Skip to content

Seaside Stories

“Fascinated” on Broadway

July 15, 2012 | by Jon Rahl

The history of Seaside being one of the oldest seashore resorts – and the folks that have flocked to these ocean beaches – has been long documented. But one of the fun aspects about this North Oregon Coast resort town is what lies inside some of the walls and businesses that have been around for decades.
Consider the game of Fascination, housed in the Funland Arcade downtown. In Fascination, players have one or two rubber balls (similar in size to a racquetball) that they roll towards an area that contains 25 holes. Upon dropping through the hole, a backboard lights up in a pattern to the corresponding hole. The ball then rolls back to the player and the process is repeated until the particular game is completed (either by completing a bingo – five in a row – or a blackout – lighting up your entire board).
Seaside Fascination has approximately 40 tables and chairs that can be occupied at any given time. Points are awarded to single-game winners and those points can be turned in for a wide array of prizes.
Much like Seaside, the game of Fascination also has a long and storied history. It dates to the 1920s and popularity with oceanside resort towns that have boardwalks and amusement parks. Seaside’s parlor has been in place since the 1950s and is just one of a dozen remaining in the United States. Seaside Fascination is open throughout the week during the summer and weekends during the winter along Broadway.

Leave a Reply

and so much more!

The Quieter Side of Seaside

Seaside without the bustle of Broadway Street? If that sounds more like your speed, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible to...

Episode Five: The Historic Gilbert District

We explore the Gilbert District in this walk down memory lane

Roaming the Sand for Treasures

The beach is often filled with unique finds, especially after a storm.

What is Fascination, Anyway?

Talk to anyone who’s ever visited Seaside, and they’re bound to bring up Fascination with an enthusiastic “I love that game!...

Beach Reads for a Vicarious Escape

Chances are, you have more time to read right now than you have had in the past decade. And we all know, a good book can transport...

A Smashing Good Time

The vintage bumper cars are a seaside tradition and we check out their 2013 opening weekend,

Paragliding on the North Coast

Adventure and fun with paragliding on Oregon

Living with Cooler Temperatures

Analyzing the weather in Seaside

Seaside Guide to Beachcombing

With one of the longest, sandiest, and most spacious beaches on the Oregon Coast, Seaside is the perfect spot to go looking for tr...

Seaside Elk

I was driving into Seaside, along Highway 101 South, and had just passed the Circle Creek Campsite on the left, when I noticed several cars parked off the side of the road.

Farmers Market Means Summer on the Coast

The Seaside Farmers Market has become a staple of summer in Seaside. Now in its ninth year and one of Seaside’s eight stops on t...

MotorTrend Magazine – Epic Drives: Classic Cobra Visits Seaside

MotorTrend Magazine makes the trek to Seaside, Oregon to show off a Classic Cobra

Waving the Flag in the Early 1900s

Take a look at a vintage float from the early 1900s Seaside parade.

A Stop on the Art Walk

Capturing what goes on behind the scenes of a First Saturday Art Walk

Extended Stays
Warm Drinks and Cool Winter Excursions

If you think winter is the best time to visit Seaside, you’re not alone. The beaches are empty, huge waves crash against the sho...

Your Guide to the Perfect Summer Getaway in Seaside

Summertime means it’s time to load the kids and pups into the car for a long weekend or weeklong vacation in Oregon’s original...

Seaside Holiday Spirit

Seaside holiday spirit is more than evident around town beginning in early November. Ushered in by lights and decorations going up...

Accessible Adventures in Seaside

From free electric track-chair rentals to ADA-accessible kayak launches and the longest Mobi-Mat beach access on the Oregon Coast,...