4 Things Everyone Who Partied at Fusion in Lewiston, Maine Will Remember

If you spent any time going out in Lewiston back in the day, you probably remember Fusion at the Ramada. 

And when I think about Fusion, I don't just remember a restaurant or a bar. I remember the whole Ramada experience. You could eat, drink, dance, sing karaoke, run into half of Lewiston and, if the night got a little too ambitious, your hotel room was literally right upstairs. 

Honestly… brilliant. 

Here are the four things I remember most about those good old Fusion days. 

1. THE NIGHTLIFE..YES, THE “COUGAR SAFARI”

Friday and Saturday nights were a completely different world.  Fusion would go from hotel restaurant to packed nightlife spot, with people over 30 showing up to let loose, dance and have a few drinks. 

Apparently, some Yelp reviewers even affectionately called it a “cougar safari.” 

And you know what? Respect. 

There were DJs, live bands, singing contests like every weekend, classic 80s and 90s hits and a dance floor full of people who had absolutely no intention of going home anytime soon. 

2. KARAOKE, PARTIES AND EVERYONE YOU KNEW

If you weren't dancing, you were probably watching someone absolutely commit to a karaoke song. 

Fusion was also the place to end up after weddings, reunions, banquets and events happening at the Ramada. 

You could walk in knowing five people and somehow leave having talked to 25.

That was the magic of Fusion. It had that old-school local nightlife vibe where you never knew who you'd run into—or where the night would end.

And if the photo below of my friend Meagan tearing up the dance floor is any indication of how much fun we had at Fusion, I don't know what is. She'll probably be mad I dug this absolute gem out of the archives... but some memories are just too good not to share.

Lizzy Snyder

3. THE BUFFETS

Before everyone had an opinion about every ingredient in their food, there was the buffet. 

Fusion was known for affordable, including breakfast buffets with eggs, bacon, waffles and the famous Fusion Scramble. 

And you weren't paying some ridiculous brunch price to eat three pieces of bacon and call it a meal. 

You could actually FILL A PLATE. 

Lunch and dinner buffets were packed with comfort food, and the whole thing just felt very Ramada: casual, affordable and exactly what you wanted after a night out. 

4. THE RAMADA ITSELF, THE ULTIMATE NIGHT OUT

This is the part that really made Fusion special. 

Fusion and the Ramada went together, perfectly. 

You could meet your friends, grab dinner, hit the bar, dance, sing karaoke, have a few drinks and stay out way later than you originally planned. 

And then? 

You didn't have to drive anywhere. 

Read More: Clarion Hotel Conference Center Opens In Lewiston's Former Ramada

Your room was right there. It was basically the original “we're not making good decisions tonight, but at least we're making safe transportation decisions” plan. 

And I think that's what I miss about places like Fusion. 

It wasn't fancy. It wasn't trying too hard.  It was just a place where people went to have a GOOD TIME.