Playing our song - Valley, Partons sing and celebrate groundbreaking

Lance Martin/Herald Senior Staff Writer

ROANOKE RAPIDS - Children sat on the shoulders of their parents, many waving American flags on a Veterans Day that ushered in the groundbreaking of the Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District.

Police estimate somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 people attended today's event highlighted by the appearance of country music superstar Dolly Parton.

Parton's brother, Randy, is building the music venue in Roanoke Rapids off N.C. Highway 125.

“We got a good-looking audience here,” he said before ceremonial shovels broke dirt where the theater bearing his name will be built.

His famous sister, who is on a tour promoting her latest album, quipped, “We had some ugly people in Tulsa last night.”

Dolly thanked the crowd for coming and, on a day also set aside to honor veterans, said, “Thanks to all you soldiers. I'm very proud of my family and my brother.”

She expressed sadness that Randy, who has his own theater at her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will be working in Roanoke Rapids. “Dollywood's loss will be North Carolina's gain,” she said. “Randy and Deb did so much work at Dollywood.”

Before the ceremonial groundbreaking, Randy, Dolly and other members of the Parton family, along with members of the Grand Ole Opry, sang acapella versions of “God Bless America,” “The Star-spangled Banner” and the gospel music standard, “I Saw the Light.”

The groundbreaking ceremony featured numerous speakers, but before they began to talk about the entertainment district, they paused to remember the veterans.

Halifax County Manager Matthew Delk, who was wounded in Iraq, and Disabled American Veterans District Commander William Edwards took time to honor the nation's heroes. They explained an empty table in the VIP section was placed there as a remembrance to prisoners of war.

Billy Walker, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, opened the ceremony with prayer. “Thank you for this great gathering,” he said. “As Joshua took the land, we take the land for this great endeavor of Carolina Crossroads.”

A jubilant Drewery Beale, mayor of Roanoke Rapids, was the first of many dignitaries to speak. “If you think I haven't had a good two days, you'd think wrong. When we first started we were hoping it would come here. We've been looking for this for a long time.”

Beale said the whole project got started with the passing of a business card by Rick Watson of the Northeast Partnership. “I can't say enough about the Northeast Partnership. Everything we got in the last few months is from the Northeast Partnership.”

Carolyn Johnson, acting chairperson for the Halifax County Board of Commissioners, said, “This is truly a landmark occasion for us. We're focusing on a renaissance in Halifax County.”

Johnson said the project, which is expected to create more than 2,500 jobs in five years and, in the same time frame, a half-billion dollar investment, “Will affect more than the area where we live. It will affect neighboring counties and states. We have and will continue to hit the ground running.”

During a break in the speakers, Roanoke Rapids City Council presented Randy and Deb Parton a plaque with the key to the city and announced that Nov. 11 is “Randy and Deb Parton day.”

Sen. Robert Holloman, who also acknowledged the veterans attending the event, said, “The best is yet to come. You have a mayor who is just unbelievable.”

He said there were times when he thought City Manager Rick Benton lived in Raleigh because of all the work he did with the Legislature on the project. “Randy Parton and his wife are smart people,” Holloman said. “They were smart enough to select Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County.”

State Rep. Lucy Allen said if the story of how the project came together was a book it would be a bestseller, if it was a movie it would be a blockbuster and if it was a play it would win a Tony. “Congratulations to all the players,” she said. “May all your dreams come true.”

State Rep. Ed Jones praised the Partons for their simple roots. “They came from a poor society and did well and are back to another society that needs help.”

Rep. Michael Wray said, “We are in a transition from a textile community that is gone but not forgotten, to this entertainment district. This is only the beginning.”

Lynn Minges, executive director of the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, said, “It's not every day we open up a new tourist attraction in North Carolina. We're excited and welcome you.”

Minges said North Carolina attracts 49 million tourists a year. “We expect to run half of those through this facility.”

Percilla West, chairperson of the county Tourism Development Authority, said, “Our organization is committed to make this a huge success.”

Mark Barnes, chairman of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the entertainment district will be a way to improve the lives and improve the tax base of the people of Halifax County.

Jack Runion, chairman of the Northeast Partnership, described the Partons as home folks. “You have made them welcome and that's why they're here. This is a destination now.”