06:54 PM EDT on Friday, May 20, 2005

By LISA RANTALA / 6NEWS

The Tweetsie Railroad could soon leave Watauga County for a home in Caldwell County, the attraction's general manager said.

The owner of the popular railroad theme park is trying to negotiate a new lease with property owners but said he may have to move the landmark because of skyrocketing property values in Watauga County. The park can't afford the higher rent, he said.

Possible alternative sites include Caldwell County, where landowners have offered the land practically rent-free in hopes of attracting the tourism dollars, the general manager said.

Currently, the park is separated into three pieces of land with three different owners. Tweetsie owns one-third of the land the attraction sits on. The owners of the other two-thirds of the land doubled the rent within the last five years based on appraisal rates, the general manager said.

Park officials said their first priority is to stay in Watauga County, but the park's general manager said he has to do what is best for business. He plans to give Caldwell County an answer by July, he said. The railroad's lease is up in 2007.

Tweetsie Railroad was the main source of transportation in the mountains from 1916 to 1940. The theme park now attracts 250,000 guests a year. It first opened between Boone and Blowing Rock in 1957.