Wizard of Oz museum relocating from Brevard County to former 192 hotel site
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The latest illustration of the Kissimmee Wizard of Oz museum location. SUBMITTED PHOTO
The latest illustration of the Kissimmee Wizard of Oz museum location. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Soon, you’ll be able to follow the yellow brick road down to West U.S. Highway 192.
The Wizard of Oz Museum owner Fred Trust is moving his museum from Cape Canaveral to Central Florida with new activities for the whole family.
“Many people get drawn in by the movie when they come, but what makes this museum unique is that we focus on the book series that the movie is based off of,” said Trust. “ We have been operating for two and a half years to create a unique museum that no one has ever experienced before.”
Trust said he’s purchased the land that was the former home to The Viking Motel and a miniature golf course on 192 across from Medieval Times. He said he will convert the area to house his personal collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia, use the pre-existing mini-golf layout and update it to fit the theme, and even incorporate a puppet theater in collaboration with Executive Director of Puppet Celebration Sean Keohane.
“The museum will go over the entire history of the author, Frank Baum, and his book series created in 1850 through 1900’s, which was 39 years before the movie was created from the first book of said series,” said Trust. “Guests will now have a chance to learn more about the book series that inspired the movie.”
Trust said parts of the book series that didn’t show in the movie will be displayed through the museum’s immersive experience. He said the immersion will be a 360-degree experience that will cover each of the four walls and floor. He said it will allow guests to experience scenes such as when the tornado takes the house to the world of Oz, to the Munchkin land, the Wicked Witch’s castle, and much more.
Keohane said the hardest thing to find in Central Florida is space.
“This sounded like a great offer,” he said. “So even though it’s far before the move, it’s a great time to start planning on making a puppet theater that could be themed to The Wizard of Oz and do puppet shows for the children at the museum.”
Keohane said most of the puppets for The Wizard of Oz puppet theater will be string marionettes and will be working with his company’s lyricist and voice of Dorothy, Kellie Schreiber, for Trust’s puppet theater.
“I just was introduced to the project and I’m very excited to be a part of it,” said Schreiber.
Schreiber said she has a lot of singing experience and is very excited to work with Keohane and Trust on this project.
“The Wizard of Oz is just a beautiful classic,” said Schreiber. “ So, we are hoping to bring some new dreamers along with our story.”
Trust said this museum is what he is bringing to Kissimmee, but it may take some time before it is completed—he estimates it taking at least a year because he hopes to secure government funding.
“I don’t know what type of support I will get from Osceola County,” said Trust. “Almost 95% of museums go out of business without the support of the government and they only support non-profits.”
Trust said in the meantime, he will need to rely on advertisement of the museum so that when the time comes for him to open, he will have guests ready to see what his Wizard of Oz Museum is all about.
“I own over $10 million worth of collectables that I display in the museum, such as original movie props and the red ruby slippers,” said Trust. “I can’t take the risk of teaming up with a non-profit because then my collection will now belong to said non-profit.”
