The fabulous Pixie Kitchen of Lincoln City is my all-time favorite memory of the Oregon Coast when I was young. I remember my parents taking me there to eat and then onto Pixieland to play, which was about 3 miles away in the community of Otis.
At Pixieland, you could ride their old steam train (Little Toot), catch a live show, get some tasty treats such as their popular scones, and ride amusement rides. The log flume at Pixieland was my favorite. I know that there is a black-and-white photo of me on something like an egg-beater ride with tiger cars floating around somewhere. If I happen to get hold of it, I'll post it here. Do you have any special Pixie Kitchen memories you'd like to share? I'd love to have you post them in the form near the bottom of the page, for all to read and enjoy. ;)
Then-Governor Tom McCall dedicated Pixieland to the families of Oregon on June 28, 1969. Sad to say, Pixieland was only around for 4 years before it was torn down. I'm not sure why.
Pixie History
Pixie Kitchen was a very popular tourist stop because of the motif and atmosphere it generated. It's slogan was, "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast." There are a few treasures from the restaurant floating around out there, such as mugs, Pixieland t-shirts and plates.
The first incarnation of this very special place opened in 1948 and was called Pixie Pot Pies. Located in Wecoma Beach and owned by Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Gallagher and Loren Cleoworth, it was primarily a take-home pie service, but peach and berry cobblers could be eaten on the premises.
On May 21, 1953, the enlarged and redecorated restaurant opened as Pixie Kitchen under the new ownership of Jerry and Lu Parks, former owners of the Crab Boiler near Seaside. Dinners included entrée choices of seafood, steak, prime rib, pork chops, or chicken.
Special attention was paid to children as customers, with "specially-trained" waitresses, children's portions, place mats that folded into pixie hats and gifts of surprise candy gifts.
Attractions such as the Pixie Garden that included wonderful mechanized, moving pixies of all kinds captured the imagination of visitors. These wonderful little scenes could be seen through the windows of the restaurant (see the photo to the left). When I was a kid, I would sit the whole time we were there and watch all the stuff going on.
One amusement was a special set of mirrors in the front. One placed near the entrance made a person look tall and thin and read "You Look Hungry". Another, near the exit made one look short and fat and read, "Guess You Had Enuff". Haha!
Videos of Pixie Kitchen and Pixie Land, courtesy of the Lincoln City McDougall Clan
The Pixie Kitchen was a landmark for coastal visitors for thirty years. It closed in 1983, but had a short revival in 1985 under the operation of Mike and Anne Baxter. Soon after, it closed for good. After that, the building became Brandon's Nightclub and then a residence. Unfortunately, the building caught fire and was never restored. Even today, the Pixie Kitchen is remembered fondly by thousands of visitors. I, for one, miss it a lot.
The Original Pixie Kitchen Clam Dip Recipe
Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese 1/2 Teaspoon garlic salt 8 oz minced clams 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise 1/2 Teaspoon Monosodium Glutamate
Drain clams, reserving liquid. Mix all ingredients and use the liquid for thinning mixture to desired consistency. Let stand 4 to 7 days.
Here are some photos that I took from a trip to the Lincoln County Historical Museum, where they had a nice display of Pixie memorabilia, all laid out for everyone to enjoy....so I did and decided to share it with you! ;)
Click on each photo below for a larger version:
Share Your Pixie Kitchen Memories
Whether a piece of your childhood or all grown up, share those special memories of the famous Pixie Kitchen with other readers.
What Others Had To Say About The Pixie Kitchen
Click below to read other people's special memories
Boy, I Miss The Pixie Kitchen
Growing up in Oregon, Pixie Kitchen and Pixie Land were a must-go every time we went to the beach.
Even if we went up North, we would make special trip ...
I LOVE The Pixie Kitchen!
Oh my! I wish someone (myself) LOL..had enough money to bring back the Pixie Kitchen.
I think the big moneymaker for someone is to rebuild it in it'...
Pixie Kitchen Memory From 1977
What I remember most about the Pixie Kitchen were the billboards that seemed to be about every five hundred miles along the road.
After so many miles ...
Table Scenes at Pixie Kitchen
I too loved the Pixie Kitchen but only got to go there once a year as we lived in Idaho.
I seem to remember the tables were deep with glass tops and ...
Pixie Land....
My family always went to the Oregon coast for vacations. Specifically, we always went to Lincoln City, and we usually camped at Pixieland .
It is well worn from much use, I imagine. The other side is the same, but says, "Pixie-Kitchen" at ...
Fond Memories of the Pixie Kitchen
I'm not sure how accurate my memory is, but it seems like my mom and dad used to take me to Pixie Kitchen quite a bit when I was a kid. I was somewhere ...
Pixie Kitchen Pixie-phernalia
The Pixie Kitchen on the Oregon coast was amazing! Our family always took a yearly vacation, no matter what, no matter how little money my parents had....
Pixie Kitchen As A Child
I grew up just a block north of the Pixie Kitchen on HWY 101. I well remember in the late 50's and 60's the large amount of cars that would be parked ...
Dad Came To America To Work At Pixie Kitchen
My dad, a Dane, met Jerry and Lu Parks on a ship in South America in 1962. They offered him a job in America, "the Land of Opportunity."
Dad came ...
Pixie Kitchen And Fond, Fond Memories
Not rated yet
My family, and my mothers sister's family would stay at Surftides during the summer in the cabins.
We kids loved to go to the Pixie Kitchen - clam dip!...
I Loved The Pixie Kitchen When I Was Young
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I remember being so excited to hear we were going to the Oregon coast but it was going to Pixie Kitchen we were most excited about.
My family often visited the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City when we were in the area, then known as Delake, Oceanlake and Taft, and the unincorporated ...
Missing The Pixie Kitchen
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I've seen pictures of myself riding a mechanical tiger ride at Pixieland and I remember seeing it slowly decay on the drive into town...it'll always be ...
My mother worked there for many years. when my step father ...
All You Could Eat Razor Clams At Pixie Kitchen
Not rated yet
We had close friends that had a cabin in Neskoin, so every summer it was to the Pixie Kitchen for Sunday dinner. We started going in the 50's up thru the ...
Pixie Kitchen? Oh my Gosh!
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My Mom Betty worked at the Pixie Kitchen for years. My brother worked there as a bus boy and I worked as a bus girl.
I loved the moving Pixies out in the garden! Oh, and those mirrors! The tables, the colors(maybe I ...
Pixie Kitchen "Tears a Flowin"
Not rated yet
I guess I am just a sentimental sap, cause I am getting all teary-eyed reading everyones memories of my favorite childhood place, the Pixie Kitchen.
My ...
Favorite Childhood Memories of Pixie Kitchen
Not rated yet
I grew up in Tennessee, but my paternal grandmother lived in Lincoln City off and on throughout my childhood. I would go to see her every summer. We had ...
Pixie Kitchen Gift Shop
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We used to go to Pixie Kitchen when visiting the Oregon coast when I was a child. I still have a mug with my name on it that we purchased right there ...
Great Memories of Pixie Kitchen!
Not rated yet
Any and every time my family went to Lincoln City when I was small, we'd have at least one dinner at the Pixie Kitchen .
I remember, no matter what ...
My 18th Birthday at Pixie Kitchen
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My best friend and her boyfriend surprised me with dinner at the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City. What a blast that was! I have such fond memories as a ...
Being a Child at the Pixie Kitchen
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I started going to the Pixie Kitchen about 1958. I have gone back a few times since, sorry to say when the second owners had it...it just was not the ...
I was born in 1975 and remember eating there right up until it closed in the early 80s, but my parents and grandparents ...
My Addiction to the Pixie Kitchen
Not rated yet
I used to live in Salem and my parents would take us to Lincoln City. We would always stop at Pixie Kitchen. I almost always ate a hamburger, but never ...
First and Last trip to Pixie Kitchen
Not rated yet
I don't remember exactly how old I was, probably around 7 or 8. I just remember my parents being so excited to surprise me with a trip to eat at Pixie ...
Pixie Kitchen - A Magical Restaurant
Not rated yet
I have always had fond memories of my few trips to Pixie Kitchen as a preteen in the early 80's.
I grew up on the Oregon Coast (Florence) and The Pixie ...
Pixie Kitchen Employee
Not rated yet
My mother worked at the Pixie Kitchen in the 70's, when she was a teenager, as a singing waitress. She's always telling me stories of that time. I would ...
Pixie Kitchen - Childhood Magic
Not rated yet
Living in Salem with a cabin in Yachats, Oregon made for many childhood trips down the winding roads to the coast.
At Pixieland, you could ride their old steam train (Little Toot), catch a live show, get some tasty treats such as their popular scones, and ride amusement rides. The log flume at Pixieland was my favorite. I know that there is a black-and-white photo of me on something like an egg-beater ride with tiger cars floating around somewhere. If I happen to get hold of it, I'll post it here. Do you have any special Pixie Kitchen memories you'd like to share? I'd love to have you post them in the form near the bottom of the page, for all to read and enjoy. ;)
Pixie Kitchen was a very popular tourist stop because of the motif and atmosphere it generated. It's slogan was, "Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast." There are a few treasures from the restaurant floating around out there, such as mugs, Pixieland t-shirts and plates.
Special attention was paid to children as customers, with "specially-trained" waitresses, children's portions, place mats that folded into pixie hats and gifts of surprise candy gifts.
