Land of Oz: How To Get A Private Tour Of The Quirky Theme Park

CHARLOTTE, NC — This month, a quirky theme park in the mountains of North Carolina is offering an opportunity to travel down the yellow brick road like Dorothy and the Tin Man and "escape to where troubles melt like lemon drops."

Land of Oz, the small family-owned Wizard of Oz-based theme park in Beech Mountain, is offering private tours of the park though Sept. 27. Tours are by reservation and start at $150.

"Come explore the park without the crowds and observe the breathtaking mountain top views," the park said. The 90-minute tours include the Gale Kansas Farm, the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook, the Fountain of Youth and the tornado cellar.

For many visitors, the history of the theme park is as much of a draw as the immersive movie schtick. Land of Oz opened in 1970, reportedly drawing visitors from all over the country. Actress Debbie Reynolds was on hand for the ribbon cutting, along with her daughter Carrie Fisher, according to the park's site.

While the park may be rooted in fantasy, the yellow brick road winding up Beech Mountain is definitely real. It's constructed of 44,000 actual yellow bricks, Travel and Leisure reported.

The park typically has two cornerstone events throughout the year: "Journey With Dorothy" in January and and "Autumn At Oz" held in September. This year, Autumn At Oz has been cancelled.

You may find more information about the Land of Oz private tours here.