Opening a theme park on the literal high of a mountain could not sound like a good suggestion, however in reality, 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 toes, the “Wizard of Oz”-themed park was initially created to generate year-round enterprise for the ski resort city and have fun one of the crucial beloved tales of all time. It launched to nice fanfare and success, attracting record-breaking numbers of tourists 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 become a synthetic balloon journey to re-create the movie’s iconic closing scene.
Sadly, a catastrophic hearth in 1975 devastated a lot of the park and compelled it to shutter its doorways. By 1980, the Land of Ouncesclosed for good, sitting deserted atop the mountain — however that wasn’t meant to be the top of the Land of Oz.
Former staff, referred to as “Ozzies,” carried on the fervour 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 quick return to Ounceseventually led to what’s now referred to as Autumn at Oz.
What’s Autumn at Oz?
Now in its thirty first yr, Autumn at Ouncestakes place a number of weekends every fall and provides 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 stay 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. Friends are inspired to decorate the half, and plenty 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 search out out.
The world is made up of steep, winding roads which might be principally lined with mountain houses, together with just a few companies. To handle crowds, friends should buy timed entry tickets to go to the park — I arrived on the car 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 car parking zone to the highest of the mountain, the place Ouncesis. There was additionally an choice to take a chair elevate; nevertheless, the journey is not included in park admission and prices $22 per individual.
The journey by Ouncesbegan with a path peppered with indicators itemizing enjoyable park details. The primary focal point was the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook, a gazebo with gorgeous 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 a giant purple barn. There’s additionally a merchandise boutique and a snack stand. Exterior, 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 had been handled to a “Someplace Over the Rainbow” efficiency, we had been invited to come back inside and discover the Gale residence.
The Gale residence was adorned very like any home of that point interval (across the early 1900s) can 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 had 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 rapidly discovered that we had been undoubtedly 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 had been formally in Munchkin Land — our journey down the Yellow Brick Highway (made up of over 40,000 bricks which might 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 had been arrange throughout from efficiency places so friends may watch reveals 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 shocked to search out my husband chosen for stated skit). This space was a specific 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 fortress.
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 by poppies, it was time to move to the gates of Emerald Metropolis.
After a fast ring of the bell and journey by 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 had been handled to a 15-minute stay present depicting a number of the film’s closing scenes, when Dorothy and her newfound pals confront the Wizard.
On the present’s finish, friends had been invited to queue on the stage to take one closing picture, this time with the total solid. All the Autumn at Ouncesexperience was self-guided, and friends had been free to maneuver at their very own tempo, selecting to partake in or skip no matter they favored. It is not required to cease at every of the performances or picture alternatives however these choices do make up a lot of the Autumn at Ouncesexperience. Stopping at every can simply carry the whole expertise to round 3 hours.
Merchandise and meals
There have been a number of alternatives to buy Land of Ouncesbranded merchandise. There’s every little thing from T-shirts and sweatshirts to espresso mugs and magnets. On the entrance and exit of the park, you could find a number of distributors promoting snacks, together with kettle corn.
Methods to plan a go to to the Land of Oz
Dates for Autumn at Ouncesare introduced every spring and tickets normally go on sale through the summer time. This yr’s Autumn at Ouncesevent befell from:
- Sept. 6-8
- Sept. 13-15
- Sept. 20 -22
Saturdays are particularly fashionable days to go to and are recognized to promote out, so buying your tickets prematurely is very really helpful. Join the Land of Ouncesnewsletter to know when tickets will go on sale as quickly as potential. This yr, normal admission tickets began at $60 per individual.
The occasion occurs rain or shine and is acceptable for friends of all ages. Since Autumn at Ouncesinvolves trekking over gravel, stairs and hills, carrying snug strolling sneakers is very really helpful. Sadly, the mountainous terrain just isn’t perfect for individuals who use wheelchairs. All the loop of the park is round 1.5 miles.
The place to remain
Land of Ouncesis in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, which is round 2 hours and 45 minutes from Charlotte.
The world 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 a lot of different sights, eating places and breweries. In Boone, you will additionally discover Graystone Lodge, Ascend Lodge Assortment, a strong lodging alternative 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, take into account a detour to Tweetsie Railroad, positioned between Boone and Blowing Rock. Tweetsie Railroad provides Wild West-themed enjoyable and includes a 3-mile-long prepare journey on historic steam locomotives.
Backside line
The Land of Ouncesis 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 had been run seamlessly and had minimal wait occasions regardless of the sold-out crowds. Exhibits had been regularly working, with little or no lag time between every. A number of solid members had been performing the circuit directly, however we managed to progress by the expertise with the identical solid.
The actors had been unbelievable, and it was evident they had 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 stay performers are those who actually carry the vacation spot to life.
At the same time as 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 joy amongst parkgoers, lots of whom costume the half and make it a convention to go to yr after yr. Some had even visited the unique park within the Nineteen Seventies and returned with their youngsters and grandchildren.
It is true that there isn’t any place like residence, however there’s additionally no place just like the Land of Oz, which, towards seemingly all odds (and nature), has stood the take a look at of time.
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