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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2015)
JOHN DAY Elevation: 3,087 feet • Population: 1,744 J ohn Day is the “hub” of Grant County – both in size, as the county’s largest town, and in geography, centrally located at the intersection of highways 26 and 395. In addition to a steady business sector, John Day boasts many facilities that serve the surrounding area, such as Blue Mountain Hospital, Grant County Regional Air- port and the Grant County Fairgrounds. It’s also where visitors will find the only stoplight in the county. Incorporated on Feb. 23, 1901, John Day’s history dates back further to 1862, when B.C. Trowbridge staked out the first homestead. The first post office was set up in 1865, dis- continued a few years later, and re-established in 1879 with the name, “John Day.” Outdoor enthusiasts don’t need to travel outside the city limits for recreational fun. At least three spots offer opportunities for fresh air activities: • Seventh Street Complex includes baseball fields, a pond, fishing docks, two trails, two tennis courts, a basketball court, large covered picnic area, playground, skatepark and rest- rooms. A concession stand is open during major ball games. • John Day City Park at N.W. Canton Street and Ing-Hay Way has a picnic area, playground, gravel path and restrooms, all on the banks of Canyon Creek. Gleason Pool and Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site are nearby. • The John Day Golf Course just west of town offers nine holes of putting and driving pleasure. The clubhouse has a large banquet room, and stunning views overlooking the course. The John Day Farmers Market, now in its sixth successful year, features locally produced food and crafts, children’s activities, music, food and recipe samples, garden plants and prize drawings. Some of the produce vendors are registered to accept WIC, Fruit and Veggie Vouchers, Farm Direct Nutrition Program checks, and SNAP benefits. The markets provide social and self-reliant opportunities for communities throughout 48 | OFFICIAL GRANT COUNTY VISITOR GUIDE 2015 | MyEagleNews.com Grant County and the surrounding area. Vendor space is $5 each week. The John Day Farmers Market is held Saturday mornings, from mid-June through mid-October, on S.W. Brent Street. For more information, call 541-932-2725. DON’T MISS: Whiskey Gulch Gang’s annual Demolition Derby at the Grant County Fairgrounds. This year’s crash-and-smash event will be Saturday, July 18. The Ranch and Rodeo Museum, which offers visitors an in-depth look at Grant County’s rich cowboy and ranching days. (See page 40 for more information.)
