This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside North Carolina's Abandoned Land Of Oz Theme Park

Most people don’t know North Carolina is home to a once-defunct theme park based on the books and the 1939 major motion picture, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The theme park, named Land of Oz, opened in 1970 and would close just a decade later, offering North Carolinians and visitors alike during the decade of fun a lifetime of wonderful memories made high atop Beech Mountain in Avery County.

Facebook/Land of Oz

The white house pictured here is Dorothy's house and it still receives lots of love (as does the rest of the park). The park itself is regarded locally as a landmark and treasured historical place.

Google Maps

Brick after brick it defines a huge loop within which children and families alike walked as Dorothy did from where her house sat in Kansas and then touched down after the twister. The path follows the landing site all the way to the Land of Oz, where the cast of characters in the movie expected all of their dreams to come true.

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Facebook/Land of Oz

In the 1970s, guests arrived to the theme park at the top of the mountain via a ski-lift transport with custom-crafted carriers made to look like hot air balloons. If you're among the lucky ones who got to ride in one of these, then good for you!

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Facebook/Land of Oz

The park would reopen after repairs were made, but it never fully recovered. In 1980, it closed this chapter of its existence and would sit dormant for more than a decade before reopening to the public for a one-day event on July 4, 1991.

YouTube/American Sleuth

The events include the annual Autumn at Oz, which now annually draws more than the 20,000 people that attended opening day at the theme park in 1970.

©Robin Jarvis

Sadly, in 2020, the annual Autumn at Oz event that normally takes place in September was cancelled due to the pandemic. But the park bounced back with private tours that were offered through September 27th.

In 2014, YouTube user, American Sleuth, traveled inside Autumn at Oz capturing exclusive video of the once-defunct theme park and then fused into it video footage from the 70s to create a captivating recap of the park, then and now. Check it out below and make sure your sound is up for the narration!

There is no indication as yet from those who manage the park’s private tours if they will resume in 2021. But we sure hope so! Stay in the know about events taking place at Land of Oz by checking its website and following the Land of Oz Facebook page.

Have you visited Land of Oz in recent years? It is still a magical place where families can revisit old memories and make new ones!

(Editor’s note: A word of caution… this park is not truly abandoned. Video surveillance protects the property from unwanted visitors who may wander inside the perimeter. If you want to go inside, it’s best to wait until the next event and purchase a ticket.)