This Once-Popular Theme Park In Seattle Is Now A Unique, Family-Friendly Garden And Museum

Admirers of Seattle's iconic Space Needle may not realize that the structure was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Along with the monorail line, it's one of the lasting legacies of the six-month exposition, celebrating the region's technological achievements. One fair exhibit that has bid adieu is the Gayway, an amusement park featuring 20 rides and carnival games (via Mohai). Later called the Fun Forest, this popular attraction endured until 2011, paving the way for the opening of Chihuly Garden and Glass, an indoor/outdoor showcase of artist Dale Chihuly's elaborate, hand-blown sculptures.

It's hard to believe that the gondola-style Sky Ride once stood where these mind-bending works of art, like a 20-foot Sealife Tower or ribbons of glass woven into an oversized chandelier, now awe visitors. If you time-travel to the mid-20th century, you could see guests take a spin on the sky wheel, the colorful teacup ride, and the Wild Mouse rollercoaster.  Per the Seattle Municipal Archives, the Gayway was just one component of the massive expo that included a science exhibit, a futuristic pavilion, and line-up of entertainment attracting stars, notably singer Elvis Presley, who came to shoot the film "It Happened at the World's Fair."

History buffs will appreciate the opportunity to relive that heyday, which helped put the Emerald City on the global map. The Seattle Architecture Foundation offers community tours of the present-day Seattle Center, a sprawling, 74-acre space with lawns, gathering spots, and more than 30 attractions. The two-hour tour explores the development of the fairground's buildings, including the Space Needle, monorail, and Pacific Science Center, as well as newer structures, such as MoPOP: another immersive, creative dream world of music, fashion, and film displays. Book your tour in advance for $27.50, while walk-ins pay $30 at the time of writing, space permitting.

The Chihuly center is part gallery, part botanical wonderland, highlighting the artist's glass works. Black backdrops starkly contrast with the bright pieces, like vivid balls filling boats floating in the venue's galleries. Mixed media and charcoal illustrations hang on the Drawing Wall, and a Glasshouse exhibits one 100-foot floral sculpture. In the Garden, Chihuly's whimsical designs of squiggly cobras and lavender spears seamlessly integrate with the oasis of trees, bulbs, and perennials, including Japanese maples, lilies, and hydrangeas. 

 A Tacoma native, Dale Chihuly studied at the Venini glass factory on Murano on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1968. Blind in his left eye following a car accident in 1976, he's relied on his team to also help execute his glass creations. You can learn how these feats of engineering are made at a glass-blowing demonstration or catch short videos in the theater. General ticket prices start at $40 per person and are $62 with combined admission to the Space Needle. The pricing doesn't stop some patrons from returning. "This is my 3rd time to visit Chihuly Garden and Glass," writes one Yelp fan. "The glass sculptures are masterpieces — jaw-dropping and eye-catching, filled with color, radiance and brilliantly conceptualized... Every person visiting Seattle should pay a visit."

Afterwards, stop for a light bite at The Bar at Chihuly where unexpected artwork permeates the interior, including accordions suspended from the ceiling. Customers tout the clam chowder, sliders, and salads. "A quick bite to hold us over the light rail trip home was just what we needed," writes one Google reviewer. "Quick service and great decor. Well worth it!" More outdoor art awaits in Seattle — named America's most walkable city in 2025. A short 11-minute walk will take you to Seattle's largest green space packed with sculptures.