The Oregonian

Astoria Love Locks Feature

2/10/2026

By Samantha Swindler | The Oregonian/OregonLive

You can leave a piece of your heart — or, more specifically, your heart‑shaped padlock — in Astoria.

The Love Locks project at Astoria’s Pier 39 invites people to purchase a kit with a heart-shaped lock and a paint pen for writing a special message. The locks don’t have keys — both to symbolize the everlasting nature of one’s love and to keep a bunch of keys out of the Columbia River.

Visitors are invited to attach their lock along the pier, snap a photo, and share it on social media with the hashtag #astorialovelocks.

“It’s a highly successful promotional tool for bringing people out to the pier and having them leave a little piece of their heart with us,” said Nikki Thompson, owner of Ghost Ship Trading Post, which sells the locks.

Love Locks was launched in 2022 by the owner of the Menagerie Co‑Op gift shop at Pier 39. After the store moved to a new location downtown, the torch was passed to Ghost Ship, which moved into the former Menagerie space.

Thompson estimates she’s sold around 2,500 kits since opening her shop a year and a half ago. About 200 locks are added each month, each with a story behind it.

Last summer, Thompson said, a couple who had first met at Pier 39 bought 25 Love Locks while celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

“The idea of leaving a part of your heart in a place, especially if it calls to you or you’ve got a great memory there, that is such a special thing,” Thompson said.

Love Locks can be placed at two designated areas at Pier 39: the south entrance to the pier at the transformer platform and the north-facing back of the pier behind Ghost Ship Trading Post. Locks can also be found in other parts of town, including near the Cannery Pier Hotel.

Proceeds from the locks benefit the Astoria Uppertown Business Association. In addition, $2 from each kit supports the Hanthorn Cannery Museum — a free museum at Pier 39 that shares the history of the site. Today, the pier is home to small retailers and restaurants, but it originally housed the Hanthorn Cannery, later known as the Bumble Bee Cannery.

Love Lock kits cost $20 and can be purchased at Menagerie Co‑Op, Coffee Girl, Vineside Wine Bar, Ghost Ship Trading Post, The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, and the Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce.

From noon to 5 p.m. this Valentine’s Day, the Uppertown Business Association is hosting a “Spread the Love” celebration, which will include a craft station and a market featuring local artisans selling chocolates, wine, flowers, jewelry and more at Pier 39.

An officiant will be available to preside over friendship ceremonies, love commitment ceremonies or full wedding ceremonies — as long as you bring your marriage certificate. Saturday evening, Vineside Wine Shop will host a “Love Spell” event with live music and tarot readings from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information about Love Locks or Spread the Love, visit uppertownbusinessassociation.com.