In 1972, Bill and Mary Koplin built Magic Carpet Golf on land they purchased from Marjorie Springmeyer adjacent to what was once the South Lake Tahoe amusement park. Marjorie had overheard Bill and his real estate agent talking in a local restaurant about Bill's plans for building the course. "I have a piece of property I can sell you," Marjorie told them.

At the time there was a gas station on the corner of Lodi and Highway 50, so the minigolf course was built on the land in-between the amusement park and the station. Years later the Koplins bought the land where the gas station was and expanded their parking area and home above the course.

Bill was no stranger to the business. He had built 13 miniature golf courses with uncles and brothers in the California cities of Alameda, Lake Berryessa, Bakersfield (an indoor course), Pinole and Konocti Harbor, then in Key West, Biloxi and Galveston. Family members ran all of those except for the ones in Konoti and Bakersfield.

In 1948 he built a popular course along the Russian River where he raised his family, one that daughter Karen has very fond memories of.

"Those were great times," said Karen. "All the kids hung out there."

In 1970, Bill and Mary bought property at Carnelian Bay and build the first Lake Tahoe area Magic Carpet Golf. This course was for his son Bill, Jr. who still operates the course.

Then came 1972 and South Lake Tahoe. Daughter Peggy was given this course to run.

In 1974 they added a Reno location for daughter Jeanne, who, you guessed it, still runs the place.

Daughter Karen operated the Russian River property until 1992 when she switched locations with Peggy and moved to South Lake Tahoe. Cal Trans bought the Russian River course in 1994 due to a freeway planned for the property.

Karen and her husband Gino Franceschi live most of the year above the Magic Carpet Golf on the corner of Lodi and 50, then head off the hill from time to time to their other home in Forestville, CA.

Their children, all now adults, have grown up at Magic Carpet. Though none of them live in South Lake Tahoe year round, they all come to town for the summer along with their own children to help run the family business.

Karen and Gino have four children, Tony, Nicki, Karey and Gina. They are also grandparents to ten. At any time you'll be sure to find one of them working the front counter at Magic Carpet. They also hire local teens to help out in the summer since the course is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Magic Carpet is open Spring through Fall, and with weather permitting, winter too. Last year they were open some days in December and February.

All locals get a discount, so make sure to mention you're from South Lake Tahoe the next time you play either one of the two 19-hole courses, or the 28-hole course.

This bar was located in an upstairs location in a lane off Tory Street, a stone's throw from Courtenay Place, the centre for much of Wellington's nightlife. You had to buzz at the door to be let in, and the establishment famously refused entry to Liv Tyler during the filming of The Lord Of The Rings in the early 2000s. Apparently other hobbits from LOTR were allowed entry. Among its other celebrity clients was Adrien Brody, who hung out there during the filming of the remake of King Kong.

The bar opened in 1999, although it had a 1950s dive bar look until February 2014, when it reopened after receiving a tiki makeover. It had a maximum occupancy of 50 people, and had a main room where the bar was, a lounge (formerly the smoking room), and a smaller room at the far end of the bar.

After their tiki makeover, they served tropical cocktails in tiki mugs -- with the largest number of Tiki Farm Don Ho mugs probably seen in use at any location at any one time, used for their "Big Don's Sing Along" cocktail.

Despite its apparent popularity, the bar was closed December, 2017.

In its place, the following year, they decided to pendulum and create a bar that was the polar opposite of a dark tiki speakeasy -- Forrester's Lane.

The new place, Forrester's Lane, was then replaced by a second new concept, Lovebite, which was still light and airy, but pays homage to 80s nostalgia.

Probably built in the late 60s or early 70s...

Its vintage postcards boasts: "59 motel rooms. efficiencies and apartments directly on the ocean with private balconies".

Originally, this hotel had a great sign and roof line on the port cochere of the building. Also some nice abstract tapa print and some artsy rock landscaping and nautical pier posts tied with rope in the front.

However, the hotel was converted and units were sold as timeshares in 1980.

It is still open as of 2025, and is known as the "Trader's Inn Beach Club" but the front building has been entirely changed and there is no hint that it may have once had a Pop Polynesian architectural style.

It has literally been whitewashed and there is a white picket fence.

Opened in 1964 or 1965 and closed in 1967.

This location was home to Skipper Kent's until at least June 1964.

In 1965, the Bora Bora Club was owned by SF nightclub tycoon George Lavery (43). After a night of hard drinking, a violent fight broke out between Lavery and his newlywed socialite wife, Gail Woodfield Lavery. The young wife shot and killed her husband during the altercation - the deceased had apparently threatened her with bolt cutters during the fight.

The Bora Bora club survived this incident long enough to host the one and only Don Ho in his first mainland appearance(!) in November of 1965.

The Bora Bora was also notable for two giant Barney West tikis on premises:

1) The first one, we have no photos of it on premises at the Bora Bora, but several photos from after the Bora Bora closed and it made its way south to the Redondo Beach Pier (see photo below). Eventually it would come to have a reputation as a "Bad Luck Tiki". The Bora Bora used this as their logo tiki and it was featured on their menu cover.

2) The other Barney West tiki we have photos of being used as a stage decoration at the Bora Bora for live performances. It was famously displayed at Barney West's Tiki Junction in years prior (see photo below).

The Hawaii Kai Motel and Luau Restaurant were adjacent to each other and managed by the same owner, Ben Holmes.

There was also a third structure, a gift shop, called the Kona Tiki Treasure Trove.

This whole complex operated at least from 1966 - 1971 (but probably opened earlier and closed later).

This space became home to the Coral Beach Resort, which was built in 1987 and consists of three oceanfront towers. In 1998, the resort was recognized by the Travel Channel as the #1 Family Beach Resort Hotel on the Grand Strand. The Coral Beach Resort was converted to condominium ownership in 2006.

Built in 1961.

This 2-story apartment complex has 8 units (16 beds and 16 baths) and is located at 4166-4168 Udall Street in Point Loma Heights, San Diego, CA 92107.

It once featured an impressive tiki in front. Now gone. However, many of the other details still remain, including wood pylons, rock landscaping, and the original sign lettering on the building.

Opened August 1st, 2025.

Located in the basement of pop-culture-themed emporium Stage Nine Entertainment—home to one of the largest authorized Disney Fine Art galleries in the country.

This underground speakeasy occupies a vault-like, 300-square-foot space (that’s about the size of a one-car garage) in the historic “What Cheer House” building.

Can hold up to 21 guests.

Decorated with a variety of movie props and reproductions, including full sized animatronic poles from Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, the golden Chachapoyan Fertility Idol shown in the beginning of the first Indiana Jones film, a section of the dart trap wall from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and a full sized haunted dive suit holding a glass bell jar that covers one of Johnny Depp’s rum bottles from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

A $95 per-person admission price includes an immersive 90-minute experience (The live entertainment lasts approximately 60 minutes and they then allow for approximately 30 minutes of open exploration time afterwards), two cocktails, a Dole Whip and a lanyard for your collectible pins (a new one available for each successive visit). Hawthorne’s Hideout is also available for private parties.

Opened in 2019 by husband and wife team Martin and Sara Stayer of Nobie’s Restaurant fame.

This venue swings more tropical than tiki with its decor, although you might spy a small tiki or two hanging out at their water fountain feature.

Primarily a restaurant known for its food, The Toasted Coconut also has a full listing of tropical cocktails sure to please most tikiphiles.

This bar was open from around 1965-1970. Later, it was re-named the Tiki Tai.

This location had their soft opening at the end of August 2025.

Nestled right beside the entrance of LA’s Oldest Bowling Alley, Highland Park Bowl.

Metered street parking is available, and there’s also a parking lot just behind the building.

Run by Bobby Green and the 1933 group.

In keeping with the speakeasy theme established at the West Hollywood location, you must figure out the secret entrance...in this case, look to your left for your old sailing buddy, and play a little shell game for entry.

Once inside, the interior is decorated much like the West Hollywood location, with a plethora of fantastic swag lamps hanging from the ceiling, as well as lit netted glass fish floats, thatching, tapa cloth, actual carved tikis, and a large outrigger canoe suspended from the ceiling as well.

Opened in February of 2024.

Located above Hi-Tones and accessible through a marked door at the back.

Several carved tikis greet you at the top of the stairs.

The space is well-lit with warm multi-colored tiki mood lighting, and this bar has a very retro feel with vintage paintings, tapa lamps on the ceiling, bench and table seating lining the sides of the room, and several round pub tables with stools in the middle.

The main bar is wrapped in lauhala matting and the back bar is well-provisioned with a selection of rums, spirits, and assorted liqueurs.

Their menu sports classic tiki and original cocktails -- served in tiki glasses.

Built in 1963.

Comprised of 37 units. The property is a two-story, garden-style building situated on .75 acre of land near the northeast corner of Tampa Avenue and Saticoy Street.

The building is rather spartan in appearance and other than the cool lettering on the front, there is little to distinguish it.

This is why the apartment was chosen as the filming location of the 1984 film, "The Karate Kid" featuring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi.

The director wanted a bleakness to show why the Daniel LaRusso was so miserable in his new home. They emphasized this by taking the apartment's otherwise well-kept swimming pool and emptying out most of the water and leaving some dirty water in the bottom with an abandoned children's inflatable. Today, the pool is looking good again, but due to the cutting back of vegetation around the complex, it looks bleaker than ever.