It's difficult to imagine anything creepier than an abandoned Wizard of Oz theme park in the middle of some woods in rural America, but that's exactly what's been lurking on North Carolina's Beech Mountain for the past 30-or-so years. And now it's set to open its gates once again.
Land of Oz was originally opened to the public in the 1970s, but fell into disrepair after a fire, financial difficulties and several changes in management.
It cost a whopping $5 million (approximately $34 million by today's standards) to set up, which you might think would've paid for some half-decent costumes...
But apparently not.
Land of Oz was opened in June 1970 in a ribbon cutting ceremony which included actress Debbie Reynolds, who brought her daughter Carrie Fisher to the park.
The park was a roaring success at first and welcomed the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jay North in to follow the yellow brick road. But it's popularity was short lived and from 1980 onwards, Land of Oz has sat abandoned, only visited by the odd urban explorer looking for the next eerie photo opportunity...and finding it.
Hobbyists who visited the empty park stole items, including many of the bricks from the iconic road and leaving it a ruin of its former self.
However, for 2018, the park is set to reopen for six weeks only.
Visitors will be invited to join Dorothy on a one hour trip down the yellow brick road, where they'll get the chance to play various characters, including the Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch of the West.
"With Dorothy as your guide, you will skip down the yellow brick road through the magical Land of Oz," the park's website states. "You or other members in your group are randomly selected to play the characters of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Witch and Glinda. This is a completely immersive interactive experience."
Tickets for the park are available online for $25. The park also plans to open for a few days in September and October. Those tickets will go on sale in the summer.
However, if you're looking for an adrenaline-filled, rollercoaster experience, you may want to stick to Alton Towers, as Land of Oz will feature a grand total of 0 rides and a whole host of closed attractions.
Still, if walking along brightly-coloured roads dressed like a dickhead is 'your thing' then you'll be in your element.
Featured Image Credit: Caters News Agency