The Oregon Coast's Forgotten History of Theme Parks, Restaurants & Aquariums

In an article I wrote here about the Oregon Coast on July 17, 2007--I provided a primer and tour of the beaches and businesses that are vital parts of the magic that make up that region of Oregon. What I didn't mention, though, were the forgotten places; the places that once gave the Oregon Coast an added spark of magic that those who visited the beach up to the 1980's would only remember. Fortunately, I was able to experience a lot of these places growing up in the 1970's and 80's before they unexpectedly went away. Some of them were so successful for decades, too, that it still perplexes native Oregonians to this day why some of them failed. But the Oregon Coast seems to have a lot of complexities in its terrain when running a business and seasonal visitors playing a big factor in success. Add horrific storms with flooding during the winter--and it can sometimes keep people away.

One of the most-touted attractions in Oregon Coast history started in the late 1960's. If I told you it was an ambitious theme park--you probably wouldn't believe it. And if I told you further that it had some prior creative minds behind Disneyland working for the park, too, you'd probably think I was pulling your leg. Well, it's all true--but the theme park was based on the legend and folklore of...yes, pixies. While initially sounding a bit mysterious (and a descriptive title of a "Fairytale Story of Oregon"), this was intended to be the Disneyland of the Oregon Coast with elaborate rides mixed with unique food and attractions that represented entertainment from the early part of the 20^th century as you'd see on Main Street, USA at the Disney theme parks.

When the progenitor of this theme park (Jerry Parks) broke ground to have it built with a budget of two million dollars--it was decided it would be called "Pixieland" (based on a name of a restaurant he owned on the coast I'll mention later)--while subsequently creating a wave of excitement that a major theme park potentially becoming nationally known was opening on Hwy. 18 heading to the coast.