Wheels Through Time

Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley Plans Busy Year

The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, recently announced that it is looking forward to another busy year in 2010. The museum, which has entertained over 500,000 visitors since its relocation in 2002, has re-adjusted its schedule for 2010 to provide countless opportunities to visit throughout the year.

"Although rumors are still circulating about the closing and relocation of the museum, Wheels Through Time is still located in Maggie Valley and plans to operate on a weekend schedule throughout 2010," said Dale Walksler, museum founder and curator.

Regarded as one of the world's premier destinations for motorcycle and transportation history, the museum has continued to grow, increasing its collection to more 315 machines and an unparalleled collection of memorabilia, continuing to provide new exhibits that rotate regularly.

Part the Museum's mission for 2010 includes the construction of various new exhibitions and displays, including an exhibit celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway, which stretches 469 miles from the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, is the most-visited entity in the U.S. National Park System, with more than 15 million visitors riding and driving on some portion of the parkway each year. Begun in 1935, during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway took more than 52 years, with the last portion being completed in 1987. Heralded as one of our country's most scenic motorways, the Blue Ridge Parkway continues to attract millions to the scenic beauty of the areas over which it extends.

"We're excited to bring together one of our most All-American roads with one of our country's best transportation museums. Both provide for a true All-American experience, and we're proud to share the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway as one of our most treasured and scenic motoring experiences, " said Walksler.

Weekend openings this spring include: Friday, March 19 to Monday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day; Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day; and Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day (this is the weekend of the Thunder in the Smokies rally in Maggie Valley). On Friday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the museum will unveil and open its "Motoring the Blue Ridge" exhibit in celebration of the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th anniversary.

For more information on 2010 museum openings, call 828-926-6266 or visit the museum's site.