Land of Oz, Beech Mountain, NC Photo Gallery by Ron P. Metcalfe at pbase.com

Land of Oz, Beech Mountain, NC

From http://www.emeraldmtn.com/oz.htm

Land of Oz was dreamed and designed by Jack Pentes, on behalf of Carolina Caribbean Corp., and headed by Grover Robbins, of Tweetsie RR. Both men were exceptional "visionaries". It was their plan to create something special for children - something that would be fun and financially compatible with the ski slopes of Beech - and, in turn, would bring parents, purchasers of resort property. Just as important, local talent and craftsmen were employed, bringing pride and opportunities to the area. It was a grand dream and was done in a grand fashion. OZ exceeded everyone's expectations of success.

Six months before its opening, however, Mr. Robbins contracted bone cancer and passed away. He was young and handsome and lived a "whirlwind" life. (Everyone who ever met him has stories to tell of Grover.) He left behind OZ, Tweetsie, Hound Ears, Beech, Land Harbor, and what is now Elk River Club, as well as North Carolina and Caribbean coastal properties. Each met their own destiny, and Mr. Robbins was given a memorial marker on the pinnacle of Beech, where he could forever soar, one of his most favorite joys in life.

OZ was operational from 1970-80, but changing times, economics, liabilities, maintenance, and other interests of its owners, along with the lack of change at OZ, took their toll on the park. Ten years passed with the property reverting back to its original owners. Vandalism and nostalgia seekers destroyed much of the remains. Even today, people try to take a "piece" of OZ, to our despair.

In 1990, the 450 acre project known as Emerald Mountain development was begun, the concept of creating homesites with respect to The Land Of OZ being one of our goals. In the past eight summers, OZ has gone from being an "archeological dig" to an enchanting private garden, with Dorothy's farm restored, gazebos renovated, fountain, pond and waterfall made operational, and the yellow brick road unearthed and patched. For now, the character houses and Emerald City are gone. But each summer we add something back to OZ. Sometimes it is original items returned to us from caring friends. One of my proudest moments was hauling back to OZ what I believe to be the very last balloon in existence.

The park is not, nor will it ever be, what it once was. However, with its maturing flora and graceful aging, it has evolved into its own unique entity. Dorothy's house is a lovely cottage we now rent to romantics wanting to escape.

Each year we share the park and our memories on a special weekend. We call it our Autumn at OZ party, where we all take a nostalgic stroll down the yellow brick road and see some of the original cast perform again. Volunteers and local charities help us with the event, and everyone is invited. Proceeds pay for the party and help with restorations.

:: 2005 Autumn at Oz ::	:: The Land of Oz, October 2005 ::	:: The Land of Oz, June 2006 ::	:: 2006 Autumn at Oz ::
:: 2007 Autumn at Oz ::	:: The Land of Oz, October 2007 ::	:: 2008 Autumn at Oz ::	:: 2009 Autumn at Oz ::
:: 2010 Autumn at Oz ::	:: 2011 Autumn at Oz ::

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Charl		10-Nov-2012 20:04
My sister and I are writing a book about our interesting childhood and part of it was Tweetsie RR, Ghosttown in the Sky and Santa Land. We are part Cherokee and of course we went to Cherokee. I was only 7 when we went to Land of Oz while we were in Lake Junaluska for the United Methodist Conference. I 50 married at 25 and told my husband about Land of oz and Dorothy's house. However, I had forgotten this until writing the book. My mother sister brother and I now have memories flooding back. I am still searching for a place witness miniature houses that we used to play in , in the sixties in the area. When we returned around 1970 to visit Oz, only several mini houses remained and the area was grown over. If you can help me email me at katmom13@ embarqmail.com.

susan		06-Sep-2012 03:10
I went to the Land of OZ as a child and hadn't thought shout it in years & years. I am married now & live in KY and for some unknown reason looked up OZ last week. We have 2 children one 9 & one 18. My husband never went to OZ as a child. I am sooo excited that I get to take my husband & 2 children to sIX on Oct 5 & 6. We are also going to go to Tweetsie ER which should be decorated for Halloween:)

susan		06-Sep-2012 03:09
I went to the Land of OZ as a child and hadn't thought shout it in years & years. I am married now & live in KY and for some unknown reason looked up OZ last week. We have 2 children one 9 & one 18. My husband never went to OZ as a child. I am sooo excited that I get to take my husband & 2 children to sIX on Oct 5 & 6. We are also going to go to Tweetsie ER which should be decorated for Halloween:)

pam		17-Feb-2012 22:07
one of my fondest memories of my childhood was going to the land of oz with my family. the wicked witch was scratching her itch, and i and my sisters just laughed. my mother just recently gave me the glass mug with the scarecrow on it. i will cherish it always. its such a shame that the innocent pleasures of my childhood will not be there for my children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Marc		05-Sep-2011 14:19
My family and I used to go to my Uncle Rex and Aunt Kitty's house on beach mountain. I was in third grade so this was 1970 and I loved to go to Oz and beach mountain. It was such a wonderful place and the time there was spent with wonderful people. I will never forget the warm feeling of looking forward to going there and playing with my sister and brothers in the land of oz. I am in my late 40's and I would love to return and take my own children for a visit.

Susan Beck		30-Aug-2011 16:32
As I was cleaning out an old building, I came across two souvenir glass mugs from my trip to The Land of Oz in 1970. It was such a magical place for a young teenager! I have my memories and my mugs. Susan Welcome, NC

Guest		13-Jul-2011 23:22
I went to Oz the first time when I was in high school in the early 1970's. Went with my parents and two sisters. The chair lift up from the entrance only seated 2 persons, so as usual I was the odd one out. I can't remember what the chairs were supposed to be, but somehow the front closed up. Since I was going up alone, the guy behind me asked if I minded if he rode up in the same lift as me. He happed to be the "scarecrow" in costume. We got in the chair, and he said "we don't close the fronts when we go up" so we rode up with the front of the lift open. My mom went hysterical, but it was the highlight of the trip for me. RC Lincolnton, NC

mary		30-Mar-2011 00:13
I was cleaning out some old papers and pamplets and found a pamplet from "Land of Oz" that I had gotten July 31 1976. Both my girls went and I would love for it to open again so my 4 grandchildren could visit it. We really enjoyed it. Thank You! Mary & Eddie Sanford, N.C.

Catherine Howell		28-Mar-2011 14:21
I went as a little girl in 1971 and loved it. I was two and can still remember it very well. I most remember the legs sticking out from a topsy turvy house and the beautiful green witch. I would love for my kids now to experience the wonder I felt.

Catherine Howell		28-Mar-2011 14:21
I went as a little girl in 1971 and loved it. I was two and can still remember it very well. I most remember the legs sticking out from a topsy turvy house and the beautiful green witch. I would love for my kids now to experience the wonder I felt.

m. jenkins		05-Mar-2011 21:34
i would love to bring my two kids but i have never been able to get in. what days will it be open this year? and any tips on being able to get in this year. thanks M. Jenkins

Mike		27-Feb-2011 17:34
kinda scary reading some of the posts. I was looking through old pictures of mine last night and came across about ten of the original emerald city during one of my stays at Beech in the late 70's.We all thought of it as something kinda magical as we were in our 20's and had no clue of it's origin. Sad it didn't last, but the pics speak for themselves.

Guest		30-Dec-2010 00:26
I've never visited land of oz, and was born in 1984, so didn't even have the chance. I keep hearing coworkers talking about it, and have wanted to visit for a long time. thank you for posting your pictures, as it gives me a look at the actual park. aside from the "emerald mtn" site's pictures, yours are the only ones i could find via google. planning a trip to the mountains (i'm from the NC piedmont) this january, and i have heard that you can ski right through oz. Sounds amazing! I know the park is only open for the autumn festival, but i would like to see what little i can in person.

Guest		30-Oct-2010 01:09
Please consider opening the park more weekends out of the year I cant explain the magical childish feeling that came over me when I went under the bridge that said The Land of Oz I want my kids to feel that too

Guest		30-Oct-2010 01:02
I won tickets for my entire family back in the 70s I had to color a picture of a hot air balloon what a wonderful trip we had

Teresa Mangum		11-Oct-2010 01:46
I was a hostess at Uncle Henry's Farm at The Land of Oz in the summer of 1973 and worked in the Beech Mountain tourist stores part of later summers. I clogged on the porch and had a hat eaten by a mule in the petting zoo. I shared a house with fellow hostesses Paulette Roberts and Becky Clark (who also played both the Wicked Witch AND Dorothy). At one point several of the guys made a black and white slide show after hours of the Oz story. I played Auntie Em. I would SO love to know if a copy still exists! Thanks to the Land of Oz for amazing memories. Now that I know it's open, I can't wait to visit!

pnewnam		03-Oct-2010 01:50
How exciting that the Land of Oz is coming back in some form. I went every summer as a child and remember it fondly. I have told people about it for years. It is always fun to find someone who also went. I can't wait to go back. Sorry I missed the weekend.

Guest		27-Sep-2010 19:09
The "Land of Oz" is Ahhhnazing... and each year it gets just a little better... there is always something new.... Cindy... you and the crew are wonderful and we all LOVE you dearly... Can't wait for another exciting visit to the land of OZ.... Beech Mountain NC ... Oct. 2nd and 3rd... 2010...

Vicky Hutchens Va		25-Sep-2010 05:03
I visited Land of Oz Theme Park when I was a child and it is one of my fondest memories .My father planned the trip and he my mother my best friend and I went in the 70s .We thought we would freeze at the top of Oz mountain when we rode in the balloon at the park.My friend and I shared my sweater each having one arm in and zipped through the center but it was the best vacations ever.My husband and I plan on going there this October .My only regret is my father will not be able to go because of an ailing back and hip but I plan on taking lots of pictures to share with him and my mom.

Vicky Hutchens Va		25-Sep-2010 04:49
I visited Land of Oz Theme Park when I was a child and it is one of my fondest memories .My father planned the trip and he my mother my best friend and I went in the 70s .We thought we would freeze at the top of Oz mountain when we rode in the balloon at the park.My friend and I shared my sweater each having one arm in and zipped through the center but it was the best vacations ever.My husband and I plan on going there this October .My only regret is my father will not be able to go because of an ailing back and hip but I plan on taking lots of pictures to share with him and my mom.

Vicky Hutchens Va		25-Sep-2010 04:40
I visited Land of Oz Theme Park when I was a child and it is one of my fondest memories .My father planned the trip and he my mother my best friend and I went in the 70s .We thought we would freeze at the top of Oz mountain when we rode in the balloon at the park.My friend and I sharred my sweater each having one arm in and zipped through the center but it was the best vacations ever.My husband and I plan on going there this October .My only regret is my father will not be able to go because of an ailing back and hip but I plan on taking lots of pictures to share with him and my mom.

Mark Everhart		17-Sep-2010 21:43
Land of Oz will always be magical. 2010 marks 40 years since the park opened in 1970. I love visiting and as I walk down the yellow brick road brings such wonderful memories as a child and I get even more excited as an adult. We are so very fortunate the park was not torn down. God Bless Cindy and her staff who keep the Land of Oz in immaculate condition. Sincerely, Mark Everhart Lewisville, NC

Guest		12-Sep-2010 04:19
Back in the 70s I was a newspaper reporter for the Watauga Democrat and I believe I probably visited Oz more than any adult. I loved it. It was really magic to follow the yellow brick road through the ghostly beech trees on the mountain of the same name. Jack Pentes once told me the idea came when he and Grover were looking at the gnarly shapes of the beech trees. I am glad that the local people are keeping it open. I am going to really try to visit again this year.

Guest		11-Sep-2010 23:36
I will be selling a limited signed and numbered book edition at Autumn at Oz on Oct. 2 & 3rd 2010 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the park opening. Meet me outside Dorothy's house if you wish to buy one of my books on the history of Oz and it is loaded with photography of Oz. Gregory Hugh Leng (Photographer of Oz) 2010

jarles alberg		12-Aug-2010 04:18
In 1969, several of us students at NCSU were chosen to put on the OZ costumes and make public appearances at local malls and TV stations. The promotion person who hired us liked our act so well, that he hired us to travel from VA to FL making appearances - We even got on national TV at the Charlotte 600. My wife who lived in FL at the time we made an appearance remembers seeing us at the mall where she worked. 15 years later we met in NC. We actually inflated the hot air balloon, and tethered it wherever we made appearances, and Dorthy and her little dog joined us on occasion, but she worked in the home office and was not always available - The lion suit was padded and insulated with about 1" of felt or something - it would get soaking wet - the tin mans legs rested on the top of your foot and hurt like crazy after a day of dancing and walking around. One day we were returning from a radio interview in costume somewhere in NC, and a real life Barney Fife arrested us because adults are not allowed to wear masks in public. When he walked into the sherrif's office with us in tow, the sherrif cracked up - it was a very Andy Griffith moment

Kimmy		12-Apr-2010 17:04
I remember how magical and exciting it was visiting this place as a child in the 70's (my family went twice, once as a toddler and later when I was about 8). I would spend hours dressing as Dorothy and recreating the cottage and the "cyclone" -- although I could never get the tippy floors -- in my playroom. What an inspiration! Last week my daughter played Dorothy in a school play and the memories came flooding back. I was sad to find that the original theme park is gone, but thrilled to see the comments and happy memories of so many others!

Guest		27-Feb-2010 04:53
I visited with my family in 1973, I was only 5, but I remember it like it was just yesterday. It seemed like it took most of the morning to arrive there. The road up the mountain was very curvy. We took a chair lift to the top. I will never forget walking in Dorothy's clean house, then the house swirling around, then how trashed after the storm. WOW we were in the magical land of OZ! Dorothy picked me to walk by her side down the yellow brick road, how LUCKY I was. Thank you for a chance of a lifetime as a 5 year old child. 'Wanda Register McLamb Benson NC

Melissa Short		06-Jan-2010 18:36
The Wizard of Oz has been my favorite movie since I was a child. I finally got the chance to go to the Land Of Oz in 2007. Me and my mother in law took my 2 children and we all had a WONDERFUL time. We made memories that we couldn't make anywhere else. We plan to go again this year. It is now 2010 and i'm sure some things have changed. If you havn't got the chance to go you should take your family and make wonderful memories with them likewe did. Thank You, Melissa Short

Linda		19-Nov-2009 00:29
I too visited the Land of Oz as a child in the 70's and loved every minute of it. In 2007, just by chance, I was on the internet and googled The Land of Oz and to my surprise it had reopend but only for the first weekend in October. I called my mom, who whas 63 at the time and we planned a trip for us and my two kids who were 8 and 4 at the time. We all enjoyed it very much. I did miss the Emerald City and the balloon rides but it was still magical. I plan to return and tell and bring more friends. Thanks for the memories. Linda, Norwood, NC

jay lackey		17-Nov-2009 02:27
T.L.O.O. was a huge part of my life. My father was the drummer in the band that did all the music for the park.

jay lackey		17-Nov-2009 02:25
T.L.O.O. was a huge part of my life. My father was the drummer in the band that did all the music for the park.

Beth Surbaugh		21-Sep-2009 23:36
I am a fellow oz fan, I went as a child, too. When we went into the house after the tornado, I asked my mom and dad how they got the house cleaned up each time. I have went with my daughter, also an oz fan, and this year my husband is taking me for our anniversary, I am so excited.

Scot		04-Sep-2009 12:50
I visited as a child with some very good friends (Cindy and Tami). I remember you entered through Dorthy's house as the twister started. Then you exited through the same door with the yellow brick road ahead of you. It was very magical. I have thought about it many times over the years. thank you for this site and for keeping Land of Oz alive.

Guest		02-Sep-2009 23:35
I visited OZ in Oct of 2008 with my son and 2 year old daughter, was an amazing experience, my daughter loved it. I will be attending again this year and we are looking forward to it.

tami		26-Aug-2009 06:19
I too went to the LAND OF OZ as a child and I have wanted to take my children and now grandchildren....I look so forward to this years festival... i have not been there since the 70's. I can't wait to see this place again. My only wish is that it would reopen more than 2 days per year. I am so pleased to see that they at least saw the potential to even open at all.

Guest		03-Aug-2009 18:38
We went to The Land of Oz as a child. Years later my sister and wondered where in the world it was located. We saw an article in the paper about the once a year opening and ask our dad about it and of course he knew exactly where it was and decided to revisit. It was great going back after 30+ years. FUN!

fateme azizi		04-Jun-2009 21:17
i translate to percia . it is very nice storyt .

Sharon Brooks		11-Mar-2009 08:33
As a child my mother and father took me and my brother to the beautiful Land of Oz. It is never far from my thoughts. I hope I will someday be able to take my children ages (24, 19 and 9) to see it. My parents took 8mm footage of it in it's glory days while we were there. Thank you for not letting it die.

Kathy		30-Oct-2008 20:48
I went this year, it was just fantastic, I drove all the way from Pennsylvania to be able to go to it with my mom! Don't understand why it's only open 1 weekend a year with the amount of people that were there, it could be open much more. I absolutely loved this trip.

Melissa B.		19-Oct-2008 04:00
I love your pictures! They have brought back childhood memories and feelings of believing the fog covered balloons could really take me to Oz! My husband and I plan on visiting the Land of Oz next year and hopefully soon renting Dorothy's House. Thank you again for sharing some awesome pictures!

Melissa B.		19-Oct-2008 03:58
I love your pictures! They have brought back childhood memories and feelings of believing the fog covered balloons could really take me to Oz! My husband and I plan on visiting the Land of Oz next year and hopefully soon renting Dorothy's House. Thank you again forsharing some awesome pictures!

Melissa B.		19-Oct-2008 03:57
I love your pictures! They have brought back childhood memories and feelings of believing the fog covered balloons could really take me to Oz! My husband and I plan on visiting the Land of Oz next year and hopefully soon renting Dorothy's House. Thank Melissyou again forsharing some awesome pictures!

Jason W.		07-Oct-2008 16:43
Jason W. 07-Oct-2008 16:41 Your photos are awesome and your group appeared to have a wonderful day. Nice posting. I had a blast playing one of the Scarecrows and recall your group coming through! They were great sports!! -Scarecrow

John W.		03-Oct-2008 20:53
I LOVE The Wizard of Oz. I go there every year. It's an AMAZING place and I think everyone should go sometime in there life. I am THE cowardly lion, I have now claimed the role. Now I'm of to see the Wizard...

Guest		30-Sep-2008 22:50
I went when I was pretty young. I only remember a small bit and none of my family remember going. Maybe I went with my church group or another family. When I recently found out about the Land of Oz in Beech Mtn. I knew that's where I had been. We are taking the kids this weekend '08. I'm excited!

Tommy		16-Sep-2008 16:15
I have fond memories of The Land of Oz Theme Park as a child...I went once with my dad and once with my entire family (Dad, mom, sister) in the 1970's...I've not been back since I was child, but hope to go this October...and rent the house sometime soon...

ANDY CLIFTON		02-Sep-2008 18:02
I GO EVERY YEAR AS THE COWARDLY LION , I CANT WAIT TO GO THIS YEAR I HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME WITH ALL THE KIDS AND ACTIVITES!!! I HOPE THE WEATHER IS GOOD THIS YEAR . THIS YEAR I WAS CONTRACTED BY THE CHAMBER TO ACCUALLY WORK THE EVENT WHAT A JOY I HOPE THIS IS THE BEST YEAR EVER FOR THE LAND OF OZ SINCERELY ANDY ( COWARDLY LION)

Lisa Bailey		14-Jul-2008 20:58
I will never forget visiting OZ as a child. My father planned the trip for us and was as excited as us and got as much enjoyment from it as we did. My father has since passed from cancer, but those memories still hold on strong. Thank you, Lisa, Vinton, VA

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