What to See in Banner Elk - Top Sights and Attractions

Theme park in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The Land of Oz is a theme park based on L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz books, located in the resort town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA. Carolina Caribbean Corporation opened it in 1970 under the guidance of Grover Robbins, who had been successful with Tweetsie Railroad. Designed by Jack Pentes, the park was fully operational until 1980. As of September 2019, it now opens for Fridays in June for "Journey with Dorothy Tours" and in September for Autumn at Oz – the largest Wizard of Oz festival in the country.^[1]

Art gallery, Shopping, Museum

Lodging in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Banner Elk Hotel is a historic hotel building located at Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina. The original section of the hotel dates to about 1856, with expansions made between 1877 and 1891. Two-story rear wings and smaller additions were made between 1891 and 1898. It was originally built as a dwelling house, later expanded and converted for use as a hotel. It is a rambling, frame, "U"-shaped two-story building covered with weatherboard siding.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The hotel building has since been demolished.^[2]

College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Lees–McRae College is a private college in Banner Elk, North Carolina affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Lees–McRae College has the highest elevation of any American college or university east of the Mississippi River, at 3,720 feet above sea level. It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees and Elizabeth McRae.^[3]