AUTUMN AT OZ: INSIDER TIPS

Autumn at Oz is a one-of-a-kind event during three weekends in September at the former Land of Oz Theme Park atop Beech Mountain that operated from 1970 to 1980. Sections of the park have been preserved and are only open each year on these weekends. (NOTE: Autumn at Oz takes a break in 2025 and plans to return in 2026.)

The weekends combine a typical festival atmosphere with an interactive, immersive theatrical experience. Walk onto the Gale’s Kansas farm, visit Aunt Em and Uncle Henry’s Home, escape into the Tornado Storm Cellar, and walk out into the world of Oz. Along the way, you meet all your favorite characters, see them sing and dance, and enjoy the natural scenery of this magical place that sits over one mile high atop Beech Mountain. There are also food & craft vendors, official Land of Oz souvenirs and Wizard of Oz memorabilia for sale, face painting & much more!

Tickets go on sale a few months in advance, and popular time slots sell out quickly. All ticket sales are in advance on the Land of Oz website. You will book a time slot to board the shuttle that takes you to the mountaintop park. Since it’s at 5,500 feet in elevation, be sure to bring a jacket and rain gear! No pets allowed. Park at Beech Mountain Resort at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain, NC 28604.

On average, visitors spend about two hours exploring the Yellow Brick Road. Before or after your tour, here are some other things to do on Beech Mountain.

More Things to Do on Beech Mountain

• There’s No Place Like Home (Away From Home): First of all, you are hopefully staying on the mountain. This will cut out the travel time to the event and help with Beech Mountain Parkway traffic. Beech features lodging options for groups of all sizes from condos, chalets, and private homes, to quaint lodges. See our Lodging Guide.
• After you have followed that famous Yellow Brick Road, perhaps hitting the aptly named Emerald Outback trails is in order. Experience Beech Mountain’s expansive views via biking or hiking trails, where over 7-miles of treks in the Emerald Outback will lead you to paths undiscovered with spectacular views.
• Perhaps pick up a pair of binoculars and look for feathered friends (and NOT flying monkeys). The Buckeye Recreation Center is a hotspot for birdwatching, even offering guided hikes.  The center and the lake it is named for offer a wide range of outdoor fun options such as kayaking, fishing, hiking and more.
• Fly High in the sky without a tornado escort, with the Beech Mountain Resort’s Scenic Chair Lift Rides. This ride up the mountain offers visitors a bird’s-eye view of the fall foliage not only in North Carolina, but also Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• Let the kids test their inner Lion-like courage on the new Mountaineer Adventure Tower. This 3-story rope course features a 25-foot slide that is sure to thrill.  For kids (and adults) of all ages, Mini Golf and Disc Golf can challenge those Scarecrow-level brains.
• Learn more about the history of The Land of Oz theme park and early life on Beech Mountain at the Beech Mountain History Museum. The collection includes chronicles on the area’s earliest known settlers-the Cherokees; logging, milling and railroads on the mountain; the era of development by the Carolina Caribbean Corporation; early skiing and the creation of Ski Beech resort; the Land of Oz amusement park; and other interesting displays.
• After experiencing all this fun, guests will certainly be famished. Beech Mountain provides a wide array of cuisine choices. With dining options ranging from barbecue to pizza, tavern favorites to Mexican fare. See our Restaurant Guide.

Land of Oz History
The mountaintop theme park was created by designer Jack Pentes and built by Grover, Harry, and Spencer Robbins (from Tweetsie RR). Land of Oz opened on June 15, 1970, with actress Debbie Reynolds cutting the ribbon with her daughter Carrie Fisher. An amazing 400,000 people visited the first season. Despite facing a financial crisis and a fire in 1975, the park rebounded under new ownership and continued its operations until 1980. After 1980, the Land of Oz fell back into the hands of its original landowners, the Leidy Family, with plans to build a gated community around what remained of the park. Parts were demolished due to decay and vandalism, but many emblematic features were preserved, including the Gale farmhouse, barn, and yellow brick road. A reunion of the park’s original employees, the “Ozzies”, in 1988 sparked the idea of public visits.