February 12, 2026

Waterfront putt-putt writes a whimsical love letter to Seattle

Photo by Brian Miller [enlarge]

The family-friendly 16-hole course is slated for a ground floor space on the 1201 Western Building’s Alaskan Way and Seneca side.

A very Seattle indoor mini golf course could tee off on the central waterfront as soon as this fall.

The project, helmed by West Seattle married couple Amelya O'Neill and Kevin O'Neill, is slated for a 8,216-square-foot ground-floor space in the 1201 Western Building at Alaskan Way and Seneca Street.

The DJC reported on the project's early murmurings in August, with the owners then eyeing a basement space at 1414 Alaskan Way, aka the Market Square building.

They've settled on the Martin Smith-owned seven-story 1201 Western Building instead, just across Alaskan Way from Argosy Cruises, and are teed up to submit permitting paperwork to the city, the couple said.

A BIT SURREAL, A BIT WHIMSICAL

Aiming for a fall opening, the family-friendly 16-hole course is being designed to celebrate Seattle's maritime history, marine life and landmarks, Amelya O'Neill said.

Concept sketch by House of Sorcery [enlarge]

The “Ferry vs Octopus” hole will be visible through Par Harbor’s west-facing windows.

“It'll be a bit surreal, a bit whimsical, and fully embracing of that which makes Seattle weird and remarkable,” Amelya O'Neill said. “It's a course that plays like a love letter written to Seattle by an unhinged Sea Captain.”

SoDo's Mallet Design Build is serving as general contractor and lead for design, architecture, compliance and building. Georgetown's House of Sorcery is artist and fabricator. Theme and specialty construction firm COST of Wisconsin is also on the project team.

THAR BE KRAKEN SELFIES

The O'Neills said they took inspiration for the project from family trips with their three children playing fun mini-golf courses elsewhere.

“Some of the most fun they'd have on vacation would happen on the mini-golf course and, sadly, Seattle has been missing the kind of selfie-worthy courses that are easy to find in other cities,” Amelya O'Neill said. “Bringing a family-friendly, rain-proof, affordable and beautiful addition to the Waterfront Park seemed like a no-brainer to us.”

In addition to the course itself (with ADA accessible holes on the main floor), Par Harbor's plans include a rentable party room and a main reception area that “doesn't at all look like a wayward Bait Shack” where people can buy drinks, snacks and merch featuring local artists.

Kraken are also in the plans: A “Ferry vs Octopus” hole will be visible through Par Harbor's west-facing windows. Other current ground-floor tenants in the building include V/S Furniture and the Woodside/Braseth Gallery.

The quarter-block brick 1201 Western Building, with its arched terra cotta entryway, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1998, soon after its $8.7 million purchase by Martin Smith Inc. in 1997. It was built in 1910 as the Agen Warehouse, a cold storage facility, and remodeled for offices in 1986, when a penthouse level was also added, and again in 2004.

Kevin O'Neill said they're thrilled to be sited at the historic building and right in the thick of the new waterfront after watching its transformation over downtown commutes.

“We wanted to be a part of what the waterfront has become and are confident a unique, PNW attraction in the heart of it will be welcomed,” he said.