01.980 –> 00:06:15.870 MVChamber: Oh, my gosh why don’t I love Maggie valley I love Maggie valley forge people number one it’s a town where you still have true southern hospitality anywhere you go and the beauty.
00:06:17.310 –> 00:06:32.220 MVChamber: It just embraces you when you come into the valley, you have the mountains on either side, and you drive down the Soco road and it just feels like you’re being heard so, which is very welcoming very quiet and.
00:06:33.810 –> 00:06:35.970 MVChamber: there’s nothing, not to love about Maggie badly.
00:06:36.750 –> 00:06:48.060 Joseph McElroy: You know I had some I had a relative come to the meadowlark and talk about Maggie valley in the Meadowlark and he said, you know it feels nostalgic without feeling old.
00:06:48.630 –> 00:07:02.100 Joseph McElroy: And I use it feels peaceful rather than tired, you know it feels like energy reinvigorating and refreshing right as opposed to electrifying and.
00:07:02.910 –> 00:07:19.560 Joseph McElroy: You know and overstimulating so you know I think that’s a great way to look at it it’s the beauty and peace, yet the ability to do lots of things that you would enjoy but So what do you love about your job at the Chamber.
00:07:22.050 –> 00:07:33.930 MVChamber: Again, you have to say, the people it’s working with the people it’s being able to help not only the business side of it because we not only act as a chamber but a little bit of.
00:07:34.830 –> 00:07:41.490 MVChamber: All of the businesses that are part of the Chamber or in the tourism business, so we overflow into that tourism side.
00:07:41.940 –> 00:07:55.470 MVChamber: and helping all the folks that call and they want to know more about Maggie Valley, they want to know what they can see and do while you’re here where they can stay all of that, so you get to meet so many nice people.
00:07:56.250 –> 00:08:07.500 MVChamber: Here in this job and it’s just it’s very life back it’s very casual it’s not big corporate America it’s just a nice relaxing.
00:08:08.520 –> 00:08:09.090 MVChamber: job.
00:08:09.450 –> 00:08:23.460 Joseph McElroy: We know, I read reviews that you got some amazing reviews on the website on Tripadvisor and a couple of other places, about the Maggie Valley Chamber, and one of them was a family that had come to Maggie and stop by the change of chamber to find out what to do.
00:08:23.970 –> 00:08:26.310 Joseph McElroy: And you know they said, well, what about fishing and you.
00:08:26.310 –> 00:08:27.150 Joseph McElroy: tried it out.
00:08:27.900 –> 00:08:37.050 Joseph McElroy: Poles and tackle and bait and told them how to get a license and you know, and you just asked for, I think a $5.
00:08:38.190 –> 00:08:51.660 Joseph McElroy: Deposit but for the polls, but didn’t charge and weren’t charging for it and they just loved it they went in and they called up and said, well, we have to return tomorrow, so you said no, no, you just keep until you leave right and.
00:08:52.200 –> 00:08:56.490 Joseph McElroy: And then, when they came to leave they came by this drop the Pole and get their $5 back.
00:08:56.940 –> 00:09:06.570 Joseph McElroy: But they found out that the hours, I guess, on the website had been slightly wrong, and so you weren’t there yet, but they called.
00:09:07.110 –> 00:09:17.220 Joseph McElroy: and asked what to do, and you basically said, well, you can either just leave it if you have to go real fast, or you can just wait 15 minutes and i’ll be down there and.
00:09:17.790 –> 00:09:27.030 Joseph McElroy: i’ll give you your $5 back and they just waited they got they got their $5 back and in 15 minutes, one on their way, and they just loved it and that’s I think the epitome of.
00:09:29.100 –> 00:09:36.600 Joseph McElroy: That mountain charm you were talking about that mountain culture, I think you represent it really, really well remember that one.
00:09:38.310 –> 00:09:43.020 MVChamber: not specifically but that’s The good thing about leaving two minutes from your work.
00:09:43.110 –> 00:09:44.730 MVChamber: yeah you’re quick.
00:09:45.330 –> 00:09:54.900 Joseph McElroy: So do you do more, do more things like that for visitors, where you have like little packets, that you can give them like you know, like fishing kits and Poles and things like that.
00:09:55.560 –> 00:10:07.050 MVChamber: Well, we used to we don’t have the tackle problems anymore, but we do assist them with getting there it’s called a mountain heritage Trent license.
00:10:07.590 –> 00:10:17.310 MVChamber: And it’s the mountain heritage trout streams run along Jonathan creek and Maggie Valley, so we have a map that we can help them identify the differences.
00:10:17.700 –> 00:10:37.590 MVChamber: Public access places where they can enter the water, without being on someone’s private property getting in trouble and will your CSM with either calling or going online to the wildlife Commission and obtaining that license so yeah I love the fishing.
00:10:37.920 –> 00:10:42.090 Joseph McElroy: Oh, they doing, and we have little packages, they can combine get it from metal.
00:10:43.800 –> 00:10:52.230 Joseph McElroy: Which is right across the street from the Chamber right so yeah so, how does the, how does the Chamber help promote Maggie Valerie.
00:10:53.550 –> 00:11:06.390 MVChamber: Well, of course, we have brochures and things that you can pick up when you visit the Chamber office and we produce the Maggie Valley, Mr. Scott here, each year, and it turns out that was upside down one of.
00:11:08.400 –> 00:11:10.440 Joseph McElroy: The listeners right now can’t see it anyway.
00:11:12.960 –> 00:11:31.170 MVChamber: What do we do we produce this every year and we mail out thousands of these we send them to the welcome centers and other chambers in the area, you can go online to our website and request one to be mailed to your home um so.
00:11:32.790 –> 00:11:36.030 Joseph McElroy: that’s that and you do events like these right?
00:11:37.380 –> 00:11:37.920 Joseph McElroy: Right.
00:11:39.000 –> 00:11:46.860 Joseph McElroy: it’s pretty cool I know that every year you run like programs to decorate the valley right.
00:11:48.030 –> 00:12:00.630 MVChamber: We do we have the fall days, where we go out and we put out all the fall flowers and bales of hay and scarecrows and decorate from one end of the valley to the other.
00:12:01.110 –> 00:12:14.970 MVChamber: We have winter days, where we have local artists come in and paint eight feet we call them skis but they’re just you know, two by fours not two by fours or two by sixes.
00:12:16.200 –> 00:12:31.230 MVChamber: And snowman that we cut out plywood they are so cute they’re so talented artists here in the valley are so talented and we just play those all around so prone to let people know we are ski town yeah.
00:12:31.710 –> 00:12:36.750 Joseph McElroy: And you and you do, and you do some amazing it’s an amazing lights put up through the town to, I think.
00:12:37.650 –> 00:12:38.010 We have.
00:12:39.150 –> 00:12:45.570 Joseph McElroy: And those lights stay, all the way up through March I think I love that where it’s like this sort of you do the white light, so there are.
00:12:45.840 –> 00:12:56.340 Joseph McElroy: applicable you around so it’s got this magical fairy tale sort of effect when you go through the town in the winter and a lot of people don’t know is a need more people need to know that we are ski town.
00:12:56.370 –> 00:12:58.410 MVChamber: We have an escape, yes, sir.
00:12:59.100 –> 00:13:02.520 Joseph McElroy: All right, well, we come back we’ll talk a little bit about the history of Maggie Valley.
00:16:02.850 –> 00:16:17.640 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklin McElroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcast and my guest Theresa Smith Executive Director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce, so you know when I was.
00:16:18.540 –> 00:16:29.400 Joseph McElroy: growing up, I used to see a while I was almost grown, I was in my teen years I guess at this point in the early 80s and all sudden magically appeared this woman walked around the Maggie dressed up and.
00:16:30.420 –> 00:16:40.590 Joseph McElroy: Redshirt I think it was or yellow skirt and or is it green apron sunlight some combination of writing with a bomb it on it.
00:16:41.070 –> 00:16:53.880 Joseph McElroy: And then my parents tell me well she’s inspired by the original you know Maggie, and so I know that there’s a story about how Maggie was named Maggie Valley, can you tell me a little bit about that story.
00:16:55.050 –> 00:17:06.690 MVChamber: Back in the 1800s Mr jack setser would ride his horse every day into a neighboring community to pick up the mail for the folks in Maggie Valley.
00:17:07.260 –> 00:17:25.440 MVChamber: And he decided that Maggie well it wasn’t named Maggie then, but he needed a post office for this Community, so he wouldn’t have to ride his horse so far, every day, so he ran to the Postmaster general and said he would like to open a post office in his phone.
00:17:27.600 –> 00:17:44.100 MVChamber: They asked him to keep some records, so they would know how many pieces of mail he had to pick up, how many were delivered how many he had sent you to know out each day so for about six months, he kept those records sent those to the Postmaster general.
00:17:45.480 –> 00:17:52.830 MVChamber: And the Postmaster general says okay we’ll let you have a post office send us three names of what you want to name this Community.
00:17:53.670 –> 00:18:03.960 MVChamber: And he said he had some names and all of those were rejected at first, so the routing back and said no, all those names are taking you gotta think of something else.
00:18:04.440 –> 00:18:18.930 MVChamber: So he submitted the name of his three daughters and out of those names, the Postmaster picked Maggie so we were known as Maggie and see for a long time the valley part was added many years later.
00:18:20.640 –> 00:18:39.570 Joseph McElroy: that’s good that’s kind of cool you know it’s I know it’s a story that’s told quite a bit you know around the town, you know Bob mentioned that that that that the post office that he used to write it was the plot, it was there, the township called plot the plot.
00:18:41.250 –> 00:18:45.270 Joseph McElroy: That was only five miles away, but that was just too big, of a ride to do every day right.
00:18:46.110 –> 00:18:56.790 Joseph McElroy: exactly that so so Maggie the character Maggie Maggie Valley, which I know is copyrighted now by the Chamber right, it was hired by the original Maggie.
00:18:57.930 –> 00:19:00.210 MVChamber: Was we call her miss Maggie.
00:19:00.510 –> 00:19:13.770 MVChamber: yeah and the first miss Maggie um there was a lady that would go through name is Jenny and she go through town and should pick up trash and make just helping to beautify Maggie valley keep it good and playing.
00:19:14.940 –> 00:19:22.320 MVChamber: She was first named miss Maggie and then we came they came up with the Miss Maggie outfit, which was a red skirt.
00:19:22.470 –> 00:19:24.240 MVChamber: All right, wow.
00:19:24.480 –> 00:19:27.690 Joseph McElroy: And the yellow Hello April I got it backward or yeah.
00:19:27.930 –> 00:19:38.430 MVChamber: So yeah you will class, so we still have miss Maggie walk the streets of Maggie valley in the May through October.
00:19:38.910 –> 00:19:54.060 MVChamber: And waves that are the people welcoming all the people to sort of become our icon she’s we have her image on a lot of sand in Maggie Valley, of course, the Chambers logo is miss Maggie.
00:19:55.110 –> 00:20:00.120 MVChamber: And she’s just a character that is so dear to our hearts and part of who we are.
00:20:00.450 –> 00:20:03.750 MVChamber: yeah it says this apart, you know a lot, a lot of people have.
00:20:04.980 –> 00:20:10.710 MVChamber: Little mascots in their town like a bear or you know something like that.
00:20:12.300 –> 00:20:14.010 MVChamber: Nobody else can have a miss Maggie.
00:20:14.970 –> 00:20:15.240 Joseph McElroy: You know.
00:20:16.050 –> 00:20:23.370 Joseph McElroy: A funny little personal story I learned I you know I started learning to draw Maggie valley right and I have a little bit of an art side hobby.
00:20:24.630 –> 00:20:35.040 Joseph McElroy: And I learned and I learned how to draw miss Maggie right when I was when I was in Philadelphia, for a period of time somebody once asked me to.
00:20:35.610 –> 00:20:40.080 Joseph McElroy: draw a cartoon of a woman sweeping out sweeping notice things out the way.
00:20:40.290 –> 00:20:56.070 Joseph McElroy: And I did, and I said well there’s a mayor’s going to use it for his campaign to put on the side of the buses for sweeping up the sweeping half the bad so all of a sudden, you had miss Maggie inspired miss Maggie going around the buses of Philadelphia sweeping out the trash.
00:20:57.300 –> 00:21:01.140 Joseph McElroy: I think that that will eventually become the mayor john St I think his name was.
00:21:03.510 –> 00:21:05.310 Joseph McElroy: it’s funny how things go places.
00:21:05.820 –> 00:21:07.500 Joseph McElroy: So you know we were doing a.
00:21:07.530 –> 00:21:20.760 Joseph McElroy: little bit of a history about just the smoky mountains are talking about kids cove and you know a lot of people got displaced from case code when they made a national park and a lot of those people came to Maggie didn’t in their 30s and 40s right.
00:21:21.810 –> 00:21:22.800 Joseph McElroy: The population.
00:21:23.640 –> 00:21:23.910 In.
00:21:25.500 –> 00:21:29.700 MVChamber: This wireless the cadillac he Valley, where the airport in reintroduced.
00:21:29.820 –> 00:21:31.770 MVChamber: yeah at 20 years ago.
00:21:32.310 –> 00:21:46.560 Joseph McElroy: So when i’m so you know, I was, I was reading the history, I know that the middle or it’s been around since the 50s, but I think the first motel hotel was the mountain valley lodge which is now the smoking that follows lodge and.
00:21:48.030 –> 00:22:01.650 Joseph McElroy: 1950 and then the Maggie valley restaurant you talking about carver’s was in 52 you know my dad tells a story he used to go there as a teenager because that was the place to do in the 50s right with his dark hair and everything.
00:22:04.500 –> 00:22:08.850 Joseph McElroy: But you think that’s when tourism started or started in Maggie.
00:22:11.220 –> 00:22:18.570 MVChamber: It was starting the end because of cherokee, but I think once ghost town.
00:22:19.020 –> 00:22:37.440 MVChamber: was established in and was built and people started coming to goes down that’s really when the valley got the booming and that’s really when it started just growing by leaps and bounds that was in 1961 may 1 of 1961 ghost town opened.
00:22:37.980 –> 00:22:40.950 Joseph McElroy: wow well it’s just it’s only a couple months older than me.
00:22:43.320 –> 00:22:48.600 Joseph McElroy: I was born in 61 so it opened up as a celebration of Joseph Franco mcilroy.
00:22:49.980 –> 00:22:52.200 MVChamber: dad yeah tell you my.
00:22:52.590 –> 00:22:56.220 Joseph McElroy: yeah so What was it What was it about and why was it.
00:22:59.790 –> 00:23:01.680 Joseph McElroy: So what was ghost town about.
00:23:02.010 –> 00:23:06.060 Joseph McElroy: Oh, and why was it successful you think how did you how did it impact mag.
00:23:06.750 –> 00:23:17.700 MVChamber: I think it was just different you know I think when rb coburn came to town in 1960 and started talking with all the Maggie valley people about.
00:23:18.810 –> 00:23:26.910 MVChamber: Putting a theme park at the top of a mountain is taken the top of the mountain and flattening it and making a thing part I probably thought it was crazy.
00:23:27.300 –> 00:23:29.670 Joseph McElroy: Firstly, the Wild West one in the mountains.
00:23:30.540 –> 00:23:33.450 MVChamber: Wild West up on top of a mountain that’s true.
00:23:34.830 –> 00:23:40.260 MVChamber: But he got it done, I think the cost at that time was about a million dollars.
00:23:41.940 –> 00:23:48.870 MVChamber: To get ghost town up and running and just the the first of all the views from.
00:23:49.530 –> 00:24:00.330 MVChamber: A spot thousand feet one it was a feat just getting people to the top of the mountain and then, when they got up there, there was this whole western town.
00:24:00.720 –> 00:24:14.040 MVChamber: That was built a complete replica with you know buildings with a bank with a jail, with a church with the sullen and you know it was just an old Western town that.
00:24:15.480 –> 00:24:23.880 MVChamber: was up here at the top of the mountain they had cowboys and my head i’m authentic music and I had some cherokee.
00:24:24.930 –> 00:24:31.170 MVChamber: dancers, and just a lot of things, a lot of what we call our heritage now.
00:24:31.650 –> 00:24:40.170 Joseph McElroy: yeah We grew up, I mean I grew up with that that was just part of my growing up, and you know I remember you know families used to come in droves, you know.
00:24:40.920 –> 00:24:51.420 Joseph McElroy: You know, it was a big family town there people you know walking the walk in the sidewalks going to all the things it was it was a huge tourist town probably a lot like.
00:24:51.810 –> 00:25:02.790 Joseph McElroy: The equivalent of gatlinburg is right now right so so that really made Brett Maggie a brand name and very successful I mean there were some great.
00:25:03.630 –> 00:25:12.390 Joseph McElroy: actors that came through there Burt Reynolds was a gunslinger up there, so it was clue her, and I think the guy that played hot hos on the on the cart rights.
00:25:12.420 –> 00:25:13.710 MVChamber: He was a Blocker.
00:25:13.860 –> 00:25:15.060 Joseph McElroy: yeah so.
00:25:16.140 –> 00:25:24.180 Joseph McElroy: You know, there was a lot of great things, I think, if I remember correctly, my grandmother had dealings with uber he actually tried to create a theater and Maggie Valley.
00:25:25.020 –> 00:25:25.440 MVChamber: Right.
00:25:25.830 –> 00:25:37.470 Joseph McElroy: My grandmother’s in real estate right, and I think she is at least in the place or sold it to him or whatever so yeah there’s some stories there he’s still around you know he’s like 92.
00:25:38.760 –> 00:25:41.910 Joseph McElroy: I should, I should reach out to him see if he wants to talk about his time Maggie.
00:25:44.160 –> 00:25:44.490 MVChamber: yeah.
00:25:45.060 –> 00:25:47.070 Joseph McElroy: But then the 90s, and a Western.
00:25:48.480 –> 00:25:55.770 Joseph McElroy: Western tv’s and movies started going down Hill, so it goes down started really fading in the 90s didn’t it.
00:25:57.330 –> 00:26:03.210 MVChamber: It did and as it was getting older, but you know ghost town is the number one phone call.
00:26:03.780 –> 00:26:09.780 MVChamber: It when I answered the phone it’s usually a question about ghost town it’s a ghost town open when is it going to open.
00:26:10.290 –> 00:26:14.700 MVChamber: And people still remember I hear stories all day long of.
00:26:15.180 –> 00:26:23.430 MVChamber: Well, when I was a little boy or I was a little girl my grandmother my grandfather took me to ghost town, and I have all these fond memories and.
00:26:23.730 –> 00:26:38.190 MVChamber: Now I have guaranteed children of my own, and I want them to have that same experience and you know just you here, I want to tell you all about it because it’s so endearing to them from their childhood and.
00:26:38.640 –> 00:26:46.830 Joseph McElroy: We don’t have i’m a i’m a search engine expert and I did some you know some what’s called keyword research and what people search.
00:26:47.400 –> 00:27:01.710 Joseph McElroy: And now I think I calculated that they’re still half and a half a million people 500,000 searches a year from ghost town right, this is still very much in the discounted closed in 2012 I remember that.
00:27:03.000 –> 00:27:12.900 Joseph McElroy: And, but there’s been rumors now for an opening and closing it’s been like the constant thing for 10 years now, oh it’s gonna sound opening you, but I hear there’s there’s a positive light what’s the news on that.
00:27:13.620 –> 00:27:19.560 MVChamber: Well, there is some positivity with that it was just recently transferred ownership.
00:27:21.630 –> 00:27:23.610 MVChamber: And the new owners.
00:27:25.290 –> 00:27:31.770 MVChamber: have some plans, a lot of good plans, I think they want to keep the Western town.
00:27:32.850 –> 00:27:35.640 MVChamber: Possibly building a hotel.
00:27:36.720 –> 00:27:42.810 MVChamber: haven’t really released tons of information on it, yet, but it’s starting to be abuzz again.
00:27:43.170 –> 00:27:47.580 Joseph McElroy: Alright, so we can look forward to something happening and i’m looking forward to that was.
00:27:47.580 –> 00:27:48.060 MVChamber: Car.
00:27:48.330 –> 00:28:01.200 Joseph McElroy: I think there’s a lot of people that deep nostalgia that want to go back to there and it was really fun experience so when we come back we’ll talk about the current state of Maggie valley and what we can do there now and in the in the surrounding areas.
00:30:49.950 –> 00:31:05.130 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklin McElroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcast and we’re talking about Maggie valley North Carolina with the Executive Director of the Maggie Chamber of Commerce Theresa Smith so.
00:31:06.000 –> 00:31:18.120 Joseph McElroy: You know I noticed lately though there’s a bunch of business people putting investment into Maggie valley and I’ve seen a number of hotels and places becoming gussied up I put quite a bit of money into my own motel.
00:31:18.570 –> 00:31:25.650 Joseph McElroy: And that that motel is opened up with a really snazzy sort of a roadside field that we’re doing and.
00:31:26.670 –> 00:31:42.180 Joseph McElroy: Smoking halls loud lodge looks like it’s renovated and there’s a buzz going on, so I think people have discovered that maggie’s more than just a ghost town 10 years later it’s gotten the Renaissance, so what is Maggie famous for.
00:31:44.040 –> 00:31:56.520 MVChamber: Right now, I think, especially with the pandemic with us being sort of a remote area, people are flocking to places like that to kind of be able to spread out.
00:31:57.180 –> 00:32:09.630 MVChamber: And Maggie is known as the peaceful side I think of smokies and so people come here to get more peace and quiet not have all the hustle and bustle of.
00:32:10.080 –> 00:32:24.120 MVChamber: What you might see in Gatlinburg or on the Tennessee side of the smokies and just the great outdoors people love being outdoors in nature is so beautiful here you just can’t ask for any more beauty.
00:32:25.980 –> 00:32:30.810 MVChamber: people all the time that we’re like the ups store they do all the aims you know.
00:32:32.040 –> 00:32:34.440 MVChamber: hiking biking touring.
00:32:36.060 –> 00:32:40.290 MVChamber: horseback riding fishing, so we do all those things to.
00:32:41.040 –> 00:32:47.640 Joseph McElroy: You know, I think that one thing that you know people don’t know is there’s actually a lot of golfing around Maggie valley to there’s.
00:32:49.410 –> 00:33:03.840 Joseph McElroy: Including a Maggie valley golf club that’s really nice and Jcreek you mentioned before, is a mountain heritage stream right you got as I like to always talk about that because it goes right through my property and it’s great fishing.
00:33:05.160 –> 00:33:07.170 Joseph McElroy: Or we still the cloud and capital of the world.
00:33:08.460 –> 00:33:16.380 MVChamber: Well, the stock the ground is still open, as a matter of fact they’ll be opening very soon, I saw their son they’re up there, cleaning getting ready so.
00:33:16.740 –> 00:33:27.420 MVChamber: we’ll have all the Congress back, they still do the world championship clogging competitions there and they’re going to be back with all their bluegrass and clogging.
00:33:27.660 –> 00:33:42.660 Joseph McElroy: Pretty same grass we became known for bluegrass because of Raymond fairchild, who is a grammy award-winning guy right no he just recently died, but I think he created a legacy that people really live up to in the Maggie valley right.
00:33:43.620 –> 00:33:55.470 MVChamber: He had Maggie valley Opera House for many years, and I think that’s going to be reopening and they’ve renamed it Maggie valley hey rods, there will be doing bluegrass music there as well.
00:33:56.460 –> 00:33:57.000 So.
00:33:58.440 –> 00:34:00.000 Joseph McElroy: I think I think.
00:34:01.320 –> 00:34:07.410 Joseph McElroy: I don’t know enough about it, but I know I’ve seen enough videos about it, but the elk have become a big thing.
00:34:08.670 –> 00:34:24.660 MVChamber: elk are very popular that is about 20 years ago they reintroduced elk into the great smoky mountain National Park, I started with about 28 elk and now they’re about probably 200 or more.
00:34:25.260 –> 00:34:26.550 Joseph McElroy: And they come into the town.
00:34:27.300 –> 00:34:28.020 MVChamber: They do.
00:34:28.170 –> 00:34:35.190 MVChamber: yeah I had 16 come through my yard, at one time about oh it’s been probably six weeks ago now.
00:34:35.670 –> 00:34:42.240 Joseph McElroy: Well, my my my my mom and dad lived right across the way on from a motel.
00:34:42.960 –> 00:34:53.310 Joseph McElroy: It seems that that field right beside them as a popular crossing point because i’ve been there, a couple, of times and all of a sudden there’s a big bull moose hanging out, they are down.
00:34:54.240 –> 00:35:02.850 Joseph McElroy: During running season, they come down through there it’s pretty it’s pretty amazing to be on a town and then that close to nature right?
00:35:03.300 –> 00:35:04.500 MVChamber: And exactly right.
00:35:04.620 –> 00:35:18.210 Joseph McElroy: yeah and then going up in, and I think that we’re gonna do we’re coming down may 6 to the 16th and i’m bringing a bunch of people and we’re going to try and go see the elk up in Catalooche valley right I think that’s a great ride and drive right.
00:35:18.990 –> 00:35:33.360 MVChamber: It is it is going back into the national park and once you get down there the whole old homestead of the families that were driven out of there you can still see the Palmer.
00:35:33.930 –> 00:35:44.280 MVChamber: Chapel and the Caldwell house in the schoolhouse and you know you can you know just try to imagine living there um.
00:35:44.850 –> 00:35:55.650 Joseph McElroy: Oh yeah no you don’t I don’t I I remember cat lucci Valley, I remember there used to be church groups go up there and camping right in the backwoods up there, they still do that.
00:35:56.040 –> 00:35:56.910 MVChamber: i’m asking is.
00:35:56.940 –> 00:35:57.960 MVChamber: Still there, yes.
00:35:58.920 –> 00:36:10.470 Joseph McElroy: But you know I don’t remember, and this is what i’ve been racking my brain trying to remember, if I ever went and saw all those old buildings and I don’t so it’s like I gotta I gotta fix that that missing.
00:36:11.280 –> 00:36:22.470 Joseph McElroy: You know, part of because I looked at the people who have been there and some of them their names are in my family tree, so I recognize some relatives up in there yeah.
00:36:22.500 –> 00:36:22.800 Mostly.
00:36:24.180 –> 00:36:26.640 Joseph McElroy: Mostly, a lot of those people.
00:36:27.390 –> 00:36:31.200 MVChamber: descendants from you and I went to hospital with those folks.
00:36:31.440 –> 00:36:36.210 Joseph McElroy: Well, most of my folks were in fines creek and in in an island of but.
00:36:37.530 –> 00:36:51.660 Joseph McElroy: But the number of them had you know married in two families that were in the in the in the case kill very I reckon that’s the way mostly countywide right yeah lots of that so.
00:36:52.890 –> 00:36:57.000 Joseph McElroy: i’m you know i’m excited to really promote we’re still having the Elf fest this year.
00:36:58.920 –> 00:37:05.430 MVChamber: elk fast I don’t think they are going to be having it this year and bring it back next.
00:37:05.520 –> 00:37:11.190 MVChamber: yeah because because of covert I think they’ve hosted found it for this year.
00:37:11.400 –> 00:37:12.630 Joseph McElroy: What did they do last time there.
00:37:15.480 –> 00:37:32.700 MVChamber: was a lot of activity, of course, it was all you know, mainly around the elk and they did a lot of the history of elk and how they were counted out of this area, and then brought back just a lot of activities around there a lot of fun activities for families.
00:37:33.060 –> 00:37:44.580 Joseph McElroy: yeah cool I imagine at some music and all at the festival grounds that sort of thing so speaking about the festival grounds that is we’ve become sort of.
00:37:45.600 –> 00:37:48.090 Joseph McElroy: A motorcycle city town heavily.
00:37:49.500 –> 00:37:53.550 MVChamber: They did rely a lot on the motorcycle traffic coming through.
00:37:54.660 –> 00:38:09.660 MVChamber: To do the tour rods, of course, on the blue Ridge parkway the tail of the dragon Those sort of things throughout the years mm hmm and now we have the wheels to Tom dale’s wheels through time motorcycle museum.
00:38:10.200 –> 00:38:13.920 MVChamber: right here Maggie belly that’s a must say if.
00:38:14.100 –> 00:38:22.020 Joseph McElroy: It is a must see it, what is it $22 million worth of inventory or something like that some of the oldest motorcycle and they got them all and running shape.
00:38:22.440 –> 00:38:23.010 Right.
00:38:24.720 –> 00:38:27.990 Joseph McElroy: I do happen to know about it because it’s right behind my motel.
00:38:29.430 –> 00:38:29.850 Joseph McElroy: So I don’t.
00:38:30.120 –> 00:38:41.610 Joseph McElroy: promote it yeah right so so it’s kind of cool i’ve gone in there, several times it is it’s pretty amazing they just had aqua man what’s the actor that plays aqua man, he was.
00:38:41.790 –> 00:38:42.540 Jason.
00:38:44.580 –> 00:38:52.200 Joseph McElroy: yeah yeah yeah cool and of course we’re still a big music town, we have a hillbilly jam right.
00:38:52.950 –> 00:38:55.080 MVChamber: you’ll be only jam is coming back in July.
00:38:55.620 –> 00:38:56.220 MVChamber: Is it.
00:38:56.640 –> 00:38:58.830 MVChamber: away alright.
00:39:00.450 –> 00:39:03.600 Joseph McElroy: cool that’s a lot of using a lot of mute moonshine right.
00:39:04.290 –> 00:39:05.010 Yes.
00:39:06.360 –> 00:39:14.760 MVChamber: A lot of a lot of distilleries are coming in a lot of the men chatters will be here signing autographs it’s just it’s a party all weekend.
00:39:15.060 –> 00:39:19.440 Joseph McElroy: yeah you know I had Dave angel on the show here.
00:39:20.760 –> 00:39:28.110 Joseph McElroy: One of the first ones, and he was talking about the moonshine and he was mentioned and popcorn sudden you did you eat popcorn right.
00:39:28.710 –> 00:39:30.540 MVChamber: New popcorn while yes.
00:39:30.570 –> 00:39:30.990 Joseph McElroy: yeah.
00:39:31.500 –> 00:39:32.760 MVChamber: I character for sure.
00:39:33.060 –> 00:39:37.560 Joseph McElroy: Oh yeah he was on he was on the the moonshine TV show wasn’t yeah.
00:39:38.190 –> 00:39:41.190 MVChamber: still have a lot of phone calls about platform.
00:39:41.430 –> 00:39:49.020 Joseph McElroy: Does that is the is moonshine culture becoming our distillery culture becoming something important for Maggie value.
00:39:49.650 –> 00:40:04.410 MVChamber: Absolutely that and, of course, we have bear waters brewing now, so we have the brewery here as well, they actually brew the beer in in can’t North Carolina but they have a satellite restaurant here in in Maggie Valley.
00:40:04.680 –> 00:40:05.010 Joseph McElroy: yeah.
00:40:05.070 –> 00:40:10.710 MVChamber: The craft beer is also a big draw for all of a wood county yes.
00:40:10.830 –> 00:40:15.480 Joseph McElroy: Any any rumors have heard rumors there might be another brewery coming into town, you heard of that.
00:40:15.990 –> 00:40:18.240 MVChamber: Well i’ve heard rumors but you always hear.
00:40:20.760 –> 00:40:27.210 Joseph McElroy: Oh yeah all sorts of rumors like that I always thought I was thinking about doing a brewery myself, but I don’t I don’t know how to brew beer.
00:40:28.290 –> 00:40:30.090 MVChamber: That would be your first thing you’d have to figure.
00:40:30.090 –> 00:40:32.670 Joseph McElroy: out how to do that right yeah.
00:40:34.560 –> 00:40:39.780 MVChamber: But there’s a lot of other shows come into the festival grounds, we have a lot of car shows.
00:40:39.870 –> 00:40:40.170 Joseph McElroy: yeah.
00:40:40.200 –> 00:40:41.670 MVChamber: A lot of swap meets.
00:40:42.990 –> 00:40:53.010 MVChamber: We have the arts and crafts, shows a lot of it’s all handmade items and they’re doing some outdoor movies now at the festival grounds.
00:40:53.040 –> 00:40:54.660 Joseph McElroy: are really like driving we’ve.
00:40:54.990 –> 00:40:56.640 MVChamber: Really gotten a bcs.
00:40:56.700 –> 00:41:00.720 Joseph McElroy: we’re going to titles that you remember Kevin are like old titles or new.
00:41:01.290 –> 00:41:08.100 MVChamber: Well, no um gosh I don’t don’t remember the titles right off the BAT and.
00:41:08.190 –> 00:41:08.490 Joseph McElroy: that’s.
00:41:08.580 –> 00:41:10.230 Joseph McElroy: cool it was really cool.
00:41:10.740 –> 00:41:24.660 MVChamber: I did that, like during the offseason they had a lot of you know, when covert here and they couldn’t have the other events they failed, a lot of our weekends, with the drop in shows.
00:41:24.720 –> 00:41:26.910 Joseph McElroy: Either they have the drive in music is too right.
00:41:28.590 –> 00:41:32.460 Joseph McElroy: I heard about that because Mike that over to.
00:41:33.570 –> 00:41:42.570 Joseph McElroy: Michael tree over at the motel was was excited by that so he told us about that, and the first thing I didn’t know they were doing movies to that’s pretty fantastic.
00:41:43.320 –> 00:41:48.090 MVChamber: And we have the concerts were very, very popular.
00:41:50.340 –> 00:41:58.290 Joseph McElroy: um so tell me there’s some news on biking biking trails isn’t there coming and more and more to Maggie.
00:42:00.270 –> 00:42:01.590 MVChamber: share some of that.
00:42:01.770 –> 00:42:06.870 MVChamber: Yes, yeah i’m not sure exactly how how that’s going but.
00:42:08.130 –> 00:42:13.140 MVChamber: It would be a very popular thing people want to do a lot of mountain biking they want.
00:42:14.490 –> 00:42:18.960 MVChamber: To also you know if anything outdoors anything outdoors.
00:42:19.050 –> 00:42:21.540 Joseph McElroy: Do we have we have some we have some bike trails joey.
00:42:23.220 –> 00:42:23.610 Joseph McElroy: yeah.
00:42:25.710 –> 00:42:26.580 Joseph McElroy: Very cool.
00:42:26.850 –> 00:42:27.780 MVChamber: Well, and.
00:42:28.200 –> 00:42:34.530 MVChamber: i’m like harmon Dan and different places like that people go to ride bikes and I TVs.
00:42:35.100 –> 00:42:36.210 MVChamber: down in that area.
00:42:36.930 –> 00:42:50.520 Joseph McElroy: hey TVs are very popular I have that that site called smokies adventure, which is a directory of stuff to do and a TV is the number one search term that comes there for in the smokies that’s kinda I was totally surprised.
00:42:51.990 –> 00:43:01.020 Joseph McElroy: All right, when we come back we’ll finish up with some of the top things Maggie and and the neighboring towns.
00:43:02.310 –> 00:43:04.650 and listening to talk radio.
00:45:18.840 –> 00:45:29.880 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklin mcilroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcasts and I guess to resubmit of the Maggie valley Chamber so.
00:45:30.450 –> 00:45:44.430 Joseph McElroy: Theresa when I was growing up, we used to leave our keys in our car and no doors open Maggie valley was known as safe, and you know now, in this day and world we also got to worry about code how safe is Maggie valley these days.
00:45:46.320 –> 00:45:59.850 MVChamber: I think is very safe lot safer than than other places, you might go um you just you just have a feeling of peace, and you know I don’t know that I would.
00:46:01.680 –> 00:46:05.490 MVChamber: Come on a podcast and say I don’t want my doors anymore and i’ll let you okay.
00:46:08.820 –> 00:46:12.480 MVChamber: um i’m not sure that you couldn’t then be okay.
00:46:12.600 –> 00:46:13.530 Joseph McElroy: yeah right.
00:46:15.390 –> 00:46:22.800 Joseph McElroy: I know I think that yeah I think my dad sometimes forgets and he thinks he’s living, then he leaves he does that nothing’s ever happened so.
00:46:23.730 –> 00:46:39.330 Joseph McElroy: I reckon it’s Okay, you know I tell people I lived 12 years in the you know and in the you know, in the south bronx but then I had a place in an island, you know left to completely open, I think, for several years and nothing ever happened to it.
00:46:41.670 –> 00:46:42.210 Joseph McElroy: So.
00:46:43.650 –> 00:46:43.950 Joseph McElroy: The.
00:46:45.630 –> 00:46:46.200 Joseph McElroy: The.
00:46:48.600 –> 00:47:00.990 Joseph McElroy: The coven restrictions are people doing you know safe, you know social distancing or hotels doing things to make sure there’s a good standard of good safety protocols in place.
00:47:01.890 –> 00:47:05.970 MVChamber: now being very impressed with our business community, through the whole.
00:47:07.980 –> 00:47:08.880 MVChamber: pandemic.
00:47:10.170 –> 00:47:26.520 MVChamber: People have had their signs up saying you know we’re following CDC guidelines they have hand sanitizer on hand for folks they have masks available, I asked you to wear a mask to come in the business.
00:47:27.180 –> 00:47:46.680 MVChamber: they’ve limited their numbers of folks that they allow inside like for a shopping retail store at a time i’ve been very impressed with not only the business owners and how they have reacted to the US, but also to our many visitors that have come have been very impressed.
00:47:47.070 –> 00:47:56.040 Joseph McElroy: yeah we haven’t had a lot of you know haven’t had a lot of pushback you know, in the news always makes things out to be a big story, but we haven’t.
00:47:57.060 –> 00:48:08.430 Joseph McElroy: seen any of that I think that’s yeah we made some efforts, and you know copying from the national whatever hotel associations with things we put stickers on the door so.
00:48:08.880 –> 00:48:24.300 Joseph McElroy: i’m pretty i’m pretty proud of what Maggie valleys done because people evidently people really think it’s been safe during this code, because I mean we’ve seen what a 16% growth even two months close we saw 16% growth in tourism to Maggie.
00:48:24.840 –> 00:48:27.690 MVChamber: it’s been absolutely amazing.
00:48:28.830 –> 00:48:41.250 MVChamber: Was shouting down for two months, and then coming back I think again, because we are remote, because people can spread out because they can feel like they can do that social distance thing.
00:48:41.730 –> 00:48:52.470 MVChamber: And still get out and enjoy life and still have you know lots of fun things to do when visit with family and and a lot of people have come here.
00:48:53.790 –> 00:49:07.200 MVChamber: Who are remote working as well as remote schools, of course, and they’ve come rented cabins up in the mountains, just so they didn’t have to be at home, like and have their own little getaway and still work.
00:49:07.410 –> 00:49:22.110 Joseph McElroy: Yes, thank you ellie has some actually some decent wi fi good decent Internet there right you’re you’re coming from the office you’re doing you’re coming from the Office for in matt right and Maggie Valley, yes and it’s been perfect so.
00:49:23.550 –> 00:49:32.910 Joseph McElroy: it’s a great place for staycation is and, by the way, if you’re going from New York, you can get into legion Air flight within and be down there within two hours for less than 200 bucks round trip yeah.
00:49:34.560 –> 00:49:40.890 Joseph McElroy: yeah it’s it’s incredible so it makes it very affordable to get to get down there and get to get to a place fash.
00:49:41.760 –> 00:49:43.740 MVChamber: A lot of New York license tags.
00:49:44.550 –> 00:49:45.810 MVChamber: grabbing me and as well.
00:49:46.110 –> 00:49:46.470 Joseph McElroy: yeah.
00:49:46.500 –> 00:49:48.900 MVChamber: We are known as a driving destination.
00:49:49.050 –> 00:49:49.350 Joseph McElroy: yeah a.
00:49:49.380 –> 00:49:57.870 MVChamber: lot of people coming in from neighboring states Tennessee South Carolina we have a lot of Florida people that come up.
00:49:58.200 –> 00:50:09.300 Joseph McElroy: Well, you know we because we developed during the road culture, a lot of our places are drive up right and so that makes great that makes it easy to be contactless right.
00:50:09.990 –> 00:50:24.330 Joseph McElroy: You know, we made it so you come like to the motel you can drive up right to your door and get in never have to talk to our talker interface interact with anybody, but if you want to the good southern hospitality still available at the front desk just want to plexiglass and premium.
00:50:27.360 –> 00:50:31.260 Joseph McElroy: So what do you think is the prettiest place in Maggie Valley.
00:50:32.370 –> 00:50:34.560 MVChamber: The prettiest place as.
00:50:35.490 –> 00:50:40.350 Joseph McElroy: Well, just the part what part of Maggie valley area, do you find the prettiest.
00:50:44.250 –> 00:50:52.590 MVChamber: Oh gosh I don’t know because when you walk outside you can just look around and you see mountains everywhere.
00:50:52.890 –> 00:50:54.450 MVChamber: And I have that question a lot people.
00:50:54.450 –> 00:51:02.790 MVChamber: are saying well how long will it take to get to the smoky mountains, if I can do Maggie valley and i’m like you’re welcome your door you’re in.
00:51:03.150 –> 00:51:03.990 Joseph McElroy: Your room right.
00:51:04.560 –> 00:51:08.790 MVChamber: Here i’m like they don’t seem to kind of understand that.
00:51:09.810 –> 00:51:19.950 MVChamber: I don’t think there’s one place that’s any prettier than the other, because when you when you drive into the valley and you first get in your heart just sinks it’s just all so beautiful.
00:51:21.150 –> 00:51:22.320 Joseph McElroy: Alright cool.
00:51:22.380 –> 00:51:23.640 MVChamber: Now that I can answer that.
00:51:24.060 –> 00:51:35.460 Joseph McElroy: Right well um what what are some of the what what is, what do you see the future in the near future for Maggie now you see anything changed or anything coming up that’s exciting.
00:51:37.650 –> 00:51:53.370 MVChamber: Well, I think that we’re going to have a great season this season if if the phone calls and the traffic that we see now is any indication I think people are still going to be ready to get out and do some vacationing and.
00:51:54.570 –> 00:52:13.230 MVChamber: I think that a lot of the hotels are gearing up for that now they’re starting to freshen up and plants or spring flowers and all the trees are blooming now are starting to bloom out now and I just see I think it’s going to be a really good season for us this year.
00:52:13.230 –> 00:52:24.060 Joseph McElroy: exciting it’s gonna be exciting, yes, I think, so you want to tell people that Chamber site, the festival site and any social media that’s important for them to reach out and contact you.
00:52:24.630 –> 00:52:30.810 MVChamber: yeah our website is Maggie valley.org very easy very simple.
00:52:32.070 –> 00:52:37.710 MVChamber: And to get to the festival grounds website it’s Maggie valley festival grounds.com.
00:52:38.580 –> 00:52:49.020 MVChamber: All right, that has all the listings of the upcoming events and a link to each event, so you can find out more information on the specific event itself.
00:52:49.980 –> 00:53:06.990 MVChamber: On the Maggie valley Chamber website, there is a form of course, we said that you can order of Mr Scott, if you want to know more about Maggie Valley, or you can call our office our number is 828-926-1686.
00:53:07.620 –> 00:53:22.290 MVChamber: How an order administered guide um we have a Facebook page that we post different events and try to promote the different businesses have for what they have going on the the restaurants.
00:53:24.930 –> 00:53:35.700 MVChamber: Yes, lot of mom and pop restaurants very, very good restaurants in Maggie badly, but you want to visit why you’re here you’re trying to share their specials.
00:53:36.180 –> 00:53:46.110 MVChamber: And we try to share anything that’s going on in Maggie Valley, we do try to share that on our Facebook page and it’s it’s just Maggie valley chamber of commerce.
00:53:46.620 –> 00:53:51.780 Joseph McElroy: Well, thank you for being on the show, and I look forward to seeing you want to come down there.
00:53:53.970 –> 00:54:03.180 Joseph McElroy: i’ll do some shout out to my own now so imagine a place evocative of motor courts of the past, yet modern environment with the cheek appalachian field.
00:54:03.480 –> 00:54:14.490 Joseph McElroy: a place for adventure and for relaxation imagine a place where you can fish in a mountain heretics trout stream grill the catch on fire and eat accompanied by fine wine or craft beers.
00:54:14.850 –> 00:54:26.910 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place to the old time music and world cultural sounds there’s no other place like the middle Arc motel in Maggie valley North Carolina your smoky mountain adventure starts with where you stay.
00:54:27.750 –> 00:54:33.540 Joseph McElroy: I also want to shout out to smokey adventures smokies adventure calm plural smokies.
00:54:34.410 –> 00:54:41.970 Joseph McElroy: that’s a sight of that I have created and developed it offers Informations and listings about the smokies.
00:54:42.300 –> 00:54:55.500 Joseph McElroy: places to get weddings venues exciting places to go visit trail maps books guides and it’s, the emphasis is on really experiencing the whole smoky mountain experience on both the north Carolina and Tennessee side.
00:54:57.360 –> 00:55:10.140 Joseph McElroy: I I am on the talk radio dot nyc network we have some great live podcasts on this network, right after the one this one is exploring New York.
00:55:10.830 –> 00:55:27.000 Joseph McElroy: which I would beg you to listen to it’s a great show, so you can go from the rural mountains of North Carolina into the the top urban area of the world, so it gets a full experience of understanding what this nation has to offer.
00:55:28.830 –> 00:55:38.640 Joseph McElroy: You can find out more about this podcast at gateway to the smokies dot fun, you can subscribe to our newsletter.
00:55:39.630 –> 00:55:48.510 Joseph McElroy: And follow links to various resources that we talked about other books that that might be of interest to you, we also have the Facebook page.
00:55:49.170 –> 00:56:00.720 Joseph McElroy: facebook.com.com slash gateway to the smokies podcast and there we do lots of news and information around around the area we we also stream live.
00:56:01.170 –> 00:56:14.880 Joseph McElroy: This this podcast and on, there is the recorded podcast as well, and so I look forward to have another great episode next week at.
00:56:15.600 –> 00:56:28.290 Joseph McElroy: On again on Tuesday from six to 7pm I look forward to seeing you and hearing you and, hopefully, you look forward to hearing me and see me thank you again and it’s been wonderful Thank you Teresa Thank you.
