The WICKED movie has taken the world by storm, and as an ex-theater kid I was BEYOND excited to see this on the big screen. My family and I went to see it the day after Thanksgiving, and I am not ashamed to say that we have not stopped listening to the soundtrack since!
For those who are not familiar with Wicked, it is the first book in a Wizard of Oz pre-quel series written by Gregory Maguire, which was later adapted into a musical. I have not read the books, so if anyone has I would love to hear your thoughts on it!
But seeing Wicked got me thinking. I’d always heard whispers of a Wizard of Oz theme park somewhere in the United States, but what other Wizard of Oz destinations are out there? So, for those of you who can’t get the WICKED soundtrack out of your head, here are some Wizard of Oz themed destinations you can add to your 2025 travel list!
Land of Oz – Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Images from Land of Oz website.
Tucked into the mountains of North Carolina, the Land of Oz offers a one-of-a kind way for guests to immerse themselves in the tales of Dorothy, her friends, and the magical citizens of Oz.
What originally opened as a theme park in 1970, the Land of Oz has gone through both good times and bad. It has withstood a fire, closings, and years of neglect before re-opening in 1993. Although it is no longer a fully functioning theme park, it is now home to the largest Oz festival in the world, Autumn at Oz!
As part of the festival, you get to visit Dorothy’s family farm, take a stroll down the yellow brick road, meet the iconic characters, and have your wish granted by the Wizard himself. There is also film memorabilia on display throughout the park, various arts, crafts and food vendors, and even a scenic lift ride you can take to see Oz from above!
The Autumn at Oz festival has ended for 2024, but will be back again in 2025. Check their website and social channels for more updates.
The Wizard of Oz Immersive Experience Museum – Cape Canaveral, Florida
Images from The Wizard of Oz Museum
This next location would make for the perfect pit stop on your next trip to Florida. Located in Cape Canaveral (right by the Kennedy Space Center), the Wizard of Oz Museum boasts a huge collection of over 2,000 memorabilia pieces related to the Wizard of Oz movie and book series, including original costumes.
But the biggest draw is its immersive Wizard of Oz experience, which utilizes immersive technology to render a 360 digital landscape that puts guests directly into the land of Oz. During the exhibit, all the images are moving and synchronized to music, allowing for a truly unique way to experience the story of the Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy’s House – Liberal, Kansas
Images from travelks.com
Another quick pit stop, Dorothy’s House offers visitors a glimpse into what life in Kansas would have been like for Dorothy and her family. Their Wizard of Oz tour takes you through a recreation of Dorothy’s house, and touches on the lasting influences from the film.
But that’s not all, this museum also has its very own Oz themed festivals. Their biggest one is Oz Fest, which is held every two years on the second Saturday of October (the next Oz Fest will be October 11, 2025).
On years when they are not doing Oz Fest, they do Haunted Oz. This is their Halloween Celebration, when they turn the Land of Oz into a witch’s paradise. The first Haunted Oz was this past October, 2024, which means the next Haunted Oz will take place in 2026.
Wizard of Oz City Guide – Wamego, Kansas
There’s no place like Wamego, Kansas, or at least that’s what Dorothy might say if she ever visited. This town has multiple places dedicated to the Wizard of Oz, so if you consider yourself a fan, then this city is definitely worth checking out! And the good news is that all of these destinations are located within its small downtown area, so you can easily park (for free!) and walk to each one.
Where’s Toto?
Images from OzMuseum.com
There are 18 Totos hidden around town that were designed by Kansas artists, with 4 of them being on the main street. You can try your luck at finding them on your own, but if you’d like some assistance, you can get a map of them from either the Wamego Chamber of Commerce or the OZ Museum.
Dedicated to all things Oz, the Oz Museum in Kansas is home to over 2,000 Ozian artifacts, including props from the original Wizard of Oz movie, the Broadway musicals Wicked and The Wiz, and items from author L. Frank Baum himself.
Some of the most popular items you can see here include:
- The hand jeweled ruby slippers created by artist Jeffery Merrell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the movie.
- A reproduction of the Haunted Forest sign that warns Dorothy and her companions in The Wizard of Oz film.
- Doors and windows from a munchkin house, used on the set of the film, The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.
- Miniature flying monkeys which were used in the movie’s production.
- W.W. Denslow’s 24 color illustrated pages from the 1st edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).
Once you’ve finished up here, you can take a quick jaunt down the Yellow Brick Road yourself, as the city installed its very own version right across the street from the museum. For those of you with children, the path is just two blocks in length and ends right before the Emerald City Playground.
Images from OzMuseum.com
Images from Toto’s TacOZ
Where you can get some tacos…and your little dog, too!
Described as “the best Cal-Mex restaurant on the Yellow Brick Road”, Toto’s TacOZ has some delicious looking menu items and would make for the perfect lunch break on your Oz-filled day! Is anyone else hungry?
The last spot on our list is the Oz Winery, located just one block away from the Oz Museum. Here you will find a variety of wines inspired by the Wizard of Oz movie, including an Emerald City Lights Sauvignon Blanc, Poppy Fields Pinot Gris, and Drunken Munchkin Cabernet Sauvignon.
Each customer gets 2 free samples, but if you’re like me and want to try ALL the things, then they also have wine flights you can order. The flights feature your choice of either 3 wines for $10 or 5 wines for $15, but if wine isn’t your thing, then you can enjoy some locally made chocolates from Emporia, cheeses from the Alma Creamery, or help yourself to some OZsome merchandise instead!
Images from Oz Winery
Have you been to any of these places? Let us know in the comments below!
Header image is from Land of Oz
Nerdventures 
Leave a comment