Opening a theme park on the literal high of a mountain could not sound like a good suggestion, however actually, that was simply the case when the Land of Oz debuted in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, in 1970.
Sitting at an elevation of 5,506 ft, the “Wizard of Oz”-themed park was initially created to generate year-round enterprise for the ski resort city and have a good time one of the crucial beloved tales of all time. It launched to nice fanfare and success, attracting record-breaking numbers of holiday makers in its first few years of operation.
Inside, parkgoers may stroll a re-creation of the Yellow Brick Highway, meet Dorothy and different characters and even peruse the park’s assortment of bought memorabilia from the movie, together with Dorothy’s iconic gingham costume. The theme park housed only one attraction: a ski elevate that was changed into a man-made balloon trip to re-create the movie’s iconic ultimate scene.
Sadly, a catastrophic fireplace in 1975 devastated a lot of the park and compelled it to shutter its doorways. By 1980, the Land of Ozclosed for good, sitting deserted atop the mountain — however that wasn’t meant to be the tip of the Land of Oz.
Former staff, often known as “Ozzies,” carried on the eagerness and saved the park’s spirit alive. A reunion in 1988 led to newfound curiosity within the park and a short reopening in 1991. That brief return to Ozeventually led to what’s now often known as Autumn at Oz.
What’s Autumn at Oz?
Now in its thirty first 12 months, Autumn at Oztakes place a number of weekends every fall and offers the general public the uncommon alternative to go to the once-abandoned theme park and instantly take part within the “Wizard of Oz” story.
Eight reside performances happen in 30-minute rotations all through the day throughout Autumn at Oz. There are additionally picture alternatives with every character, in addition to merchandise stalls and meals stalls. Visitors are inspired to decorate the half, and lots of come decked out as their favourite characters.
The expertise
So, what’s it like to move someplace over the rainbow? I ventured to the mountains of North Carolina, simply off of the enduring Blue Ridge Parkway, to seek out out.
The realm is made up of steep, winding roads which can be principally lined with mountain houses, together with a number of companies. To handle crowds, friends should buy timed entry tickets to go to the park — I arrived on the parking zone forward of my time window.
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Upon check-in to the mountain resort, we boarded shuttle buses that take ticket holders from the parking zone to the highest of the mountain, the place Ozis. There was additionally an choice to take a chair elevate; nevertheless, the trip is not included in park admission and prices $22 per particular person.
The journey via Ozbegan with a path peppered with indicators itemizing enjoyable park details. The primary focal point was the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook, a gazebo with beautiful mountain views that pays tribute to the actress, who handed simply months earlier than the park would open.
The primary main scene friends encounter is a recreation of the Gale household farm, which is about amid tall cornstalks and close to an enormous purple barn. There’s additionally a merchandise boutique and a snack stand. Outdoors, friends can work together with Professor Marvel and watch a present that includes Dorothy and the farmhands that takes place on the porch. After we have been handled to a “Someplace Over the Rainbow” efficiency, we have been invited to return inside and discover the Gale residence.
The Gale residence was embellished very like any home of that point interval (across the early 1900s) could be. A personality portraying Aunt Em warned us of a possible twister and urged friends to take shelter within the residence’s basement. Right here, we encountered a “twister” that was simulated with projections and dramatic lighting. We have been then ushered again up into the home and located that it had been “destroyed” by the storm. (In actual life, we exited right into a mirrored model of the Gale farm that used a well-known funhouse impact to imitate its destruction.)
And similar to that, we shortly realized that we have been positively not in Kansas anymore.
Upon exiting, we noticed that the home had landed on the Depraved Witch of the East and her purple slippers, and we have been formally in Munchkin Land — our journey down the Yellow Brick Highway (made up of over 40,000 bricks which can be repainted yearly) had now begun.
Alongside this route, we encountered performances and picture alternatives with “Wizard of Oz” characters, together with a rendition of the Scarecrow’s “If I Solely Had a Mind” — these interactions made up the majority of our time on the park. Photograph-op queues have been arrange throughout from efficiency areas so friends may watch exhibits whereas ready to snap a photograph with their favourite characters.
After assembly the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, it was time to move into the Haunted Forest to come across the ominous guards, flying monkeys and the Depraved Witch of the West herself.
The witch and her head monkey carried out a brief present right here that concerned viewers participation (and I used to be pleasantly stunned to seek out my husband chosen for mentioned skit). This space was a selected deal with as a result of it has some particulars from the unique park, together with intricate tree carvings and a towering sculpture of the witch’s citadel.
Our subsequent cease alongside the Yellow Brick Highway was a photograph alternative with the final surviving balloon from the unique Nineteen Seventies ski elevate attraction. After strolling via poppies, it was time to move to the gates of Emerald Metropolis.
After a fast ring of the bell and journey via the gate, we arrived on the grand finale of Autumn at Oz. This space featured an indoor theater together with merchandise stands and meals kiosks. As soon as seated inside, we have been handled to a 15-minute reside present depicting among the film’s ultimate scenes, when Dorothy and her newfound buddies confront the Wizard.
On the present’s finish, friends have been invited to queue on the stage to take one ultimate picture, this time with the total solid. All the Autumn at Ozexperience was self-guided, and friends have been free to maneuver at their very own tempo, selecting to partake in or skip no matter they favored. It isn’t required to cease at every of the performances or picture alternatives however these choices do make up a lot of the Autumn at Ozexperience. Stopping at every can simply deliver the whole expertise to round 3 hours.
Merchandise and meals
There have been a number of alternatives to buy Land of Ozbranded merchandise. There’s every thing from T-shirts and sweatshirts to espresso mugs and magnets. On the entrance and exit of the park, yow will discover a number of distributors promoting snacks, together with kettle corn.
Learn how to plan a go to to the Land of Oz
Dates for Autumn at Ozare introduced every spring and tickets normally go on sale throughout the summer season. This 12 months’s Autumn at Ozevent occurred from:
- Sept. 6-8
- Sept. 13-15
- Sept. 20 -22
Saturdays are particularly fashionable days to go to and are identified to promote out, so buying your tickets upfront is very beneficial. Join the Land of Oznewsletter to know when tickets will go on sale as quickly as doable. This 12 months, common admission tickets began at $60 per particular person.
The occasion occurs rain or shine and is acceptable for friends of all ages. Since Autumn at Ozinvolves trekking over gravel, stairs and hills, carrying comfy strolling footwear is very beneficial. Sadly, the mountainous terrain isn’t ideally suited for individuals who use wheelchairs. All the loop of the park is round 1.5 miles.
The place to remain
Land of Ozis in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, which is round 2 hours and 45 minutes from Charlotte.
The realm surrounding the park is generally comprised of personal houses, so I like to recommend staying in close by Boone or Blowing Rock — each cities are residence to various different points of interest, eating places and breweries. In Boone, you will additionally discover Graystone Lodge, Ascend Resort Assortment, a stable lodging selection with free breakfast, mountain-inspired furnishings and an indoor pool. It is also minutes away from downtown Boone’s vacationer district.
If you wish to tack on one other park go to to your journey, contemplate a detour to Tweetsie Railroad, positioned between Boone and Blowing Rock. Tweetsie Railroad gives Wild West-themed enjoyable and incorporates a 3-mile-long prepare trip on historic steam locomotives.
Backside line
The Land of Ozis a particular place, and by chance, you do not want ruby slippers to go to.
In the course of the day of my go to to Autumn at Oz, all picture ops have been run seamlessly and had minimal wait instances regardless of the sold-out crowds. Reveals have been frequently operating, with little or no lag time between every. A number of solid members have been performing the circuit directly, however we managed to progress via the expertise with the identical solid.
The actors have been unbelievable, and it was evident they have been skilled performers. Many solid members had traveled from locations like New York Metropolis, Orlando and Nashville to work at Autumn at Oz. Seeing the previously deserted park is fascinating, however the reside performers are those who actually deliver the vacation spot to life.
Whilst a first-time customer with no nostalgia for the park, the expertise was magical, and the historical past felt actually palpable. An enormous a part of the enjoyable was feeling the thrill amongst parkgoers, a lot of whom costume the half and make it a convention to go to 12 months after 12 months. Some had even visited the unique park within the Nineteen Seventies and returned with their kids and grandchildren.
It is true that there is no place like residence, however there’s additionally no place just like the Land of Oz, which, in opposition to seemingly all odds (and nature), has stood the take a look at of time.
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