What is Land of Oz?
The Land of Oz, a remarkable theme park inspired by the Wizard of Oz, operated from 1970 to 1980 under the aegis of Carolina Caribbean Corporation. Devised by designer Jack Pentes and built by Grover, Harry, and Spencer Robbins, the park quickly rose to prominence, with the Washington Post dubbing it the Number One Tourist Attraction in its inaugural year. Despite facing a financial crisis and a fire in 1975, the park rebounded under new ownership and continued its operations until 1980. The park’s vibrant years were marked by visits from prominent personalities such as Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, Muhamed Ali, and Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow in the original movie.
After 1980, the Land of Oz fell back into the hands of its original landowners, the Leidy Family, with plans to build a gated community around what remained of the park. Parts were demolished due to decay and vandalism, but many emblematic features were preserved, including the Gale farmhouse, barn, and yellow brick road. A reunion of the park’s original employees, the “Ozzies”, in 1988 sparked the idea of public visits. This led to the inception of the Autumn at Oz Festival in 1993, an annual event in September that drew thousands of nostalgic visitors. The funds generated from this event and other public activities have been used to restore and maintain the park.
Currently, while Land of Oz is not a fully functioning theme park, it offers many public events that celebrate the magic and legacy of all things Oz!
The Land of Oz is currently owned and maintained by the Leidy family and brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Artistic Director Sean Barrett, along with a dedicated team of industry professionals and countless employees. They would like to thank everyone involved for bringing the Magic of Oz to life, and making the Autumn at Oz Festival a success year after year.
The Leidy family’s unwavering commitment to Restore, Preserve, and Protect the Land of Oz Theme Park is driven by their vision to craft a Legacy for generations to come. It embodies the values of Stewardship, Community, Dedication, and Love.
In the hearts of the Leidy family, the Town of Beech Mountain and the Land of Oz Theme Park occupy an exceptionally cherished space. Our unwavering dedication to ‘Oz’ is rooted in bringing joy to faces, fostering a strong sense of community, and preserving a legacy destined to endure for generations.
After 1980, the Land of Oz fell back into the hands of its original landowners, the Leidy Family, with plans to build a gated community around what remained of the park. Parts were demolished due to decay and vandalism, but many emblematic features were preserved, including the Gale farmhouse, barn, and yellow brick road. A reunion of the park’s original employees, the “Ozzies”, in 1988 sparked the idea of public visits. This led to the inception of the Autumn at Oz Festival in 1993, an annual event in September that drew thousands of nostalgic visitors. The funds generated from this event and other public activities have been used to restore and maintain the park.
Currently, while Land of Oz is not a fully functioning theme park, it offers many public events that celebrate the magic and legacy of all things Oz!
The Land of Oz is currently owned and maintained by the Leidy family and brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Artistic Director Sean Barrett, along with a dedicated team of industry professionals and countless employees. They would like to thank everyone involved for bringing the Magic of Oz to life, and making the Autumn at Oz Festival a success year after year.
The Leidy family’s unwavering commitment to Restore, Preserve, and Protect the Land of Oz Theme Park is driven by their vision to craft a Legacy for generations to come. It embodies the values of Stewardship, Community, Dedication, and Love.
In the hearts of the Leidy family, the Town of Beech Mountain and the Land of Oz Theme Park occupy an exceptionally cherished space. Our unwavering dedication to ‘Oz’ is rooted in bringing joy to faces, fostering a strong sense of community, and preserving a legacy destined to endure for generations.
After 1980, the Land of Oz fell back into the hands of its original landowners, the Leidy Family, with plans to build a gated community around what remained of the park. Parts were demolished due to decay and vandalism, but many emblematic features were preserved, including the Gale farmhouse, barn, and yellow brick road. A reunion of the park’s original employees, the “Ozzies”, in 1988 sparked the idea of public visits. This led to the inception of the Autumn at Oz Festival in 1993, an annual event in September that drew thousands of nostalgic visitors. The funds generated from this event and other public activities have been used to restore and maintain the park.
Today, while Land of Oz is not a fully functioning theme park, it offers many public events that celebrate the magic and legacy of all things Oz!
The Land of Oz is currently owned and maintained by the Leidy family and brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Artistic Director Sean Barrett, along with a dedicated team of industry professionals and countless employees. They would like to thank everyone involved for bringing the Magic of Oz to life, and making the Autumn at Oz Festival a success year after year.
The Leidy family’s unwavering commitment to Restore, Preserve, and Protect the Land of Oz Theme Park is driven by their vision to craft a Legacy for generations to come. It embodies the values of Stewardship, Community, Dedication, and Love.
In the hearts of the Leidy family, the Town of Beech Mountain and the Land of Oz Theme Park occupy an exceptionally cherished space. Our unwavering dedication to ‘Oz’ is rooted in bringing joy to faces, fostering a strong sense of community, and preserving a legacy destined to endure for generations.
