Oct
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“A Magical Place, Part of Another World”
October 8, 2008 | Subscribe to this post
Posted by Elizabeth Hull in Events, Landmarks & Attractions, Tourism & Development
This past weekend, a weird and wonderful event took place at the top of Beech Mountain, NC: the 15th annual “Autumn at Oz,” a pilgrimage and tribute to the bygone Land of Oz theme park that existed there from 1970 to 1980. (Photos from the weekend, and previous Land of Oz parties, can be viewed here).
I don’t recall visiting Oz myself (I would’ve been pretty young when it closed in 1980), but I do remember seeing leftover artifacts at the now-closed Appalachian Cultural Museum in Boone, and thinking to myself, “what an odd idea for a tourist attraction!” (Along those lines, I recommend the article “In Search of Emerald City,” a fascinating history of the “strange urge to create a life-sized Land of Oz.”)
Hugh Morton took many a photo at Oz during the decade of its existence, most (or all?) of which were for promotional purposes. Here are a few, along with the Museum’s nice, brief summary of the park’s history.
“The Land of Oz was a theme park based on the characters of L. Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Built atop Beech Mountain in Watauga County, North Carolina, the park was designed to capitalize on the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge while providing the activities popular with modern tourists. The Land of Oz was called “exquisite” and an “adventure, imaginative and unspoiled” by the Washington, DC Daily News, which gave the park its annual award in 1970 as the best new tourist attraction in America.
The park’s developers, Grover and Harry Robbins of Boone, NC, and Jack Pentes, the designer of Oz, were determined to preserve the natural environment of the sixteen-acre park. The Land of Oz attracted over 400,000 people in its first year and became the leading tourist attraction in North Carolina almost overnight.
Not only was the Land of Oz owned locally, its construction relied on local carpenters, stonemasons, and renowned craftsmen like Daniel Boone V, who created the wrought iron work for the park. Oz also provided summer employment for some 150 young people who worked as characters, guides, and in the concessions.
The Land of Oz closed in 1980, the victim of the changed resort economy. But for a decade it was what designer Pentes had hoped for — a magical place, part of another world.”
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Links
- ArchivesNext - Blog examining archives and technology
- Biographical Conversations with . . . Hugh Morton - An episode from the UNC TV program featuring a one-on-one conversation with Hugh Morton
- Grandfather Mountain - Scenic attraction and nature preserve in Linville, NC owned by Morton from 1952 until his death in 2006
- Morton Biography from Grandfather Mountain website
- NC Collection Photographic Archives
- NC Miscellany Blog - Blog of the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, UNC-CH
- Posterity Project - Blog related to archives, history, civic responsibility, and open access to public records in Tennessee
- Southern Short Course in News Photography - America’s longest running photojournalism seminar, of which Morton was a founder
- UNC Libraries
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This post brings back some memories from the 1970’s when I was directing a kids TV show at WFMY-TV in Greensboro. The show, “The Old Rebel Show,” featured the late George Perry as the Old Rebel. During that time, cast members from the “Land of Oz” appeared on the show. One of the public relations staff at “Oz” has related one of those visits on the “Old Rebel” web site (2nd letter):
http://www.tvparty.com/oldrebel/after.html
As the title of your post says: “A Magical Place, Part of Another World,” not only applies to the “Land of Oz,” but it could also apply to local TV kids programs.
My family and I visited the Land of Oz attraction when I was 4 or 5. I have vivid, wonderful memories of my visit, from hugging Dorothy to hiding behind my Dad’s legs to get away from the Cowardly Lion (who scared me). Thanks for posting this, Elizabeth. I must try and get to next year’s event.
I got ridiculously excited when I stumbled upon this post for the Land of Oz Theme Park. I play one of three Scarecrows for the park’s annual Autumn at Oz Party, and have researched and gathered materials for years from park’s hey-day. When something like this post is found, it’s hard for me to contain my excitement!
From what I’ve told Elizabeth, I believe she is correct in saying these negatives were for promotional purposes… for a postcard series from about 1973 to 1975. They look to be in sequence for the set that was produced (although I don’t think were ever sold until the current re-openings) and can be seen at http://www.theimaginaryworld.com. The costumes shown in these photographs were destroyed in a fire at the Emerald City in Decemeber of 1975.
Although Oz won’t ever have its balloon ride or Emerald City again, what remains of it still excites and touches everyone who attends the Autumn At Oz Party - whether they are visiting for the first time or returning from the 1970s. Amazing material like this that keeps popping up just adds to its incredibly interesting history and helps those of us who never got to attend it while it was originally open piece together what once was there.
Thanks so much for posting!
Sorry, I gave the incorrect link before. Here is the actual link to the Land of Oz postcards.
http://theimaginaryworld.com/looz.html