Beech goes back in time

This weekend, neon colors, leg warmers, spiked hair and the Electric Slide are coming back to the future.

From Feb. 22 to 24, the town of Beech Mountain will celebrate its second annual Totally ’80s Retro Ski Weekend.

“It’s almost like another Halloween,” said Amy Morrison, coordinator of Beech Mountain’s Tourism Development Authority. “You dress up, dance around, and it’s another weekend where you can act a little crazy.”

Last year, Beech public relations representative Craig Distl, who was an ’80s kid, suggested that the resort and town host an event following Presidents’ Day, the holiday that usually marks the end of ski season. Inspired by the popular movie, “Hot Tub Time Machine,” the resort suggested the Totally ’80s idea to the town, and in little time during February, “the town authorities and employees took the reins” to complete the theme, Morrison said.

On Thursday, the weekend begins with a pre-party at Famous Fast Eddie’s, located at 1005 Beech Mountain Parkway. From 8 to 11 p.m., the restaurant will be playing all ’80s music and offering 20 percent off all menu items, as well as $2 bottles of domestic beer, a special that will be going on all weekend.

The Charlotte-based Carolina Ghostbusters will make an appearance during the night, before moving to Beech for Saturday and Sunday. With them will be the Ecto-1, one of the six or seven old-style replicas of the popular Ectomobile of “Ghostbusters” movie fame. The Ghostbusters team, which sports replicas of iconic props and costumes from the 1984 film (while also serving as actual paranormal investigators), invites fans to bring cameras for photographs.

Music from the era throws back with stadium rock, hip-hop and acid house to perform songs like “Where is My Mind?” and “Tainted Love.”

Southern rockers Buick MacKane of Morganton will play an all-’80s show Friday at 9 p.m. at Jackalope’s View restaurant, located at 2489 Beech Mountain Parkway at Archer’s Inn. On Saturday at 7 p.m., Greensboro-based retro band 80’z Enuff will play at Beech Tree Lodge at Beech Mountain Resort.

The Apparel Contest will be held Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Beech Tree, with the first-prize winner receiving $500. The other prizes are sponsored by http://www.skinc.com and are to be announced.
Last year the contest was judged by the public via Facebook. This year, it will be judged – fittingly – by the Carolina Ghostbusters.

“If you can represent a group or person from the ’80s, or something that is easy for people to recognize, other than just crimped hair and leggings, you have a better chance of winning,” Morrison said.

The Big Hair and Big Air Competition will be held Saturday, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., on the Freestyle Slope, which is located at the base of the main slopes at Ski Beech.

About 25 participants were involved last year. Winners were awarded for creativity-fueled jumps and their flexible ’80s outfits – “the ones with more flair,” Morrison said. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive apparel that is yet to be decided.

And throughout the weekend, area businesses and restaurants will be serving Reaganomical discounts.

“We saw what worked last year and what people enjoyed,” Morrison said. “We’ve beefed it up a little this year. It’s amazing how much fun you can have by dressing up in neon clothes and fun leggings.”
For more information, call (800) 468-5506, or visit http://www.beechmtn.com/things-to-do/retro80sweekend.com.