Best Restaurants in Beech Mountain NC Our Personal Picks

Here are our top picks for the best restaurants in Beech Mountain NC.

Beech Alpen Restaurant

Address: 606 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 387-2252

Beech Alpen Restaurant is a fantastic restaurant offering upscale dining options in a casual but nice atmosphere. They are one of the few sit down and order restaurants in Beech Mountain as well, with many other restaurants on our list being counter order only.

They have a full bar and a lovely outdoor deck that provides gorgeous views of Beech Mountain and the ski resort.  

It was cold and rainy the night we dined at Beech Alpen Restaurant, but even from inside the limited sunset view we had was stunning.

They serve up a mix of Italian and classic American cuisine such as steaks, seafood, pasta, burgers, and more. 

We dined here during our visit to Land of Oz in late September 2023. The entire building and restaurant were under construction. We seemed to be seated in a more temporary space, which was fine. We had good views of the deck and surrounding mountains.

We ordered the Calamari as an appetizer, and for entrees, the filet-mignon with crab meat, trout, and fettucini Alfredo with chicken. The food took a long time to come out, but overall was very good.   

We enjoyed our meal here, and would definitely come back. Alpen Restaurant was one of our favorite restaurants to eat at in Beech Mountain NC

Holy Smokes BBQ

Address: 3363 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 387-4200

Holy Smokes BBQ is in the Wild Wolf Lodge in Beech Mountain NC and has some of the very best BBQ we've ever had in various travels around North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.   

Holy Smokes is very casual, offering both indoor and outdoor dining. In fact, their back deck delivers some super nice long distance views! Tables are large family style picnic tables, with paper towels for napkins.

Simple and effective.

You'll place your order at the counter, find a seat, and they bring your food out to you. On your way to the table, be sure to grab one of their made daily house-made bbq sauces, including Sweet, Sweet Heat, Apple butter BBQ, Carolina Tangy Mustard, Eastern, Cheerwine Vinaigrette, and Sweetpotle.

Our personal favorites are the Sweet Heat, Apple butter and Cheerwine Vinaigrette. Soooo delicious.

They offer everything you would expect from a BBQ place like pulled pork, brisket, smoked sausage and smoked pulled chicken. They even have excellent burgers and subs as well.

They also offer a few unique items like street tacos, bbq bowls, and hot dogs as well.

The pulled pork and chicken is especially delicious, with a perfect combination of smoky flavor and savory taste.

Their sides were also top notch - their mac n cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans were all delicious. We would highly recommend Holy Smokes to anyone looking for some amazing BBQ in Beech Mountain!  

Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria 

Address: 402 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 387-4000

Famous Brick Over Pizzeria not only serves up great pizza and food, but they also provide a great environment for families and kids.   

Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria has been an Italian staple in Beech Mountain NC for over twenty-five years and continues to provide quality meals with traditional recipes. They offer classic New York style pizzas and specialty pies like white pizza, vegetable pizza and steak pie.

All of their pizzas are made from hand-tossed dough that is seasoned with herbs for added flavor. They also have a wide selection of Italian favorites, like calzones, Stromboli, lasagna and ravioli. 

But there's more than just food at the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria. The atmosphere is always family friendly and inviting with its large booth seats, bakery, arcade, mini-golf, and Mountaineer Adventure Tower.

If you're looking for great pizza in a family-fun place, Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria is the perfect place for you. One of our favorites when visiting Beech Mountain NC, you will not be disappointed.

Mile High Tavern

Address: 1003 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 504-8085

Mile High Tavern is a great place for drinks, snacks and a good burger with friends.  It's perfect for hanging out on a nice summer day, or after a snowy day on the ski slopes. 

They offer a large full bar with flavorful craft beers to classic cocktails. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with a pool table, a jukebox, and plenty of barstools for enjoying conversation over drinks. 

Their menu at the time of our visit in September 2023 was only burgers and chicken sandwiches, however, they will add additional items. We waited a long time for our burgers, but they were actually really good and delivered to our table, hot with curly fries.

We really liked the outdoor seating area around the large firepit.

Fred's Backside Deli

Address: 501 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Phone: (828) 387-4838

Fred's Bakside Deli is located on the ground floor of Fred's General Store.  You can walk down the alley from the side parking area and through the back, or enter from some stairs in the store itself.

Fred's Bakside Deli serves breakfast and lunch.   You place your order, find a seat, and your food is brought out to you.

We've eaten breakfast here on a number of visits, and it's good.   They serve  egg plates, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, waffles, and breakfast sandwiches.  They even have a few baked items like muffins and cinnamon buns.   Prices are very reasonable for breakfast items.

For lunch they offer burgers, sandwiches, soups, wraps and salads. 

Final Thoughts on the Best Restaurants in Beech Mountain NC

Beech Mountain is home to some great restaurants that you won't want to miss. Whether you're looking for a fine dining experience or something more casual, there's definitely some great options for everyone to enjoy.  

If you want a more fine dining experience, Alpen Restaurant & Bar is our favorite spot. If you want a fun family environment with great pizza and lots of things for the kids to do, visit Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria.

For fast service, splendid views, and some of the best BBQ you'll find anywhere, try Holy Smokes BBQ. If it's breakfast, you're looking for Fred's backside deli is good, and one of the few breakfast spots in Beech Mountain.

Things to do in Beech Mountain NC

Whether you love great food, following the yellow brick road, exploring the mountains, winter fun, or just relaxing and enjoying the incredible views, Beech Mountain NC delivers!  Let's explore all the great things that we've done during our visits to Beech Mountain.

Here are our top 15+ picks for the very best things to do in Beech Mountain NC:

Land of Oz

Land of Oz is located in Beech Mountain, and is an attraction built in the 1960s, and operated from 1970 to 1980.

From 1985 and 1988, sections of the park were demolished because of excessive vandalism and decay. This demolition included the Emerald City and the only ride ever at the park, the balloon ride.  

In 1988, the park started opening for limited events, including the well-known Autumn in Oz event. Funds from the events are put back into the park to maintain and restore it.

Each year offers a little something new.

Today, during Autumn in Oz, you get to walk along the Yellow Brick Road, see Dorothy’s house, and view the vivid red poppies as you travel to the Emerald City. Actors portray the major characters and perform many of the songs and scenes from the famous movie along your journey through the Land of Oz.

We've have visited both events during the 4 times we've visited Land of Oz, with our most recent to Autumn in Oz 2023. 

We love visiting the Land of Oz and Beech Mountain each year, and look forward to attending again next year!

>> Be sure to check out our complete guide to Land of Oz for more information!

Beech Mountain Ski Resort

When you think of snow skiing in NC, Beech Mountain Ski Resort quickly comes to mind as one of the premium ski resorts in North Carolina, and the US. The resort attracts 10s of thousands each year and provides multiple trails, lifts, tubing, ice skating, and an amazing ski village as well.

BUT, the resort isn't just for winter.

During the summer, you can ride the lift to the top for incredible views, or just hang out at the sky bar and enjoy the views.

If you love mountain biking, Beech Mountain Resort becomes a mountain biker haven in the summer, with lots of downhill trails for riders of many skill levels. You and your bike ride up the lift, then bike down one of the many trails, full of jumps, twists and turns.

Be sure to grab some drinks and food at the 5506' Sky Bar at the top of the lifts.  They offer a full bar, full views, and great food as well.  The views from the Sky Bar deck are incredible.

During our trips, we've enjoyed riding the lifts to the top, seeing the incredible views, and hanging out at the 5506' Sky Bar.

Buckeye Recreation Center

Located just a short drive from the town center of Beech Mountain, is Buckeye Recreation Center and Buckeye Lake.

The Recreation Center is really nice, providing tennis courts, a baseball field, mountain biking trails, playgrounds, and walking and hiking trails. They even have a waterfall that you can hike to!

We really enjoyed hiking the 1-mile round trip out to Buckeye Creek Falls (more information below). The hike was really pretty, and creek-side for a good portion, and the waterfall itself was just beautiful.

While at Buckeye Recreation Center, we also went kayaking.

Kayaks and Canoes are free for the public, and while the lake is small, it's really pretty and makes for some beautiful and peaceful lake time. We really enjoyed our time on the lake, and will definitely do this again when visiting. 

Overall, Buckeye Creek Recreation Center is top-notch, and we really enjoyed exploring the park, hiking to the waterfall, and kayaking on the beautiful lake.

Watch the Sunset at Sunset Park

Located on the far side of the mountain from the main town of Beech Mountain is a small park called Sunset Park. The park provides limited parking, some picnic tables, and a short trail up to a small observation deck that offers incredible views, particularly for sunsets (hence the name!).

During our first night visiting Beech Mountain in 2022, we headed up to view the sunset after having dinner, and the view and sunset were incredible.

One note if you visit, the address is: 313-315 N Pinnacle Ridge Road, Beech Mountain, NC 28604 - If you use Google Maps, it will direct you through a private road. You'll want to take Beech Mountain Parkway north towards and past the Ski Resort, then around the backside and up to the overlook.

Hike the Emerald Outback

The Emerald Outback is located at the top of Beech Mountain and near the Land of Oz theme park. The Emerald Outback (Emo) offers several different trails to explore that range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

The Emerald Outback was part of the original Land of Oz theme park, but has now been split off into a separate recreational facility.

Emo is a great place for families, with plenty of places to stop and take in the views of Grandfather Mountain and other nearby peaks.   

Trails are color-coded, and a trail map is at the entry area to the Emerald Outback, and you can also pickup a paper trail map from the Beech Mountain Visitor Center (be sure to tell them Blue Ridge Mountain Life sent you).

During our most recent visit to Beech Mountain and to the Emerald Outback, we hiked up to 3 different overlooks that provided outstanding views of Land of Oz, Grandfather Mountain, and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

Specifically, we started Oz Forest trail, then jumped to Jackalope's trail, then to Wizard's way, then up the Southern Ridge Trail to the very top to see Pride Rock Overlook, Awesome Oz Overlook, and Elk River Valley Overlook. We elected to take the "bail-out trails" and come down the service road on the way down.

The area is absolutely beautiful and makes for a great wooded hike up to see incredible long distance views from rock outcroppings.

Explore the Beech Mountain Museum

Located in the town center of Beech Mountain, the Beech Mountain Museum offers lots of information and artifacts about the history of Beech Mountain, including the town itself and Land of Oz.  

The museum isn't huge, but it's fun to explore.  We enjoyed seeing all the original items from the original Land of Oz park. This included costumes (shown above), red slippers, the wicked witches' feet that were under the house, and much more. They also have a scale 3D model of the original park, which was interesting to see. It shows the location of the balloon ride.

Beech Mountain has an interesting railroad history as well, where much of the far side of the mountain served logging companies and railroads many years ago.  

One of our favorite exhibitions was the music room, which featured historical information on the role music "played" (pun intended) in the culture and development of Beech Mountain.

There are lots of exhibits to see and many photos as well. It was all very interesting and gives you a different perspective on this historic mountain town.

Admission to the museum is free, but they ask for a voluntary donation.

Explore Lake Coffey

Lake Coffey is a small but beautiful lake located just outside of the heart of Beech Mountain. The offerings fishing, nice walking trail around the lake, and access to Lower and Upper Pond Creek Trail (mentioned above). 

We discovered this pretty 2 acre lake while on our way to hike Upper Pond Creek Trail, as you drive right by it on the way down to the trailhead just below the lake.

If you enjoy fishing, Lake Coffey stocked with Trout and is designated as delayed harvest trout waters. The lake is stocked annually with brown, rainbow and brook trout. A fishing license is required and is available at Fred's General Store.

The walking trail around the lake is .25 miles and easy. Most of the trail is boardwalk, and we saw lots of people walking the loop and many had dogs with them.

We also saw several people fishing, even though the temperatures were cool the day we went.

The lake makes for a delightful adventure for both walking and fishing, or both!

Mountaineer Adventure Tower

Offering 3-stories of rope levels, the Mountain Adventure Tower offers kids of all ages lots of climbing, swinging and sliding fun.

Located just behind the Famous Brick Over Pizza Restaurant (one of our favorites in Beech Mountain), this rope tower will be a colossal hit with the kids, and is a great way to let them burn off some energy.  

The tower features three different levels, each with its own unique adventure. Kids can slide down the curvy 25-foot slide from the second level to the bottom, where they can climb back up!

Hike Upper and Lower Pond Creek Trail

If you enjoy hiking, and being out in the mountains, but still not far from civilization and the town center, then Upper and Lower Pond Creek Trail will be perfect for you.

Upper Pond Creek Trail

Upper Pond Creek trail is a moderate stream side hike through a residential area of Beech Mountain. The trails is exceptionally beautiful in the fall, and the stream offers some enchanting small cascades to enjoy and photograph.

It's an out and back 2-mile hike, so you can adjust the trail length to your own needs. We hiked this trail in 2022 during a visit to Beech Mountain and really enjoyed it.

Lower Pond Creek Trail

One of our favorite trails in Beech Mountain, Lower Pond Creek Trail is strenuous due to the amount of climbing required, and the significant elevation change, but it's gorgeous and features a few waterfalls along this 1.4 mile out and back trail.

Only a few feet from the trail entrance, you see your first waterfall. You then cross a bridge and begin a fairly steep decline down the mountainside. A flowing creek will be on your left the entire way, and makes for a super pleasant hike, with lots of beautiful cascades and rock out croppings. There is even a deck about 1/2 way down where you can sit, rest and enjoy the creek views.

At the end is a medium-sized and beautiful waterfall that flows into a large pool. The setting is beautiful, making the hike well worth it.

This trail is strenuous and for good reason. There are boulders to climb up and down, lots of roots to navigate over, and the elevation gain on the way back out is pretty steep.

Trailheads for both trails are located just below Lake Coffey. Just drive by the lake on the road, and head down the gravel road to the right towards the woods.

Visit Fred's General Mercantile

One of our favorite in-town places to visit was Fred's General Mercantile. Not only did we find the store quaint and well decorated, but it's incredibly useful as well. The store carries many things you may need while staying in Beech Mountain. We stopped a few times to pick up some necessities, snacks, and bottled water while in town.

Fred's has been serving delicious food, groceries, and Beech Mountain apparel since 1979. What's amazing is that they are open 365 days a year! 

Behind the store, in the backside Deli, Fred's serves breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, choose from a menu of home-style cooking, large waffles, traditional platters, and continental options as well. For Lunch. they serve soups, sandwiches, chili, salads, and more.

We really enjoyed browsing the store and stopped several times during our visits to get various items we needed. Freds always had everything we were looking for.

We've also enjoyed both breakfast and lunch at Fred's Deli on multiple visits. The food is prepared fast and is great.

You'll definitely want to visit Fred's General Mercantile while in town.

Follow the Quilt Trail

If you stop by the Visitor's Center, located at 403-A Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604 (Right next to Town Hall and the Police station), you can get tons of information on things to do, hiking trail maps, and a guide to the Beech Mountain Quilt trail.   

On our last day, we were interested in exploring the area a bit, and tried to find some of the barn quilts on the quilt trail. Finding them was fun, and got us into a few areas we wouldn't have normally explored, which was fun. Some of the "quilts" were just gorgeous as well.

Barn quilts are a fairly new art form based on the quilting craft traditions of Western North Carolina.   

Many barn quilt blocks are painted using basic geometric shapes. These shapes and combinations of shapes represent the history of the land. We found some to be very traditional, while others were fun and even quirky.

If you enjoy driving, exploring, and seeing unfamiliar sights, the Barn Quilt trail will make for a fun adventure for you.

Hike to Buckeye Creek Falls

Until our hike down to Buckeye Creek Falls in 2022, we did not know that Beech Mountain had beautiful waterfalls! So when we rounded the corner, and saw the beauty of Buckeye Creek Falls, we were shocked.  

The trailhead to Buckeye Creek Falls is located just a short distance from the main parking area at the Buckeye Recreational Center. This loop trail is rough in spots and has some elevation gain, but the reward is worth the hike.

Buckeye Creek Falls is a medium-sized and beautiful waterfall, with a nice wooden bridge that spans the creek directly in front of the waterfall, making for a great photo and viewing location.

Learn more about Buckeye Creek Falls in our full guide.

Mountain Biking

Beech Mountain and hiking have been associated and linked back to the early days of the town's formation. Road Cyclists can enjoy cycling on the curvy mountain rounds in and around Beech Mountain.  

Highway 184 on the front side of Beech Mountain is one of the most strenuous climbs in the southern United States. The ride up was made famous during the 1990s, and was the queen stage of the Tour DuPont. It was also used during Lance Armstrong's recovery from cancer treatment.

Mountain bikers can enjoy the Emerald Outback trail system, which has several trails with jumps, berms, and other features. Not all trails are mountain bike friendly, but several of them are, and they are clearly marked at the trail, and on the trail map.

During the summer months, Beech Mountain Resort opens their downhill bike park, which is accessible via chair lift. Several competitions take place on the downhill trails each year. We really enjoyed watching all the mountain bikers shoot down the trails as we were riding up on the ski lifts to Land of Oz.

Enjoy the Views and Scenery

The main road through Beech Mountain NC is Beech Mountain Parkway. The road offers several incredible views, with one being just north of town.  

There is a parking area, and benches. This area provides a limited sunset view, and incredible morning views of the valley below Beech Mountain.

Near Fred's General Store is a small park area, with a beautiful gazebo and flowers with benches, and grass to let the kids play.

Visit Nearby Elk River Falls

Elk River Falls is about a 30 minute drive from Beech Mountain and is in Elk Park, NC. This 50 foot tall and very majestic waterfall is a sight to see, and should be on everyone's waterfall bucket list.

The hike out to the fall is short, but moderate. There is also one portion of the trail that gets very close to a sheer drop to the pool below the falls. If you are not sure-footed, we would not recommend this hike.

The falls cascade down into a deep pool of water, and you can sit and enjoy the sight from the base on a large rock that is in front of the falls, and surrounding cliffs.

Because of the strong currents and undertow, we do not recommend swimming here. Several injuries and deaths have happened.

Elk River Falls is a popular hike and waterfall, well worth the trip.

Final thoughts on Things to do in Beech Mountain NC

No matter what time of year you plan to visit, Beech Mountain NC has many great things to do that will make your trip unforgettable.

Whether you're looking for outdoor activities like hiking and camping, or prefer more leisurely activities such as relaxing and enjoying the incredible scenery or casting a line, there's something here for all kinds of mountain adventurers.

Explore Beech Mountain NC and find out why it's one of North Carolina's best-loved mountain destinations. 

Falls Trail in Buckeye Lake Recreation Center

The Buckeye Lake Recreation Area is located at 1330 Pine Ridge Rd, Beech Mountain, NC 28604.  This 50+ acre park has hiking trails, walking trails, mountain biking trails, a lake, tennis courts, playground equipment, and more.  

Additionally, it houses the 22,500-square-foot Recreation Center offering recreational opportunities like indoor basketball, volleyball, and tennis; a fitness room; a conference room with a catering area, and a playroom built specifically for children under 12.

During our visit, we kayaked on the 10-acre lake, and did the 1-mile loop hike to visit Buckeye Creek Falls, a gorgeous 20' cascading waterfall.

Our Beech Mountain NC Video

Our visit to Buckeye Creek Falls was part of a larger extended weekend adventure spent in Beech Mountain NC.   Here is our full video.

Our Buckeye Creek Falls Video

As part of our Beech Mountain weekend adventure, we hiked down to Buckeye Creek Falls, on the Fall Trail, located in Buckeye Recreation Center, near Beech Mountain NC.  Here is our video for that hike:

Hiking to Buckeye Creek Falls

The hike out to Buckeye Creek Falls begins at the Recreation Center parking area.  At the end of the parking area, near the playground equipment, you'll see a paved trail.  Follow this trail for a short distance, until you see a gravel trail to the right that heads down into the woods at a steep angle.  This is the access trail to the Falls Trail loop and is right next to the Tennis courts.

The trail will take you down and through the forest.   This portion of the trail is the steepest, and the overall elevation gain is 206ft.  The majority of it is along the first part of the trail.

You'll hike down to the intersection of the loop.   When we were there, it looked like the portion of the trail to the loop had been widened, and with very little care for the woods and trail itself.  Frankly, it looked hacked, and wasn't very pretty at all.

Fortunately, this is only for a short distance until you arrive at the intersection of the loop trail, and the trail becomes much nicer and more rustic.   

The distance to the falls is about the same, no matter which way you go, however, the elevation change is less to the left.  If you want to go to the falls, then back, and not use the full loop, go left.  The climb down and back out is easier.  If you want to do the full loop, go right.

We did the full loop, and went right.  The trails slowly descends down through the woods to the falls.  The trail is very rocky with lots of roots and travels through a lot of rhododendrons.  You'll eventually hike alongside a small creek, with some small cascades, and emerge shortly after at Buckeye Falls. 

The hike there is .5 miles and moderate to strenuous.

Buckeye Creek Falls

Buckeye Creek Falls isn't as majestic as Looking Glass or Whitewater Falls, but it's really a very photogenic and beautiful waterfall.  Buckeye Falls is about 15' - 20' foot high and flows over an angled cascade into the creek below.

A bridge is built across the creek to make the creek crossing easier and provides exceptional views of the falls.  If you want to get up closer, cross the bridge, and head to the base of the Falls to the left.   Just be careful, the rocks are slick.

Here are some photos we took during our visit:

After visiting the Falls, you can either head back the way you came, or continue following the trail around the loop.  We really recommend doing this, as the trail follows the creek above the falls, and provides some really pretty scenes along the creek.

The hike back up the steeper portion of the trail is a good workout, but not too long.

We really enjoyed this hike, and it would make for a great family hike.  We did the hike in about an hour, and that included time spent at the Falls taking photos and videos.    This is a really nice hike with a beautiful waterfall and we highly recommended if you're in and around Beech Mountain NC.

Open and accepting visitors after Hurricane Helene!

As visitors make plans and prepare to venture to Beech for the winter season they urge guests to do the following to ensure safe, cautious and responsible travel:

• Shop, eat and stay local! Our town's businesses are open and looking forward to serving you. The guide below will provide information on many of the area attractions, restaurants and places to stay.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest Beech happenings by calling the Beech Visitors Center at (800) 468-5506.
• Check North Carolina Department of Transportation's road map for closures throughout the High Country.
• Prepare to alter your travel route and account for longer travel times.
• Be mindful of outdoor conditions, check for any major weather updates/changes and stay up-to-date on local alerts.
• Donate to support the continued relief efforts of our neighboring communities across Appalachia who were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Learn more about how to help!

Where is Beech Mountain NC?

Beech Mountain NC is located on the top of Beech Mountain in the "High Country" of North Carolina, not far from Boone NC, and just up the road a bit from Banner Elk NC in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

History of Beech Mountain

Development of the town of Beech Mountain NC began in the late 60s.   Harry and Grover Robbins (founder of Tweetsie Railroad) purchased land on top of Beech Mountain and created the Ski Resort, Land of Oz theme park, and a golf course, along with pool and tennis facilities.  

As part of this development, they also built roads and sewer services as well.  They later filed for bankruptcy in 1974, and the Home Owners Community took over road maintenance and sewer, and the town itself was formed 

Today, Beech Mountain is a thriving small mountain community that is a popular retreat from the summer heat and a major US skiing destination.

Our Beech Mountain NC Travel Videos

We've visited Beech Mountain NC several times over the years. Here are some of our more recent videos from our YouTube Channel: 

Beech Mountain Travel Guides and Blogs

Where to stay in Beech Mountain NC

Beech Mountain NC provides many places for you to stay overnight, including cabins, hotels, and campgrounds as well. Here are some of our top picks!

4 Seasons Beech Mountain Hotel and Condos

When we visited Beech Mountain NC in the late summer of 2022, we really enjoyed staying in a vacation condo at 4 Seasons Cedar Village. You can see a full tour of our condo in our Beech Mountain video above.

Our Condo was just a short drive from the main hotel and offered a Gas Fireplace, full kitchen and dining area, 2 bathrooms, 3 full bedrooms with double beds, and a really nice deck.

The 4 Seasons Hotel features a spacious lobby, with sitting areas, and an enormous stone fireplace. You'll find a game room, with:

• Ping-pong
• Air Hockey
• Foosball
• and Pool tables

There is even a fitness room as well.  

4 Seasons is conveniently located close to the main area of town, with easy access to area attractions and Beech Mountain Resort.

4 Seasons also includes an excellent Mexican restaurant on site called Mi Jalisco, which we really enjoyed!

Beech Mountain Realty & Rentals

Beech Mountain Realty & Rentals is in the heart of Beech Mountain, and offers a wide selection of vacation rentals, including homes, cabins, and condos.  

Properties range in size from cozy one-bedroom homes to spacious six-bedroom residences, making it an ideal choice regardless of what type or size home you're looking for. Some homes even offer recreation rooms with pool tables for an evening of fun.

Many of their rentals offer breathtaking views and are conveniently located close to Beech Mountain skiing, golf, tennis, swimming facilities, outdoor activities, and much more. 

During our visit to Beech Mountain and Land of Oz in 2023, we stayed in a Beech Mountain Realty & Rentals cabin, located less than 5 minutes from downtown Beech Mountain, and near Lake Coffey. 

Our home was a 4 bedroom multi-level home surrounded by woods and wildlife. The home featured a large deck, kitchen, and living area and was spacious and comfortable. We saw so many deer during our visit, all around the home, and really enjoyed our stay and using it as a home base during our Beech Mountain adventures.

If you're planning your next mountain adventure, consider Beech Mountain Realty & Rentals. With their variety of options, stunning locations, and commitment to quality, they offer an unforgettable stay that lets you appreciate the beauty and excitement of Beech Mountain.

Other Beech Mountain Hotel Options include:

Cabins near Beech Mountain NC

Beech Mountain NC offers many cabin rentals and condo options, all with nice amenities, views, and room for the whole family.  

Here are a few of the great places where you can find just the right cabin for your Beech Mountain visit!

Reopening for 2026!

After being closed for the 2025 season, the Land of Oz on Beech Mountain is set to reopen in 2026 with a special “Homecoming at Oz” season.

According to the announcement, a brand-new immersive experience will debut in June, with additional details expected soon. In September, the popular Autumn at Oz festival will return, bringing visitors back to the Yellow Brick Road for one of the most unique experiences in the North Carolina mountains.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit—or go back—2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Land of Oz.

Our Land of Oz Videos

Here is our video from Autumn in Oz 2022:

Autumn in Oz

Autumn in Oz is the oldest and largest special event at the Land of Oz.

You'll join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they journey down the yellow brick road to find Emerald City a the Wizard of OZ. Along the way, you'll even run into Munchkins, Flying Monkeys, Toto, and yes, even the Wicked Witch!

Where to Stay When Visiting The Land of Oz

There are several mountain towns within a short drive of the Land of Oz NC, the closest being Beech Mountain NC, which offers several great places to stay. Other nearby options include Banner Elk, which is just a short drive down the mountain and Blowing Rock and Boone NC, both of which are about 45 minutes away.

Blowing Rock and Boone both offer more lodging options, but Beech Mountain and Banner Elk are closer to the Land of Oz.

Here are our top picks out of these wonderful mountain towns near Land of Oz and Beech Mountain Resort:

See more Lodging Options near Land of Oz

Tips for Visiting Land of Oz

We have been attending the Autumn in Oz event at Land of Oz in Beech Mountain NC for many years now, and enjoy it and look forward to it each and every year.    Over that time, and through many visits, we've picked up a few tips that will help you enjoy your visit to the Merry'old Land of Oz North Carolina even more!

1. Get your tickets as soon as possible - Tickets and limited and sell out quickly, especially the most popular dates and times.   So purchase your tickets as quickly as you can.
2. Get lodging early - We recommend booking your lodging as soon as you get your tickets.  The area has a limited number of lodging options and they fill up quickly.  You can find lodging options here.
3. Take the Ski Lift Up - Yes it's more money, but faster, more scenic and fun.   The bus ride isn't bad, but the ski life up is just better, and the views are out of this world.
4. Bring extra clothing layers, and rain gear - Temperatures and wind up on the top of the mountain, where Land of Oz is located can be significantly colder and more windy.  The event occurs rain or shine, so if they are calling for rain, come prepared.
5. Dress up in your Oz Apparel - Many guests dress up in their favorite character, or wear funny Oz related clothing and items.   It's part of the fun, and we encourage it!
6. Leave No Trace - The park is a historic treasure, and the staff work very hard to keep it looking nice and memorable.  Avoid damaging or stealing anything.   Always leave to trace.
7. Buy Food and Gifts - The park makes money to keep this event going, and to improve each and every year through ticket sales, and through sales of merchandise and food.  So be sure to eat at the park, take home some cool merchandise and help this wonderful event continue.
8. Take your time - You have plenty of time during your tour, so take your time and enjoy the shows and scenery and just being there.  We see far too many rushing through.
9. Bring the kiddos! - This is a family event, and we encourage you to bring children so they can experience Oz as well.
10. Leave your Toto at home - The park is not dog friendly, so "Toto" will need to stay home in Kansas.

Other Things to do near Land of Oz

Land of Oz North Carolina is very close to Beech Mountain, and near to Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone NC. The entire area is full of fun things to see and do. Here are just a few suggestions:

Beech Mountain NC

Visit Fred's General Store - Fred's store in Beech Mountain is amazing, and full of food, clothing, gifts and more.   The old store also has a great restaurant and deli downstairs, and beautiful grounds to explore as well.   They even have fresh produce.

Explore Buckeye Recreation Center and Buckeye Falls - Not far from downtown Beech Mountain is Buckeye Recreation Center which has a small lake, hiking trails, picnic tables, and even a waterfall.

Go Hiking in the Emerald Outback - The Emerald Outback was an original part of the Land of Oz, but is now a public recreation area full of outstanding hiking trails and scenic views.

Grab some Pizza at Famous Brick Oven Pizza - Hungry, be sure to stop off at Famous Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza, games, and more - Fun for the whole family.

Banner Elk NC

Just down the mountain from Beech Mountain is the small, but awesome town of Banner Elk.  Banner Elk is full of fun things to:

Visit Banner House Museum - Visit and take a tour of this historic Banner Elk home. You'll learn the history, and see the home decorated as it probably was in the late 1800s.  The best part of this tour is meeting and interacting with the staff!

See the animals at Apple Hill Farm - Just outside of Banner Elk is an Alpaca and active farm.  You can see pigs, Alpaca, cows, goats, horses and more.

Ride the Wilderness Run Mountain Coaster or try to navigate their Adventure Course - Looking for some high speed action and challenging adventure?  Wilderness Run delivers.  You can ride the incredible mountain coaster AND see if you can ring the bell on the Adventure course.

Enjoy an awesome dinner at LP on Main or Stonewalls Steakhouse - Two of our favorite restaurants in the Blue Ridge Mountains are in Banner Elk, both serving delicious drinks and food, with outdoor seating, and fantastic service.

Visit Banner Elk Winery - Yes, Banner Elk has a winery, and it's wonderful.  The wine is great, and you can do a tasting session or get a sampler.   They have indoor and outdoor seating, beautiful grounds, live music, and snacks to enjoy.   This is a great place.

Visit Grandfather Mountain - About 15 minutes from Banner Elk is Grandfather Mountain, where you can walk across the mile high bridge and stand atop of the on tallest and most famous mountains in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Blowing Rock NC

See the Blowing Rock - See the attractions that Blowing Rock is named for. Offering incredible views of the surrounding mountains.

Ride Tweetsie Railroad - Take a ride in the old West on a steam engine, ride the exciting rides, enjoy some great food, and see the animals. Tweetsie is fun for the whole family!

Defy Gravity at Mystery Hill - One of just a few gravity attractions in the US, you'll defy gravity and explore the mysterious at Mystery Hill. You can also go axe throwing and ride the mechanical bull.

Explore the historic downtown - Blowing Rock has a wonderful historic downtown full of great shops and restaurants.

Grab dinner at our favorite place, the Speckled Trout - Located in the heart of downtown, and you can eat while enjoying all the action going on in town and live music.

Boone NC

Visit Mast General Store an the nearby original Mast General Store - Boone has its own Mast General Store in the historic downtown area, but not far outside of Boone, you can also visit the original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis NC.

Shop in Downtown - Visit the historic downtown of Boone, also home to Appalachian State University. You'll find lots of great shopping options, restaurants, and bars.

Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway - Located between Boone and Blowing Rock NC, you can access the wonderful and amazing Blue Ridge Parkway for incredible scenic views. Visit nearby Moses Cone Memorial Park.

Go hiking and visit waterfalls - Boone has lots of nearby hiking trails and waterfalls to explore.

Hungry? Grab some food at the Come Back Shack, one of our favorites!

A Visual Tour of the Land of Oz NC

To the right of Dorothy's home is the barn.  During the Autumn in Oz Event, the barn is where your first performance begins.  

You'll watch a song and dance show here with Dorothy, Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke, then follow Dorothy over to her house, where she'll perform Somewhere Over the Rainbow, followed by a visit with Professor Marvel.  See our video to watch Land of Oz clips re-enacting these famous movie scenes.  The actress that plays the part, really sings the song, and it's fabulous.

Of course, just down the path, you'll see your first glimpse of the Yellow Brick road, and it looks amazing and very movie like.  The road gets a fresh coat of paint each year.

Emerald City

As you pass the poppies, you'll reach the gates to Emerald City.  You can (and should) ring the bell and be "greeted" by the Gate Keeper, who of course tells you the bell is broken and that you should knock!  This is probably our favorite character interaction, and the main actor that plays this role does a fabulous job.

Meeting the Wizard

At the end of your visit and journey, you'll go into a tent, where the Wizard scene from the movie is re-enacted.  You'll sit down for a 15-minute show where the cast meets the Wizard, receives their rewards, and sadly Dorothy returns home.   The show is VERY well done, and Dorothy even returns to Kansas in a puff of smoke!

Land of Oz Videos

A Brief History of the Land of Oz

In 1965, Carolina Caribbean Company (CCC), owned by Grover and Harry Robbins, were looking for ways to fully utilize their latest acquisition, Beech Mountain,  In particular, they wanted to find ways to bring people to Beech Mountain year round, and not just during the winter during ski season.

The pair brought in Charlotte designer Jack Pentas, who surveyed the top of Beech Mountain and had an idea .. The Beech trees looked very much like the Apple Trees in the Wizard of Oz.

The Land of Oz opened on June 15, 1970.  The park took 2 years to complete, at a cost of $5 million dollars (about $34 million in today's dollars).  During its first year alone, over 400,000 people walked the yellow brick road.  The park was an overnight success, and the most successful them park on the east coast.

1970 - 1975

Unfortunately as soon as the park experienced its huge success, problems began to occur, which ultimately doomed the theme park to failure.

Grover Robbins, who was well known as the "the passion" behind the Land of Oz, died of cancer just prior to the park opening in 1970.   Instead of profits being funneled back into Oz for maintenance and expansion, the money was used for other CCC endeavors.  You may recognize the name Grover Robbins as the founder of Tweetsie Railroad as well.

Additionally, the gas crisis of the early 70s, caused many would-be visitors to not attend, hurting park attendance and profits.  

In 1975, one of the major resorts owned by CCC failed, causing CCC to go into bankruptcy.  On December 28th, 1975, a fire was set at Emerald City, causing significant damage.  There is some speculation, the fires were caused by disgruntled employees, but that has not been proven.  After the fire, a number of collectible items and costumes were stolen, including Judy Garland's original dress from the movie.

1976 - 1980

In 1976, a new management company took over.  The fire damage was repaired, new buildings were created.  The park opened for the 1976 season.  Sadly, attendance was poor.

Many changes were made to reduce costs, including less extensive costumes, replacement of live animals, with animatronic versions, changes to shows, and many others.

Over the next 5 years, the park suffered greatly from a lack of maintenance and no updates.  Many of the structures, and the yellow brick road, showed signs of age, and much-needed repairs.  To repair Oz and update it, it would cost the new company $3.5 million.  They closed the park in 1980.

The Park Today

Final Thoughts of the Land of Oz NC