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History of Land of Oz Headline
History of Land of Oz Headline
Glenda the good witch in pink bubble

“It’s Always Best To Start At The Beginning…!”
– Glinda the Good Witch

“It’s Always Best To Start At The Beginning…!”
– Glinda the Good Witch

1962
Photo by Hugh Morton (Courtesy of UNC Library)
Acquisition of Beech Mountain
Acquisition of Beech Mountain

After the success of nearby the Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park in Blowing Rock, NC, Grover Robbins purchases land on top of Beech Mountain with the hopes to turn it into a new tourist destination.

1966
Conceptualization of Oz
Conceptualization of Oz

Jack Pentes is brought to the top of Beech Mountain to come up with an idea of how to make it a summer attraction. He saw the natural terrain, tall emerald grass, and twisted trees, and said it was The Land of Oz. At the same time, land was leased from the Page Hufty Family, who had recently acquired it, to begin site plans and design concepts for Oz.

Spring, 1969
Constructing the Dream – Land of Oz

Construction begins on Land of Oz. Pentes would design the park with his associate, Joe Sonderman. New music and lyrics would be written for the park by Loonis McGlohon and Alec Wilder with choreography by Alice Leggett LaMar.

June 22, 1969
Tribute to Judy Garland
Tribute to Judy Garland

Judy Garland passes away. Jack adds the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook in her honor. Ray Bolger (the film’s Scarecrow) breaks ground on it, and Austin Fox would create a bronze bust of her as Dorothy.

March 7, 1970
Passing of the Visionary
Passing of the Visionary

Grover Robbins, the man who greenlit Oz would pass away just before opening.

June 15, 1970
Soft Opening of Oz

The Land of Oz has a soft opening before the Emerald City or balloon ride are ready. An immediate hit, it draws 4,000 people, earning it the Washington Post’s title of Number One Tourist Attraction.

July 3, 1970
Grand Opening of Oz

The official ribbon cutting ceremony with Debbie Reynolds takes place. She would have her daughter, Carrie Fisher, with her. Reynolds co-owned many of the film costumes on display in the park’s small museum, including one of Judy Garland’s Dorothy dresses.

1970-73
Golden Years of Oz

Oz is a success and sees a great first few years averaging 450,000 guests a season. It became cover stories for Southern Living, Holiday Inn, and Friends Magazines.

1973
Surviving the Gas Crisis
Surviving the Gas Crisis

The gas crisis would affect ticket sales, but the park pushes onward.

February, 1975
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy

Carolina Caribbean Corporation, the company who developed Beech Mountain into a tourist destination and built Oz goes bankrupt due to failed investments.

December 28, 1975
Emerald City Fire

A fire is set to the Emerald City, and the museum is ransacked. The main building that housed the park’s offices, costumes, sound system, and amphitheater stage was destroyed along with an adjoining gift shop. Many film costumes were stolen including the Dorothy dress and bronze bust.

1976
Revival of Oz
Revival of Oz

Oz is purchased by TriSouth of Atlanta, one of the original investors. Construction on a new Emerald City began that April.

June, 1976
Emerald City Rebirth

Emerald City is completed in 3 months, and the park reopens with new costumes and added attractions, including Professor Marvel’s Wagon, a puppet show, and a slight-of-hand magic show. Dorothy would now walk guests through the park, when previously she was not seen until the Emerald City show.

1977-79
Declining Years
Declining Years

Oz would continue, but quality control would diminish. Money was not going back into the park maintenance, renovations, or added attractions. It would look run down and become known as a “tourist trap,” and attendance would plummet.

Summer, 1980
Pentes Revival Plan
Pentes Revival Plan

Jack Pentes is brought in to see what could be done to Oz to revitalize it. He came up with a 10-year plan for added and new attractions and estimated it would cost $3 million to bring Oz up to speed for an opening in 1981.

September, 1980
Oz’s Closure
Oz’s Closure

Three weeks before the end of the season, it was announced to cast and Land of Oz employees would close for good. It was officially announced to the general public at the beginning of 1981.

1981-86
Photos Courtesy of M. Redlich
Abandoned Oz

Oz would lay abandoned, succumbing to the harsh weather conditions and vandals.

Late 1980's
Demolition Plans

Oz would fall back into the original landowners hands. Plans to demolish the park and build a gated community began. Emerald City and the Balloon Ride were torn down. During this time, it was decided to save most of Oz, and build the community surrounding the Yellow Brick Road.

1988
Photos courtesy of Lucy Peterson Bowen
Ozzies Reunion

A reunion of original park employees, known as the “Ozzies,” occurred. This would spark interest in reopening the park on a smaller scale.

July 4, 1991
Brief Reopening
Brief Reopening

Oz opens to the public for a one day walk through. It draws almost 4,000 people in one day.

October, 1993
Autumn at Oz Begins
Autumn at Oz Begins

The very first Autumn at Oz Festival occurs. It would be so successful, it would become an annual event. Cindy Keller would produce the event for over 20 years.

1997
New Ownership by Frances “Archie” Hufty Leidy

Frances “Archie” Hufty Leidy assumed ownership of the park and continued to run Autumn at Oz yearly with Cindy Keller.  

2012-2019
Journey with Dorothy

Journey with Dorothy is offered for select days in June to cater to popular demand. This event featured Dorothy tour guides and guests participating as the other characters.

2017 - Present Day
Festival Expansion

The Autumn at Oz Festival has grown from a one-day event to multiple weekends each fall.

2022-23
Austin Scarlett’s Costumes
Austin Scarlett’s Costumes

New costumes would be designed by Project Runway’s Austin Scarlett. 

2023
Autumn at Oz Celebrates its 30th Anniversary!

We were incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support during the 30th Anniversary of the Autumn at Oz Festival with a sellout of all dates!

2024
The Leidy Family Continue Building the Legacy

Currently, the continuity of land ownership has remained within the Hufty-Leidy family since 1966. Archie subsequently passed Oz down to her children Page, Carter, and Francie who operate Land of Oz to this day.