ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. (AP) — The Roanoke Rapids Theatre along Interstate 95 in Halifax County is up for sale.
Roanoke Rapids Mayor Emery Doughtie told local media the theatre is on an auction site. The starting bid is $1.1 million.
The city borrowed $21 million in 2005 to build the 1,500-seat complex, which officials hoped would spur growth.
Randy Parton was hired to manage the theater. He’s the brother of country singer Dolly Parton. The city dropped its ties with Randy Parton in 2008 after poor ticket sales and management issues left the theater with a deficit.
Several attempts to sell the property fell through. The city eventually leased the building to an Arkansas company that operated a 24-hour sweepstakes business there in addition to bringing in occasional musical acts.
The building is empty now.