New Book Releases

Skip down the Yellow Brick Road with author and historian Tim Hollis as you uncover the history of this beloved mountaintop attraction.

In 1966, North Carolina tourism moguls Grover, Harry, and Spencer Robbins began exploring ways to utilize their new ski facilities atop Beech Mountain during the summer. They brought in their associate Jack Pentes to come up with an idea. As a long-time fan of The Wizard of Oz, Pentes planned and developed the Land of Oz theme park, opening in June 1970. The park did not resemble the famous 1939 MGM movie or the Oz as depicted in L. Frank Baum's book. Instead, Pentes interpreted his own vision of Oz, with a comical Wicked Witch and a wizard who did not turn out to be a fake. The Land of Oz closed after its 1980 operating season and was left to deteriorate. Since 1990, however, its remnants have been secured and restored. The property is now available for special events, and a giant Oz celebration takes place each autumn.

Mills dominated life in Carrboro during the first half of the 20th century. Closure of the last mill in the early 1960s spawned a cultural renaissance, stimulated by the arrival in 1978 of French artist Jacques Menarche, whose ArtSchool became today's ArtsCenter. The opening of the Farmers Market and the Weaver Street Market has contributed enormously to the vitality of Carrboro. The community has changed from a blue-collar town to one of artists and professionals. To acknowledge this change, the town is working to establish an Arts and Creativity District, extending west from the Chapel Hill boundary. A new ArtsCenter is planned for the performance, education, and coordination of activities in the area. This book documents Carrboro's exciting journey from the past into the future.

Situated on the Atlantic Flyway, Duck was given its name by the first postmaster, Lloyd Toler, who operated a tiny store in the community. While Duck is the Outer Banks' newest town, officially established in 2002, it has a long and interesting history, one that has always focused on fishing. Duck was once a quiet little village, with both able-bodied men and women actively engaged in maritime activities. Located on a narrow strip of land between Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, the town has a thriving commercial district, and visitors enjoy the boardwalk along the sound, six miles of pristine beaches, and a town park. Duck showcases the evolution of this community, from a small fishing village to a popular resort destination on the North Carolina coast.

Those fortunate enough to live on Roanoke Island have always depended on boats. In exploration-era sketches, Native American Algonquins were depicted in their dugout canoes. English settlers took the native concept a step further, developing kunners and, later, periaugers. Sloops and schooners made it possible to trade with far-off lands. Shad boats allowed fishermen to catch enough fresh product to ship to northern markets. Shrimp boats, crab boats, and trawlers brought about a new level of financial independence. Charter boats went past the limits of sound waters to the deep sea, carrying sport fishermen who were ready to pay for the chance to land a Gulf Stream trophy. Today's luxury yachts would boggle the minds of 20th-century backyard boatbuilders. Whether the need for a boat was transportation, subsistence fishing, making a living, or recreation, boatbuilding became a skill many residents picked up out of necessity. This skill matured into a trait that many believe runs deep in the genetic makeup of the local population.