This was the place where L.Frank Baum and his wife, Maud, spent much of their time vacationing in 1904-1908. And, L.Frank Baum once said that this hotel, with its ornate Victorian architecture, gave him the inspiration for the Emerald City in his Oz books. At the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park in Orlando, FL, Oz fans can take in a piece of the MGM classic by riding the Great Movie Ride. The ride contains sets from eleven MGM and Disney motion pictures with the last one being themed around The Wizard of Oz . It contains a recreation of Munchkinland, a scene with the Wicked Witch of the West, and the popular scene with Dorothy and her companions on their way to the Emerald City.
All scenes are complete with computerized audio-animatronic characters.
The Lilly Library owns an unprecedented special collection including the Bobbs Merrill Publishers Collection of Oz books and The Wizard of Oz Collection. Each year towards the mid- to later part of September, the town of Chesterton, IN hosts The Wizard of Oz Festival. This festival is very family oriented and draws thousands of people each year. It includes parades and Oz character costume contests. Don't be surprised if you see an Oz celebrity or two at this festival as each year some of the original Munchkins that appeared in the classic film are on-hand to participate in the festivities.