Return to Oz at Beech Mountain, N.C.

For one magical weekend every year, visitors to Beech Mountain, N.C., can visit the Land of Oz. In the 1970s, the Land of Oz was open year-round and my sister and I still have fond memories of visiting with our parents. I was so excited to learn recently that the Land of Oz opens to the public the first weekend in October each year.

High atop Emerald Mountain, visitors can walk along the yellow brick road, experience a “tornado” as it hits Dorothy’s house and visit with all of the characters. You can also stop for a chat with the talking tree or rest in the field of poppies. And when you arrive at that huge gate at Oz, the gatekeeper is there to greet you. I only wish you could still take a balloon ride across the mountain.

For even more fun, be sure to go in costume. During our recent visit, I wore my Dorothy costume, while my nephew had on his scarecrow outfit. My mother followed along in her Lion suit. It made the experience so much more fun. It was great to see all of the characters, children and adults alike, walking along the yellow brick road.

Beech Mountain, N.C., is a great place to visit any time of the year. Every season offers something special, from skiing in the winter to visiting the Land of Oz and checking out the colorful leaves in the fall. In the summer and spring, it’s a great place for hiking and fishing and other outdoor adventure.

As you climb the mountain, you leave behind the hustle and bustle. The air seems fresher. Folks are friendlier. Everything actually seems to slow down. Beech Mountain makes a great mountain escape.

At 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is Eastern America’s highest town. Quaint shops, a wonderful pizza parlor and a putt putt course can be found in the center of the mountain town. And every which way you turn, you are surrounded by natural beauty. This time of year, the multi-colored leaves make for a colorful backdrop.

During our visit, we stayed at the Pinnacle Inn Resort, which is centrally located in Beech Mountain. It’s within easy walking distance of the field where you catch a bus or hayride to the Land of Oz.

The resort is open year-round and offers fully furnished suites, as well as one and two bedroom condos. The units have all the comforts of home, including games and DVDs. We were excited to find a “Scooby Doo” video to watch one evening.

Our two-bedroom condo had a full kitchen and washer and dryer, as well as a fireplace in the living room. The balcony offered a beautiful view of Grandfather Mountain and Sugar Mountain.

The All Seasons Center at the resort includes an indoor heated pool, four indoor hot tubs, steam room, dry sauna, exercise room, recreation area with ping pong table, pool table, electronic games and more. The spacious grounds feature two tennis courts, miniature golf, shuffleboard and a playground.

For a great meal, go to Brickoven Pizza located in the center of Beech Mountain. They offer pizza, as well as great Italian dishes, cheesecake, meatballs, sandwiches, cappuccino and desserts. It’s a very family friendly restaurant with an ice cream parlor and game room. It’s located at 402 Beech Mountain Parkway and is only a short distance from the Pinnacle Inn Resort.

For more information on Beech Mountain, go to www.beechmtn.com. For more information on Pinnacle Inn Resort, go to www.pinnacleinn.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.