OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – More than just hopeful heel clicking is in the works as the fan-favorite Wizard of Oz Museum in Cape Canaveral seeks to make its new home in Osceola County.
Fred Trust, owner of the museum, is the man behind the curtain. News 6 interviewed Trust in 2022, when he had only recently opened the museum — located at 7099 N. Atlantic Ave. — allowing guests to browse his huge collection of “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia.
Recommended Videos
Now, Trust says a new museum is set to eventually land on about four acres of freshly-purchased property in Osceola County, at 4539 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, close to being right across the street from Medieval Times and only about 20 minutes away from Walt Disney World.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Trust officially purchased the property earlier this year, posting on social media that he gave a deposit for the land on his birthday in October and settled it on May 15, what would have been the 168th birthday of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” author Lyman Frank Baum.
Trust on Wednesday shared a new rendering of what he hopes to build on the property, taking up an area that he said was previously occupied by the since-demolished Viking Motel.
Viewable at the top of this story, the icon-clad and seemingly Emerald City-themed design — similar at least in color to the current building’s green hue — will also include a mini-golf course, according to applications filed with the county. Images submitted therein, as well as the rendering shared Wednesday, give the clearest vision currently available for the ambitious project.
News 6 reached out to Trust, who told us he expects the move to be complete between 18 months to two years from now based on how construction progresses.
“The main difference is it will be two times bigger and will allow more displays and areas for kids’ activities and movie watching rooms,” Trust said.
The decision to move was made due to the popularity of the museum and the situation with the current building, which will be demolished to make way for new condominiums after the new construction is completed, Trust said. He further confirmed plans for a mini-golf course at the new museum, stating that the Osceola County property already has a course which he plans to update with a “Wizard of Oz” theme.
The museum as it stands is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General ticket prices range from $29.99 (seniors and military) to $31.99 while admission for kids is $14.99 and children 2 and under get in free, according to the museum’s website.
[RELATED: 👠Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Oz Museum in Cape Canaveral]
Note: This map depicts the planned future location of Frederick Trust’s Wizard of Oz Museum.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: