This week while bopping around on the interwebs I discovered that there’s a Wizard of Oz park in Mapleton, Illinois. And so today, we’re off to see the Wizard, that wonderful and kooky, Wizard of Oz! Hopefully we won’t run into any of those flying monkeys!

Dorothy got to see the Wizard of Oz via a tornado in a dream, but we're traveling there the old fashioned way in the MBIP mobile. And it's brighter than fuck-all out here, one of these days I'm getting those prescription sunglasses I keep talking about!

Okay, we've made it to Mapleton and here's the front gates of the park. Let's park and check the place out.

Welcome to Butler Haynes Park, home of the land of...

Oz! Now how do you get there?

According to this sign, you just follow the Yellow Brick Road, okay, that's easy enough!

But first we'll make a pit stop at this farm house, which is I'm guessing the home of Auntie Em, Uncle Henry and...

Dorothy and Toto! Okay, now we're getting into the proper character for this post!

But we still need to find the Yellow Brick Road that will lead us to the Wizard of Oz...i bet it's over here, somewhere over this rainbow.

Ha! The Munchkins must've put this up here, very cool!

Okay, here we go, the Yellow Brick Road, let's follow it and find the Wizard of Oz!

Let's go down here, I think I see some statues...

Look, it's statues of Dorothy and Toto!

Toto says, "Hold the line, love isn't always on time." Sorry, Toto, but I always hated that fucking song.

Dorothy looks a little stoned...

I think she's been staring at this too long, in fact I'm getting an acid flashback looking at it myself, let's keep moving along before this blog starts melting on us.

Okay, we're back on track following the Yellow Brick Road in search of the all-powerful Wizard of Oz!

Uh oh, there's an angry tree, I hope he doesn't start throwing apples at us!

I just looked up and think we're pretty safe from any apple pelting today...

And so it's onwards we go on our search for the Wizard of Oz!

You don't scare me, Cowardly Lion, Bert Lahr's been dead since 1967, I'm surprised you still have teeth!

There's a pavilion up ahead, let's go see if we can find the Wizard up there, I'd kind of like to get home, all this walking is making me thirsty. I'm starting to feel like I'm in a Seinfeld episode.

It's Munchkinland! Let's go see if we can find any Munchkins in here...

There's a trio of Munchkins over here trying to be tough guys. Sorry fellows, but I don't fight anyone that's shorter than a picnic table.

Time to get back on the Yellow Brick Road.

Look, it's Emerald City! Maybe we'll finally get to see the elusive Wizard of Oz here and he'll help us get back home.

Uh oh, the bell's broken and this sign is telling us to knock.

I've just discovered that knocking on thin air produces the same sound as a one-armed man clapping in an empty theater. Oh well, I don't see anyone in here anyway...

Let's go down this way, I think I hear something...

Yikes, it looks like a big blob of lime jello with a face on it it...what's he talking about, "pay no mind to the man behind the door?"

This asshole is making all the special effects happen, it's not real at all, what a fucking gyp!

Okay, I've had enough, I'm going to just click my heels three times and...

Poof!

We've magically been transported back to the MBIP World Headquarters! There's no place like home! We'll see you all tomorrow!

Wizard of Oz Garden
Butler Haynes Park
9424 S. Mapleton Road
Mapleton, Illinois
309-697-2944

Somewhere, over the rainbow...

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Oz-Inspired Art by Jaws the Cabbie

Jaws the Cabbie sent in this Oz-inspired piece of art and advice. Ha ha ha! Good one, Jaws, thanks!