Autumn At The "Land Of Oz" On Beech Mountain NC

The 15th Anniversary of "Autumn At Oz" will be held Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th, 2008 from 10:00 to 5:00 pm on Beech Mountain NC. Once a year, visitors have the privilege of going back in time to visit the Emerald City again. WE'RE OFF to see the WIZARD - bring your ruby slippers!!

This magical theme park was open from 1970 to 1980, after that much of the park was destroyed by vandals and neglect. In the 1990s - most of the park was restored and now only opens the first weekend each year in October.


You will find Dorothy, Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and their farm. You might even see the Wicked Witch and the Cowardly Lion. Visitors can park in the meadows across from the Beech Mountain Town Hall and walk, or catch the bus, up to the private garden of OZ. The walk is approximately 1 gentle, uphill mile. Catch up with Dorothy and friends along the Yellow Brick Road.


The tour takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and may be taken any time between 10 am and 5 pm. Strollers and wheelchairs will need to be parked. There will be a mini-museum to visit and artifacts to share. Peter McTavish will provide Magic Shows and Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary will exhibit a small petting zoo, adding more fun at the Farm. There will be face painting, food treats, and special Oz concessions in "Kansas". New and old trivia will be available for purchase, with part of the money going back into upkeep and restorations.


THE very special Oz guests of honor are still a mystery but will be ??? from the 1939 movie. Everyone is encouraged to wear something "Ozzie" and bring their photos and treasures to add to the event. Remember the top of Beech Mtn is 5506 ft elevation so bring a jacket!!


A special invitation is extended to past employees of Carolina Caribbean and the Land of OZ. The price is $15.00, children under 3 free. We'll gladly take original yellow bricks or other park remains for trade. A limited number of advance tickets are available at the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, . 800-468-5506.


Links about the once famous - Land of Oz on Beech Mtn, North Carolina


http://www.emeraldmtn.com/LandofOz/oz.htm


Wikipedia's definition of Oz Park

Roadside America Reviews of Oz

If you make the trip to Beech - be sure and visit Freds General Store and have some delicious pizza at the Brick Oven Pizza

Need a luxury vacation home rental on Beech Mountain ? Visit Oz or plan a ski trip to SkiBeech. Relax in the huge hot tub, enjoy the outdoor decks, stay in touch with WiFi and lots more.

Tweetsie Railroad - Family Fun in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains!

Tweetsie Railroad - Have you ever been there?? If so, you would never forget it. It has been around since I was a kid and that's been a really LONG time!! It's so well known in the South, that just the mention of "Tweetsie" will bring a grin to most folk's face.

The Tweetsie Train is a classic, steam locomotive with a distintive shrill whistle that sounds like "Tweet, Tweet, thus the name, Tweetsie. Once the whistle has sounded then the conducter yells - ALL ABOARD the Tweetsie Railroad!! Then the excitement begins.. You ride the rails through the mountains on guard against the train robbers but have no fear - the US Marshalls are on the train to protect you (it's really not too scary-kids love it)!! It's not your run of the mill theme park, it's smaller, more personal and less crowded with beautiful mountain scenery.

This family park brings back the old fashioned fun of the Wild West with dance halls, cowboys and Indians.. There's also entertainment, live music, a deer and goat park, face painting, ferris wheel, chair lifts and lots of other fun rides, etc.. You can even try your hand at panning for gold. Check out the scary, Ghost Train Ride in October for Halloween.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on Hwy 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock NC, just a short ride from Beech Mountain - about 45 minutes and only about 40 minutes from Hickory. After your Tweetsie adventure, why not drive into downtown Blowing Rock to check out all the unique shops. Our personal favorite is Kilwin's Ice Cream and Candy Store - try the old fashioned Vanilla milkshake - it comes with whipped cream on top - YUM !!

We recently enjoyed the day at Tweetsie for a family reunion. It was a beautiful day in the Blue Ridge Mountains with temps in the high 70s and low 80s.. I hope you enjoy the photos from Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC. Check the Tweetsie website for more information.

If you are coming to the Blue Ridge Mountains, why not stay in a luxury vacation home rental on Beech Mountain NC.. Beech Mountain is a central NC Mountain location to visit all the great attractions nearby, Grandfather Mountain with the Swinging Bridge or Linville Caverns. In the winter, you can ski at SkiBeech, Sugar Mountain or Appalachian Ski Mountain.. You can hike the mountain trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway or fish in the rivers and creeks. Biking is another favorite here.

Tweetsie Photos by C. Gilliam

Highland Games On Grandfather Mountain July 10-13

Grandfather Mountain will host its 53rd annual Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans from July 10-13. This event brings together over 160 tartan plaids and up to six different bagpipes bands to the North Carolina Highlands.

Because the Highland Games are set among this spectacular mountain setting they are considered to be some of America's grandest games. The peak of Grandfather Mountain reaching 6,000 feet and the show of red, yellow and green striped tents is reminiscent of Scotland. You will hear traditional bagpipes and kettle drums sounding over this incredible festival.

Open Ceremonies will begin on Thursday afternoon, July 10. A piping concert, sheep herding exhibition and the running of "The Bear" are among the celebrations’ opening events. Concessions are available at the Meadows for spectators to enjoy or some choose to bring a picnic dinner.

At dusk, a torchlight ceremony occurs in which a representative of each of the 160 clans present announce their families participation in the games. This "raising of the clans" shows their unity in celebrating their Scottish heritage.

"The Bear" is an annual tradition in which over 800 runners make the 5 mile footrace from Linville to the base of Grandfather Mountain. This race, which climbs 1,568 feet in elevation, will occur just prior to the torchlight ceremony.

The Grizzly Bike Ride, on July 11, will also be a returning event to the Games this year. This ride, which begins at Grandfather Mountain, has cyclers climb over 7,000 feet in 65 miles through Avery County. Bikers will also trek over a two mile section of dirt road on the backside of Beech Mountain.

On Saturday July 12 the running of the Grandfather Mountain Marathon will take place. This marathon is in its 41st year and special prizes will be awarded to any athlete that completes all three events.

Other festivities throughout the weekend will include heavy-weight Scottish athletic events; highland dancing competition; bagpipe band parades; piping, drumming and harp competitions; sheep herding demonstrations by Scottish border collies and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music.

The Scottish heavy weight athletic events are comprised of competitions such as "Turning the Caber" and "Tossing the Sheaf." These require athletes to turn telephone pole sized tree trunks on end and toss 16 pound hay sacks over 20 foot bars. Other tests of strength traditional of ancient Scotland are highland wrestling, putting the stone, the hammer throw and various weight throws.

Celtic music is enjoyed Friday and Saturday nights during the games. The Celtic Jam performs traditional and contemporary Celtic music and can be heard on Friday evening. Saturday’s performances in the Celtic Rock Concert will be by various artists including Barleyjuice, The Killdares, Coyote Run, Mother Grove and many others. Each night and during the day in the Celtic Grove you can listen to Albannach, a drum and pipe group with tribal rhythm. More traditional Appalachian and Celtic folk musicians appearing at the Games include Ed Miller, Clay Lunsford, Jim Malcolm and Colin Grant Adams.

Other evening activities include a concert by Alex Beaton & Friends, and a piping concert, both held at the Broyhill Inn in Boone and a concert of Scottish folk music and dance called a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) held both Friday and Saturday nights at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk.

Merchants will be selling Gaelic and tartan gift items adjacent to the Meadows throughout the weekend. This bazaar will also offer traditional Scottish meat pies and other concessions. You can trace your Scottish roots and learn about your heritage at one of the more popular tents.
Adult tickets are $10 Thursday, $20 Friday, $25 Saturday and $15 Sunday. Tickets are $5 each day for children ages 5-12 with children under five free. Tickets are available at the field on the day of the event.

Parking near the Games field is open to the public Thursday and Friday, but public parking is not available at the field on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle services are provided between MacRae Meadows and parking areas in Linville, Newland and Boone. Shuttle fees vary depending on the location of the satellite lot.

Tickets to the off-mountain evening events vary. For more information call 828-733-1333 or visit online at www.gmhg.org. For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or www.mountainsofnc.com.

Amaze your friends at the Highland Games by sharing all of your knowledge of Grandfather Mountain!

Learn about the history of this famous landmark and destination from its beginning in prehistoric times to modern day. Written by award-winning journalist, Miles Tager, Grandfather Mountain: A Profile will enrich your experience at Grandfather Mountain for years to come.

Grandfather Mountain is just a short drive from beautiful Beech Mountain NC, come check out the other side of the mountain..

Got Pizza ?? Beech Mountain NC Has The Best!!

It's hard to believe that you can find some of the best pizza ever on the top of Beech Mountain NC.... I am a real pizza lover and I can tell you, The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria is the real deal... The delicious pizza is not all they offer.. They also have a variety of fantastic chicken wings.. Salads, sandwiches and an ice cream parlor are the newest additions to the Brick Oven.

The Brick Oven has a great atmosphere with plenty of fun for the kids. The indoor arcade game room is loaded with exciting games.. My mom even had fun on the racing game - she was hilarious !! Outside, you can enjoy a game of miniature golf, better known to me as Putt-Putt.. They even have a ton of TVs for watching sports..

Enjoy reading satisfied customer messages on the walls from just about everywhere around the world...

Check out the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria's website, it's under construction but soon should provide all the delicious details !! They are located across the street from the Beech Mountain Town Hall.

Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria

402 Beech Mountain Pkwy

Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Phone: 828-387-4209

Tell 'em Cheryl sent you .... Enjoy !!

Fred's - An Old Time Country Store on Beech Mountain NC

Step back in time, slow down and enjoy just looking around an old time country store.. Fred's General Mercantile on Beech Mountain NC is just the kind of place that makes you want to stop for a while..

Even though Fred's has the feel of simpler times, he does have most anything you might need.. Groceries, hardware, flowers and plants, a deli, t-shirts, clothing, shoes, ski rentals in the winter. The slogan at Fred's is ""If you don't see it, ask for it...If we don't have it, you don't need it."

Fred and Margie Pfohl are the nicest people that

you will ever met.. On February 9, 1979, began the history of Fred's General Mercantile. Fred and Margie purchased a rectangle piece of property that was considered "useless", except for billboard advertisement, and transformed it into a thriving business.

The main store consists of a grocery store, hardware store, and clothing store. At Fred's they can outfit the entire family for a weekend vacation. The grocery is a fully stocked grocery store that carries everything from canned goods to gourmet foods. Try the homemade Toll House pie, it is the BEST - but you have to be quick - they get gone in a hurry !! Can you tell I love chocolate ???

In the hardware section we feature such quality items as Stanley tools, Laclede tire chains, and more screws, nails, nuts, and bolts then you can shake a stick at! The clothing section is filled with hundreds of T-shirts and sweatshirts, and we also carry high quality clothing from Columbia Sportswear, Woolrich, Alps, & Merrell.

Check out Fred's website, he even has an online store - now that's a country store revved up for this century ! Come and enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Fred's Store on Beech... It's a blast from the past...