If you love The Wizard of Oz, and if you love kitsch, this sounds like it could definitely be the place for you. It definitely is for me!
“Many, many miles east of nowhere lay the wonderful Land of Oz,” boasted a 1939 trailer for a new movie starring Judy Garland based off of L. Frank Baum’s famous novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Thirty years later, this would become a reality. For a brief moment in history (only about 10 years), Oz was a real, truly live place where performers portrayed Dorothy and her friends and danced along a yellow brick road that curved around a mountaintop a mile high in the resort town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Original ads enticed guests with the slogan, “You Just Don’t See It; You Live it!”
“Oz was the anti-theme park. It wasn’t about roller-coasters; it was about creating an emotional experience.”
Open for only a decade (1970-1980), The Land of Oz theme park saw its share of success, dismay, and heartache. However, this small theme park’s impact has been going strong over 35 years after its closing, as public interest continues to increase and public events held on the property sell out immediately. If you’re a fan of the Wizard of Oz movie or books, get ready because tickets for the Land of Oz in North Carolina are on sale for the 2019 season!
Oh, and since this is the 80th (!!!) anniversary of the film’s release, their Museum Exhibit will feature actual Costumes & Memorabilia from the 1939 MGM Film, & More!
June & July 2019: Journey With Dorothy
Land of Oz will host Journey With Dorothy every Thursday and Friday in June, as well as Wednesday, June 26 and Friday, July 5 (last year the event was only 5 days in June).
“Journey With Dorothy is an intimate tour with Dorothy as your guide. You travel from Kansas through Oz with her leading the way while you or other members in your tour group are randomly selected to play the characters of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Witch, and Glinda. This is a completely immersive interactive experience for guests and a chance to go over the rainbow with Dorothy herself.”
Tickets for Journey With Dorothy are on sale now! Tickets are $27.50 (+ taxes & processing fees), and children age 2 & under are free.
September 2019: Autumn at Oz
During the fall, Land of Oz hosts Autumn at Oz. The 3-day annual event will take place September 6-7-8 and 13-14-15 (last year they only did the first 3-day weekend).
“Autumn at Oz is a consecutive event in September that will have performers as every character along the Yellow Brick Road. During this event, Oz will be fully decorated as you travel down the yellow brick road. You will meet and have photo-ops with everyone from Dorothy and Miss Gulch in Kansas to the Lion in his forest, the Munchkins, Flying Monkeys at the Witch’s Castle, and Toto, too! Shows are ongoing throughout the event in Kansas, and more is being added every year. Food and souvenir vendors are present as well as other surprises along the way! During this event, you can travel the yellow brick road at your own leisure.”
What to expect this year:
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Craft Vendors
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Petting Zoo
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Pony Rides
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Face Painting
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Land of Oz Exhibit featuring original Props & Costumes from the 1970’s
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Meet-N-Greets with all of your favorite characters
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Dancing Farmhands & other vignette shows in Kansas
This year’s Emerald City to include:
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Official Land of Oz Merchandise
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Memorabilia Vendors
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Food Vendors & seating area
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“Oz” Celebrities (To Be Announced)
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The Emerald City Finale Show
Tickets for Autumn at Oz will go on sale in May.
Personally, I think this place sounds adorable. The fact alone that a small mountain town largely volunteers to host this event every year, nearly 40 years after the park closed, is endearing to me. And between my friend Nate who has mentioned this place to me more than once, and a friend of mine who has been really good friends with the Scarecrow for the past few years, I’m definitely going to look into it.
For more information about The Land of Oz, including more of its history, as well as directions/parking, lodging, nearby attractions, etc., check out their website at www.landofoznc.com. They can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
**The Land of Oz is a vintage private property has many uneven paths and walkways and is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible or stroller friendly.
*All photos via landofoznc.com and https://www.instagram.com/landofoznc/
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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