While the Land of Oz Amusement Park atop Beech Mountain was only open for a decade, it still has quite a following today! A large section of the park remains and reopens a few times each year. Land of Oz opened on June 15, 1970, with actress Debbie Reynolds cutting the ribbon with her daughter Carrie Fisher. It was a big hit and remained open until 1980. The remaining sections of the park reopen every September with “Autumn at Oz”. Event parking is just 8 miles from Sugar Mountain – find a vacation rental!
Autumn at Oz 2024
September 6-8, 13-15, 20-22
The park comes back to life with the return of all the characters during the largest Wizard of Oz festival in the country. Advance reservations highly recommended – it’s one of the most popular events in the Sugar Mountain area! Hours: Fridays: 11 AM-6:30 PM. Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM-6:30 PM. Peak time slots fill up quickly! Tickets go on sale in June – buy in advance on the official Land of Oz website.
General Admission Tickets in 2024 are $60 + taxes & processing fees. Children 2 & Under are free. Ticket includes parking, shuttle to/from the park, meeting all of the characters, all live shows in park, and the Oz Gift Shop. While your ticket is access for one walk-through along the yellow brick road, you are able to travel it at your own leisure. Your ticket is only valid for the date and time of purchase. Allow 2-3 hours for your tour. Optional add-ons include the Over the Rainbow Observation Deck and Scenic Lift Ride to the top.
See more photos and details below! Also, read about more Fall Things to Do near Sugar.
The park is based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 1900 book and the 1939 movie. It was designed for visitors to experience the story through the eyes of Dorothy as you meet characters along the yellow brick road. Be prepared to walk about 1.5 miles, including half of that on the hilly Yellow Brick Road. No pets allowed except for stuffed Totos.
In the mid 1990s, the Autumn of Oz weekend began as a reunion for original park employees. That grew to a weekend with nearly 10,000 people attending. Now, the very festive event is three weekends. Dress as your favorite character!
Begin tours at Dorothy’s farm – complete with a tornado as you walk through the house. Then you follow the Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City to meet all the characters, stopping for music and photo stops along the way.
Finish with a show with Oz under the big tent. The event parking is located at Beech Mountain Ski Resort – allow about 20 minutes to drive the 8 miles from Sugar Mountain. Buy tickets starting in June on the official Land of Oz website. Many dates will sell-out.
Park at the Beech Mountain Ski Resort and ride a shuttle or take the chair lift to the park located on top of the mountain. GPS address: 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604. While the Autumn at Oz parking is just eight miles from Sugar Mountain, allow at least 20 minutes to drive the winding roads.
Nearby: See our Fall Color Guide for more things to do, and find places to stay including many vacation rentals in the village of Sugar Mountain.
Festival Map:
