Oz opened for short period

Theme park up and running for special occasion

By Danielle Beaver
LiveWire

Tucked to the side of the highest town on the east coast is a majestic land where one can find their heart, brain, courage or maybe just home. Hidden just a lift ride away from Ski Beech lies Kansas and the Emerald City, also known as the Land of Oz and one weekend a year fans can relive Dorothy’s travels and encounters.

The Land of Oz was the vision of Grover Robbins, who also designed Tweetsie Railroad.  His dream was to create a special park for children that could continue the use of the ski mountain year around, bringing people into buy property and providing ongoing jobs for local craftsmen.  The designer of the park Jack Pentes worked to keep the environment intact and miraculously only cut down one tree during the building process.  Robbins attended the Wizard of Oz auction that MGM held in 1969, picking up actual artifacts from the movie to give the park a more authentic feel.  The park opened in 1970 to an outstanding 400,000 customers in the first year, making it the leading tourist attraction in North Carolina overnight. 

Sadly, Robbins died six months prior to the park’s opening, leaving ownership to his two brothers, Harry and Spencer Robbins. For the next decade the Land of Oz exceeded the expectations of its visionaries and the Beech Mountain community.  Eventually developers began to put their money into other projects across the High Country including the Hound Ears development and Elk River Club, without this money coming in deterioration and maintenance issues arose across the park.  With the economic downturn of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the resort industry took a hit wearing away at the park’s profits.  The combination of these factors eventually led to the park closing in 1980.   The park was left empty allowing vandals to have free run destroying or taking the few pieces of Oz that were left behind.

Emerald Mountain Realty took ownership of the park in 1990 and began the much-needed maintenance of Dorothy’s farm, the various gazebos, the fountain and patched up the yellow brick road.  At the same time, Ski Beech wanted to expand to add more slopes, placing ski slopes that now lead right up to the Land of Oz and changing the balloon gondola ride that many took to enter Oz into a ski lift.  The 440-acre project of Emerald Mountain development began shortly after.   The development places private mountain top estates along the edges of Oz, creating a unique backyard for the homeowners. 

The first weekend of October every year the Land of Oz goes back to the glory days of the 70’s for Autumn at Oz.  During this weekend the public is invited to take a stroll down the yellow brick road, visit with the volunteer actors, tour the mini-Oz museum with actual items from the movie, and stop by the homes of Dorothy, the Lion, the Tin-man, the Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch.

“It’s hard to say what the best part of Autumn at Oz is, but it would have to be all the volunteers and folks that are so excited to do it,” said Cindy Keller of Emerald Mountain Realty and Land of Oz property manager.  “Their enthusiasm surely carries me through it.”

 Tickets for the tour are $15, and proceeds go to the continuing maintenance and upkeep of the park.

Beginning in 2009, the Land of Oz theme park is available for more than just one weekend a year.  The public may now rent the park to host personal functions.  Whether the event is a birthday, wedding, reunion or a corporate retreat, folks are encouraged to follow the Yellow Brick Road for a memorable event.

“We invite those planning their special occasions to choose this magical spot,” says Keller. “What better place than Oz to host a grand event?”

Available to party-goers is the Fountain of Youth, the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook Gazebo, a patio area, Uncle Henry’s Barn, Dorothy’s house, a small Oz museum, and the 44,000-brick Yellow Brick Road. Dorothy’s house is also available as a vacation rental for overnight stays. 

“We envision events from birthday parties to weddings to company gatherings,” Keller said.  “Depending on the event tours can be provided, guests can bring their own picnic or we can work something out to cater.  Prices will vary depending on how much of the park will be used, whether there will be tours and catering.” 

Past generations were able to see the park in its original glory, current and future generations will now be able to create personal visions of Oz exclusive to only them.  Although the Land of Oz may not have aged as gracefully as its past owners and visionaries had hoped, Emerald Mountain Realty believes it has aged into a magically unique escape from reality which visitors can now take advantage of more frequently.