Misc

‘Wizard of Oz’ Themed Casino to Open in Author L. Frank Baum’s Hometown

Julia Birkinbine

Published

11 years ago

on

Wizard of oz
Ray Bolger (1904-1987), US actor, Jack Haley (1897-1979), US actor, Judy Garland (1922-1969), US actress and singer, and Bert Lahr (1895-1967), US actor and comedian, all in costume as they dance along the yellow brick road in a publicity still from the film, 'The Wizard of Oz', 1939. The musical, adapted from the novel by L Frank Baum (1856-1919) and directed by Victor Fleming (1889-1949), starred Bolger as the 'Scarecrow', Haley as the 'Tin Man', Garland as 'Dorthy Gale', and Lahr as the 'Cowardly Lion'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

There's no place like home!

On Sunday, Dec. 21, it was announced a $20 million Wizard of Oz themed casino will be built in the upstate New York hometown of 'Oz' author L. Frank Baum.

Ray Halbritter, the chief executive officer of the Oneida Nation, revealed the casino is set to open in Spring 2015 in Chittenango, N.Y., and will be financed by the Oneida Indian Nation.

'wizard of oz' 2

In 1970, two businessmen similarly opened a 'Wizard of Oz' themed amusement park — complete with a winding, yellow brick road! — in Beech Mountain, N.C., but the venue later closed due to a fire.

Related Story: 'The Wizard of Oz' Cowardly Lion Costume Sells at Auction for More Than $3 Million!

In 1989, the classic 1939 film — which famously starred Judy Garland, Frank Morgan and Bert Lahr, among others — solidified its place in American movie history when it was inducted into the 'National Film Registry.'

The Associated Press first reported this news.

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