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Personal collection of all things gourd by the world's greatest gourd-lover. On display in town since his death.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
Angier Municipal Building
- Address:
- 28 N. Raleigh Ave., Angier, NC
- Directions:
- Angier Municipal Building. Downtown, northeast corner of the intersection of Hwys 210 and 55.
- Hours:
- By appt. only. No Sundays. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 919-639-4413
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
- Angier, North Carolina - Marvin Johnson's Gourd Museum
The Marvin Johnson Gourd Museum is currently closed, but the mayor of Angier is making an effort to save the museum. The Johnson family land was sold to a housing development company and the doors are currently closed, but the mayor is making an effort to save the museum's contents and construct a new building in town to house them. Lets hope this effort works! It would be such a shame to see this unique place be bulldozed! I work for the local newspaper and visited the museum with the mayor, who has a key, last week and was amazed. Let's hope that town efforts are successful and that this piece of Angier, North Carolina and American culture is preserved.
[Jamie Strickland, 09/09/2005] Aw, rats. I can confirm that Marvin Johnson's Gourd Museum is closed. The Johnson family land has been sold and is being turned into a housing development. A new road is being cut through the property, and some of the buildings that used to be there have been demolished. The museum (complete with all its displays) still stands, but the doors are padlocked, and I assume it'll be bulldozed as well. I hope the gourds are going to be rescued and transferred to a new home, but even if they are, I can't imagine that their new locale will be as cool as Marvin and Mary's museum. I'm really sorry to see this place go. Marvin's museum was one of my all-time favorite NC attractions.
[Dean Jeffrey, 07/13/2005]- Beech Mountain, North Carolina - Land Of Oz
I was fortunate to grow up in the shadow of Beech Mountain, and my parents took my brother and me to the Oz park when it was in full swing in the late 1970s until it's closing in 1980. I have also been fortunate to be able to attend the annual "Autumn At Oz Party" every year for the last 10 years or so.
No, the park isn't what it used to be, as its website states it's growing into a flora and fauna park. I am just thrilled to be able to relive a great part of my childhood once a year! Yes, there are lines, yes the weather is TOTALLY unpredictable, but it's all worth it! I dress up (as the Wicked Witch!) and my family dresses up too. We have a blast! We get to forget the real world for a while, get into character, smile, and have a good time.
My advice to everyone going is to check the Oz website, and come prepared with good shoes, good clothing, and a positive attitude!
[BethAnn, 03/26/2013]Land of Oz:- Address:
- 2669 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC
- Directions:
- Hwy 184 takes you to the town of Beech Mountain. A winding two-lane road just to the left of the Chamber of Commerce building -- Beech Mountain Pkwy -- takes you up to a sign that says, "Emerald Mountain." Through that gate, it's another half-mile, past a bunch of ski lifts.
- Hours:
- Usually Fridays in June and the last two summer weekends in Sept. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 800-514-3849
- Admission:
- Varies $30-$50
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Drove through beautiful sunny weather, but by the time we got to Banner Elk -- the highest town in the Eastern U.S. -- it was cold and overcast. We drove to the top of Beech Mountain, parked at the ski village, and went up to the theme park on the ski lift (I learned later that I could have taken a bus to the top, but the lift was fun). Got the top and there was quite a crowd. The wait was long but everyone seemed happy. The wet mist made the attraction different and kind of like an old movie. All the workers and actors were very nice. Just remember if you go up there: bring a good water-resistant coat no matter what it's like down below.
[B Carter, 10/12/2012]
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Land of Oz is a seasonal 1-weekend reopening of an attraction that recreates the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz at the top of a mountain.