community
may16
2013
Marking 75 Years of Family Ownership
Coastal Mountain Sport Haus Continues to Transform
By Scott Laird
When the land on Nehalem
Hwy 10 miles north of Vernonia was
purchased by Willie Wolff in 1938 it
was a dream come true for the German
immigrant who desired to be an Ameri-
can farmer. He worked and saved for a
piece of land he could farm.
Now, 75 years later, the prop-
erty has a new life and purpose under
Wolff’s granddaughter and her husband,
Sandy and Glen Crinklaw.
Coastal Mountain Sport Haus
is a European style inn that recently
caught the attention of Travel & Leisure
Magazine and has been nominated as
one of the World’s Best Places to stay.
Results won’t be known until August of
this year. “We are so thrilled to be nomi-
nated, it is like we have already won,”
said Innkeeper Sandy Crinklaw. The
Crinklaws have been operating the inn
since 2009.
“It
was
May of 1938 when
my grandfather and
grandmother, along
with my mother,
moved from Port-
land to the farm lo-
cated on what is now
known as Nehalem
Highway North,”
says Crinklaw. Her
grandfather
Wil-
lie was primarily
a dairy farmer, but also raised horses,
pigs, chickens and turkeys. He tilled
and worked the land with horses, and
later gave way to more modern methods
of farming with machines. Listed as one
of Columbia County’s historical proper-
ties, there are only two other families
who have owned this property since it
was homesteaded.
Today the property has been
reborn as an Agribusiness/Destination
Resort, set on 130 acres, and the only
destination resort in Columbia County.
Cycling, yoga and a love of the outdoors
is the inspiration for the business mod-
el. Access to great roads for bicycling,
trails for hiking, the mountains and the
coast make this a perfect spot and base
camp for those seeking an active get-
away. Their proximity to Portland, wine
country, Mount St. Helens and the Co-
lumbia Gorge makes
the Sport Haus an
easy drive from most
local, major attrac-
tions. The special set-
ting at the banks of
the Nehalem River
is a haven for guests
who want privacy
and a bit of pamper-
ing. Visitors come to
see Oregon, they come to revisit farm
life, they come to experience the rural
setting, and the natural environment.
“We have met some wonderful
people from throughout North Ameri-
ca,” says Crinklaw. “It is a great des-
tination for those who want to unwind,
13
refresh and reconnect.”
The Crinklaws took special
care when they built the inn back in
2007. An array of solar panels to heat
the water, large windows that provide
lots of natural lighting, energy efficient
lighting, low flow water restrictors, and
radiant heating in the flooring, make a
stay at the Sport Haus an environmen-
tally friendly and sustainable vacation.
“We tried to create a smooth
transition from outside to inside,” said
Crinklaw during a recent tour. “No
matter what the weather, you can feel
like you are outside. We really tried to
invite the natural environment in.”
Covered decks downstairs and
upstairs allow guests to relax overlook-
ing beautiful green pastures. Birds zip
around the trees and decks. Crinklaw
names a short list of bird sightings: bald
eagle, harrier hawk, western tanager,
common flicker, redheaded woodpeck-
er, yellow finches, and tree swallows-all
in one day. The wide open space of the
pasture allows guest the unusual oppor-
tunity to observe the birds in flight un-
obstructed, swooping and diving. Deer
continued on page 17
Under New Local Ownership
Golf Now/Dick’s Sportingoods
2 Man Tournament
Midnight Madness
Sat, June 1st - 2pm
Tournament
July 3rd - 9pm tee off
NOW BOOKING:
Tournaments
Company Parties
Class Reunions
Family Reunions
And More
Owned and Operated by
Don & Kim Wallace
DON WALLACE, PLS
Professional Land Surveying
1224 E. Alder St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
Phone: 503-429-6115
FAX: 1-866-297-1402
Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com
Men’s Club
Wednesdays 5 PM
Join us for dinner
Every Friday 6-9 pm
Full dinner menu • Steak, seafood, pasta
Reservations required for prime rib
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MEMBER
Vernonia Golf Club • 15961 Timber Rd. • (503) 429-6811