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Lincoln City Glass Center
- Hours:
Wed-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
2 reviews for Lincoln City Glass Center
While my sister (M-E P.) and husband were visiting from Michigan this summer, glass blowing was on her list of things to do. So we stopped here one afternoon to see what we could see.
This place is located right on 101, so access is obviously great. The business has an open front, so anyone driving by or walking by on the sidewalk can take a gander. There were four or five blowers/instructors there at that time, however, I believe only two or three of them were actually instructing. Regardless, we all stopped to watch for a bit.
It appears as if there isn't a whole lot that the customers actually get to do. I say "appears," because when we saw that the minimum project was $75, we all decided to pass. There are approximately 61 other ways that I'd rather spend $75. But I digress.
The customers get to pick out the color of the glass, watch the instructor put it in the oven, watch the instructor spin it, watch the instructor begin to mold it, hold the shaper for a couple minutes while the instructor spins it, watch the instructor put it back in the oven, watch the instructor spin it, watch the instructor take it out of the oven, watch the instructor bring it over to the table, blow gently into the pipe, watch the instructor do some more, etc., etc. I can imagine the liability issues, not to mention that 99% of customers would simply not have the ability to do what needs to be done, but for the money it seemed as if there was an inordinate amount of watching and very little doing.
In deference to Jenne, I agree, if your mom is paying for this for you, great, go for it. I just can't ever see me spending my money for this.
So I guess the question, becomes, "Sam, after that review, how the hell does this place get 3 stars?". Well, you can show up and watch glass blowing til the cows come home and it will cost you absolutely nothing. And free is a good deal. I just can't see paying the money they're asking for the service they're providing.
When my mom, brother and I went to Lincoln City in August of 2005, we stopped by the Lincoln City Glass Center & Jennifer Sears Glass Studio to make some glass floats.
My mom and I really like glass floats (because we're nerdy like that) and we had heard that one can make a glass float or glass paperweight at the LCGC. At the time, it was $65 per float. I looked at their website and it's now up to $75 per float. $10 inflation in 3 years. Hmm...not so excited about that.
But it was a great experience. We were each assigned to a specific glass blower. As it turns out, mine was a really awesome indie rock guy who called the opening to the kiln-thing "the glory hole." Yeah, it may be called that, but I thought it was fantastic that he didn't give a shit that he said it to me. I loved him immediately.
Anyway, you pick out the colors you want to incorporate into your float before you begin, and I was in a serious pink phase at the time. Yes, pink is a great color. It's pretty. So then my glass blower extraordinaire grabbed this metal pole, dipped it into the hellfire-hot glass kiln and brought out the glass we'd be using for my float. Then we walked over to his kiln area (they were working 3 professional/tourist combinations at a time) and he started shaping the float. When it got to the crucial time, I got to spin the emerging float and even blow into the metal tube, creating the sphere. So yes, my own Lincoln City breaths are now encapsulated in my pink float.
If you're driving along Highway 101 and find yourself in Lincoln City, or if you're looking for a fun way to spend $75 definitely consider making a glass float at the LCGC. It's worth the money, especially if your mom is footing the bill.