A Weekend Trip Over the Rainbow

Lions, straw men and tin guys, oh my! Meet the well-dressed characters along the trail at Beech Mountain’s Autumn at Oz.

As a kid growing up in North Carolina in the early 1970s, my family didn’t do Disney every year. We headed west instead of south, to the mountains for family fun at Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town in the Sky (RIP), Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock and the Land of Oz atop Beech Mountain. 

Oz entertained from 1970–1980, but with a little luck and TLC from somewhere over the rainbow, the Yellow Brick Road slowly began welcoming visitors back in the 1990s. Today it holds an annual Autumn at Oz event during three weekends in September where visitors of all ages travel the iconic path for an interactive, immersive experience with all the beloved characters.

Forty-four thousand bricks make up the Yellow Brick Road

The witch and her evil flying monkeys scared the bejeezus out of my 5-year-old self. But recently, as an adult, after emerging from the tornado-tossed farmhouse, I laughed while skipping atop the yellow bricks and meeting familiar characters — even the Wicked Witch of the West — before running past those monkeys in search of the gates to the Emerald City and the Wizard himself. I felt like a kid again.

The brick road is about three-quarters of a mile long, with total path distance at 1.5 miles; but it typically takes almost two hours as you meander through, enjoying the character interaction and various mini-shows along the way.

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“Each year we spend the summer preparing for the event,” says Sean Barrett, Land of Oz producer and artistic director. “This includes a landscaping overhaul and repainting the Yellow Brick Road, which consists of 44,000 bricks. Emerald City is also rebuilt from the ground up every year.”

Additions over the years included restoring the last remaining steel balloon frame from the original park balloon ride.

“The covers to the ride were discovered in the attic of the crooked house,” adds Sean.

Visitors also now have the option to ride the Beech Mountain chairlift up to Oz. And the “Over the Rainbow Overlook” attraction gives visitors a 360-degreee view of multiple states from atop Beech Mountain, one of the highest points on the East Coast.

Autumn at Oz celebrates its 31st year this fall since reopening. Sean reported that a documentary on the Land of Oz has been filming at the park for almost two years, with its release later this year. Perfect timing, considering 2024 marks the 85th anniversary for the MGM classic film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

No Place Like Home (Away From Home)

If you’re heading to Beech Mountain for the Autumn at Oz festival, the area offers plenty of other diversions to make a full weekend of the trip. Learn about these and more at beechmtn.com.

• The Emerald Outback Trail Park offers more than 7 miles of hiking and biking treks near Beech Mountain’s summit.
• The Buckeye Recreation Center is a hotspot for birdwatching, as well as kayaking, fishing hiking and more.
• The Mountaineer Adventure Tower is a three-story ropes course featuring a 25-foot slide.
• And the town of Beech Mountain offers several restaurants to fuel your adventures, including Beech Mountain Brewing Co., one of the only U.S. breweries owned and operated by a ski area.