NC Land of Oz pauses its Yellow Brick Road journey. When fab tourist spot may reopen
Fans of the Land of Oz attraction in the North Carolina mountains were distraught over its sudden, announced closing on Friday.
“Over the past few years, Autumn at Oz has grown tremendously, with increasing attendance and expanded programming,” the Land of Oz team wrote on social media to devotees. “This success has been exciting and a testament to the dedication of everyone involved.
“However, as our event has evolved, we face new challenges in maintaining the high standard of experience that our guests expect.”
Organizers of the immersive Wizard of Oz theme park, located in Beech Mountain, were no more specific, saying only that Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on North Carolina reminded them “of the critical importance of long-term sustainability and preparedness.”
“With that in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to place Autumn at Oz on pause for 2025” to undergo “a comprehensive assessment of the event and the park itself.”
“Thorough evaluation” to begin
Organizers describe their festival as the largest Oz festival in the world, with “arts and craft, handmade trinkets, memorabilia, food vendors” and immersive theater.
Land of Oz intends to reopen in 2026, according to Friday’s statement. “But before moving forward, we must thoroughly evaluate key aspects of Autumn at Oz, including guest experience, operations, infrastructure and overall event sustainability.”
“This pause will allow us to make thoughtful decisions that protect the magic of the event,” organizers said.
The team promised updates.
“We understand this is disappointing news, but it is a necessary step for the continued success of Autumn at Oz and The Land of Oz. We deeply appreciate your dedication and contributions to making this event so special.”
“We are sad”
Organizers said the attraction “remains a treasured part of our region’s history, and we are actively exploring ways to share it with visitors in new and meaningful ways.”
“We are sad, but we truly understand!!” a woman posted on Facebook.
“It was devastating to see all of the damage last fall, with the overwhelming reality of ‘I was just there,’” another woman wrote on the site.
A man on Facebook said he appreciated “all that you do to make Oz such an incredible experience! Take the time you need, we will hopefully see you in 2026.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "NC Land of Oz pauses its Yellow Brick Road journey. When fab tourist spot may reopen."