There's the chair lift! And a giant slide, whoo-hoo. I used to love those big slides when I was a kid (they had one somewhere in Orange County). From what I've read, Gold City was a typical western-type amusement park, with shootouts, girls dancing at the saloon, mine tours, and a "Kiss the Toothless Prospector" booth. I made that last part up.
See, I told you the chair lift was a doozie. It has been removed, and from what I've read, the city at the top of the hill has fallen into disrepair. The cluster of buildings at the bottom of the hill now comprises the Gold City Gem Mine, one of those places that encourages you to look for real gemstones. According to their website, a sapphire was found that was over 1000 carats.
The next time we visit Gold City, we'll see the actual western town!
I loved those giant slides too, Major. The only two I remember sliding down were at the L.A. County Fair and the Long Beach Pike, but I remember one off the 405 fwy (near the 110 fwy) at a miniature golf course across from the Goodyear Blimp. There was a Disneyland billboard in that area as well.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what that brown line/strip that runs alongside the chairlift was? It's visible in the first two pics. The Skyway at DL never bothered me, but I think I might have had a problem with that chairlift (I've never been skiing either!)
I rode the chairlift at Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley, NC, which was just like this one, only up a higher and steeper mountain. It was probably one of the more terrifying experiences of my young life. The mountain was incredibly steep, almost vertical, it seemed, near the top. There was, as you see here, very little to hold you into the chair, and, even as a child, I realized that it wouldn't take much to slide out of the thing. I don't know about the brown strip that you see parallel to the chairlift, but at Ghost Town there was also a tramway that ran up the mountain next to the chairlift. That could be the case here. It appeared no less terrifying than the chairlift. I enjoyed Ghost Town, but admit that part of the time there was ruined by thoughts of getting back onto that chairlift and getting down the mountain again. When I hear people lamenting that lawyers have made everything overly safe in theme parks, I always chuckle and surmise that the people who make such comments never rode the Ghost Town chairlift.
ReplyDeleteI would have been more impressed with the slide if it started off at the top of the mountain.
ReplyDeleteI learn so much on this blog! I hade no idea sapphires were made from compressed carrots.
ReplyDeleteI would submit that: no lawyer ever gave a hoot about safety, all they want is to squeeze as much money from the economy into their own pockets as possible, without actually having to go out and create anything. Remember that the only reason anyone needs a lawyer is to protect themselves from another lawyer.
ReplyDeleteVery similar setup at GunTown Mountain in Cave City, KY.Take the truck up, but the road is scarier than the chairlift going down. It's still up and running.
ReplyDeleteI got the shakes just looking at those pictures of the chair lift! EEEEK!
ReplyDeleteI'm a lawyer, and I happen to disagree with the unnecessary anti-lawyer comment. Why is that comment relevant here? Lawyers look at this blog too, you know, and maybe Major Pepperidge should show a little common sense before he allows people to post comments that are derogatory towards a profession and towards some of his readers. What do you think, Major? I'd like an answer.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Major. Interesting place, of which I have never heard.
ReplyDeleteToo many anonymous trolls in this thread, needs policing up.
Both attitudes are protected speech, just to continue the discussion, somebody should ask Katella Gate about law and justice. (snicker).
JG
Never been in United States before but I have friend who currently lives in North Carolina. She often sends me great photos like this. I’ll travel to North Carolina someday that is one of my targets. Good post by the way.
ReplyDeleteI live not even a mile away from Gold City...and your information is correct. Around 1995 someone set the place on fire. The only thing left nowadays is the old buildings at the top of the mountain but they are in disrepair. Gold City is located on Cowee mountain in Franklin NC (macon county)
ReplyDeleteGold City had a fire sometime sometime between 1974-76. The reason I remember this so clearly is because my family and I were planning on a trip there when i was in Junior High school. It was also known as Lost Mine, and their mascot at the time was a mule, that looked something like the mule from Hee-Haw. I think i read Buck Owens had part ownership in Gold City, which explains the reason the mascot looked like the one from Hee-HaW.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was the caretaker of the the mules and horses and over saw the mule and horse rides at Gold city in the early 1970’s.
ReplyDeleteHe was in his late 60s/early 70s at he time, and lived on the side of that mountain in a small travel travel trailer, and rode a dirt bike up and back down everyday. I spent several days with him when I was about 9, and I remember that particular mule......very stubborn......he would not let you ride from the stables, up the street, but would let you ride down the street back to the stable. I spent those several days walking him up the street, then getting on and riding him back down to the stables......over and over......it is one of my fondest memories 😃
Used to live within 15 miles of here. Been there many times. There used to be a giant Pink Panther at the bottom and Inspector Cluseau at or near the top with magnifying glass.
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