Deadwood

For one of the most genuinely unique family destinations in eastern North Carolina, Deadwood Restaurant & Wild West Theme Park is a real treasure. Set in the Bear Grass community of Martin County, just outside Williamston, this beloved family-owned operation has grown from a 1989 backyard miniature golf course into one of the most distinctive Wild West-themed attractions anywhere in the state — with a working Iron Horse Express train, the Dinosaur Canyon Coaster, a thoughtfully built Western town, a restaurant famous for marinated rib-eye steaks, a saloon, and year-round family fun. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for Deadwood before you go — or to relive the visit after. Our YouTube video and photos were captured during the Halloween season, showcasing the wonderfully festive seasonal theming throughout the park.

From a Backyard Pond to a Wild West Theme Park

The story of Deadwood is one of the most charming entrepreneurial tales anywhere in eastern North Carolina. Founders Ira Price and his son Derek Price built the operation from the ground up — quite literally. According to Ira, the venture began on a piece of family farmland that was “too little to farm and too big to mow.” Years ago, Derek suggested, “Hey Pop, let’s build a miniature golf course.” The Prices dug a pond, and the resulting mound of dirt sat piled in the middle of a horse pasture for about a year. “People would drive by and wonder what in the world we were doing,” Ira has said.

What began in 1989 as a private backyard mini-golf course for family and friends opened to the public in April 1992, and the addition of a dance hall in 1994 marked the start of Deadwood’s evolution into a full destination venue. Today, the Prices — including Ira, his wife Linda Gayle, Derek (who now serves as Deadwood’s president), and the broader Price family of five children — continue to run Deadwood as a family business, with much of the restaurant and theme park built by the Prices themselves over more than three decades.

A Western Town with Free Admission

Walk through Deadwood, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of a Western movie. The thoughtfully constructed Western-themed town features old wagons, teepees, campfire rings, and rustic buildings that line the central streets, giving kids and adults alike a genuine sense of cowboy-country wonder. Admission to the town and restaurant is free — visitors pay only for the rides, games, and special events they choose to experience.

The Western town also includes a General Store, a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, and a game room/arcade — making Deadwood a true destination where families can easily spend several hours exploring at their own pace.

The Iron Horse Express and Other Attractions

The headline attractions at Deadwood are genuinely distinctive:

The Iron Horse Express — a working miniature train that runs along a half-mile track through the woods on the property. Ira Price himself often serves as the resident train conductor. The Iron Horse Express also features seasonal themed rides depending on the time of year (including a popular Halloween-themed train ride that draws families from across the region)
The Dinosaur Canyon Coaster — Deadwood’s roller coaster, a real thrill for both kids and parents
The Mini-Golf Course — the original Deadwood attraction, still going strong
The Carousel — a family-friendly ride for younger guests
The Playground — with plenty of nearby seating for parents and grandparents

One important note before you visit: because Deadwood is a family-built and family-operated business, individual attractions occasionally close for seasonal maintenance, upgrades, or repairs throughout the year. We strongly recommend checking the Deadwood website or calling ahead before you go to confirm which rides and attractions are currently open. When we visited, the mini-golf course and Dinosaur Canyon Coaster were both closed for upgrades — but the Iron Horse Express train ride alone was absolutely worth the trip, and the Western town, restaurant, and saloon all delivered a wonderful experience even with those two attractions temporarily unavailable. Setting expectations in advance helps make the visit even more rewarding.

The Smokehouse Grill and Saloon No. 10

Deadwood is also home to The Smokehouse Grill at Deadwood — a full restaurant that has become one of the most beloved dining destinations in Martin County. The Smokehouse Grill is famous for its marinated rib-eye steaks, cooked to order and consistently praised by visitors as some of the best steaks in eastern North Carolina.

The menu has evolved significantly over Deadwood’s history — from the original pizza, hot dogs, and hamburgers of the early days to a richer lineup that now includes steaks, chicken, ribs, and shrimp as headline entrées. Premium sides like string beans, collards, macaroni and cheese, and stewed apples complement the entrées beautifully.

Inside the spacious Smokehouse Grill, Saloon No. 10 serves an array of beers and beverages — anchoring the Western-themed atmosphere with a true saloon vibe. The combination of great food, the saloon experience, and the Western theme makes the Smokehouse Grill a memorable dining destination in its own right.

Seasonal Events and Group Bookings

Deadwood offers a steady calendar of seasonal events and group experiences:

Live music at the dedicated music stage in the center of town
“Dinner and a show” events are held approximately once a month, combining a meal and live entertainment
A wildly popular Halloween haunted train ride during the fall season, plus a haunted house experience for visitors looking for something a little spooky
Special seasonal train themes throughout the year
Wedding bookings — the venue is well-suited for couples seeking a memorable, character-rich destination wedding
Group events for parties up to 120 people — birthdays for kids and adults, class reunions, corporate meetings, bridal parties, holiday celebrations, and more

Good to Know

Founded: 1989 as a private mini-golf course; opened to the public in 1992; dance hall added in 1994
Founders: Ira and Derek Price; family-owned and operated by the Price family
Address: 2302 Eds Grocery Road, in the Bear Grass community of Martin County
Location context: About 8 miles from Williamston; about 28 miles from Greenville
Admission: Free to the Western town and restaurant; fees apply for rides, games, and special events
Attractions: Iron Horse Express train (half-mile track), Dinosaur Canyon Coaster, mini-golf course, carousel, playground, general store, coffee shop, ice cream shop, game room
Important visitor tip: Individual attractions occasionally close for seasonal maintenance or upgrades — check the Deadwood website or call ahead to confirm which rides are currently open before you go
Dining: The Smokehouse Grill at Deadwood — famous for marinated rib-eye steaks, with Saloon No. 10 inside
Menu highlights: Marinated rib-eye steaks (cooked to order), chicken, ribs, shrimp, plus premium sides including string beans, collards, mac and cheese, and stewed apples
Seasonal experiences: Halloween haunted train ride, haunted house, themed seasonal train rides
Group capacity: Up to 120 for parties and events
Open: Year-round (check the website or call ahead to confirm specific attractions and hours)
Best for: Families with kids, couples looking for unique date nights, group celebrations, history and Western enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a genuinely distinctive rural NC experience
Pair with: A visit to downtown Bear Grass to see the rampant bear and George Washington statues by local artist Henry C. Cowen, a trip to the Chicken Mull Festival in October, or a day exploring Martin County

A Bear Grass Highlight

Deadwood is the kind of stop that genuinely captures what makes rural North Carolina so rewarding to explore. The wonderful origin story of Ira Price digging a pond on a farm that was “too little to farm and too big to mow,” Derek’s “Hey Pop, let’s build a miniature golf course” suggestion, the family-built character of the entire operation, the genuinely well-conceived Western town with its wagons and teepees and campfire rings, the Iron Horse Express train conducted by Ira himself, the famous marinated rib-eye steaks at the Smokehouse Grill, Saloon No. 10’s true Western character, and the steady calendar of dinner shows, Halloween events, and seasonal celebrations all add up to one of the most genuinely distinctive family destinations anywhere in Martin County. Whether you’re settling in for a rib-eye steak with the kids playing nearby on the playground, riding the Iron Horse Express through the woods, sharing a Halloween haunted train ride with the family, or just taking in a live music set in the center of the Western town, this is one of the most rewarding stops you can make in eastern North Carolina.