The 1980s were a great time to grow up in Delaware. There were plenty of things to do, lots of great restaurants beginning to open up, and some of the best events that this state has ever seen. In 1989, Metallica played the Stone Balloon in Newark… how cool is that? There’s a lot about Delaware that you can reminisce on, but these 9 will really stick out to you if you grew up in the 80s in Delaware.
- WCAU-FM, and Barsky in the Mornings
Facebook / WOGL FM Now the station is rebranded WOGL, and it’s still listened to throughout Delaware. We’d be lying if we said we didn’t miss Barsky, though, who left the area in the late 1980s for a different major market.
- The Christiana Mall arcades
Flickr / Ebi-Debi I spent so much time at Galaxy Arcade! Actually, just looking at this photo has the Frogger theme song stuck in my head… do do do do, do do do do, do do do do do. What was your favorite arcade game? Did anyone else love Phoenix?
- Drinking on Dewey Beach
Flickr / Jamierellanov Dewey’s sand went dry in the mid-eighties, but that didn’t really stop anyone. If you were old enough to drink, chances are you did it with the sand beneath your toes in Delaware’s party town.
- The Original Bandstand
Flickr / Mr. T in DC The new one is very pretty, yes, but it’s hard to let the memories of the original Bandstand fade. It was a meeting point for everyone in a time before cell phones made meeting on-the-fly much easier.
- Ogletown Putt-Putt
Flickr / popofatticus Or really, any of the big putt-putt/mini golf spots! They’re all disappearing now, and that’s a shame. I spent a ton of time at the Ogletown Putt Putt, which was also a car wash, when I was young.
- Brandywine Raceway
Flickr / Paul Van Der Werk Watching the Standardbreds run here was a great way to pass the time, but like in mary states, the horse racing industry has been suffering. Brandywine ran its last races in 1989, and is now the site of a housing development with street signs honoring the former track. It’s hard to believe that this was once one of the top Standardbred tracks in the country.
- Rehoboth Beach’s Coming Out Party
Flickr / Waffleboy Starting in the early 80s with the opening of the drag bar (and gourmet restaurant) Blue Moon, Rehoboth Beach’s gay scene exploded. It was met with resistance from many, but as the decade went on, Rehoboth Beach became more and more gay friendly. Now, it’s a very accepting and vibrant town, and it makes you realize how boring Rehoboth must have been prior to the 80s.
- The DelMarVa Chicken Festival
Flickr / Iain Farrell Though the Chicken Festival is no longer running, I know I’m not the only one who attended every year with friends or family and had a blast trying all of the different chicken dishes. This is probably what I miss most about Delaware’s past!
- Drive In Movies at Namaan’s or Pleasant Hill
Flick / Pete Zarria Most of Delaware’s drive-in theaters closed by the 70s, but Namaan’s and Pleasant Hill stuck around into the 1980s. I remember being SO excited to order snacks and watch a flick on the big screen.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane! If you want to keep throwing it back, check out our amazing collection of Delaware cities, then and now, to see what your favorite places looked like way back when.
Facebook / WOGL FM
Now the station is rebranded WOGL, and it’s still listened to throughout Delaware. We’d be lying if we said we didn’t miss Barsky, though, who left the area in the late 1980s for a different major market.
Flickr / Ebi-Debi
I spent so much time at Galaxy Arcade! Actually, just looking at this photo has the Frogger theme song stuck in my head… do do do do, do do do do, do do do do do. What was your favorite arcade game? Did anyone else love Phoenix?
Flickr / Jamierellanov
Dewey’s sand went dry in the mid-eighties, but that didn’t really stop anyone. If you were old enough to drink, chances are you did it with the sand beneath your toes in Delaware’s party town.
Flickr / Mr. T in DC
The new one is very pretty, yes, but it’s hard to let the memories of the original Bandstand fade. It was a meeting point for everyone in a time before cell phones made meeting on-the-fly much easier.
Flickr / popofatticus
Or really, any of the big putt-putt/mini golf spots! They’re all disappearing now, and that’s a shame. I spent a ton of time at the Ogletown Putt Putt, which was also a car wash, when I was young.
Flickr / Paul Van Der Werk
Watching the Standardbreds run here was a great way to pass the time, but like in mary states, the horse racing industry has been suffering. Brandywine ran its last races in 1989, and is now the site of a housing development with street signs honoring the former track. It’s hard to believe that this was once one of the top Standardbred tracks in the country.
Flickr / Waffleboy
Starting in the early 80s with the opening of the drag bar (and gourmet restaurant) Blue Moon, Rehoboth Beach’s gay scene exploded. It was met with resistance from many, but as the decade went on, Rehoboth Beach became more and more gay friendly. Now, it’s a very accepting and vibrant town, and it makes you realize how boring Rehoboth must have been prior to the 80s.
Flickr / Iain Farrell
Though the Chicken Festival is no longer running, I know I’m not the only one who attended every year with friends or family and had a blast trying all of the different chicken dishes. This is probably what I miss most about Delaware’s past!
Flick / Pete Zarria
Most of Delaware’s drive-in theaters closed by the 70s, but Namaan’s and Pleasant Hill stuck around into the 1980s. I remember being SO excited to order snacks and watch a flick on the big screen.
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