Land of Oz in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, was/is a theme park based on L Frank Baum’s Land of Oz books. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series comprises 14 books in total by Baum. Baum’s description of Kansas in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was based on his experiences in drought-ridden South Dakota in 1888.
Unfortunately, Baum passed away in 1919 and would never live to see his work come to life on the big screen in 1939.
The Land of Oz theme opened on June 15, 1970, on 17.82 acres, under the guidance of Grover Robbins, who had been successful with another popular theme park, Tweetsie Railroad. Visitors would start in Kansas, experience the epic tornado that landed Dorothy in Oz, and conclude in the Emerald City, where Dorothy and her friends appeared to meet the Wizard. The park was the top attraction in the Eastern United States in its first year, attracting 4,000 visitors on opening day.
On December 28, 1975, a fire destroyed two buildings, including the park’s offices, costumes, equipment, and props. The Land of Oz would be rebuilt and managed by a new company, but the original magic the park once had was lost.
Success would be short-lived, as the park officially closed ten years later in 1980. However, like the 1985 movie Return to Oz, the park gained a huge following and has reopened for tours, festivals, and Autumn at Oz.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
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