I came across this interesting story about the Land of Oz.  It exists at the top of a mountain in North Carolina, not Kansas…  For some reason, I am starting to get into abandoned area studies as an interest.  I posted on it earlier.  Here is an excerpt.  You can find the whole story and all the pictures here:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1Cj7tj/:1zAw059QY:d3j3yoV0/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334437/Goodbye-Yellow-Brick-Road-eerie-abandoned-Land-Oz-theme-park-hidden-North-Carolina-mountain.html/

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The eerie abandoned Land of Oz theme park hidden at top of a North Carolina mountain

• Fire and death forced park to close ten years after it opened in 1970
• Park based on popular Wizard of Oz theme attracted 400,000 visitors in its first summer
• Tourists could explore Dorothy’s farmhouse, meet the characters and depart in a special hot air balloon ride
• Vandals and thieves damaged Oz, as it lay forgotten on top of a mountain resort

By JESSICA JERREAT

At the top of a winding North Carolina mountain road is the entrance to Oz, a 1970s theme park abandoned less than 10 years after it opened. 

In its heyday the Land of Oz could attract 20,000 visitors a day, but now the neglected Yellow Brick Road is missing some bricks, the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle is empty and the Emerald City has disappeared. 

In the same way the Wizard of Oz created the Emerald City to wow his subjects, entrepreneur Grover Robbins dreamed up the Beech Mountain theme park as a way of attracting families – and money – to the resort town.

 

Eerie: Props can be found in the deserted houses and characters carved into trees when the park opened in 1970 appear ghoulish in the deserted park

 

In its heyday the Land of Oz could attract 20,000 visitors a day