BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- An Avery County attraction announced it will not open in 2025.  Officials with the Land of Oz near Beech Mountain say their Autumn of Oz festival will be "put on pause" this year due to effects from Hurricane Helene and other future plans. “Followin g Hurricane Helene’s impact on North Carolina, we’ve been reminded of the critical importance of long-term sustainability and preparedness,” they wrote in a letter posted on their website. “With that in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to place Autumn at Oz on pause for 2025 in order to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the event and the park itself.”  Small business in Clemmons reflects on surviving pandemic Based on the “Land of Oz” books, made famous by the movie “Wizard of Oz,” Land of Oz is a mostly dormant theme park that has remained open to host public events, like Autumn of Oz. It's on 1 Yellow Brick Road, and features on of its own. Autumn of Oz typically occurs on the weekends during September, where visitors can meet their favorite characters for photo opportunities, see live performances, and shop for Oz memorabilia. Officials plan to relaunch the festival in 2026, but they “must thoroughly evaluate key aspects of Autumn at Oz, including guest experience, operations, infrastructure, and overall event sustainability.”   After opening in 1970, the Washington Post dubbing it the No. 1 Tourist Attraction in its inaugural year. It has triumphed through adversity before, having faced a financial crisis and fire in 1975.  “We understand this is disappointing news, but it is a necessary step for the continued success of Autumn at Oz and The Land of Oz,” officials said. “The Land of Oz remains a treasured part of our region’s history, and we are actively exploring ways to share it with visitors in new and meaningful ways.”  ...read more read less