This Easter Lincoln City Gifts will be taking part in festivities at Memorial Park, with hundreds of children gathered for the fun. We’ll be painting faces and taking part in Pixie Games. In addition to the face painting, there's ring toss, balloon darts, milk bottle toss, and basketball. It’s entertainment for the whole family.
The Pixie Games are a part of a rich backstory in the history of the Oregon Coast.
Pixie Kitchen and Pixieland were two beloved attractions located in Lincoln City and Otis, Oregon, respectively. They captured the imaginations of visitors with their whimsical themes and family-friendly entertainment, becoming iconic parts of Oregon's coastal history.
Pixie Kitchen
In 1953, Jerry and Lu Parks embarked on a venture that would transform a modest café in Wecoma Beach (later part of Lincoln City) into a beloved culinary landmark. Pixie Kitchen was no ordinary eatery. Popular seafood menu items were freshly caught daily and supplied by local fishing boats and markets.
The Parks infused the restaurant with a unique fairy-tale theme, creating an immersive dining experience that transported guests into a fantastical world of pixies and magic.
The interior and exterior of Pixie Kitchen were adorned with elaborate dioramas and animated figures, depicting scenes of pixies frolicking in mushroom villages and engaging in whimsical antics. This attention to detail and commitment to theme set Pixie Kitchen apart, making it a must-visit destination for families and anyone with a penchant for the extraordinary.
Pixieland
Inspired by the success of Pixie Kitchen and the burgeoning theme park industry, Jerry Parks envisioned creating a larger attraction that would offer even more enchanting experiences. This dream led to the creation of Pixieland, a full-fledged amusement park located just north of Lincoln City in Otis, Oregon. Opening in 1969, Pixieland was designed as an "Oregon Fantasy Trail" and featured a variety of rides, attractions, and live entertainment, all themed around Oregon's history and folklore with a pixie twist.
Key attractions at Pixieland included a log flume ride through a simulated Oregon logging camp, a steam train that took visitors on a scenic journey around the park, and a variety of other rides and games designed for families and children.
The park was designed to be in harmony with the natural environment, preserving the beauty of the Oregon coast while providing entertainment and fun for its visitors.
Decline and Closure
Despite their initial popularity, both Pixie Kitchen and Pixieland faced challenges over the years. Pixieland, in particular, struggled with the region's unpredictable weather, which limited its operating season and affected attendance. Financial difficulties and changing entertainment preferences also contributed to its decline. PixieLand closed its doors in 1974, after just a few years of operation.
Pixie Kitchen continued to operate for several years after Pixieland's closure, remaining a popular dining destination and a nostalgic reminder of the pixie-themed attractions that once enchanted visitors. However, it too eventually closed in 1985.
A Pixie-Themed Legacy
Today, the legacy of Pixie Kitchen and Pixieland lives on in the memories of those who visited these magical places. They are remembered fondly as part of Oregon's cultural heritage, embodying a time when whimsy and imagination were key ingredients in family outings.
While the physical attractions are gone, the spirit of Pixie Kitchen and Pixieland continues to inspire nostalgia and affection among Oregonians and visitors who remember the magic they once brought to the Oregon coast.
Hope to see you for the Easter festivities at Memorial Park! The Kiwanis Easter Event will include face painting, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and an Easter egg hunt.
The hunt will be for kids ages 1-12 and will be split into four sections by age group. Each section will have two golden eggs and if your child finds the golden egg they get a full easter basket.
Image courtesy Kiwanis Club Of Lincoln City