Members of the nationally acclaimed bluegrass band Balsam Range are now the bona fide ambassadors of Haywood County.

Ghost Town in the Sky did not open to much fanfare last weekend because, simply put, it didn’t open.

Maggie Valley’s slow and steady decline as a tourist destination comes down to aesthetics, a consultant hired to assess Maggie Valley’s economic challenges told town leaders last week.  

Maggie Valley’s appearance has declined and not kept up with the more sophisticated tastes of today’s tourists, according to his assessment. 

What’s it going to be for Jackson County — Just Do It; Got Milk?; A Little Dab’ll Do Ya? 

That is the $50,000 question as tourism leaders edge closer to an official marketing message and tourism brand used to lure visitors and their wallets to vacation in Jackson.

Out of all the problems each county faces, how do you one narrow them down to focus on just three?

Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park is scheduled to kick off its 2013 season Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the grit, passionate and determination of its new owner and longtime champion Alaska Pressley, who has slogged ahead with her dream despite hoops and hurdles.

If the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is footing the bill for a magazine ad, brochure, sign — you name it — the tourism agency deserves recognition, tourism board members reaffirmed last week.

Ask vacationers why they pick Jackson County, and you might heard words like “escape,” “relief” and “tradition.” 

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will hand out a bevy of grants for festivals and niche tourism projects throughout the county this year — most of them old standards but a few new events.

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will restore annual grant funding for Folkmoot USA, reversing a move last year to cut off the highly popular international folk dance festival.