The Tiki was another brainchild of Lake George legend, Charles R. Wood. Wood was an innovator, philanthropist, and all around fun guy. He opened Storytown USA (now Great Escape) a Disney-esque theme park in 1954; a full year before Walt himself opened Disneyland. Wood also beat Walt to the punch with his version of Polynesian paradise the The Tiki. Why mention Disney's Polynesian Resort when discussing the Tiki? Because they are the last two themed full service resorts with Polynesian dinner show still operational in the continental United States.

The Tahiti Lounge at The Tiki Motor Inn opened on July 15, 1965.

The original lobby area remains relatively unspoiled and is currently Paradise Island Lounge. The original gift shop is now the Garden Cafe.

This hotel was run by Howard Johnson for many years, but it hasn't been stripped of its character like so many others that have been bought by hotel chains. Connected to the Waikiki Supper Club, which has Polynesian dinner shows nightly during July & August.

The Tiki also hosts Ohana: Luau at the Lake each year, bringing tons of tikiphiles to enjoy a celebratory weekend comparable to other major regional tiki events like Tiki Oasis or Tiki Caliente in California, Tiki-Kon in Oregon, or the Hukilau in Florida.

This restaurant, which is only open in July & August, is connected to The Tiki, a resort hotel. There are polynesian dinner shows nightly.

Taboo Cove opened in the Venetian casino in 2001, and was the first of the tiki revival bars to have been done with a large budget. There was fantastic decor, but in order to draw patrons, they played rotten music. The artist Bosko provided many carvings, and there were some great classic light fixtures. In December 2004, Taboo Cove was gutted for a remodel, and reopened as a non-tiki bar. Just across the hall from Taboo Cove's former location was Venus, a retro lounge-themed bar with artwork by Shag.

The Hawaiian Hot Luau was a Polynesian dance show and luau held seasonally from 1991 to at least 2009 at the Imperial Palace (1979-2012). The Imperial Palace started off as the Flamingo Capri (1959-1979). The location later became the Quad Resort and Casino (2012-2014) and then The Linq (2014-Present).

More of a Chinese restaurant than a Polynesian one, Chin's Chop Suey was opened in 1955 by Marvin Chin, who opened the very Polynesian Chin Tiki in Detroit 12 years later -- Chin Tiki closed in 1980.

Marvin's son Marlon owned and operated Chin's in Livonia, and some of the tiki decor from Chin Tiki was relocated here.

Uncle and son team, Marlon and Steven announced that the restaurant would close at the end of April 2025.

The restaurant is intended to be kept intact, but not open for business.

There are three very large moai in the shark tank.

Created by "Skipper" Josh Collins who went on to create the Hula Bula Bar in Australia.

Interior boasted a number of very large painted styrofoam tikis.

This location was described as heavy on the nightclub and while they did offer Vietnamese style "finger food", few went here simply to dine.

South London Pacific closed in 2018 after 15+ years and is now The Cock Tavern London. The new owners retained some of the tiki decor and worked it into their otherwise Georgian style theme.

The "East Indies Room" was the original name of this space at the Java Lanes bowling alley when it was built in 1958. Over the years, business at Java Lanes cooled somewhat, but enjoyed a revitalization in the ’90s when the East Indies Room with its space-tropical vibe was re-branded as the "Lava Lounge". Mark DiPiazza reactivated Java Lanes’ long-dormant entertainment license and put together years of high-energy music shows in the Lava Lounge, nurturing tons of local bands and playing host to touring acts like Weezer, Rocket From The Crypt and Lit, who filmed the video for their hit “My Own Worst Enemy” at Java Lanes.

The Java Lanes and Lava Lounge were demolished in 2004 to make way for new development.

The Java Lanes bowling alley opened in 1958. It had a large bar area called the East Indies Room (later "Lava Lounge"), where live music acts performed. At its peak, Java Lanes had two acres for parking. The Java Lanes were demolished in 2004 to make way for new development.

Clifton's opened in 1931, and after a remodel to add Polynesian theming in 1939 was rechristened "Clifton's Pacific Seas." The name "Clifton's" is a portmanteau of founder Clifford Clinton's name. Clifton's was a massive cafeteria, and aimed to serve inexpensive meals to all social classes, and promised to turn no one away, even the penniless. A neon sign flashed, "PAY WHAT YOU WISH."

This was the first Clifton's location, today most are familiar with the forest-themed Clifton's Brookdale location at 7th & Broadway, which still operates today. In November 2016, a new tiki bar was opened in that location, in tribute to the original Clifton's Pacific Seas, appropriately named Pacific Seas.

Clifton's Pacific Seas was themed on a grand scale. It had an elaborate, multi-story external facade with cascading waterfalls and tropical plantings. Inside there was another large waterfall, huts, and artificial palm trees.

Clifton's Pacific Seas closed June 17th, 1960, and the building was razed. It is now a parking lot.

This famous little bar is a Los Angeles institution and was opened on April 28th, 1961 by Ray Buhen. It is now owned and operated by Ray's son Mike Buhen and grandson Mike Buhen, Jr.

The Tiki-Ti drink menu has over 80 drinks. These recipes are closely guarded family secrets. There are plenty of classic cocktails on the menu, but many of the drinks are the creation of Ray or his son or grandson. One of Ray's creations, Blood & Sand, is named for the Tyrone Power bullfighting film by the same name, and as it is being mixed the bar's patrons call out "Toro, Toro!" Mike or Mike will happily take the time to ask you a few questions and guide you to a drink you're sure to like.

On Wednesdays, a tribute is made to Ray (who passed in 2001) -- a bell is rung five times, and the whole bar stops what they're doing to toast to Ray.

For decades, Tiki-Ti was owner-operated, with no employees, making it one of the very few places in California that could allow smoking. In June 2015, the Buhens hired their very first employee, longtime regular Greg Bansuelo, to help behind the bar. Smoking is no longer permitted at Tiki-Ti.

The Buhens close the bar when they go on vacation; be sure to check the Tiki-Ti website's calendar to make sure they are open before you stop by. Tiki-Ti is extremely small (just 12 barstools and 5 tables), and is incredibly popular so if you don't like crowds, be sure to get there right as it opens, preferably on a Wednesday. Be sure to bring plenty cash as they don't accept credit cards (although this might have changed recently?). There is an ATM in the back, but it charges a hefty fee and is sometimes hard to reach when the place is packed.

In 2021, during the downtime from the Covid closure, the front of the interior bar was given a facelift by Anders Anderson (A-Frame) with bamboo fronting and diamond-shaped panels decorated with tapa cloth and carved tiki masks. Anders previously had donated a traditional swag lamp or two as well.

Opened in 1999 by owner-chef Tony Di Lembo.

The interior featured leopard skin patterned booths, a map of the Pacific Ocean on the dining room floor, and there was one small tiki at the entrance.

This location is currently (as of 2021) home to Mercado Mexican Restaurant.