The Salmon River Estuary lies within the historic Cascade Head Scenic-Research Area, the first Scenic-Research Area designated in the United States.

Congress created the Cascade Head Scenic-Research Area in 1974 to maintain and enhance the scenic and ecological qualities of the areas.

In 1975 the area of the Cascade Head Experimental Forest and Scenic-Research Area was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a Biosphere Reserve. Such areas are regarded as essential for studies of ecosystems of various kinds, since they represent baselines or standards against which change can be measured and the performance of other ecosystems judged.

In 1976 the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Management of the Cascade Head Scenic-Research Area was completed. Among other things, it established a long-term goal of “restoring the Salmon River estuary and its associated wetlands to a natural estuarine system free from man’s developments.”

Restoration in the Salmon River Estuary has been ongoing since the late 1970’s.

For additional information from this site, touch here:

Salmon River Estuary

Salmon River Estuary – Pixieland & Fraser Creek

A case study in private profits vs public loss/cost.

Project Goal

The purpose of the project is to restore the hydrology and native vegetation of Pixieland, an abandoned amusement park that is now part of the Forest Service ownership in the Salmon River Estuary.

Background

Construction of Pixieland began in the late 1960’s. A dike was built to surround the property and protect the amusement park from flooding by the Salmon River. Fraser Creek, a tributary to the Salmon River, flows through a culvert under Highway 18, and into a ditch between a dike and Highways 18 and 101. Part of the flow is diverted into a parallel ditch that flows through the west part of the amusement park and exits through a non-functional tide-gate in the dike along the Salmon River. The east side of the property was covered by an 11-acre asphalt parking lot that was overgrown with invasive weeds, such as Himalayan blackberry.

Saving Salmon: Restoring a Wetland

Salmon River Restoration — Part II

Restoration Project Actions ~ 2007

Removed 3000 cubic yards of asphalt, and invasive weeds during the summer of 2007.

Replanted the parking lot with native species appropriate to the site.

Removed 1500 cubic yards of concrete from old building foundations, summer 2007

For additional information from this site, click on the train.

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Home video

Interior view of Pixie Kitchen looking outside where the Pixie Train can be seen. Pixie Kitchen had several different owners over the years.

Pixieland had its own train, the Little Toot.

One of the best places to eat at the beach was Pixie Kitchen at Lincoln City. It was the home of “Heavenly Food on the Oregon Coast”. I remember my Aunt Ruth talking about it every time she went to the beach. Pixie Kitchen opened in the 1930’s at Oceanlake, Oregon, which is now Lincoln City.

This Sixties view shows an added section to the left that virtually doubled the floor space

At the Darigold Barn Fountain you could get a sundae, a shake or an ice cream cone, or you could go strolling through the cheese cave where there were more types of cheese than a person could eat in a month. Next to the barn, was the Shoot Out, the Print Shop and the Arcade Amusements.

Gov. Tom McCall dedicated Pixieland to the families of Oregon on June 28, 1969. You can see the Main Street Arcade, the Print Shop, the Shoot-Out and the Darigold Cheese Barn.

Melodrama shows were a hit at the Blue Bell Opera House.

There was always a splash on the Log Flume ride. The Giant Tam was made of over 1200 square feet of fiberglass material, more than 60 gallons of resin and over 400 feet of steel bars were used in its construction. In the background you can see the flume for the log ride.

The Franz Bread Rest Hut overlooked the Log Flume ride.

Little Toot (aka Little Pixie) can be seen stopped at Pixieland Depot.

Pixi Land  Photos

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OPB Pixieland Wetland Restoration

USDA Restoration of wet lands