Pixieland (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Pixieland was an amusement park
near Otis Junction
, Oregon
, United States located about three miles (5 km) north of Lincoln City
. Opened in 1969, it operated for only four or six years.
The name and theme of the park came from nearby Lincoln City. A popular restaurant there was named Pixie Kitchen, which opened in 1930 and had the slogan "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast". Jerry Parks and his wife Lu Parks ran Pixie Kitchen and announced in 1967 the vision of Pixieland as a 57 acres (230,671 m²) "Fairytale Story of Oregon."
The park opened on June 28, 1969 with a dedication from Governor Tom McCall
to the "families of Oregon". More than $800,000 was invested, including two public stock offerings. Pixieland hired two former Disneyland employees: the director of music and director of special promotions.
Rides included a train called Little Toot or "Little Pixie" and a log flume
. Entertainment was found at the Blue Bell Opera House where melodrama
s were performed. Other buildings and attractions included the Main Street Arcade, the Print Shop, The Shootout, and the Darigold Cheese Barn. Eating places included Fisher Scones and Franz Bread
Rest Hut.
A 1975 headline in the Oregon Journal
declared "Pixieland Dream Goes 'Poof!': Dreams of a multimillion dollar fantasy world shattered into a fiscal nightmare." After the park closed, the rides were sold and the buildings demolished. The Log Flume ride was sold to Lagoon Amusement Park
where it still operates today. For several decades, it was an RV park which transitioned into a trailer home park. Today a tide-gate house with a pink painted roof is the only trace of Pixieland.
Since the early 1980s, Siuslaw National Forest
has been under mandate to restore the Salmon River
estuary conditions which development of Pixieland partially disrupted with creek diversions and dikes. The site is now being transformed back into its original wetland state.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
near Otis Junction
Otis Junction, Oregon
Otis Junction is an unincorporated locale in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States, at the junction of the former route of U.S. Route 101 and Oregon Route 18, a half mile south of Otis. It is a mile and a half east of where OR 18 intersects with the modern route of U.S. 101.Otis Junction is the...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States located about three miles (5 km) north of Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Oregon
Lincoln City is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It is named after the county. The population was 7,930 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. Opened in 1969, it operated for only four or six years.
The name and theme of the park came from nearby Lincoln City. A popular restaurant there was named Pixie Kitchen, which opened in 1930 and had the slogan "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast". Jerry Parks and his wife Lu Parks ran Pixie Kitchen and announced in 1967 the vision of Pixieland as a 57 acres (230,671 m²) "Fairytale Story of Oregon."
The park opened on June 28, 1969 with a dedication from Governor Tom McCall
Tom McCall
Thomas Lawson McCall was an American politician and journalist in the state of Oregon. A Republican, he was the 30th Governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975. A native of Massachusetts, he grew up there and in Central Oregon before attending the University of Oregon...
to the "families of Oregon". More than $800,000 was invested, including two public stock offerings. Pixieland hired two former Disneyland employees: the director of music and director of special promotions.
Rides included a train called Little Toot or "Little Pixie" and a log flume
Log flume (attraction)
Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
. Entertainment was found at the Blue Bell Opera House where melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
s were performed. Other buildings and attractions included the Main Street Arcade, the Print Shop, The Shootout, and the Darigold Cheese Barn. Eating places included Fisher Scones and Franz Bread
United States Bakery
United States Bakery, better known as Franz Family Bakeries, is located in Portland, Oregon. Franz Bakery was founded in 1906. U.S. Bakery also owns the Northwest regional bread brands Williams, Gai's, and Snyder's.-History:...
Rest Hut.
A 1975 headline in the Oregon Journal
Oregon Journal
The Oregon Journal was Portland, Oregon's daily afternoon newspaper from 1902 to 1982. The Journal was founded in Portland by C. S. Jackson, the publisher of Pendleton, Oregon's East Oregonian newspaper, after a group of Portlanders convinced Jackson to help in the reorganization of the Portland...
declared "Pixieland Dream Goes 'Poof!': Dreams of a multimillion dollar fantasy world shattered into a fiscal nightmare." After the park closed, the rides were sold and the buildings demolished. The Log Flume ride was sold to Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon is an amusement park in Farmington, Utah, United States located about seventeen miles north of Salt Lake City. It is privately owned...
where it still operates today. For several decades, it was an RV park which transitioned into a trailer home park. Today a tide-gate house with a pink painted roof is the only trace of Pixieland.
Since the early 1980s, Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest is a national forest in western Oregon, United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.- Geography :...
has been under mandate to restore the Salmon River
Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon)
The Salmon River flows from the Central Oregon Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. About long, it begins and ends in Lincoln County but also flows briefly through western Polk and southern Tillamook counties....
estuary conditions which development of Pixieland partially disrupted with creek diversions and dikes. The site is now being transformed back into its original wetland state.
External links
- http://www.thepixiekitchen.com
- http://www.pixielandoregon.com
- http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/restoration/salmonriver/pixieland.shtml
- http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/restoration/salmonriver/tamara-quays.shtml