Escape to the Enchanted Land of Oz Beech Mountain Theme Park (2024)

Follow the yellow brick road to the Land of Oz. In the 1970s, the Land of Oz theme park was one of the most popular amusement parks in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, but it closed in 1980 due to increased competition from flashier theme parks with more thrill rides

But now, the Wizard of Oz theme park — known as Land of Oz — has experienced a rebirth and is welcoming visitors again. Now there’s more to Beech Mountain than just the ski resorts. You won’t want to miss this unique spot in North Carolina.

LAND OF OZ BEECH MOUNTAIN NC THEME PARK

The abandoned Wizard of Oz theme park has come to life again with a yearly Wizard of Oz festival — Autumn at Oz. It’s the largest Oz festival in the world!

A combination of a standard festival with arts & crafts, handmade trinkets, memorabilia, & food vendors, it also includes a completely immersive theatrical experience where guests are engulfed into the classic story as you travel into the Gale Kansas Farm, through the tornado experience, and down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City.

Along the way, meet all of your favorite characters for photo opportunities, see many live performances, and shop for your favorite Wizard of Oz Memorabilia. If you are a Wizard of Oz fan, you need to add this event to your bucket list.

We were able to attend this awesome event in 2024, and we can’t wait to share what we learned!

Read More: Beech Mountain Ski Resort: A Great Family Snow Vacation Destination

LAND OF OZ BEECH MOUNTAIN NC THEME PARK: AUTUMN AT OZ

Every fall, Dorothy, the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow make a pilgrimage down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. This is an amazing experience for anyone who has watched and loved The Wizard of Oz.

This year, Autumn at Oz is spread out over three fun-filled weekends. These weekends are:

• September 6-8, 2024
• September 13-15, 2024
• September 20-22, 2024

So…what is the Land of Oz all about? When we visited, we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but what we learned is that the Land of Oz is basically an immersive Wizard of Oz experience that includes a progressive theater show.

You’ll feel like you’re truly *in* the movie. You’re really watching Dorothy on the Gale Farm, seeing her meet with Professor Marvel, travel through the farm house when it gets hit by a tornado, and come out in the Land of Oz where you’ll see Dorothy meet up with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. You’ll meet the Wicked Witch of the West along the way, before finally making your way to the Emerald City.

It’s pretty much the coolest theater experience I’ve ever seen. Instead of sitting and watching the actors perform, you’re traveling down the Yellow Brick Road to each portion of the story. It’s really a unique and fun experience.

LAND OF OZ DETAILS

Okay, so here are the details you need to know when you visit the Land of Oz at Beech Mountain.

• To spread out the crowds, which can be formidable, tickets are timed. Visitors must load during their timed session, so make sure you double check your ticket before you head out.

• You’ll pick up your wristband at a tent near the entrance. You’ll also find elaborate face painters, craft vendors, and food vendors at the entrance.

• Many people will be dressed up in their favorite Wizard of Oz themed costumes! This is so awesome, and makes the experience so much fun. We loved seeing all the clever costumes visitors came up with. If dressing up is not your jam, that’s okay too. It was about a 50/50 split when we went.

• A shuttle bus will take you to the Land of Oz, but for an extra cost you can take the ski lift to the top while enjoying the amazing view!

• Once you arrive at the Land of Oz, you can enjoy learning more about the former theme park and enjoy views from the gazebo at the top of the mountain.

• You will enter the Autumn at Oz Festival with a large group — so you may be held a short while before entering the Gale Farm area. It’s not totally formal, but you’ll enter with a group so you can make sure to catch all the performances as they start.

• The name of the game is the performances. This is a progressive theater experience, so once you grab a snack or souvenir, they’ll let you know when the performance will begin. You will watch Dorothy on the farm, travel over to watch her meet with Professor Marvel, and then end of your Gale Farm area experience by walking through the Gale Family Farmhouse. This part is really cool, but please watch you step!

• Once you’re out of the house, you’ve landed in the Land of Oz. You can meet and get pictures with Glinda the Good Witch, before watching Dorothy meet up with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion along the Yellow Brick Road. They all sing the songs you know and love and act out the story in a amazing way. You can also get pictures with the characters before moving on.

• The Wicked Witch of the West area is really neat, and her line for pictures is popular. You’ll love the theater performance here.

• You will eventually make your way to the Emerald City, where you can watch the final theatrical performance and enjoy shopping and food vendors.

• NOTE: For families with younger children or handicapped individuals, know Land of Oz theme park has uneven paths, ramps and stairs, and therefore is not wheelchair or stroller friendly.

LAND OF OZ: MORE TO EXPERIENCE

Be sure to add these Oz-mazing adventures to your experience this year! These experiences are an extra fee.

OVER THE RAINBOW OBSERVATION DECK

An experience that is literally over the rainbow! 

At 5,506 feet above sea level, you can reserve your tickets to this exclusive view atop the majestic Beech Mountain in the heart of America’s own Appalachian Mountains. This spectacular site sits above the Land of Oz Theme Park, and — until a couple years ago — had not been open to the public in over 20 years.

You will see more than a hundred miles radius and multiple states from one vantage point.

SCENIC LIFT RIDE

The Scenic Lift Ride at Beech Mountain Resort is your direct transport to the Land of Oz Theme Park. Your ticket includes a round-trip chairlift ride to the Land of Oz Theme Park. Festival admission is not included.

BEYOND THE LAND OF OZ IS FUN FOR ALL AGES

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

We also visited Grandfather Mountain while we were in town, and we had a blast! If you love scenic views, hiking, or just enjoying the outdoors, this place is a must.

The Mile High Swinging Bridge is a big draw here, and for good reason. The views are spectacular, and it’s one of those experiences you won’t forget. My advice is to get to the mountain early and head to Mile High Swinging Bridge first thing — the parking lot seems to fill up quickly.

There are also lots of great family-friendly hikes here! We took on the Black Rock Trail and loved it. The hike is through the forest and seems to dead end into a rock — but you climb it! It’s really cool and the views here were awesome too. My goal is to take on the Grandfather Trail one day — I’ve always wanted to do a hike that includes ladders!

The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery was a huge hit for the kids. They were both obsessed with the interactive wind machines — it was so great. There is so much to see and do at this fun museum, and you’re learning so much without even realizing it.

Additionally, the Wildlife Habitats here are really neat. We saw eagles, bears, elk, and river otters.

Bring a picnic! There are lots of great picnic areas throughout the park. You can also grab something to eat at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery at Mildred’s Grill. Grab a seat on the deck!

Note that grabbing your tickets online in advance is highly recommended, especially during the popular fall season.

MORE FUN NEARBY

• Mountain Biking the Emerald Outback. If you love mountain biking, the Emerald Outback is a moderately challenging 4.1-mile loop trail in Banner Elk. There is plenty of parking and easy access to the trail in the heart of Beech Mountain, next to the Brick Oven Pizzeria. If you don’t have your own mountain bike, you can rent one from Magic Cycles.

• Hiking at Beech Mountain. There are some awesome hiking trails at Beech Mountain you won’t want to miss! They’ve got trails for all skill levels.

• Buckeye Recreation Center is located in the town of Beech Mountain and isn’t just for locals. Visitors can use it too. This 22,500 square-foot facility has indoor tennis, a fitness room and classes, an indoor basketball court, and a foam mat-filled room for the little kids. The Center offers an affordable daily pass fee schedule, as well as weekly, monthly, and yearly passes. You’ll also find a playground outside.

• Banner Elk is a popular getaway near Boone in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the North Carolina High Country. It’s a place that blends small town relaxation with the amenities of a larger city.

• Beech Mountain Resort transitions from a snowy ski slope to a warm weather playground in the summer months. The resort offers disc golf, scenic lift rides and mountain biking, including mountain bike lessons and equipment rental.

• Beanstalk Journey Zip Line at Catawba Meadows. Beanstalk Journey is about an hour and a half from Beech Mountain and located within the Catawba Meadows public park, with ball fields on one side, picnic pavilions and unique playground on the other, so it’s easy to make a day of it.
  
  The Beanstalk Journey is a guided course that incorporates ropes elements to get you up to the zips. No hand braking is required, so most zips are an easy fly through the trees. One of the best parts about this zip line is they allow children as young as 4 years old to enjoy the entire adventure. (Kids under 70 pounds fly tandem!)

• Bring bikes with you and after your zip, ride along the Catawba Greenway. A paved bike path you can pick up at the park that goes along the river to downtown Morgantown.

WHERE TO STAY

Looking for a place to stay for your Land of Oz experience? We had the pleasure of staying at Graystone Lodge in nearby Boone, NC, during our visit and we cannot recommend it enough. A complimentary High Country Breakfast, beautiful rooms, local flair, and an awesome location make it a great choice. Plus, if you have kids with you, the indoor pool is going to be a hit!

Read all about our Graystone Lodge experience HERE.

Book Now for Special Discounted Rate for Atlanta 365 Readers: Graystone Lodge

LAND OF OZ BEECH MOUNTAIN FAQ

When was Land of Oz originally open?

Land of Oz park opened in 1970 and operated until 1980. After that, the park returned to the originally landowners, who then worked to offer the Autumn in Oz event. Autumn in Oz began being offered in 1993.

What is included in a General Admission ticket to the Autumn in Oz event?

A general admission ticket includes parking, shuttle to/from the park, meet-and-greets with all of the characters, all the live shows throughout the park, and unlimited time along the yellow brick road. While your ticket is access for one walk-through along the yellow brick road, you are able to travel it at your own leisure.

The Scenic Lift Ride & Over the Rainbow: Observation Deck are not included with this ticket type — they are an extra fee.

How long does it take to go through Oz at the Autumn at Oz festival?

Once you take the shuttle up to Oz, you can spend as little or as much time as you please. Your journey through Oz is at your own pace. Average time: 2 hours.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA

• YOUR NORTH CAROLINA VACATION
• SLEDDING: Beech Mountain Sledding Hill (+ 3 More Absurdly Cool Ways to Frolic in the Snow)
• BOONE: 24 Fun Things To Do in Boone NC You Can’t Miss
• BLOWING ROCK: 21 Fun & Amazing Things To Do in Blowing Rock NC
• APPALACHIAN SKI: Appalachian Ski Mountain NC: An Awesome Beginner Slope