BOONE, N.C. — Sean Barrett loves "The Wizard of Oz."

"Like. Love. Whatever, it's always been a part of my life. I don't know myself without it," Barrett said.

What You Need to Know

Autumn at Oz tickets are now on sale

Private tour tickets sold out in 24 hours

The only "Wizard of Oz" theme park in the world is located on Beech Mountain and brings people in from all over the world

Barrett is an avid collector of Oz memorabilia. He's been collecting since he was 4. His collection grew so much over the years that now he's the artistic director for the former Land of Oz, a theme park on Beech Mountain that opened during the 1970s.

"My mom bought me a figurine, but I couldn't just have Dorothy, I had to have all the munchkins and all the action figures and the play sets," Barrett said. 

He spends time searching for never-before-seen items to display.

The theme park shut down for a brief time in 1980 and is now available for tours on a limited basis.

In 1993, Autumn at Oz came alive. It occurs over three weekends in September.

Soon Barrett walked on the yellow brick road for the first time and fell in love.

"The second that you cross that fence line, you get engulfed into the story," Barrett said. 

From Dorothy's house prior to the tornado, to the sideways house after it, it is an experience Barrett says people will never forget. 

"We put our blood, sweat and tears into this place and to see people come. They cry when they hit the yellow brick road. They freak out when they see the Scarecrow and stuff. It just makes everything worth it," Barrett said. 

The current private tours sold out in just 24 hours. Autumn at Oz tickets are now on sale.