Parton with the money

Roanoke Rapids wanted entertainment, and sure got it

Charlotte.com

When its textile mills shut down and traditional jobs disappeared, the city of Roanoke Rapids up in Halifax County wanted to find a way to increase economic development opportunities and bring more jobs to the area.

So it gambled on a risky venture that must have sounded good at the time: Create a new entertainment district that would bring top-level talent -- and thousands of music lovers and well-heeled tourists -- to the beleaguered area. The plan for Carolina Crossroads was to rival, or at least emulate, the successful entertainment magnets of Branson, Missouri, and Myrtle Beach.