Pixieland was an amusement park near Otis, Oregon. It Opened in 1968, and by 1974, it was bankrupt. Initially, the park flourished, but soon failed. The park has an interesting story.
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| From The Oregonian July 19 1967 |
Address: Rt 1, Box 224, Otis Oregon, 97369
Park Constructed: 1967-68
Park Cost: $2 million
Park Cost: $2 million
Owners: Oregon Trail Company
Park Size: 44 acres
RV Park: 13 acres
Park Opened 1968
RV Park: 13 acres
Park Opened 1968
Grand Opening: June 28, 1969
Park Closed:1974
The Pixie Plan
In 1964, Jerry Parks owned the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City. The popular restaurant was known for its slogan "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast". His restaurant was successful and lucrative, bringing in $600,000/year. A lot of money back then. Of major benefit to him was US Highway 101, a main traffic artery which delivered customers to his restaurant doorstep. But in 1964, he was uneasy with a feeling that highway planners were readying to reroute Hwy 101 east of Devil's Lake, bypassing his Pixie Kitchen. This would shut off the flow of traffic to his restaurant and reduce his business. Parks needed a plan to prevent this. He decided to create a 2nd draw on Hwy 101 to protect his restaurant. Expanding his Pixie concept from a kitchen into a theme park would be profitable AND it would insure that a new Hwy 101 wouldn't bypass his restaurant. This was his 'Pixie Plan'. He officially set the wheels in motion in 1964 by purchasing 57 acres of tideland on the Salmon River for the sum of $75,000. His park had a great location, at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 18. Here, the former wetlands that had been filled in to allow for dairy herd grazing. But his fun park went against conventional wisdom. Stationary amusement parks had a long history of languishing in Oregon. Parks knew he'd have a short tourist season due to rainy coastal climate. He gambled anyway and in 1966, announced the plans for a theme park that would be called 'Trails End'. It would employ 500 people. Trails End park would follow a Pacific NW historical theme, with timber and 'water orientation'. A boat launch on the Salmon River was also planned. Soon afterwards, he changed his fun park from Trails End to Pixieland.
By 1967, Parks had built an 8-foot dike around his land tract and provided infill for a solid construction base. Canals and a lake were dug. A water control system with a gatehouse was installed to facilitate the movement of fresh water into the park. Swimming pools, canals and water rides would need an abundance of water. Cost of these improvements was almost $300,000. Pixieland would be a combination of Disneyland comes to the Pacific NW. This could be accomplished with the log flume ride and the cheese cave. Parks hired 2 former Disneyland employees: George Bruns, a famous composer and director of music at Disneyland, and Tommy Walker, who was the producer of live shows and events at Disneyland. Jack Marks of the Portland Zoo, sat on the Pixieland board. Parks, along with these men, would build a fun park that would tell the "Fairytale Story of Oregon." To supplement 'rainy day' income, Parks also included plans for an adjacent 121 space trailer park that would be open year round.
Parks began selling shares of stock to the public at $1.25 each. There were two public stock offerings. More than $800,000 worth of stock was purchased. He also took out a Small Business Administration loan of $250,000 to pay for construction costs.
In 1967, Parks conducted a study to estimate traffic patterns to his park. He found that traffic at Pixieland during a summer day was 10,622 cars/day with estimated passengers of 32,928. His operating season would be 5 months.
In 1968, Pixieland had 1.8 miles of RR track, a steam train (little toot) and 2000 feet of trestle. Pixieland began with a 'soft opening' in summer 1968 and averaged 1000 patrons/day with admission charge of 35 cents for kids and 50 cents for adults. The 600 foot log flume ride was under construction in Los Angeles. Foundations had been poured for the log flume, Fisher Flouring Mills Scone House, Darigold Ice Cream parlor and Cheese Cave, Phillips Candy factory and cheese cave, Opera House and Soda Bottle Stores. A 13 acre trailer camp had been partitioned off from the fun park to help supplement income during the rainy season. In the first 2 months, with the train and restaurant, Pixieland made $40,000. 60% of that was in food and 40% was in rides.
Pixieland had become reality.
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| Pixieland 1971 |
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| Pixieland today. Picture taken from same location as above 2/18/2018 |
The Pixie Plan
In 1964, Jerry Parks owned the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City. The popular restaurant was known for its slogan "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast". His restaurant was successful and lucrative, bringing in $600,000/year. A lot of money back then. Of major benefit to him was US Highway 101, a main traffic artery which delivered customers to his restaurant doorstep. But in 1964, he was uneasy with a feeling that highway planners were readying to reroute Hwy 101 east of Devil's Lake, bypassing his Pixie Kitchen. This would shut off the flow of traffic to his restaurant and reduce his business. Parks needed a plan to prevent this. He decided to create a 2nd draw on Hwy 101 to protect his restaurant. Expanding his Pixie concept from a kitchen into a theme park would be profitable AND it would insure that a new Hwy 101 wouldn't bypass his restaurant. This was his 'Pixie Plan'. He officially set the wheels in motion in 1964 by purchasing 57 acres of tideland on the Salmon River for the sum of $75,000. His park had a great location, at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 18. Here, the former wetlands that had been filled in to allow for dairy herd grazing. But his fun park went against conventional wisdom. Stationary amusement parks had a long history of languishing in Oregon. Parks knew he'd have a short tourist season due to rainy coastal climate. He gambled anyway and in 1966, announced the plans for a theme park that would be called 'Trails End'. It would employ 500 people. Trails End park would follow a Pacific NW historical theme, with timber and 'water orientation'. A boat launch on the Salmon River was also planned. Soon afterwards, he changed his fun park from Trails End to Pixieland.
By 1967, Parks had built an 8-foot dike around his land tract and provided infill for a solid construction base. Canals and a lake were dug. A water control system with a gatehouse was installed to facilitate the movement of fresh water into the park. Swimming pools, canals and water rides would need an abundance of water. Cost of these improvements was almost $300,000. Pixieland would be a combination of Disneyland comes to the Pacific NW. This could be accomplished with the log flume ride and the cheese cave. Parks hired 2 former Disneyland employees: George Bruns, a famous composer and director of music at Disneyland, and Tommy Walker, who was the producer of live shows and events at Disneyland. Jack Marks of the Portland Zoo, sat on the Pixieland board. Parks, along with these men, would build a fun park that would tell the "Fairytale Story of Oregon." To supplement 'rainy day' income, Parks also included plans for an adjacent 121 space trailer park that would be open year round.
Parks began selling shares of stock to the public at $1.25 each. There were two public stock offerings. More than $800,000 worth of stock was purchased. He also took out a Small Business Administration loan of $250,000 to pay for construction costs.
In 1967, Parks conducted a study to estimate traffic patterns to his park. He found that traffic at Pixieland during a summer day was 10,622 cars/day with estimated passengers of 32,928. His operating season would be 5 months.
In 1968, Pixieland had 1.8 miles of RR track, a steam train (little toot) and 2000 feet of trestle. Pixieland began with a 'soft opening' in summer 1968 and averaged 1000 patrons/day with admission charge of 35 cents for kids and 50 cents for adults. The 600 foot log flume ride was under construction in Los Angeles. Foundations had been poured for the log flume, Fisher Flouring Mills Scone House, Darigold Ice Cream parlor and Cheese Cave, Phillips Candy factory and cheese cave, Opera House and Soda Bottle Stores. A 13 acre trailer camp had been partitioned off from the fun park to help supplement income during the rainy season. In the first 2 months, with the train and restaurant, Pixieland made $40,000. 60% of that was in food and 40% was in rides.
Pixieland had become reality.
In 1969, on June 28th, the park had a grand opening with a dedication from Governor Tom McCall to the "families of Oregon". Rides included a 2 foot narrow gauge train called Little Toot (later renamed Little Pixie) and the signature log flume. Entertainment was found at the Blue Bell Opera House where melodramas 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 the Franz Bread Rest Hut.
By 1970, the fun park still wasn't finished, but Parks had completed his business projections. His park season would be a 150-day year with weekends on both sides as extras. The Pixieland trailer park would provide year round income and it was thought that some people would come to the park year round, regardless of the weather. He was still optimistic about being profitable.
By 1970, the fun park still wasn't finished, but Parks had completed his business projections. His park season would be a 150-day year with weekends on both sides as extras. The Pixieland trailer park would provide year round income and it was thought that some people would come to the park year round, regardless of the weather. He was still optimistic about being profitable.
In the first quarter of 1971, Pixieland stock was trading at about $1/share. By December 1971, it was down to 40 cents/share.
The Log Flume Ride
The signature attraction of Pixieland was the log flume roller coaster where riders sat in a hollowed out log and rode around the park, then went down a steep slide into the water. The ride was built by Arrow Development Company located in Mountain View, California at a cost $200,000. Arrow Development had built some of the major rides in Anaheim and Disneyland. The log flume required 20,000 gallons of water per minute to operate. After the park closed in 1974, the log flume was sold to Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah.
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The Pixie Train was called 'Little Toot'. It was a 24 gauge miniature coal powered train. The train was manufactured in Wyano, PA by Crown Metal Products, a company that specialized in amusement park trains. The train was shipped from Pennsylvania and arrived at Pixieland in April of 1968. It was a Civil War era replica that was authentic with the exception of clear plexi glass windshields attached to the front of the cars to protect passenger's eyes from coal cinders. The train included 3 cars with a carrying capacity of 72 people. The train made a 1.8 mile loop around the fun park perimeter on top of the dike. Cost of the engine and tender was $48,500 and each of the 3 passenger cars was $5,800 for a total of just under $66,000. In 1974, when the park closed, the train was sold to Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah.
Trouble in Paradise
The development of Lincoln City and particularly, Pixieland was met with differing views in the 1960's. An article in the 1967 Sunday Oregonian, lambasted the idea of the Pixieland amusement park, mentioning the damage done to estuaries. Writer and salmon advocate, Anthony Netboy joked that steelhead and salmon returning from years in the sea would turn around when met by Pixieland gremlins and elves as they made their journey upriver.
This was countered by Lincoln City locals who welcomed the tourism, job creation and new shopping markets, along with the increased tax revenue. Spirited debate preceded the building of Pixieland by both sides. Environmentalists thought the site vulnerable, and should stay a protected wetlands. One Otis resident, who favored the development, called the Pixieland site (wetlands) an "old dilapidated, tansy infested vacant dairy farm". Hardly an estuary.
Upon hearing plans for the widening of Hwy 101, one resident stated that "highway men were murdering the beauty of the land".
By 1973, Pixieland was in trouble. The RV park was mostly empty and in need of more tenants. The park was looking run down with litter and cigarette butts in the flower beds of the park. Pixieland stock was down to 20 cents/share. The park was falling short of expectations and was financially going underwater. A year later, it would bankrupt.
Pixieland Closes
Pixieland ceased operations in 1974. In 1975, after losing over $250,000 out of pocket, Jerry Parks sold his block of stock to a group of investors who planned on reopening the amusement park, but the park would never reopen. Swamped with debt from creditors and legal fees, the US Forest Service eventually acquired both the amusement park and the adjacent RV park. Parks then sold his Pixie Kitchen and moved back to California. The Pixieland shares of stock were initially snapped up at $1/share in 1968 but the price fell when the expected hordes of people never showed up to the park. The 1973 gas shortage also helped spell doom for the park. In 1978, Pixieland shares were going for between 5 cents and one cent. The proceeds from the sale of the property was given to creditors and the stock holders never received anything for their shares. There were 1.5 million shares at the original offering.
In 1980, the US Forest Service filed a condemnation suit claiming eminent domain over the Pixieland amusement site. They would eventually pay $209,000 for the parcel in 1983.
The adjacent RV park would last longer as 43 of the original tenants would buy the park and continue using it as a RV Park. Eventually, it would be sold off to the Forest Service who would return the property to a protected wetlands.
Reasons why Pixieland failed:
1. Short tourist season on coast
2. Rainy coastal weather decreased park attendance
3. Fuel shortage of 1973 stopped people from driving to the coast
3. Fuel shortage of 1973 stopped people from driving to the coast
4. Corrosive salt air increasing costs (eats wood and metal)
5. Under capitalization
5. Under capitalization
Dream Weaver: Jerold B Parks
Jerry Parks was the mastermind behind Pixieland. The one time mayor of Lincoln City had a wonderful imagination and was truly a dream weaver. He envisioned a family themed fun park (Disneyland North) and brought it to reality.
Parks brought fun and laughter to a generation of kids and adults. He made people who visited the park smile. He dreamed big and created Pixieland. Yes, the damp coastal weather and under capitalization turned his multi million dollar dream into a nightmare, and the park closed. But what Jerry Parks dreamed of, a generation of people will remember for a long time.
If you want to visit the old Pixieland site, drive to Otis, Oregon. The borders of the park: Highway 18 (south border), Highway 101 (north border) and the Salmon River (east). The RV parking was located on the east side of Pixieland. The 5 rows of the RV lot are still visible from an aerial view. The last remaining building was the Pixieland gatehouse and was removed 2011.
Summary by US Forest Service 2008
Between 1967 and 1969, Pixieland was developed on 57 acres near the junction of Highways 101 and 18 by Lincoln City. To develop the site, the entire area was surrounded by a dike. The dike also served as the railroad bed for a small train known as Little Toot. Fraser Creek was routed into a ditch between the highways and the dike. Prior to the construction of Pixieland, Fraser Creek had been routed into a ditch along Highway 101. The developers of Pixieland extended the ditch upstream to the stream crossing under Highway 18. A tide gate was installed at the mouth of the Fraser Creek ditch and it was surrounded by a massive concrete structure and foundation. Fill material was added to the marsh to create a building surface. Shallow interior ponds and ditches were dug as part of the landscaping and to provide water rides.
Pixieland contained several buildings, roads, parking lots, a sewage treatment plant and a roller coaster ride called The Log Flume. An RV park was built to the east of Pixieland. The RV park stayed in business until 1984.
In 1983, the Forest Service purchased the Pixieland as directed by the Cascade Head Scenic-Research Area Act. The buildings were torn down, leaving behind the concrete foundations, paved roads, parking lots, ditches, dikes and tide gate. The only remaining building was a small shed, which housed the electric motor and mechanisms for the tide gate. Blackberries, scotch broom and reed canary grass had claimed the site.
Pixieland Time Line
1953 Jerry and Lu Parks purchase the Pixie Kitchen
1961 Highway 101 constructed
1964 Parks buys 57 acre land tract for future Pixieland
1966 Parks announces new fun park called 'Trails End"
1966 Pixieland incorporates
1964 Parks buys 57 acre land tract for future Pixieland
1966 Parks announces new fun park called 'Trails End"
1966 Pixieland incorporates
1967 Plans for Pixieland are unveiled to the public
1967 Criticism already building against Pixieland by environmentalists
1968 Bureau of Public Roads conducts study for bypass of Hwy 101
1968 Public hearing regarding 101 bypass held
1968 Shares of Pixieland stock are sold at $1 a piece.
1967 Criticism already building against Pixieland by environmentalists
1968 Bureau of Public Roads conducts study for bypass of Hwy 101
1968 Public hearing regarding 101 bypass held
1968 Shares of Pixieland stock are sold at $1 a piece.
1968 Pixieland opens
1969 Parks attempts to borrow $300,000 but is turned down
1973 Gas shortage thins coastal traffic
1969 Parks attempts to borrow $300,000 but is turned down
1973 Gas shortage thins coastal traffic
1974 Pixieland goes bankrupt and closes
1975 Pixieland Corp buys out Jerry Parks
1977 Abandoned park becomes overgrown
1977 Parks sells Pixie Kitchen and moves to California
1978 Creditors, US Forest Service and Pixieland fight over property
1979 Derelict park buildings start to collapse, blackberries overwhelm park
1980 Forest Service begins condemnation suit against Pixieland
1975 Pixieland Corp buys out Jerry Parks
1977 Abandoned park becomes overgrown
1977 Parks sells Pixie Kitchen and moves to California
1978 Creditors, US Forest Service and Pixieland fight over property
1979 Derelict park buildings start to collapse, blackberries overwhelm park
1980 Forest Service begins condemnation suit against Pixieland
1982 RV owners purchase and form Pixieland RV Park
1983 US Forest Service purchases Pixieland
1984 US Forest Service clears dilapidated Pixieland buildings
1983 US Forest Service purchases Pixieland
1984 US Forest Service clears dilapidated Pixieland buildings
2007 Pixieland cleared of brush and trees, building foundations and asphalt removed
2011 Pixieland canals filled in and dikes removed. Fraser creek restored.
References
Pixie Kitchen website
US Dept of Agriculture Archives
US Forest Service Archives
Siuslaw National Forest Archives
The Oregonian
