| The Land of Oz Contributor(s): Hollis, Tim (Author) |
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ISBN: 1467124524 ISBN-13: 9781467124522 Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC) OUR PRICE: $22.49 Product Type: Paperback Published: October 2016 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | United States - State & Local - South (al,ar,fl,ga,ky,la,ms,nc,sc,tn,va,wv) - Photography | Subjects & Themes - Regional (see Also Travel - Pictorials) - Travel | Special Interest - Amusement & Theme Parks |
| Dewey: 791.068 |
| LCCN: 2016943298 |
| Series: Images of Modern America |
| Physical Information: 0.3" H x 6.5" W x 9.2" (0.60 lbs) 96 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Skip down the Yellow Brick Road with author and historian Tim Hollis as you uncover the history of this beloved mountaintop attraction. In 1966, North Carolina tourism moguls Grover, Harry, and Spencer Robbins began exploring ways to utilize their new ski facilities atop Beech Mountain during the summer. They brought in their associate Jack Pentes to come up with an idea. As a long-time fan of The Wizard of Oz, Pentes planned and developed the Land of Oz theme park, opening in June 1970. The park did not resemble the famous 1939 MGM movie or the Oz as depicted in L. Frank Baum's book. Instead, Pentes interpreted his own vision of Oz, with a comical Wicked Witch and a wizard who did not turn out to be a fake. The Land of Oz closed after its 1980 operating season and was left to deteriorate. Since 1990, however, its remnants have been secured and restored. The property is now available for special events, and a giant Oz celebration takes place each autumn. |
Contributor Bio(s): Hollis, Tim: - Author Tim Hollis specializes in topics pertaining to broadcasting, popular culture, and all things nostalgic. For this work, Hollis scoured his own collection of tourism memorabilia, as well as those belonging to former employees and park visitors, resulting in the most comprehensive retrospective to date about this short-lived but fondly remembered attraction. |