ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. -- A South Carolina company that plans to take over operations and production at the theater that once bore the name of Randy Parton said Thursday it could take years to make the venue a success.

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Myrtle Beach-based Gilmore Entertainment and Roanoke Rapids officials said they have signed a letter of intent for Gilmore to operate the Roanoke Rapids Theatre. But Gilmore, which operates the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach, immediately cautioned it will be difficult to immediately improve attendance at the theater.

     

City leaders borrowed $21.5 million to build the theater, designed to be the anchor of their planned Carolina Crossroads entertainment complex. The complex is still a largely undeveloped site off Interstate 95 near the Virginia border.

     

"This development came from a group of good citizens who wanted to create jobs for the young people in their region," said Calvin Gilmore, the company's chairman, said in a statement. "But creating an audience for a theater so far from any urban area or other major tourist attractions is not something that can happen overnight."

     

"We don't have any silver bullets, but we are willing to step up and try to help them get it rolling," he said.

      

The venue, once named The Randy Parton Theater, has already gone through a tumultuous first year. Parton was brought on to headline the theater's operations but was later banned from the facility amid poor ticket sales, concerns that he misused city money and accusations that he was intoxicated before a show.

     

Parton, brother of country singer Dolly Parton, has denied the allegations and said the city could have helped the project by completing its plans to attract hotels and retail outlets to the site.

     

Roanoke Rapids officials and Parton agreed to a contract settlement of up to $750,000 in February.