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Take a Fall Trip to Oz, Go Fly a Kite and Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains in Beech Mountain, North Carolina

BEECH MOUNATIN, N.C.-For those looking for a unique getaway this fall, travel to the highest point in the eastern United States and experience the wonderful world of Oz, fly a kite at an elevation above 5,280 feet and enjoy the unparalleled fall colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

"Fall temperatures at Beech range from 55 to 65 degrees, which makes it pleasant during the day to get out and enjoy the outdoors or attend an event, with a cooler temperature in the evening, which provides the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the mountain lodging. There's nothing better than getting a hot drink, sitting by the fire and enjoying the sunset over a mountain of fall color," said Peggy Coscia with the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. "There's no need to drive to Vermont in the fall-we're only a few hours away."

In addition to wildlife viewing and exploring the scenic and colorful mountains, during September and October, Beech Mountain hosts a calendar of family-friendly events and activities, including hiking the mountain, the Mile-High Kite Festival and Autumn at Oz.

Escape to the Beech
Beech Mountain offers the opportunity to leave life's troubles behind and rejuvenate in the fall air with Beech Mountain's getaway weekends. Weekends provide a fall escape into the Blue Ridge Mountains, featuring activities and relaxation. Weekend activites include white water rafting, flyfishing, hiking, biking and antiquing.

One of the most beautiful times on the mountain is the fall season before the stress of the holidays that bring friends and family together to relax in the High Country.

Mile High Kite Festival
On Sunday, August 31, kids and adults can join hundreds of kite-flying enthusiasts from across the southeast at the Mile High Kite Festival. This one-of-a-kind event allows participants to to fly a kite at an altitude that reaches more than a mile high, and each participant receives certification for flying their kite above 5,280 feet.

"This kiting celebration blows into Beech Mountain annually at the end of the American Kite Flyer-sanctioned season," said Coscia. "This is not only a fun event, it is an educational event, celebrating the sport of kiting, and offering advice from kite experts."

At the Mile High Kite Festival, participants can create their own individual kites, decorate them with a variety of materials, watch kite flying demonstrations, or practice kite flying techniques in the open-fly area.

"The first 100 children to attend the festival will receive a free kite; and food, t-shirts and kites will also be for sale," said Coscia. "Prizes will also be awarded, honoring the smallest and largest kit constructed, as well as individual certificates for each child participant, signed by the town's mayor, stating they flew a kite a mile high."

This free family event, sponsored by the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce with the assistance of the Richmond Air Force Kite Club (RAF) and the Winds Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society (WACKOS), celebrates the simple joy of kites and introduces kids to the wonders of flight. Participants have the opportunity to see demonstrations of a variety of kites including sporting and oversized kites, as well as the chance to learn and practice kite-flying techniques.

Autumn at Oz
On October 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Beech Mountain visitors can follow the yellow brick road up the mountain to hang out with Dorothy, the Lion and Tin Man, the witch and munchkins at Autumn at Oz, featuring munchkins from the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie. A two-hour tour takes guests through the infamous Aunt Em's and Uncle Henry's farm home and along the yellow brick road to visit with Dorothy and company. Along with live music, a petting zoo, face painting and magic shows, visitors can stop in at the mini-museum to examine artifacts from the original screenplay. Each guest that attends should wear something "Ozzie" and bring along any photos to add to the special weekend.

"Attending the Autumn at Oz party is a special treat for any visitor to Beech Mountain. The movie is a timeless family hit, and both young and old are thrilled and enthralled when they visit Oz," said Coscia.

Jack Pentes and Grover Robbins, the founders of Oz, wanted to create a special place for children and their families, so in 1970, a Wizard of Oz themed amusement park was created. After both men passed, the property eventually switched ownership and then closed down.

In 1990, Oz made a comeback when the Emerald Mountain development began, creating home sites with the concept of paying respect to the land of Oz. Restorations began throughout the park, including the revitalization of Dorothy's farm and the yellow brick road.

"The once destroyed park has now developed into a garden with gazebos, waterfalls, and fountain ponds that show the restoration of Dorothy's farm," said Cindy Porter, caretaker of Oz..

To share the memories of the park and the movie, organizers created the Autumn at Oz party. The event is $15.00 and children under three attend free of admission. For more information, please visit www.emeraldmtn.com.

Dancing on the Mountain
Fall visitors can get out their dancing shoes on Saturday, August 30 for the Beech Mountain Street Dance, taking place in the Town Hall parking lot from 7 to 9 p.m. Beech Mountain Street Dances are a southern tradition featuring Beach Music, made popular in the coastal towns of North and South Carolina, and are held four times a year for locals and visitors. For this dance, local D.J. Mac Mast will be providing the musical entertainment.

"Street Dances are one of the most popular events on Beech Mountain, especially with the gorgeous fall weather and cool temperatures. In front of Town Hall, sand is spread out in the parking lot for dancing and locals and visitors tailgate together-it's an outdoor party at 5,506 feet," said Coscia.

Another mountain tradition will be held on August 16, the Beech Mountain Barn Dance, featuring live local country music for dancing, as well as local food, including special pimento spread, salsa, crackers and fried apple pies.

Hike Beech Mountain
The first Tuesday of each month, from April to October, local experts take groups on hikes on Beech Mountain, educating hikers about the 20 miles of hiking trails the town maintains. Ranging from moderate to difficult, hikes on Beech Mountain cover old growth forest, waterfalls, old logging roads and a railroad grade that originally carried the logs harvested on the ski slopes. Hikers will also experience a variety of elevations, ranging from 3,800 feet to 5,000 feet, and see local wildflowers and wildlife, including white tail deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, red squirrels and grouse.

For earlier fall visitors, a Tuesday hike will also be held on August 19, covering the Falls Trail, a moderate 1.6 mile hike through a variety of mountain terrain, including Buckeye Creek, a natural waterfall and old logging roads.

On September 2, visitors may hike the Upper and Lower Pond Creek Trail, two miles through the natural settings of Beech Mountain. The Upper Pond Creek Trail, a comfortable nature hike, is filled with 15 informative stations, covering the local wildlife, flowers and greenery. The hike continues on the Lower Pond Creek Trail, a moderately strenuous trail through steep mountain terrain, featuring water cascading over rocks with many

small waterfalls and a large waterfall.

On October 7, as mountain temperatures cool and autumn sets in, hikers can travel the Buckeye Gap Loop Trail, a moderate to strenuous 5.1 mile loop through the woods of Beech Mountain. This trail includes grassy paths, old logging roads and unimproved town roadways.

For more information, visit www.hikebeechmountain.com.

The Holidays at the Beech
As fall ends and cool winter temperatures spread across the High County, families can prepare for the holiday season with Beech Mountain traditions.

"For fall visitors wanting to extend their stay into the beginning of winter, November offers Cut and Choose Weekends, a local Beech Mountain tradition, occurring each weekend throughout the month," said Coscia. "Spreading early holiday spirit, families have the opportunity to pick out their Christmas tree, take advantage of special lodging rates, shop for presents at the Alpine Village or ski the slopes of Ski Beech."
"Area businesses also plan special treats, which guests enjoy-for instance, at the chamber we offer hot cocoa and apple cider when visitors arrive-simple things to get people into the holiday spirit."

Beech Mountain, the highest town in the eastern United States at 5,506 feet, is nestled in the northwestern North Carolina Mountains, only two hours from Charlotte and Asheville. Known for it's unique beauty and winter sport activities, Beech is a year-round tourist destination offering visitors a variety of outdoor adventures. Throughout the year, the town also embraces a wide range of cultural activities ranging from street dances and Sunday evening sunset concerts to the town-wide 47th Annual Roasting of the Hog and arts and crafts festivals.

For more information about Beech Mountain, please contact the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (800) 468-5506 or (828) 387-9283 or visit www.beechmtn.com.

Contact:
Peggy Coscia
Beech Mountain
Chamber of Commerce
(800) 468-5506