SIUSLAW NEWS | BUSINESS QUARTERLY | APRIL 7, 2018
“I love to help
people
buy and sell
property”
Delbert
lb L. "Del" l Phelps
hl
Real Estate BROKER
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Northwest Real Estate
1875 Hwy 101, P.O. Box 276, Florence, OR. 97439
C- 541-991-7787 * 541-997-6000 * 800-788-3319
dphelps@bhhsnw.com • oregoncoastallistings.com
Greater Florence Area
B usiness
Quarterly
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and economic development updates. It will be published next in July and October.
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C&M Stables shows ‘Horse sense’
Florence’s premier corral takes Oregon coast visitors on horse rides to the beach, trails
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
C&M
Stables is
celebrat-
ing a birthday. And while the
popular tourist destination is
not having a party, staff fi nd
themselves celebrating.
“We fi rst opened our doors for
business on April 1, 1980, so I guess
that really makes me an April fool,”
stable owner Jeff Chastain said. “We
have been giving people the chance
to take a ride on our spectacular
Oregon beaches for about 37 years
now.”
For nearly four decades, visitors
to the Oregon coast, and many
Florence residents, have been able
to get back to nature by taking a
horseback ride on the beach from
C&M Stables, 90241 Highway 101
north of Florence.
“It’s springtime, which is always
when we start to get busy. We get
a lot of calls asking for informa-
tion and then we get customers
that come here from all over the
world. We do get some visitors
from Oregon and we get lots of
folks from Canada, but a lot of our
other customers come from Europe
and some come from as far away as
China,” he said.
Th e trees and bushes on the long
hillside behind the main corral at
C&M are starting to bloom, and the
fresh, clean smell from the ocean
mixes with the earthy aromas of
the nearby horses relaxing in the
warming late morning sunshine.
Th e sun is shining brightly and
there is a steady breeze blowing in
from the nearby ocean as Chastain
takes a short break from his duties
and gazes out the window, smile in
place.
“A lot of our visitors are traveling
by, and they make a special stop
here to take a ride on our beautiful
Oregon beaches,” he said. “Some
people come back every couple of
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
C&M Stables staff regularly takes groups of riders on trails and to the beach, from visitors from across the world to local neighbors from Florence.
years and bring kids and grandkids,
making this a family part of their
vacation trip.”
A well-maintained area houses
the horses that appear to be ready
for the day’s tours and beach rides.
Th ere are about 10 horses waiting
calmly in the corral and a group
from Eugene is lined up at the entry
gate, preparing to meet the horses
that will take them for a ride on the
beach.
Staff members speak briefl y with
the riders, asking a few questions
of each, to determine the experi-
ence level of the individual before
matching them with a horse. Th e
process takes a brief time, during
which the newly paired horse and
riders get acquainted while waiting
for the group to form for the day’s
ride.
I have some experience riding,
although it has been years since I
rode more than a short distance.
My horse is a large, light brown
gelding named CJ. I introduce
myself to CJ and give him a slice of
apple I brought with me, remem-
bering a neighbor’s horse from my
youth that loved the fruit. He is a
friendly horse and he snuffl es and
lightly snorts as I swing my leg over
the well-worn brown saddle and
settle into the saddles.
He gives me a second to get my
bearings and then starts walking
steadily towards the gate that leads to
the short trail that will bring us to our
fi rst major obstacle, Highway 101.
Th e group makes its way down a
slight incline that skirts C&M Sta-
ble’s main corral, the horses walking
in line as we head the short distance
west to the ocean.
Th e traffi c on 101 is fl ying by, and
the slipstream from the fast-mov-
ing vehicles is unsettling to me
but seems second nature to CJ as
he stands calmly by the side of the
road, his mane blowing back and
forth. Th ere is a gap in the traffi c
and our two guides post themselves
on either side of the road, acting as
crossing guards.
Th e traffi c approaching from both
directions comes to a stop, allowing
the line of horses and riders to cross
Highway 101 safely. Next, we come
to a short, paved road, lined with
3 new distinguished sponsors support chamber
Florence Area Chamber of Com-
merce has gained three new distin-
guished sponsors, Christina Voogd,
principal broker with Berkshire
Hathaway Northwest; Darci Clark,
broker with Keller Williams Realty
Florence Coastal Team; and Best for
Hearing.
“Th e purpose of the chamber is
to help our members develop their
business,” said Chamber Executive
Director Bettina Hannigan. “I am
thrilled to welcome these business-
es to our prestigious group of dis-
tinguished sponsors. Distinguished
sponsors are just that — their gener-
ous support contributes to chamber
events and operations.”
Florence Area Chamber of Com-
merce off ers memberships ranging
from $125 for associate membership
(nonprofi t or individual), business
partner at $225, premier member- tion, promotional material place- leaders. Members receive timely,
ship at $500, distinguished sponsors ment in relocation and visitor in- relevant information so that they
may be kept informed;
professional development
workshops and seminars
so that they may gain valu-
able knowledge and skills
to help them succeed; and
policy and communica-
tions expertise to assist
them in advocating their
at $2,500, all with extensive tiered formation packets distributed over positions and business interests.
membership advantages. Corporate 500 times per year, and newspaper
“Th e chamber is part of provid-
Underwriters contribute $10,000 and radio advertising, just to name ing the resources for businesses to
per year and receive many chamber a few,” Hannigan said. “Th e cham- grow. And the businesses support
resources.
ber is honored to receive Christina the chamber. It’s a circle,” Hannigan
“Being a sponsor comes with a Voogd, Best for Hearing and Darci said.
plethora of benefi ts, including pre- Clark’s support.”
For more information about join-
mier placement on the website and
Th e Florence Area Chamber of- ing the chamber, visit fl orencecham-
inside the Visitors Center with video fers its membership various net- ber.com/chamber/join/ or stop in
presentation and materials, weekly working opportunities with peers, to the Florence Visitor’s Center, 290
e-blasts, printed directory recogni- government offi cials and business Highway 101.
trees that are 50 to 60 feet high and
swaying in the wind. Th e horses are
clearly used to this walk and quick-
ly fall into a single fi le line, heading
towards the waves now visible in
the distance.
Th e wind doesn’t deter the
animals from walking the familiar
route to the long, open stretches of
sand that await. CJ starts to trot as
soon as we hit the open sand and
I hold on a little tighter, squeezing
my legs around the leather saddle
that suddenly seems much less
comfortable than it did just a few
minutes ago. CJ and a couple of
the other horses canter, seeming to
take pleasure in the opportunity to
stretch their legs.
See STABLES page 3
BONFIRE sets tastebuds
ablaze at Th ree Rivers
BONFIRE, the region’s newest culinary destina-
tion, is now open. Located at the Th ree Rivers Casi-
no Resort in Florence, 5647 Highway 126, BONFIRE
provides a fi ne-dining experience for Florence resi-
dents and visitors alike.
With the opening of BONFIRE, the vision of a spe-
cialized dining experience in Florence has now be-
come a reality.
BONFIRE diners will enjoy a selection of special-
ty appetizers including coconut shrimp, pan-seared
scallops and Dungeness crab cakes. A signature
wedge salad with smoked pecan bacon and imported
Danish blue cheese has already become a popular fa-
vorite. Entrees include only the fi nest certifi ed angus
steaks, prime rib cooked and served on the bone, the
freshest salmon, halibut and succulent lobster tail.
BONFIRE is fi ne dining at its best. Th e restaurant
is open Th ursdays through Sundays from 4 to 9 p.m.
For more information or to make a reservation, call
541-902-6619 or visit threeriverscasino.com.
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