Beech Mountain, North Carolina: Land of Oz

We took our grandsons (2 and 5) to visit Oz and were impressed with the scenery and characters. It puzzles me why this attraction is open only two days a year. There were thousands waiting in line in very poor weather conditions (windy, cloudy, chilly low 50s, and misting rain). We certainly would have opted to go when the weather was better. It's bound to be a money maker if open from late spring through early fall. We probably won't revisit unless the days are extended so we can plan around nice weather.

Attended this event and it was the most unorganized thing I have ever been to. We waited in the cold from about 8 AM only to have them allow people who had just arrived to board the bus ahead of us. When we tried to inquire about this we were told to "go home" by someone working the event. Very few signs or directions were provided for parking or how to get from here to there. When asking the people we were told were in charge they did not seem to know anything. The biggest problem was down at the bottom of the mountain and getting to the Oz part. I would not come back! It is so sad as this event has so much potential.

My wife and I traveled all the way from Birmingham (United Kingdom) to this event. The trip was well worth the effort. Thanks to Roadsideamerica.com we'd managed to find out about this year's opening times and info. The lines started early, so expect a long, but not unpleasant, wait for a tractor hay ride (or bus) to the top of the mountain. Some people did walk up, but we saw them in various states of tiredness as we zipped past.

The kids came dressed in all their best costumes, and all looked fab. Shame on you adults though - the party's for you too! We went dressed (as we are out of towners - and didn't care if we got laughed at). We did meet up with all the characters -- they make the event what it is - delightful. There was a scary witch (who stayed in character all day - I was scared). There was so much stuff to buy, our cases were almost bursting at the airport on the way home. We had a lovely sunny weekend, but apparently it isn't always so on the mountain, so bring a jumper and check the weather. We're going again in 2006, depending on work (boo hoo) so hope to see you there.

The Fall Festival at the Land of Oz was quite fun. I got there in the afternoon and stood in line for more than an hour but it was fun seeing all the people in costumes. Little Dorothy's were running around, all so cute in their blue dresses and ruby slippers. There was a car from Ohio we passed by in the line that had Oz stickers all over the windows, the tag said "I Luv Oz". Sticking out of the trunk were the witch's legs and the Ruby slippers.

The hayride went up the Beech Mt ski slopes to the top. I went through the house -- Auntie Em and her husband were in the kitchen. On the other side of the storm was the Yellow Brick road. There was Dorothy and Glenda the good witch. I was told that this Dorothy's mother was the original Dorothy and now she was playing the old lady with the basket on the bicycle. Just past Munchkinland the Lion was waiting to jump out of the Rhododendrons and scare the kids, and just past him were the flying monkeys. One little girl was so terrified of them he had to pull off his mask to show he was a boy.

Came to a garden of mushrooms and the witch's castle and the scary trees and a small Poppy field. Children were having their pictures taken acting like they were asleep. The gate keeper of the city sounded like the one in the movie. Past the smoking wizards head there was the "witch" on the bike. Didn't go in to see the Coroner (munchkin) because of a very long line. Was a very enjoyable day, The Beech Mountain city employees couldn't have been nicer..

I finally understand (because it's never before been clearly explained to me) that at the former Land of Oz, "theme park" does not refer to a Disney-style amusement complex, but rather a heavily decorated, character-staffed nature trail with some themed vignettes placed in a sequence somewhat reminiscent of the book and the MGM film.

I can realistically describe my day at this gig as a SIX. AND. A. HALF. HOUR. LINE. The line was kinda cool, though -- people were generally upbeat and happy to be there. My impression is that the crowd hit a capacity previously unheard of -- and unexpected, because all the food vendors ran out of everything two or three hours before the day ended. If you're interested in attending Autumn at Oz, a certain amount of commitment to the trip above and beyond casual interest (and some snacks and bottled water) is strenuously recommended.

There was a quaint little Oz museum set up in Uncle Henry and Aunt Em''s barn, a conglomeration of every Oz thing they could find, including very new-looking snow globes and dolls. But there were a few genuinely cool things in there as well: one wall sported a mounted set of first editions of all of the Oz books that had actually been penned by L. Frank Baum. A chair on display was the one that the winged monkey sat on in the film.

Dorothy's house was far and away the single cleverest thing we experienced all day. It was so damn neat -- I'm amazed haven't seen a similar trick of pacing/storytelling in any theme park/dark ride/attraction anywhere else. The Yellow Brick Road began in Munchkinland, and carried us past the usual suspects, pretty much in the order from the movie: Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, some winged monkeys, palace guards, and the Wicked Witch of the West (whose "castle"was one of the straight-up coolest set pieces of the day). After the witch was the Haunted Forest -- this place (faces spackled onto real trees) was messed up and creepy.

Was it worth it? Well, it scratched the itch. If I hadn't gone, I'd still be wanting to.