This past weekend we went on an adventure to visit the old Land of Oz theme park in Beech Mountain, NC. The park originally opened in 1970 and was a running theme park through 1980. In 1993, they started an event called Autumn at Oz that has grown from a one day event to a 3 weekend event every Fall where they reopen the park to visitors.
Driving to Beech Mountain
The day started out rainy and extremely foggy as we made the 2 1/2 hour drive from Charlotte to Beech Mountain. We did luck out because the forecast was calling for thunderstorms all afternoon and by the time we made it to Beech Mountain Ski Resort the rain had stopped.
Parking & Shuttle Buses
Parking for the Land of Oz is at Beech Mountain Ski Resort. Once you check in and get your wristband for your time slot, you get on shuttle buses that take you to the top of the mountain. If shuttle buses aren’t your thing, they also offer chair lift rides to the top for an additional fee.
The drive to the top of the mountain was gorgeous even with all the fog. Beech Mountain is a Wildlife Habitat Community, so on the drive we saw multiple deer in yards and fields. Kudos to the bus drivers for keeping us all entertained on the ride up and down the mountain.
The Entrance
When you arrive at the top of the mountain, you get off the bus and are directed to enter the Land of Oz.
After a short walk, you arrive at an open area with some history about the park. The path then leads you to The Judy Garland Memorial Overlook. Due to all the fog we couldn’t see anything, but I’m sure to view is amazing on a clear day.
Kansas
As you continue down the path through the woods, you eventually arrive in Kansas. Here you will meet Professor Marvel, Miss Gulch, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Shortly upon arriving, there is a show with farm hands; Hunk, Zeke and Hickory as well as Dorothy and Toto.
The Gale’s House
After the farm hands show, you can tour the Gale’s house. But staff lets you know that once you enter the house you can’t come back to Kansas. As you enter the house, Uncle Henry meets you on the front porch to welcome you inside. The path through the house leads you to Aunt Em in the kitchen, who warns you to get into the storm cellar because a big storm is coming.
The Storm Cellar
As you enter the storm cellar, it is dark with black light drawings and the storm scene from the movie playing. When you get to the end of the storm cellar, you are now in the Gale’s house post storm. The floors are crooked, the rooms are trashed add there are cracked walls. They did a great job duplicating the houses; one pre-storm, one post-storm.
Welcome to Oz
When you exit the Gale’s house, you will enter Oz, but be prepare to be scared by the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch gave the lady behind us quite a fright causing her to scream and everyone in Oz to have a good laugh.
Glenda the Good Witch
Continuing along the path, you will meet a lot of the Wizard of Oz characters and have a chance to get pictures with them all. First up is Glenda the Good Witch. After you get your picture with her, she sends you off to see the wizard, skipping as you start down the yellow brick road.
Munchkin Land
The next stop on the yellow brick road is Munchkin Land.
The Yellow Brick Road
Further down the yellow brick road are Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Dorothy goes up and down the yellow brick road performing skits with each character and in between to can get your photo taken with each character. We missed the Scarecrows performance, but were able to catch part of the Tin Man’s and the Cowardly Lion’s.
The Haunted Forest
Next is the Haunted Forest. The guards were my favorite characters in the park. In the movie the guards and flying monkeys were the scariest. But in the park, the guards cracked jokes with the guests and I loved their costumes.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Once you exit the haunted forest, you arrive at what was the only ride in the original park. A hot air balloon ride (chair lift). There were 24 hot air balloons when the park opened and they have the last remaining balloon on display.
The Gates of The Emerald City
Once you pass the balloon ride, you are almost to the gates of The Emerald City. At Emerald City, there is one last show and a cast photo opportunity after. There is also a gift shop and food vendors.
Over the Rainbow Observation Deck
Another add on that was available was the Over the Rainbow Observation Deck. The clouds and fog had just started to clear when we made the climb up the 127 stairs to the top, so we weren’t able to see too much. We could make out part of the ski resort and where Glenda the Good Witch was at the start of the yellow brick road.
Overall our experience at The Land of Oz was fantastic and I was impressed with how good the actors were. You really felt like you were in Oz. The whole park was extremely organized and everything was very well timed out, especially knowing that it is only open for 3 weekends a year. Only downside is that the tickets are pretty expensive and can get close to $100 a piece if you add in the Over the Rainbow Observation Deck and the Chair Lift ride. But for us it was totally worth the price as a once in a lifetime experience. I wouldn’t go every year, just because now that we have been through the park, it can’t be as cool next time.
For more information on The Land of Oz theme park, visit landofoznc.com.
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