Roadside Parks Dot
Oregon Coast Highway
The Oregon Coast highway is dotted with road­
side parks from the California state line to Astoria,
and along the route the traveler lhay see almost
any sort of scenery the coast section affords.
There are places with marine gardens, see lion
rocks, high points where ocean and interior views
may be seen, camping places in many of them, and
sightly eminences which command the surrounding
country.
The list of these, which is below, include all,
and people who travel should retain this article and
know their location and points when enroute.
This extensive system of parks has been fi­
nanced by the Oregon State Highway commission,
which has bought, and in
highway commission
parks there are at intervals, government park es­
tablishments in forest reserves, where the camper
will find everything to his liking, and convenient,
with wood, water and fireplaces.
The places are listed herewith:
Golden and Silver Falls
Ten miles east of Allegany, yet unimproved,
owing to only recent acceptance by the commission.
Bhedsdimdrsn Park
In Douglas county. Rhododendron park has
been preserved for the remarkable growth of rho­
dodendrons on the entire 80 acres. To see the mass
of blooms in the early spring is a never-to-be-for­
gotten experience.
Cape Arago Park
Coos county. A high outstanding promontory
that _______
projects into
the sea
one-half mile, here
where
______
,______________
you you
ran
pniov excellent sea
<u»a views.
views There are
arp two fine
fins»
can enjoy
beaches within the park, and good sea fishing can
be had from these points. Good picnic grounds.
The park is on the North Bend-South Bay highway.
Buena VMa Park
This is a timbered area on the Oregon Coast
highway. Overlook* have been constructed, from
which unparalleled views are obtained.
Humbug Mountain Park
Curry county.
Here within this 1200 acre
area on the Oregon Coast highway, 25 miles north
of Gold Beach, Humbug mountain rises sheer above
the ocean to an elevation of 1750 feet. If you are a
hiker try the winding trail through virgin pine,
spruce, hemlock and alder to this peak. There are
two fresh water streams where trout fishing is
good, and a half mile of sandy beach where the
ocean can be fished with good results. Day camp­
ing at this park.
__ „
Port Orford Cedar Park
This park is located on the Oregon Coast high­
way eight miles north of Port Orford.
The tract
was obtained for its natural stand of Port Orford
cedar, which is native to the state.
Battle Rock Park
A Christian Community
Regardless of whether one affiliates with a
church organization, about the first question asked
by a person seeking a new location for a permanent
home or business investment, is "what church de­
nominations are represented in your city?”
Coquille can truly be classed as a Christian
community, as can the entire Coquille Valley, and
where a community does not possess a church edi­
fice. either the grange, community building or
school hopse is used for such purposes, and Sunday
school organizations are maintained with earnest
men and women directing, while ministers from the
cities visit those localities and hold services at least
once a Sunday
While tht first church in Coos county was es­
tablished in Empire, the first settlement, in 18S7, by
C. Alderson, sent here by the Methodist church, it
was not until 20 years later that a church building
was erected, services in the meantime being held in
a hall over a drug store.
Probably the first church in the Coquille valley
was the Methodist Episcopal church, South, by Rev.
W. B. Smith, who still makes his home in Coquille,
but at present and for months past has been con­
ducting revival meetings in Montana, although not
holding a regular charge. The church built under
the guTdance^and effort of Rev. Mr. Smith in 1888,
was supplanted 40 years later, in 1928, on the exact
site, by a fine new concrete structure costing
825,000, being the finest religious edifice in south­
western Oregon.
Other church oganizations, each of which owns
its own edifice, and carries on the various depart
mental endeavors, including Sunday school, young
people’s societies, missionary and guild and altar
societies, etc., are: Catholic, although at present
without regular service; Church of Christ (Chris­
tian), Assembly of God, Seventh Day Adventist,
Christian Science, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist
Episcopal. Church of God.
1—Catholic. 2—Seventh Day Adventist.
3— Assembly of God and parsonage..
4— Christian Science.
5—Methodist
Episcopal and parsonage. 6—Episcopal.
7—Pioneer (M. E. Sooth). 8—Baptist
and parsonage. 9—Church of God. 10
—Church of Christ.
♦
< H
Water Power Available
There is in the upper Coquille valley area un­
told undeveloped water power, which, some day,
will be under control and contribute to the com­
fort, well being and progress of residents of Coos
county. Right now plans are being discussed for a
large water district to comprise the cities of Myrtle
Point, Coquille, Marshfield and North Bend and
their suburban districts, supplying them with the
purest and coldest of mountain water from the
Brewster valley. While it may be several years be­
fore this plan can be brought to a complete realiza­
tion, still it is a possible solution to the water prob­
lem confronting these municipalities, and such a
gravity system would not nearly entail the great
expense which the localities at present face in cost
of operation as well as the continual worry of an
adequate and pure supply.
Fine schools in Cooa county, with splendid
school plants, add their impetus in attracting the
home seeker.
The Coquille Valley green all the year.
thing will grow.
Any­
The Coquille Valley is rich in dairy and agri-
cultural possibilities.
Curry county. Battle Rock park is located on
the Oregon Coast highway at Port Orford. It is a
small area of four acres containing the historical
rock known as Battle Rock. A party of whi’e set­
tlers who had been left by Captain William Tiche-
nor to establish Port Orford, was besieged by In-
Z__ s on this island in 1851. Surrounded by the sea
dians
on three sides they were enabled to hold off the
assaults of the Indians and eventually break
through the cordon surrounding them and make
their way to white settlements on the Umpqua river
to the north.
One of the most magnificent sea­
scapes is to be had at this park. The blue of the
long sea sweeps out towards the distant horizon,
fringing the lhore line and towering mountains. A
sandy beach fronts the property.
Parking areas
have been provided for the traveler.
Geteel Monument Park ,
Geisel monument is in memory of John Geisel
and his three sons who were massacred by Indians
in 1856 in Curry county.
Cape Sebastian Park
Curry county. A lofty promontory which juts
out into the Pacific ocean; one of the most striking
coastgl features along the Oregon Coast highway.
The cape itself rises'* almost straight above the
ocean for some 700 feet and presents a seascape
preeminent over any other to be found along the
Oregon coast. Good roads here, trails for hikers,
and inviting picnic nooks. The park is ten miles
south of Gold Beach.
Harris Beach Park
Curry county. Seventeen acres fronting on the
ocean on the Oregon Coast highway four miles
north of Brookings. A fine beach porches this park,
and lots of good picnic areas have been developed.
Kellogg Park
This is more a wayside strip which has been
protected for its unusually fine stand of timber.
There has been some work done on fire hazard re­
duction and landscaping. A nice place to stop and
rest.
Intectt Not Troubletome
In the Coquille Valley there is one condition which
immediately appeals to all newcomers—an almost
absolute absence of all kinds of insects, there being
exceptionally few flies, mosquitoes, gnats and other
pests
Because of this, camping and outdoor lire
are altogether more enjoyable, while, also, the house
is never filled with flies, etc., to make life burden­
some to the housewife. Screens are seldom used on
doors or windows, not being considered essential to
the comfort of the residents.