Storm Watching Clamming Crabbing Fishing Surfing Rogue Brewery Seafood & Wine and so much more!
TravelNewportOregon.com
Open 7 days a week
Mon-Sat 9am - 7pm, Sun 10am - 6pm
Your Pet’s Favorite Store - Paws Down ALL PETS WELCOME!
We have a complete selection of food & supplies for your: Dogs • Cats • Birds • Fish • Reptiles • Small Animals • Rodents
Our premium food brands include: • Canidae • Diamond • Nutro • Science Diet • Eukanuba • Friskies • Nature’s Recipe
• Whiskas • Pro Plan • Avoderm • Pinnacle • Chicken Soup • Taste of the Wild
• Evolve • Fromm • Natural Balance • Pedigree • Go! • Now! • Triumph
Our products and services include: • Supplements • Health Care • Vitamins • Medications • Pet Books • Toys • Carriers
• Cages • Furniture • Beds • Home Care Products • Premium Brands
• Specialty Products • Grooming • Special Orders Where Possible
(One block south of Fred Meyer) 1740 N Coast Hwy • Newport • 541-265-8355 • www.minipetmart.net Visit our other great locations: Bend, Eugene, Florence, Grants Pass, Medford, North Bend, Roseburg, and Springfield! – Coming to Lincoln City Soon!
Publisher
James Rand
Advertising Contacts Barbara Moore Teresa Barnes John Anderson Krisstina Borton
Editor
Steve Card
Copy Editor
Monique Cohen
Contributors
Larry Coonrod James Rand Philip Swett Rick Beasley Cindy Hanson OCA Port of Newport Catherine Rickbone Oregon Sea Grant DiscoverNewport.com Historic Nye Beach Association Newport Chamber of Commerce Historic Bayfront
Cover Photo
Jo Weinert | www.jofotos.com
Design
| eongdi.com
A Publication of the
Photo by: Jo Wienert
S to rm Watch in g The blustery romance of storm-watching starts in Newport
p. 8-9
Travel Newport is published twice a year by the News-Times. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. The News-Times made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in the magazine, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions.
Contact Us 831 NE Avery St. Newport, OR 97365 541-265-8571 newportnewstimes.com
OYSTER CLOYSTER STORM WATCHING HISTORIC NYE BEACH the rogue in winter surf’s up cold, wet & clammy rush for the crush bier one crabs “r” us sportsman’s paradise sturgeon yaquina bay boating historic bayfront marine discovery tours lighthouses beaches beaver creek wetlands PORT OF NEWPORT NOAA U.S. COAST GUARD newport visual arts center newport performing arts center newport’s gentle giants hiking HMSC camping bus schedule History of the yaquina bay bridge
w w w.Tr a v e l N e w p o r t O r e g o n .c o m
7 8-9 10-13 16-17 18 19 24-25 23 24-25 26 27 28-29 30 31 34-35 37 38-39 41 42-44 45 46 47 48 49 50-51 52 58 59-62
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON C ontents
Photo by: Jo Wienert
5
H K
SW C H N
Scan for local events
﹙ ﹚ -
NC﹒ SW﹒
Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Oyster Cloyster Food Festival held first Saturday in November
the Oyster Cloyster such a fantastic event. It’s important for the chefs to show what they can do. All of the chefs competing create the most delicious oyster dishes you’ll ever taste. Even if you are not an oyster fan today, you will be after you’ve sampled these gourmet oyster delicacies.” As always, along with the oyster dishes, the festival features music and entertainment, fine wine and Rogue microbrews, desserts, clam chowder and fresh baguettes. Other foods are always on hand, such as meat and cheese trays, fruit kabobs, shrimp cocktails, and wraps. Starbucks coffee and Pepsi products are also available. Taps of Rogue Ales brew are pulled until the kegs run dry. Benefit drawings for up to 20 gift baskets — each valued at $1,000 — are held, with proceeds from tickets going to the Aquarium Science student scholarship fund. Call A.T. Ronan, development director for the college and festival coordinator at 541-574-7131 if you have questions or dial the Oyster Cloyster “hotline” at 541-574-7141 to leave a message. For more information, visit the college website at oregoncoastcc.org/oster-cloyster to purchase tickets through PayPal.
Cloyster an unsurpassed coastal event. Judged by some of Oregon’s most experienced chefs, awards are given for first place, second place, third place and for the Grand Prize winner as well as the People’s Choice award. The entries are judged on taste as well as creativity. “The chefs really get into the competitiveness,” said Robert Lean, who has served as co-chair of the event. “I think that is what makes
12th Annual Oyster Cloyster Festival Date: Nov. 3, 2012 Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Location: The Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd in Newport Information: 541-867-8541, or go to oregoncoastcc.org/oyster-cloyster.
Mark your calendar and travel to the Oregon Coast Aquarium on the first Saturday in November for the culinary extravaganza of the year at the Oregon coast. The annual Oyster Cloyster features top professional chefs who compete for honors with their hot and cold oyster masterpieces, specially prepared for the event, which is the major fundraiser for the Oregon Coast Community College Foundation. It’s also an elegant evening of fine food surrounded by talented musicians creating merriment throughout the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s captivating exhibits. Delicious clam chowder, platters of tantalizing appetizers, luscious desserts and rich coffee, plus, a no-host bar featuring select Oregon wines and microbrews, all make the Oyster
NEWPOR NEWPOR T , OR T EG , OR ONEG Oyster ON ? ? ?C?loyster ???
OYSTER CLOYSTER
Where oysters are king!
77
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Stormwatching 8
S T OR MW ATC H I NG
Cozy and warm in the eye of the storm!
Story by: Rick Beasley
The blustery romance of stormwatching starts in Newport
Just five miles north of town is a giant rocky headland whose name says it all: Cape Foulweather. From a number of pullouts along this forested volcanic boil, stormwatchers can see why the ancient mariners feared its vertical cliffs and gloomy caves. Many get out of their cars and stare, awestruck, into the maw of the storms like sailors on the forecastle. With every explosive breaker, the ground beneath their feet shudders. Some people are drawn to Newport with visions of scenic sunsets and the gentle lapping of the surf, a post card setting that makes it a top summer destination. But others come for the horizontal sheets of rain, waves that spray foam a hundred feet in the air and wind that will snatch away a poorly-secured hat and reduce an umbrella to shreds. It’s all part of the awesome fun of storm-watching, a romantic pastime best with an oceanfront room, a crackling fire, a glass of wine and a good friend. Born 3,000 miles away in raging midocean typhoons, the big Pacific
storms that seethe from November until April usher in some great benefits for storm-watchers, including the ease of booking a room without a reservation for a discount winter rate. While many smaller burgs are shuttered against the onslaught, motels and restaurants in Newport open their doors to this deluge of foulweather travelers. Some lodges promote storm-watching aggressively. Newport’s Elizabeth Street Inn, for example, is one of many perfect spots for a winter storm-watching getaway. For $99, visitors last year got a spacious room with a large oceanfront window, sleeping quarters and a sitting area with gas fireplace. The price included salmon chowder served at 5 p.m., fresh hot cookies in the evening and a hot breakfast in the morning. In the guest book, one couple recorded their experience: “We sat by glass Photo by: Jo Wienert patio doors after dinner sharing ice cream while we watched lightning, 72 mph winds & drenching rains batter the little balcony outside — great fun! Location was great, too, near Newport’s trendy Nye Beach area.” Any visitor to the Pacific Coast in spring, winter or fall should be
Stormwear, 101:
Photo by: Jo Wienert
prepared for storms. Bring clothes for any weather, especially warm layers and rain gear, and be ready to call it a day and stay indoors if the storm gets severe. Being driven indoors to a good book, DVD or board game is part of the fun. The best storm-watching is from headlands, high enough to be safe from crashing waves but close enough to feel the storm’s fury. Always avoid the jetties. A storm’s aftermath is when to venture outside. Here are some excellent places to see Mother Nature in all her fury: Boiler Bay: Fifteen miles north of Newport at the edge of Depoe Bay, this wayside offers views of spouting horns and flying foam from the safety of the parking lot. Depoe Bay: This quaint fishing village has a seawall promenade along U.S. 101 and is home of the Whale Watching Center, with an elevated and enclosed rotunda. Rocky Creek: A state park wayside two miles south of Depoe Bay, it yields an impressive courtside view of storms from the base of Cape Foulweather. Farther south, from perches along the Otter Crest Loop, waves that disappear into giant lava tube are exhaled like flames from a rocket booster. Devils Punch Bowl: Here, at a place called Otter Rock, the ocean gushes into a sandstone bowl — the remnant of a collapsed sea cave — in an explosive cacophony. Yaquina Head: Views from headlands around the 93-ft. tall offer a 180-degree panorama of waves crashing into cliffs and offshore rocks. Yachats: The basalt shelf that lines the ocean on the north side of town yields giant wave action. A storm’s aftermath is when to venture outside, after extreme conditions have passed. Breaks in the morning clouds let sunshine sparkle on the froth-churned ocean, but the visual impact of crashing waves was lessened by the motel’s airy perch. Now, imagine watching frothy waves and horizontal rain as you sip hot chocolate by a wood fire in a cozy cabin, perched high on a bluff. Throw in some board games and a good book, and you’ve got yourself a quintessential Pacific Northwest storm watching weekend! For information on lodging and winter specials, go to newportchamber.org, or call 1-800-COAST44.
Whenever you visit the coast, be sure you’ve got the goods to waterproof yourself and your loved ones from head to toe. Jacket: Invest the most into your rain jacket. Get one that fits well over layers, has a hood, and cinches at the wrists to keep rain from getting up into your arms. Here’s a tip – opt for a bright color like red, orange or bright green that will pop out against the dreary, stormy landscape in your trip photos. Pants: Rain comes in windswept sheets at the coast, so if you’re out exploring, you’ll want rain pants. If you plan on a lot of hiking, you’re going to be much more comfortable in a breathable waterproof fabric. Boots: High rain boots with good traction are a must for exploring on a wet, sandy beach/The insulated lining will keep your feet and lower legs warm, and the traction is as good on wet beach rocks as it is on wet city pavement. Flashlight: Coast storms can result in power outages, so pack a flashlight. It’s also a great idea to have a bright battery lantern that you can set on a table or hang from the ceiling if your motel room goes dark. Tide Guide: Use the tide chart from the Newport NewsTimes or pick up a tide table at most retail stores so that you know when the tide will be out and you can safely explore. You can also find tidal information online and track incoming storms at weather.gov.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Stormwatching
Photo by: Jo Wienert
9
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H I ST OR I C an d h ip NY E B EACH 10
Photo by: Jo Wienert
Historic and hip Nye Beach Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
For more than a century, Nye Beach has dazzled visitors
is the ocean.” A visit to this bohemian enclave of exciting bistros, dazzling shops, wine bars and cutting-edge galleries offers a glimpse both into NewThe neighborhood of Nye Beach, old as the city itself, has always port’s storied past and prosperous future. Since the injection in 2001of been a hip place to hang out. “The ambience is very artsy,” said Ruth Kier, an administrative assis- urban renewal dollars into the renovation of this historic district, Nye tant at the eye-popping Visual Arts Center. “But what makes it special Beach has grown considerably with additional retail and lodging options. Many of the historic cottages went under the carpenter’s knife, and a spurt of commercial construction has helped the neighborhood age gracefully. “They’ve filled in all the empty spaces with beautiful new buildings that fit perfectly,” said Jeanne Bailey, owner of the fascinating Charisma Gifts, a 30-year-old enterprise. “It’s a wonderful place for women to shop. The stores have things they won’t find anywhere else, like lingerie. There’s no better place to find a Christmas gift, décor or jewelry.” Typical of this revival is the 100-year-old Sylvia Beach Hotel, a refuge for lovers of the written word, complete with an ocean-view library and 20 guest rooms named after noted writers. Gin bottles sit on the dresser in the Fitzgerald room. “It’s a trap for interesting people,” says Portlander Goody Cable, who opened the hotel with her childhood friend Sally Ford 20 years ago. “People who read are fun to be around.” The rambling, four-story wooden structure, built circa 1912, is perched on a bluff that provides a panorama of sand and surf curving gracefully north to the gleaming white lighthouse at the tip of Yaquina Head, about three miles away. Ever since John Nye homesteaded Framed by the Cliff St. arch, the remodeled Sylvia Beach Hotel is a favorite haunt of writers and the area in the 1860s, this has been the beach storm-watchers.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEW POR T , OR EG ON H I ST OR I C an d h ip NY E B EA C H
that Newport residents and “summer people” have flocked to for exploring tide pools, flying kites, watching whales, baking clams, romping in the crashing surf, or simply strolling arm in arm. The Nye Beach district sits three blocks east of the water with a main street of quirky shops and cultural offerings. Newport’s Visual Arts Center, the city’s Performing Arts Center, and a gallery for the Yaquina Art Association — housed in a former bathhouse — are all located here. And at various places, visitors can enjoy live music anytime and catch the Nye Beach Writers’ Series, which has hosted such authors as the late Ken Kesey and scores of other award-winning poets, musicians, dramatists, and filmmakers. Historically, Nye Beach is one of the finest vacation spots on the Oregon Coast. For over a century, people from Portland and the Willamette Valley have been coming to this beautiful place to seek relief by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Corvallis Gazette reported in 1879 that pleasure seekers were numerous, and “every house and camping place full.” Women and children would spend their summers in Lunch, al fresco, at the Nye Beach Market is served to Philip and Amanda the quaint cottages and cozy bungalows while the men of the families Sale, newlyweds from Lincolnshire, England who honeymooned in Nye Breach. would join them on weekend excursions along beautiful Nye Creek. — continued to be popular with Oregonians. In 1885, the daylong journey between the valley and the coast was A place to escape from the trials of the day has always been a secret eased by the construction of a railroad from Corvallis to Yaquina City, located several miles up Yaquina Bay from Newport. The rail- of Nye Beach. Today, as a century ago, this colorful seaside commuroad brought even greater numbers of tourists to the coast and led to nity provides the same charm and beauty in a warm, friendly village of a construction boom in summer cottages. In 1891, a boardwalk was built connecting the areas of Nye Creek and the Newport Bayfront. Automobiles began coming to Newport in the 1900s, though the road connecting the coast with the valley was impassable for most of the year. In 1919 voters approved a local bond issue to improve the road connecting the coast to Benton County. That year also saw the approval of a statewide bond issue to finance the construction of the Roosevelt Military Nye Beach has been drawing Oregon visitors for more than a century, as this photo of historic hipsters reveals. Highway along the (Photo by Oregon Historical Society) coast, today known as Highway 101. By the 1920s tourism had become a major industry in shops, galleries and guest accommodations. Assistance for this article came from the Oregon Historical Society Newport and elsewhere along the coast due to these road improveand Sylvia Beach Hotel. ments and the growing number of automobile owners in the state. The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 cooled the growth of the coast’s tourist industry somewhat, but trips to the coast — then as now
11
YH
LH
Lighthouse
LH
YH
AGATE BEACH P RR PBA
PBA
HIGH
33
35
NW CLIFF 30
ELIZABETH ST.
P RR PBA DD/
NW 1ST
NW 6TH
HWY 101
YBSP
34
1
W. OLIVE 31
DD/VM
Don Davis Park/ Vietnam Memorial
Nana’s Irish Pub
541-574-8787
Panini Bakery
541-265-5033
5 6
PO
CITY CENTER
01
Y1
HW
7
9 10
T ER RB
NT FRO
YBSP USCG
BAY
Yaquina Bay Bridge
32 ND
424 W. Olive Street Open to the public: Mon-Wed 3-8p.m., Th-Fri Noon-9p.m., Sat-Sun. noon-6p.m.; Lottery (daily); Pool Th-Sun; Bingo at 1p.m. Th. & Sun. 749 NW 3rd Street Northwest cuisine inspired by the season¹s fresh offerings. Complete wine list, housemade desserts, and bread.
411 NW Coast Street Where the locals go for fish tacos, fresh quiches, big sandwich menu and full breakfast. For here or to go! Open 7:30a.m. to 3:00pm every day. 613 NW 3rd. Street www.nanasirishpub.com Open daily at 11a.m., serving traditional Irish fare. Music Sat. at 8:30pm. Happy hour, full bar, real darts, patio, imported beers. Children til 10pm.
232 NW Coast Street A Newport favorite with unique baked goods coffeee, esspresso, pizza, sandwiches and more. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Nye Beach Market
541-574-1599
526 NW Coast Street #B Breakfast, lunch, soups, chowder, & gluten free menu items. Beer, wine, & other beverages. Open Sun.-Th. 8-6 & Fri.-Sat. 8-8
Nye Beach Sweets
541-574-1963
526 NW Coast Street #A Featuring 16 flavors of Tillamook & Umpqua ice cream; small batch hand made fudge, brownies, & caramel corn, chocolates, candy, soda & coffee.
Sandbar & Grill Restaurant/Sports Bar 541-265-6032 722 NW Beach Drive Enjoy ocean view dining, a roof top patio, or our sports bar. Specializing in seafood, pasta dishes, prime rib and steaks. ATM, Wi-Fi access and Lottery.
Savory Cafe´ & Pizzeria
541-574-9365
526 NW Coast Street,#C www.savorynyebeach.com Dine-in, take out, delivery when available. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, & famous pizzeria. Open Th.-M. 11a.m.-8p.m., T. 5-8p.m., WIFI, full bar, & live music.
THE ARTS
HWY 20
42
SW 2ND
LH
541-265-8082
CF
L
HU
RR P
Cafe´ Stephanie
3
8
Yaquina Bay State Park
OSU Drive
12
L
11
Arago Surf Gallery
541-265-2907
12
For Artsake
541-574-9070
13
. BLVD BAY
PBA
541-265-6855
PO
39
32
Coast Park
OCA
Post Office
20 13
April’s at Nye Beach
Oregon Coast Aquarium Library
40 NW 3RD
21
23
2
HMSC
Hatfield Marine Science Center
25
12 27 NW 2ND CT 19 11 6
NW 2ND ST
County Fair Grounds
10 7 8
5
2 22
CF
Skate Park
JOHN MOORE RD.
16 17
SP
NW NYE
15 14 18
•
Stop Lights
USCG
NW HURBERT
P
RR
Public Restrooms
SW
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H I ST OR I C an d h ip NY E B EACH
NW BEACH 26 41 36 28 3 9 24 29
541-265-9017
U.S. Coast Guard
NW HIGH
NW COAST
PBA RR
American Legion
P
Public Parking
NW 25 TH
HWY 101
OCEANVIEW DR.
Public Beach Access
38 NW 8 TH
NW
37
1
Yaquina Head
NW 11 TH
NYE BEACH
FOOD - DRINK - DINING
YAQUINA BAY
NOAA
HMSC SOUTH BEACH OCA
14 15
232 NW Coast Street Contemporary beach culture. Glass, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, graphics, and surf art. 258 NW Coast Street An exciting gathering of local artists representing varied media both traditional and contemporary. Come join the fun!
Newport Performing Arts Center
541-265-2787
777 W. Olive Street www.coastarts.org Two performance spaces: Alice Silverman & Studio Theatres. Box Office: Mon-Fri, 9-5, or one hour before events. Over 160 events yearly.
Newport Visual Arts Center
541-265-6540
Yaquina Art Association
541-265-5133
777 NW Beach Drive www.coastarts.org Runyan Gallery, T-Sun. 11-5. Upstairs Gallery, T-Sat. noon-4. Two oceanfront all purpose rooms for rent- Call 541-265-6569. 789 NW Beach Drive www.yaquinaart.org Located in the historic bathhouse, featuring the work of over 60 local artists. Open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.
LODGING
Street Inn Gifts 866-329-5855 16 Charisma 30 Elizabeth 232 SW Elizabeth Street www.elizabethstreetinn.com 315 NW Coast Street 541-265-4657 • www.newportcharismagifts.com A beautiful and unusual array of fine gifts, & decorative accessories, floral designs, wedding & baby items, unique cards, soaps & lotions.
Breeze 17 Coastal 305 NW Coast Street
541-265-8404
By The Sea 18 Illingworth’s 735 NW Beach Drive www.illingworths.com
541-265-5094
Coastal Breeze is a light and airy shop with our primary focus on coastal items for the home and garden.
A charming boutique offering unique and seasonal gifts including cards, candles, baby items, fine chocolates, kitchen, Oregon tea, and jams.
19 Jovi 232 NW Coast Street, Suite B
541-265-8220
A shop full of rare and unusual objects. Global and local art and antiques to inspire the imagination.
& Michael Photography & Gallery 20 Linda 751 NW 1st Street www.1stcliffgallery.com
541-574-0455
Weddings, reunions, photo restoration, giclee prints for artists by Michael. Jewelry, lampwork beads, handmade greeting cards, and more by Linda.
21 310 NW Coast Street
541-265-3200
22 727 NW 3rd Street
541-265-6840
Manoosh
www.manoosh.com Where style matters and casual can be beautiful. We have: Not Your Daughter¹s Jeans, sweaters, rainwear, hats, and scarves.
Nye Beach Book House
nyebeachbooks@yahoo.com Book browser¹s delight. Excellent and diverse selection of used, collectible, and new books.
877-265-9400
Oceanfront rooms with fireplace, balcony, microwave, coffee, refrigerator. Meeting rooms, business services, covered parking. New decor. Hot bkfst.
Vacation Rentals 31 Fairhaven 29 SW Coast Street & 135 SW Coast Street
888-523-4179
541-574-0951
www.fairhavenvacationrentals.com Cape Cod style, oceanview, pet friendly, vacation homes in Historic Nye Beach. Fully furnished with hot tubs....
Grand Victorian B & B/Cottage 32 The 105 NW Coast Street www.grandvictorianor.com
800-784-9936
Street Town Homes 33 High 707 & 709 NW High Street www.orshores.com
800-800-7108
Cottage Vacation Rentals 34 Nye 208 NW Coast Street 866-592-5556 www.nyecottage.com
541-265-6262
Our bed and breakfast is that SPECIAL place to enjoy your wedding, honeymoon, anniversary, or vacation. Families love the 2 BR cottage.
Located in the heart of Nye Beach. Gourmet kitchen, 3BR 2BA, loft, uniquely furnished, invites you to stay, relax, & enjoy the Oregon Coast
This 1940’s auto court has renovated 1BR, 2BR, and studio units, with WIFI & cable. The 1BR and 2BR have kitchens. No Pets. No Smoking.
Beach Hotel & Restaurant 35 Sylvia 267 NW Cliff Street www.sylviabeachhotel.com
541-265-5428
Historic hotel with theme rooms - Tables of Content Restaurant offering superb oceanfront dining.
Tea Party English Boarding Rooms 541-574-0545 36 The 861 NW Beach Drive 541-270-3435 www.retrobeachbungalow.com Come stay with us in our beautifully appointed ocean view rooms in Historic Nye Beach. Stay includes a breakfast.
Cottage Beads 541-265-6262 23 Nye Viking’s - Greenstone Inn 800-480-2477 208 NW Coast Street #1 1-866-592-5556 www.nyecottage.com 37 The 729 NW Coast Street 541-265-2477 www.greenstone-inn.com New glass, vintage, semiprecious, seed, & trade beads. Hemp, wire, leather, silk & other cords. Focal pieces, tools, findings, basic classes. Open 10-5 Daily
of Hearts 24 Queen 708 NW Beach Drive
541-265-2118
25 316 NW Coast Street
541-265-9629
Studio at Nye Beach 26 the 881 NW Beach Drive www.studionyebeach.com
541-414-4693
Things Rich And Strange 27 255 NW Coast Street www.ThingsRichAndStrange.com
541-265-3600
Elegant, family owned boutique, featuring lingerie, pj’s, loungewear, yogawear, bath & body products, decadent chocolates, candles, and romantic gifts.
Raindance at Nye Beach
A lively souvenir, apparel, & gift shop. Beach needs. Wine tasting. Terrific selection and great prices! Visit us first-you won’t be $orry! Park in back.
Professional photography services; portraits, event, product, and commercial photography. We also offer web site photography and design services.
Jewelry, books, tarot, crystals, & uplifting gifts for your magical life. Custom fine jewelry service, with over 30 years experience.
Specializing in Nye Beach oceanfront lodging. Home of Earth-Friendly Greenstone Inn.
Waves of Newport Motel & Vacation Rentals 800-282-6993 38 820 NW Coast Street 541-265-4661 • www.wavesofnewport.com Ocean view rooms, ocean front house, ocean front condo, and beach cottages.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Beauty Day Spa 39 Earthbound 613 NW 3rd Street www.earthboundbeauty.com
541-265-4232
Veterinary Hospital 40 Newport 552 NW 3rd Street
541-265-7448
At our “petite retreat” fun and relaxation comes easy. Treatments from head to toe.
Veterinary, surgical, & dental services for companion animals.
Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-6pm & Sat. 7:30am-2pm. Tea Party 877-TParty7 28 The 716 NW Beach Drive 541-574-0545 • www.theteapartycompany.com 41 Oregon Coast Properties Serving 40 teas. Shop at our British Tea Room gift shop with antiques, collectables, and
800-234-7485
Boutique 29 Toujours 704 NW Beach Drive www.toujoursboutique.com
541-265-8468
art. Old English Charm at the beach.
541-574-6404
Fun & fashionable women’s clothing & accessories for casual, daytime, evening, or dressy affairs. Come in and have the “ah ha” experience at Toujours.
415 NW Coast Street 541-265-8531 • www.oregoncoastproperties.net Friendly professional service for all your real estate needs.
Wellness Massage Center 42 The 5 SW Lee License #4457
NEW POR T , OR EG ON H I ST OR I C an d h ip NY E B EA C H
RETAIL - SHOPPING
Professional Therapeutic Massage: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Shiatsu, Sport Massage. Call for appointment M-F & weekends.
13
A beautiful and unusual array of FINE GIFTS & HOME DECOR g
Clothin y Jewelr S Shoe ACCeSS
Tables of Content RESTAURANT
orieS
A Very Special Dining Experience
Dinner by Reservation Served at 7 p.m. Menu Changes Daily Ocean Front
OPen daily at 10 am 541.574.6404 nye Beach • 704 nW Beach dr. newport
(541) 265-5428 267 NE Cliff Street, Newport
Floral Designs • Holiday Items • Wedding & Baby Accessories Throws • Lamps • Garden • Kitchen • Candles Cards • Jewelry • Lotions
F/V Ocean Lady ‘M’ The FinesT Wild hook & line CaughT Fish
Salmon • Tuna • HalibuT & VariouS SpecieS of oTHer fiSH
Available seasonally at the dock! ...weather permitting. Call for Information & Dock Location P.O. Box 1909, Newport, OR 97365 seastarentz@gmail.com Murielle 541-961-1246 Cash • Checks • Visa • Master Card • Discover Doug 541-961-3334
Charisma GIFTS
Open 7 Days a Week at 10 am – (in Historic Nye Beach)
315 NW Coast St • Newport • 541-265-4657
Shop Historic
NYE BEACH We look forward
to seeing you! NYE BEACH LODGING
Elizabeth Street Inn Charisma Gifts Fairhaven Vacation Rentals Coastal Breeze The Grand Victorian B&B/Cottage Illingworth's by the Sea Greenstone Inn Jovi High Street Town Homes Linda & Michael Photography & Gallery Nye Cottage Vacation Rentals Manoosh Sylvia Beach Hotel & Restaurant Nye Beach Book House The Tea Party English Boarding Rooms Nye Cottage Beads Waves of Newport Motel & Vacation Queen of Hearts Rentals NYE BEACH ARTS Raindance at Nye Beach Arrago Surf Gallery The Tea Party For Artsake NYE BEACH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Performing Arts Center Earthbound Beauty Day Spa Things Rich & Strange Visual Arts Center Oregon Coast Properties Toujours Boutique Yaquina Art Association The Wellness Massage Center Tu-Tu-Tu Kitchen Cottage Newport Loop Bus runs daily (free to lodging guests) Go to www.co.lincoln.or.us/transit/schedule.html for schedule
For more information about Nye Beach, please visit www.nyebeach.org
NW High Street
NYE BEACH RETAIL • SHOPPING
Aprils at Nye Beach Cafe Stephanie Nana's Irish Pub Nye Beach Wine Cellar Nye Beach Market Nye Beach Sweets Sandbar & Grill Restaurant & Sports Bar Savory Cafe & Pizzeria
NW Beach Drive (Turnaround)
NW 3rd Street
NW Coast Street
NYE BEACH FOOD • DRINK • DINING
NW 6th Street
Olive Street
C
C OUR
onnecting ommunity
130 2
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON T H E R OG UE I N WI NT ER 16
The Rogue in winteR Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Warm-up to a cold glass of ale and a Frisbee full of good food!
Winter is a memorable time at the world’s biggest maker of handcrafted beers, where stormy weather gets the credit for helping create the Rogue Ales brewery. Looking for a location to expand his upstart Ashland brewery in Feb., 1989, founder Jack Joyce was wandering the historic Bayfront here when, according to company lore, he found himself stranded in a “terrible and unusual” snowstorm with no way to get up the steep hills in his truck. “He was forced to walk the streets until he met up with Mohave ‘Mo’ Niemi, founder of the famous Mo’s Clam Chowder,” goes the story from the official Rogue history. “She took him to the original Mo’s restaurant, gave him a bowl of hot clam chowder and told him about her dream of living above a Bar and how she might just have the perfect spot for the next Rogue Ales Brew Pub. Rogue brewmaster John Maier is the most “Mo offered the awarded brewer in the United States. vacant space and the
It’s hard to imagine a Rogue beer without good food on the side. The menu is fat as the Kobe marbled beef they use, with 15 burgers, thick sandwiches, fish-and-chips, aromatic soups, mouthwatering pizzas and Kobe Blue Balls, an iconic dish of beef stuffed with Rogue Blue Cheese.
Ale — named after the renowned Iron Man chef — or Sig’s Nor’wester, a hearty quaff named for Capt. Sig Hansen of the popular TV show, “The Deadliest Catch.” It’s hard to imagine a Rogue without good food on the side. The kitchen at the Rogue Ales brewery works its own magic by using the same formula of top-shelf ingredients such as Japanesestyle Kobe beef from Wagu bulls pasturefed on a Boise, Idaho, ranch. The menu is fat as the marbled beef, with 15 burgers, thick sandwiches, fish-and- Rogue V.P. Jim Cline, a former suds distribuchips, aromatic soups, tor who has been with the company since he mouthwatering piz- was lured from his beer route 18 years ago, says zas and Kobe Blue there’s “magic” behind the scenes of the daily tour Balls, an iconic dish at the Rogue brewery. of ground beef stuffed with Rogue Blue Cheese. Leave it to the Rogue to serve childrens’ dishes on signature Rogue Frisbees. “We don’t just give them fine China from Eddie the Liquidator’s,” quipped Cline. “They get all their food served on a Frisbee. It’s just another way people leave with a positive experience.” You won’t find Rogue Ales products at the super stores. But if you travel to Newport, you can’t miss them. “Our customers want something interesting, different and unique,” said Jim Cline, hoisting a pint in the brewery’s bar. “We only have one rule: don’t use you cell phone in the bar — it’s for learning about beer and talking to people. When mine goes off, I run and get the heck out!”
Rogue Ales Public House, 748 S.W. Bay Blvd., Newport, OR 97365. (541) 265-3188. Rogue Ales Public House, originally named the Bayfront Brewery, was established in May, 1989, where it brewed its ales until 1992. “Howard,” the 15-barrel brew system, was carried across Newport Bay to the current brewery. The old brewery was converted into a poolroom which the locals call the Crustacean Stacean. Outside seating and 35 taps. Hours: SunThu, 11 a.m.-Midnight; Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-1a.m.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON T H E R OG UE I N WI NT ER
garage to Jack at a very generous price, under two stipulations: that a picture of Mo herself, naked in a bath tub, be forever displayed at the Pub and that Rogue ‘feed the fisherman,’ meaning that we give back to the local community.” Today, the picture still hangs above the bar at the Rogue Ales Public House on the Bayfront while the Rogue Ales brewery at the foot of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in South Beach has become a vital fixture in Newport’s culture, an economic engine that draws beer enthusiasts — and their families — from around the globe like pilgrims marching to Mecca. Jim Cline is Rogue vice president and former suds distributor who has been with the company since he was lured from his beer route 18 years ago. He explained why the beer that made Newport famous is a destination for all ages. “We try to provide fun and entertainment, something that’s unique and not entirely about beer,” he said. “We hire fun people who are educated about beer and aren’t afraid to do things differently. They have a Rogue attitude.” The brewery tour at the sprawling South Beach facility runs year ‘round. At the height of the busy summer and fall, Visitors to the Rogue Ales Brewery at the base of tours occur at 1, 3 and the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport enter the fa- 5 p.m. People who cility through a retired three-story vat that opens come for the winter to tours, tastings and great food. storms will find the daily tour starting at 3 p.m. “They get to see the whole brewery and learn about the process and all the fun stories,” said Cline. “In all honesty, the physical plant is the same as any brewery anywhere. It’s what is done behind the scenes and the magic of John Maier, our brewmaster, that makes the tour so special.” Bewhiskered brewmaster Maier, wearing knee-high rubber boots, is the most-awarded beermaker in the U.S. and perhaps the world, said Cline. “He’s been here since Day One and puts on the boots and brews beer every day,” he added. “He doesn’t sit in an office and push paper. He’s an artist, and like any artist he sees things others don’t, like the combination of flavors and ingredients that create a complex beer. There are a lot of simple beers out there, and they’re not bad products, just simple. John makes an outstanding product.” The Rogue brews more special beers than any other maker in the world, with 32 styles available at any time in the brewery’s upstairs tasting room. Dead Guy Ale remains the No. 1-selling Rogue in all 50 states and 22 countries, while celebratory brews, such as a Halloween beer made with roasted pumpkins or the popular Santa’s Private Reserve deck the holiday shelves. Some of these specialty brews boast labels that are exquisitely-crafted for seafood lovers, such as Morimoto Soba
Brewer’s on the Bay, 2320 OSU Drive, Newport, OR
97365. (541) 867-3664. Nestled inside the Rogue Ales Brewery, this two-story brewpub offers a panoramic view of Yaquina Bay and the marina. You can enjoy the full line of Rogue brews, brewery tours, and 40 taps. Hours: Sun-Thu, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Brewery Tours: Weekdays, 3 p.m.
17
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Surf ’s UP 18
SURF’S UP Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Travel to Newport for year ‘round surfing
Oregon’s spectacular and beautiful surf is a magnet for camera buffs, artists and soul-searchers. For a growing number of people, however, the powerful elegance of an ocean wave is more than an art form that touches the psyche. It’s a tube-monster, man, a surging mountain of fun that demands to be ridden in all its chilly bluster! Some of the Pacific’s finest waves dissolve on the sandy, uncrowded
beaches of Oregon, but it’s only been in the last 10 years that surfing has gained momentum as a year ‘round sport here. Today, a 35-mile stretch of surf between Newport and Lincoln City is a relative hotbed of surfing action — relative, compared to Santa Cruz or Waimea Bay, where surfers bob elbow-to-elbow and fight each other to ride the waves.
Damon Fry moved to Oregon to take advantage of the excellent surfing waters around Lincoln City. “I came here from California and the Oregon surf hasn’t let me down,” he said. “The people are friendly and the water’s not polluted. There are three epic seasons here, but you have to want to surf bad. Sometimes, you have to hike through the brush to get to the surf, and you wear thick wet suits to deal with the cold water. But the surfing is so great you almost want to be quiet about it.” To many, Oregon’s nippy surf has always loomed like a jewel behind glass — close, powerful and beckoning, but impossible to touch for all but the hardiest who could endure its cold edge. Long a bastion of hard-core surfers who braved its Endless Winter waters, surfing was considered more spectator sport than participant activity. But that’s all changed, according to Mike Olsen, one of the local old-school surfers who knows all the breaks from South Beach to Roads End. The advent of new wet suit technology has opened the door to surfing waters that are reliably cold 12 months a year, he observed. “In the early ‘80s it was rare to see a car with a board on top cruising down Hwy. 101,” Olsen said. “Today, you may see a dozen cars jammed along a turnout, with surfers bobbing in the water and riding the waves. The reason for the growth is the development of really good-quality wet suits, and of course the rise in popularity overall of surfing.” The release of the movies such as “Blue Crush,” “Point Break” and “Endless Summer II” create novel twists to the sport, as well. “A lot of California surfers settled in Portland to follow their careers,” Olsen said. “Their kids — who had grown up on Dad’s surfing tales of the ‘60s and ‘70s — saw those movies and told pop to teach them the sport. Now, we’ve got whole families driving over for a weekend of surfing. It’s really become a family sport in Continued on Page 56 the last couple of years.”
Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Rake in the rewards of a weekend clamming expedition in Newport
Here’s an overlooked sport that should make you as happy as a clam at high tide. It requires no license, expensive or fashionable accessories, boats, aircraft, spare bandoleers or guides. There are few special techniques, little brutal terrain and the quarry won’t kill and eat you if you make a mistake. Clamming, in fact, is an inexpensive and fun outdoor pastime the whole family can enjoy. Five major clam species live in Oregon’s scenic coastal bays or along stretches of surf-battered beach, and all provide a year-round source of delicious table fare. They include gapers, cockles, littlenecks, butters, softshells and razors. Prime clam-digging areas are located in and around Newport. Agate Beach yields highly mobile and prized razor clams, while Yaquina Bay’s tidal flats hold stationary gapers (horsenecks) and cockles. Some flats along the southeastern shore of the bay are home to butter clams, which can be harvested with a garden rake. Like most outdoor pursuits, clam digging is simple and straightforward, despite the complex rituals and Aztec calendars employed by the curmudgeons. Razor clams, they’ll tell you, move too fast for the slow-witted novice. Horsenecks are too tough to eat without employing some secret gadget that tenderizes them. And clam guns made of PVC will backfire. The truth? Clamming takes only a shovel, a bucket, the weekly tide table from the News-Times and a willingness to get wet, sandy and muddy. And all of Oregon’s clam species, from the homely gaper to the oval razor, are mouth-watering delights. Greenhorns will find the packed sand of Yaquina Bay an excellent location to hone their clamming skills. The southwest jetty, at low tide, is home to the gaper clam, a big shellfish that doesn’t run and can’t hide. Gapers — also known as horsenecks or blue clams — live ten-to-24 inches below the surface of the sandy mud, giving away their positions with circular holes on the surface up to 1-3/4 inches in diameter. Sticking your finger in the mud, you may feel the neck retract downward. Dispense with any notion that a shovel will minimize your meeting with the mud. Hip boots may keep your legs dry at low tide, but you’ll
be shoulder-deep in a clam hole as you chase this stationary shellfish. Rapid digging is necessary because the sides of your hole will be in a state of constant collapse. Some old-timers use a five-gallon bucket with its bottom cut out to keep the mud from caving-in, working the bucket down as they dig. When you find the clam, grip it by the shell and not the neck. The limit on gapers is 12, but a whopper horseneck with a shell five
NE WPOR T , OR EG ON C OLD, WET AN D C LAM MY!
Cold, wet an d clammy !
Clammers should be dressed for the mud and goo, and be prepared to go shoulder-deep for gapers and steamers.
or six inches in length is a meal in itself. The neck has a tough covering that must be removed before cooking, usually by boiling the neck for three minutes, soaking it four hours in fresh tap water or by freezing it. Both the tender digger, or foot, and the meaty neck of the gaper are edible. The neck can tenderized with a knife or kitchen Continued on Page 56
19
50's Fun for the Whole Family! Arcade • Jukebox All in a 50's atmosphere!
SAmE grEAt mENu! Pizza • Calzone • Burgers Dinners • Salads Steaks • Appetizers Seafood • Chowder Ice Cream • Shakes & many NEW items! Comfortable and climate controlled central air/heating
Flashbacks Fountain & Grill 7 Days a Week • 11 am - 10 pm 1255 N. Coast Hwy • Newport
541-574-1955
Make a weekend of the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival
If you want to shake the winter doldrums in style, set the gears in motion now for a weekend at the coast during the annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival, held every year on the last weekend of February. Recognized as one of the premier U.S. wine competitions, it is also the biggest party of the season. Already, 300 volunteers and the visitor infrastructure of an entire county are bracing for the arrival of 19,000 wine aficionados. Fortunately, the event runs smoothly as a Swiss watch. In the capable hands of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, the four-day affair that now starts Thursday with a limited-edition ticket features more than 150 exhibitors including wineries, microbrews, dishes prepared by some of the finest chefs in the western U.S., and arts & crafts booths. Wines from Washington, Oregon and California are spotlighted. The culinary fireworks at this festive and energetic event include such exotic dishes as calamari and eel, as well as the Oregon coast’s renowned salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab. Besides seafood, plenty of other offerings will be available as well inside two gigantic festival tents. Photography, painting, framed exotic fish prints, handcrafted jewelry, original oceanscape paintings, wood carvings, wall hangings and pottery are just a few of the arts and crafts visitors can expect to find at the festival. Throughout the event, live music keeps the spirit upbeat and on tempo. The festival, the longest-running commercialContinued on Page 22
NEW POR T , OR EG ON SEA FOOD & WI NE FEST I VA L
Rush for the Crush!
21
SEAFOOD & WINE Continued from page 21
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON SEAFOOD & WI NE FEST I VAL 22
wine competition in Oregon, is located along the stunning tranquility of Yaquina Bay in two giant tents next to the Rogue Ales Warehouse at 2320 OSU Drive — just south, across the bridge, from downtown Newport. Festivalgoers will find the doors open throughout Newport, however. Across the harbor, now home to the big ships of science, the NOAA fleet, is the bustling, old-world Bayfront, a couple of historic lighthouses, miles of pristine beaches, the charming, historic Nye Beach area, numerous other legendary dining and wine establishments and some innovative and beautiful lodging possibilities. Motels and resorts in Lincoln County are expected to be at near capacity for the event. Being the early bird is the key more than ever these days for tickets as well as lodging, as rooms fill up to 100 percent in the area, including in outlying towns like Depoe Bay, Lincoln City and Waldport. “Lodging occupancy usually is 100 percent for the weekend, and bookings several months out or even a year out are common,” said Lorna Davis, executive director of the Newport Chamber. “Those who wait until the last minute to book may be out of luck unless there’s a last-minute cancellation.” The annual festival is an important winter moneymaker for businesses up and down the coast that lavish festival guests with a treatment reserved for old friends. The overall economic impact of the event is estimated at several million dollars.
“There are around 19,000 people that go through the gate each year, though the population of Newport can and does swell beyond that,” said Davis. “Lodging, dining, retail, grocery and other businesses all look forward to the surge of business this event provides in the dead of winter.” The economic impact also extends to many vendors at the event, who experience a boom in sales by participating. Many are annual regulars, such as Nehalem Bay Winery in Nehalem, which reports impressive sales figures each year. A booth at the event is highly prized, with most vendors netting thousands of dollars or more during the three-day affair. Prudent festival-goers usually return in the late hours of the final day, when winemakers throw their remaining inventory up for sale. The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival features Oregon wines, although a couple of California wineries that have been faithful since the beginning are still invited. Exit surveys by the Chamber reveal interesting dynamics to the event. On Fridays, the 35-55 crowd attends; on Saturdays, 21 to 35-year-olds pack
the tents; on Sundays, the older generation, 40-65, take advantage of the box sales. Visitors must be 21 years or older to buy a ticket and show valid picture ID. The site is smoke free and handicapped accessible. Parking available for $5, but there’s no need to drive to the festival. Taxis and free festival shuttles and will be operating around the clock from all points of the compass, including most restaurants and hotels.
The next Newport Seafood & Wine Festival is Feb. 21-24, 2013. Hours are Thu. 5-9 p.m., Fri. noon-9 p.m. (new hours), Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. E-Tickets go on sale December 1st at seafoodandwine.com. Thursday is by ETicket only - limited availabilty. For more information call 1-800-COAST44.
By: Larry Coonrod, News-Times Ask Bier One owner Luke Simonsen what the best beer is and he just laughs. “Man, I get asked that question all the time,” he says. “The best beer is the one that’s in your hand. It’s whatever you are in the mood for. Sometimes it’s cold and dark and rainy and you want a stout, and sometime it’s nice and summery and you want something refreshing like a Berliner Weisse. And sometimes you just want to try something new.” With 16 taps dispensing a constantly changing lineup of microbrews and 14 years as a brew master, Luke and his wife Chris know something about beer. The couple moved from Salt Lake City three years ago to buy Bier One in Newport’s historic Deco District. They expanded the business from a paltry six taps to 16, greatly increased the home brewing supplies and with a recent 2,000 square-foot expansion made Bier One the goto gathering spot in downtown Newport. Luke and Chris point out that they do beer three ways: tap, bottle and homebrew. “As far as I know I’m the only home brew shop that you can have a beer at,” Luke says. Bier One buys mostly from Northwest breweries but you are just as likely to find beer from London, Germany or some other distant locale. Customers often bring in samples of beers they’ve discovered and ask the Simonsens to get it on tap. The tap lineup changes weekly, something Chris says upsets some customers who discover a particular favorite, but gives connoisseurs a chance to sample the finest beers. “So many good beers in the world, so little time,” she says with a laugh. “That’s part of the fun. You never know what we’re going to have when you come in. It’s always different.” Luke brews offsite, and although he can’t sell his homebrew, he does
give away samples. In the next year he plans to have his beer for sale at Bier One. Luke started home brewing out of economic necessity. “I was 20. I had a kid and I needed some beer,” he says. “And I’m the kind of person who when I get into something I’m totally focused and want to perfect it.” Bier One, located at 424 SW Coast Hwy, carries just about every piece of equipment and ingredient needed for beer and winemaking. And customers get the benefit of Luke’s expertise. “I try to spend time with beginner brewers showing and teaching them to make awesome beer,” Luke says. “My goal is for your first batch to be epic so you’ll come back and want to brew more. That’s the whole point, right?” Recently Bier One took over a long vacant space next door, adding pool tables, foosball and more dartboards. With a DJ every other Friday, occasional live bands and a $1 off pints happy hour, Bier One is quickly becoming the place for patrons ranging from young professionals to fishermen. The 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday happy hour packs the house. Bier One’s homey, laid back atmosphere has inspired a devoted following. One customer, a software programmer, built a vote for your favorite tap program running on a flat screen TV. Another customer built the pool table lights. “Our customers are awesome,” says Chris. “We’ve had a lot of support from the community. People came in to help paint with the expansion and lay flooring and just donate time. Without them a lot of this wouldn’t have been able to happen as easily or quickly,” Luke added.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B I ER ONE
bier one
23
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON C R AB B I NG 24
C R A BS “ R” US Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley Crabbing is a favorite year-round pastime at the Central Coast, but it the water, what kind of bait to use and the type of trap which is most effective. There is one rule, however, which is firm: you can only harvest is at its best in months which contain an “R”! There are two ways to fill your cooler with succulent Dungeness crab. male Dungies measuring at least 5-3/4 inches from inside the points on the crab’s back. The The sure-fire method gender is established of sailing with a loby checking the breast cal charter operator plate — check the on a crab-fish combo ODFW regulations will deliver a limit of for an explanatory superior Dungies plus diagram. baskets of ocean-fresh Most who practice rock fish. the sport check the Brave crabbers who bottom depth at low strike out on their tide to see where the own will find rich and shoals and holes are in productive crabbing Yaquina bay. Others spots hidden along have boats equipped the bays, estuaries, with depth finders beaches, tide pools, to aid in finding the piers and jetties that spots where their dot the area’s coastquarry is likely to line. hole up. Most of those With these secret with depth finders are tips from old-timfriendly toward the ers, you can fill your novice and are happy kitchen sink with limto share their secrets. it amounts of DungeThere’s plenty of crab ness and Red Rock down there to go crabs almost anytime. around. It’s a sport all can Bait shops such enjoy, whether from as Newport Marina boat or dock. There Store & Charters Inc. are as many rules for in South Beach are crabbing as there are helpful in advising the crabbers on how long type of bait to use. In to leave a crab ring in Kyler Pumphrey of Walla Walla, Wash., displays a fresh Dungeness crab plucked from the end of a Newport pier.
Where to find Crabs and Clams THE BRIDGE BED, a productive clam lair found below the Yaquina Bay Hwy. 101 bridge, can be accessed from the Rogue brewery parking lot on the southeast corner of the bridge or from South Jetty Road. Gapers and cockles are most commonly found in this area with butter and littlenecks sparsely available. A rake works best in this area for cockles; a shovel is most effective for digging gapers. IDAHO FLATS is easily accessed from several points along SE 35th Street (Idaho Point Rd), S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., or Hatfield Marine Science Center parking lot. Gaper, butter, cockle, and littleneck clams can all be found throughout these areas. For digging, a shovel would be best; a rake works best for cockles. SALLY’S BEND is easily accessed from Yaquina Bay Dr. Butter,
cockle, and littleneck clams can all be found throughout these areas. These mud flats can have soft spots in higher areas where ghost shrimp are prevalent and walking may be difficult. For digging, a shovel would be best; a rake works best for cockles.
UPPER BAY includes some areas accessible by foot (many points along Yaquina Bay Dr and South Bay Road) and other portions of mud flats that can only be reached by boat. The Eastern softshell clam is abundant in these upper bay areas; other commonly harvested bay clams will not be found this high in the estuary. Softshell clams are usually found 8 to 16 inches below the surface. A shovel or clam gun is most effective for digging in this area. DUNGENESS CRABS are found throughout the bay, with most legal crab in the lower bay. Peak harvest months are from June through November. Large sandy flats in depths of 20-30 feet found outside the navigational channel are excellent habitat for Dungeness crab. Primary areas for dock crabbing in Newport are the public fishing pier in South Beach, as well as Abbey Street and Bay Street piers on the Newport Bay front. Native red rock crabs, which prefer the complex habitats that docks offer, are a common catch in these areas. Gear may be set anywhere within public areas along these docks, but be sure not to interfere with boat traffic.
Boat Launches
Boat launches in Yaquina Bay can be found at the following locations: Port of Newport Marina and RV Park, located within the South Beach Marina complex, at 2301 SE Marine Science Drive (fee applies).
 Toledo Boat Launch. the Port of Toledo maintains the Airport Boat Launch, just off of South Bay Road, located at 128 Ramp Road, approximately 13 miles up river of the Newport Bay bridge (free).
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON C R AB B I NG
waters thick with seals and sea lions like Newport Bay, most old-timers recommend chicken. Some crabbers, however, feel that fish carcasses are more productive in spite of the seals stealing them nearly as fast as the ring can be rebaited. Give a fish filleter a couple of bucks at the dock for some fish entrails. Most crabbers are watchful of the tide and prefer starting out about two hours before high tide. But others make the case that an hour or so before low tide works best. Crab pots and boats can be rented at Newport Marina for $60 for four hours $80 for all day. Crab rings are cheap and abundant at in the fisging sections of Walmart, Fred Meyer and Englund Marine, among other retailers. Most tackle shops have several ingenious set-ups for crabbing with a fishing pole. In fact, Red Rock crabs are often caught while rockfishing with hooks. The Newport docks are usually productive. But remember: the hardest places to get to are the best spots.
25
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON FI SH I NG 26
SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Why Newport is a sportsman’s paradise!
Make this scenic city a one-stop shopping center for all your outdoor activities! This is the home of the finest charter boat fleet in Oregon for yearound saltwater fishing. The Yaquina River and bay is legendary for fall Chinook, winter steelhead and sturgeon. Crabbing and clamming opportunities abound in the area. Seasonal hunting opportunities offer the chance for the trophy of a lifetime. What more could you ask for? SALMON In Oregon, salmon is king. When the seasons are open, the charter fleet can hook you up with Chinook and coho. You can expect silvers to 12 lbs. while kings up to 30 lbs. are not uncommon. HALIBUT Take a halibut charter when the all-depth seasons are open. These battling flatfish offer Oregon’s only legitimate shot at a 100-lb. trophy. Check with the charter office of your choice for open dates. The state routinely opens halibut fishing inside the 30-fathom limit, which means even more opportunity to fill the freezer. TUNA From mid-July to the end of September, book an offshore expedition in search of albacore tuna. These speed demons of the deep will give you the battle of your dreams and fill your freezer to the brim with top-of-the-line white-fleshed tuna. ROCKFISH Don’t overlook the year-round trips for bottomfish. Bruising lingcod and cabezon and a tasty assortment of rockfish are your targets. From December to mid-August, tack on an hour for your trip for delicious Dungeness crab. Limits are routine for both bottomfish and crab. WHALEWATCHING If a scenic cruise and whalewatching are more to your liking, Newport’s resident gray whales are the main attraction. But other stars shine as well. The occasional sightings of transient orcas (killer whales) are a delight. You’ll also view harbor porpoise, sea lions and seals, mola mola (ocean sunfish), and numerous marine birds. If the whales are being coy, you’ll still view our spectacular stretch of coastline, forged in the fire of ancient volcanoes. Your skipper is also an expert on local flora, fauna and history, guaranteeing a memorable cruise.
HUNTING Seasonal hunting offers a shot at elk, deer, bear, coyotes and the occasional cougar. The upper Yaquina Bay estuaries are top-secret spots for waterfowl. When it comes to outdoor activities, Newport is the place to explore!
Go out and about for trout! This town is known for deep-sea fishing, but local anglers spend plenty of time in the woods, too, where tiny
streams and lakes yield hard-fighting trout! CUTTHROAT TROUT: The Yaquina River and its tributaries can be counted to deliver on cutts up to 16 inches. Dry flies, featherweight lures and phony bugs on ultralight lines deliver exciting catch-and-release fun. Inky-black holes on coastal usually deliver first-cast strikes. Anglers are always treated to wonderful sights during the hike, including close encounters with wildlife such as elk, deer, bear and bald eagles. RAINBOW TROUT: Newport Reservoir, located 10 miles south of Depoe (turn east from Hwy. 101 near Agate Beach) includes two lakes with bruiser rainbows. The planters that grow smarter with each season can reach 22 inches. Use worms and eggs. Bring the kids — it’s a great place to teach fishing. COHO TROUT: Landlocked silvers fin Olalla Reservoir located two miles northest of Toledo on Olalla Road. Bank fishing is limited and power boats are prohibited — we recommend a small inflatable. Use bait or sturdy lures on these aggressive biters up to 24 inches.
Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley
Rig for sturgeon on the Yaquina River
Head to the nearest tackle shop and buy your sturgeon tag — if you fish the Yaquina River, you won’t want to leave home without it! One of the best-kept secrets in Lincoln Coounty, besides the mystical nature of property assessments, is the electrifying sturgeon action on the Yaquina. I was horsetrading ‘best holes stories’ with Dan James, who has a separate red line on his business phone at Northwest Homes that serves as some kind of sturgeon alarm, when one of his pals issued a scratchy report from a cell phone from an inky-black bend of the river near Toledo. James remained tight as a
lockjawed clam about the lair, capitulating only after I wrote down the GPS coordinates of some black cavity at an offshore reef that’s plugged with giant lingcod. “Nobody really knows about it, and those that do won’t say anything,” he whispered. “Don’t put this in the New York Times.” Okay, I won’t. But for readers of the Newport News-Times, here’s the juice: Sturgeon are legendary brawlers and will breach and twist so hard you may want to tie your fighting belt to the gunwale. Tackle includes a heavy regimen of braided line of 30-80 lb. test, cannonball weights on sliders and free-running 8/0 hooks. Pickled herring has been the lure d’jour on the Yaquina, although mud and sand shrimp, smelt, shad and eel tieons also work — if those baits are available. Because sturgeon feed by smell and feel in the river’s blackest holes, some anglers recommend lacing the bait with liberal doses of herring or shrimp oil. If you get downwind of a guy who smells like a wrestler’s sock, don’t mark him off the party list. He’s probably just cooked-up a batch of homemade sturgeon bait. Slack tides are the best times to fish for this ancient denizen of the river, but rising and falling tides are also productive. Trolling and jigging directly on the bottom for these floor sweepers are the most productive techniques. As always, check your ODFW state fishing regulations before dropping a line.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON FI SH I NG
STURGEON
27
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B OAT I NG 28
Yaquina Bay Boating Guide Story and Photos by: Rick Beasley Situated midway along Oregon’s coast, Yaquina Bay is a center of commercial shipping and fishing.The Yaquina estuary is also a highly productive ecosystem and a key marine research site. Newport is a major destination for tourists and a favorite site of recreational boaters. Boaters here spend nearly 40,000 days on the water each year, where the recreational boating scene is on the South Beach waterfront. The Port of Newport Marina at South Beach has two launch ramps, ample trailer parking, restrooms with showers, a public fishing dock and fish cleaning station, and 600 marina slips. Shuttle-bus service is available to Old Town across the bay and to Nye Beach and downtown Newport. Buses operate every weekend throughout the year and daily from July through September. Many old salts consider it the safest bar in Oregon. There can be a lot of fog during the summer and the dredge usually works the bar in August. Go with someone who has experience with crossing Yaquina Bar on your first trip. The North side of the north jetty often looks like it could be the entrance, so don’t let that mirage confuse you. Line up with the buoys red on your right when returning. Stay close to the buoy line while fishing for your first few trips. If you see fog starting offshore, head in. Always verify bar restrictions before you attempt to cross. You can listen on Ch. 16 on the VHF where someone every five minutes will ask for a bar
report and thus keep you up to date on changing conditions or restrictions will be announced. Wear your life jacket and have a good working radio, compass, flares and a GPS.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
Yaquina Bay Danger Areas A. South jetty. There are submerged rocks along the length of the jetty; do not hug the jetty on either side. Boaters should remain in the channel entering and leaving the river so that if their engines fail, they will have time to anchor before the current or wind sweeps them into the rocks. B. North jetty. This jetty affords excellent protection from northerly winds. However, the same caution should be exercised in running close to it as with the south jetty. Be especially cautious of submerged rocks near the tip of the north jetty. On an ebb tide, stay well clear, up to the end of the north jetty, as there is danger of being swept into the breakers at the extreme end. Remain in the channel outbound until you pass buoy #1 at the south end of Yaquina reef. This applies to entering the river as well as leaving. C. South reef. This reef can be considered an extension of Yaquina reef and is equally dangerous because it has the same surf conditions. When going south, continue out the channel to the lighted bell buoy #1 before turning south.
Rough Bar Advisory Sign: Positioned on shore, east end of Coast Guard pier. Bar Condition Reports: KNPT, Newport (1310 AM); twice daily winter and summer and at Coast Guard request. Recorded weather and bar condition reports: (541) 265-5511. When the Coast Guard restricts the bar, the restriction applies to the area from the bridge west to the entrance buoy. Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B OAT I NG
D. Yaquina reef. This reef is extremely dangerous, even when the winds are light and few breakers can be seen. A large swell coming from seaward can cause a tremendous breaker on this reef with little or no warning, even when the sea is otherwise calm. Never fish close to the reef and do not turn north between the end of the north jetty and buoy #1.
29
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H I ST OR I C B AY FR ONT 30
HI ST ORIC BAYFRONT Story: James Rand
Yaquina Bay, today) was constructed that year by founding father, Shielded by Yaquina Bay, the Historic Bayfront sits safely tucked Sam Case. He named the little pioneer start up, in fond memory away from the harsh winds of the Pacific Ocean, creating a warm of his home town of Newport, Rhode Island. Nearby were smaller and inviting climate for visitors to the Oregon coast. As visitors lodgings, like the Abbey Hotel (site of Rogue Ale’s pub, today) approach Newport’s Historic Bayfront, they are greeted by the which drew tourism to Newport. Early day visitors, or “summer towering Yaquina Bay Bridge that has offered visitors and locals people”, traveled by train from the Willamette Valley to Yaquina safe passage across Yaquina Bay for 75 years. Entering the scenic Bayfront, visitors feel as if they have stepped City, located to the east. From Yaquina City, travelers took a ferry to the Bayback in time. The front. Roads were smell of the local eventually developed catch of the day will over the hill to Nye fill their senses as Beach, on the ocean they travel through side. a bustling Bayfront Early day sealined with local food started with restaurants, art local oyster harvestgalleries and retail ing. Large scale shops. Whether development of the they happily browse current shore side the Earthworks Bay seafood industry Street Gallery that is began in 1908 as filled with beautielectricity (essential ful pieces of coastal for refrigeration) art or enter Made in became available. Oregon, a store that Jetty construction sells only Oregon and dredging, the made products from completion of the small local vendors, Yaquina Bay Bridge the visitors are sure in 1936, assisted by to be impressed with Yaquina Bay Bridge from Newport’s historic Bayfront circa 1936 (Photo courtesy Lincoln Newport’s Yaquina what they find. County Historical Society.) Head Lighthouse After a morning (tallest on the coast), established the Bayfront as a solid shipping of shopping all the unique stores the Bayfront has to offer, visitors port, with docks for commercial, sport fishing, whale watching & need only make their way to the ultra popular Local Ocean for recreational fleets. fresh sea food caught daily by local fishermen or down to Mo’s for Today - Newport’s Bayfront is a fun, bustling neighborhood great sea food and a friendly atmosphere. with 60 doorsteps to explore along a waterfront with a ‘cross bay The Bayfront’s nostalgic feel blended with a plethora of modern tourist entertainment options makes it one of the best places to see view, framing the NOAA Pacific research fleet.Visitors and locals watch Oregon’s largest fishing fleet delivering the freshest seafood, and most exciting places to visit on the Oregon coast. daily. Tucked into this briny locale are galleries, shopping, lodging History and fun family activities - whale watching, barking sea lions and Yesterday - 1866 was when it all started…Newport’s first dockside crabbing. tourist destination resort, the Ocean House, (Coast Guard Station
Story and Photos by: Fran Mathews Enjoy the best of all Oregon coast cruise worlds with Marine Discovery Tours, aboard Newport’s one-of-a-kind Sea Life Cruise. This award winning family-owned business was started in 1992 by a West Coast fisherman, Captain Don Mathews, and his wife, Fran, a marine journalist. With an abundance of local sea life, they and their fun team of naturalists love sharing their “back yard”, exploring Yaquina Bay and River and the near-shore Pacific. Team mission statement: “Deliver great activities and information that leads to connections with the aquatic world. Have Fun. Repeat the process!” They welcome aboard, annually, 7,000 students on field trips, motor coach groups from across North America and families, from locals to international. Look for gray whales, seals, sea lions, porpoise and sea birds while enjoying the beauty of our rugged Oregon coastline. You’ll be entertained with stories about our historic, coastal community from the early lighthouse keepers, to modern day fishermen with satellite-driven navigation systems. Endorsed by the Oregon Coast Aquarium as a “Floating Adventure”, fun, hands-on activities include pulling up authentic West Coast crab pots out of our sparkling waters full of Dungeness Crab – Oregon’s Official Crustacean. Tow plankton nets and see the base of all ocean food chains. Yep – your favorite seafood is courtesy of these mighty microscopic wonders. Need some new shots for your Facebook album? Navigation lessons are a favorite feature with the captain – picture your kids driving the boat…really! Relax aboard the deluxe 65-foot Discovery, the largest passenger vessel on the coast, loaded with comfort - seating for all in a heated cabin, the latest in safety equipment, computer driven monitors to watch the radar and GPS, and always, great coffee, Rogue Ales and Oregon wines. The cruise
route is determined daily by the captain - if the ocean is calm and safe, you’ll spend most of the time out there. If the conditions are rough, you’ll take a look at the elements from the safety of the inside jetties, then calmly cruise through 4,000 acres of salt water bay and freshwater river systems – ship yards and oyster farms up ahead. These cruises celebrate calm waters/good ride/good times! Special event cruises are available for brunches to dinner parties, family reunions, weddings and Ashes at Sea memorials. Make reservations for a unique “Must Do” Newport experience that’s available from March through October at 541-265-6200.
NE WPOR T , OR EG ON M AR I NE DI SC OVER Y T OURS
Marine Discovery Tours
31
1-800-COAST-44
Photo by: Jo Wienert
DiscoverNewport.com
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON LI G H T H OUSES 34
Photo by: Jo Wienert
L IG H T H O U S E S
OF NEWPORT, OREGON
YAQUINA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
With more than 350,000 visitors a year, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is one of the West Coast’s most visited lighthouses. Located just north of Newport in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse was built in 1873, and remains an excellent example of late 1800’s lighthouses. At 93 feet, the tower is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon. Located on a narrow point of land jutting due west into the Pacific Ocean. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse took more than a year to build, using more than 370,000 bricks. The light has been active since Head Keeper Fayette Crosby first walked up the 114 steps to light the wicks on the evening of August 20, 1873. During this time, the oil-burning, fixed white light was displayed from sunset to sunrise. Today, the fully automated first order Fresnel lens runs on commercial power, flashing its unique pattern of two seconds on, two seconds off, two seconds on, 14 seconds off, 24 hours a day. The oil burning wicks were replaced with a 1,000-watt globe, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, keepers of the aid to navigation, generates over 130,000 candlepower. While the nightly vigil of watching the light is gone, as are the resident keepers and their quarters, the Bureau of Land Management, who are now responsible for the tower, guide visitors through the lighthouse with tales of yesteryear, year around. The interpretive center opened at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in May 1997 as is the best place to start your visit to this 100 acre site. It features exhibits related to many features of the area, along with a well-stocked interpretive store. Proceeds from store sales directly benefit Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses, and are used for lighthouse restoration, education, interpretation and maintenance. Yaquina Head offers much more than the lighthouse with trails providing easy access to view marine wildlife in tide pools, rookery rocks and coves. A three-day pass is good to visit the site and lighthouse and is $7 per car. The Lighthouse is open to the public every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. From the end of June through Labor Day the hours are 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and the remainder of the year we are open 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m..
Photo by: Jo Wienert
A piece of Oregon history sits atop a bluff at the mouth of the Yaquina River. It is the Historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, built in 1871 and decommissioned in 1874. It was officially restored as a privately maintained aid to navigation on December 7, 1996. It is believed to be the oldest structure in Newport. It is also the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached, and the only historic wooden Oregon lighthouse still standing. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse has been restored back to when it was a working lighthouse by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, with the help of many people and agencies, including Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses. The Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses is a Cooperative Association partners with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The Cooperating Association, also known as “Friends Group” is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed by local citizens to provide and support the restoration, education and interpretive services of the park. This organization relies heavily on volunteer support in all areas of operation. Friends support state parks by operating museums and interpretive stores and providing additional educational programs at the park. Friends help support these projects by raising funds for park projects and historical renovations and building new park facilities. The Friends of Yaquina Lighthouse nonprofit status, allows them to sell memberships, write grants, receive qualified donations and receive donated materials. For more information on OPRD’s Cooperative Association program, visit their website. The official relighting ceremony with the US Coast Guard took place on December 7, 1996. The light shines with a steady white light from dusk to dawn (and sometimes on dark days, because it is controlled by a photocell.) The light is 161 feet above sea level. The Lighthouse is open to the public every day except for holidays such as Christmas, New
Years, and Thanksgiving. The hours during the summer (Memorial Day weekend through the end of September) are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during the months of October to Memorial Day, the hours are 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m.. Entrance is free by donation. The lighthouse is accessible via paved trails and a walkway leading to the top of the hill within the Yaquina Bay State Park, at the north end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Access-compromised visitor groups are encouraged to use the large parking lot at the back of the lighthouse (entrance at SW Government and 9th Streets). Inside the lighthouse, two flights of stairs lead to the watch room. The lantern room is not open to the public. The basement is open to the public and features a video about the lighthouse. The Interpretive Store offers many new and exciting educational items about lighthouses and the surrounding coastal habitat. Interesting places to visit within walking or short driving distance include the Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and the US Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON LI G H T H OUSES
YAQUINA BAY LIGHTHOUSE
35
O N YSTER O G E R O FARMS
We ship oysters WorldWid e... just ask!
Premium oysters since 1907. Visit our Retail Store, located six miles up the Yaquina Bay Road from Newport, Oregon, for the freshest, year round selection of oysters.
We’re easy to find: 6 miles east of Embarcadero on Yaquina Bay Road
We feature the following fresh items: • Oysters in the Shell • Smoked Oysters • Oyster Meat • Steamer Clams • Oyster Cocktails • Gift Certificates! 6 8 7 8 Ya q u i n a B a y R o a d • P. O . B o x 1 4 7 5 Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-5078 • fax (541) 265-2401 e-mail: oregonoyster@actionnet.net visit us on the web at: http://www.oregonoyster.com
6-13 Yr. Olds
PRICE 1/2 10 HOuR TRIPs 5-
FISHING YEAR ROUND
HALIBUT • BOTTOM FISH • TUNA SALMON • WHALE WATCHING 42’ TO 56’ BOATS • GROUP RATES AVAILABLE
ONE-DAY LICENSES • BAIT & TACKLE FURNISHED • HOT COFFEE 5 - 6 - 8 - 10 - 12 HOUR TRIPS Also 12 - 18 - 33 HOUR TUNA TRIPS
NEWPORT TRADEWINDS 24 HOUR PHONE
541-265-2101 or 1-800-676-7819 On Newport Bayfront 653 SW Bay Blvd. Newport, Or 97365 www.newporttradewinds.com
3 Great Attractions in Newport Oregon
Fun for the Whole Family!
250 SW Bay Blvd. Newport, Oregon
541-256-2206
w w w. m a r i n e r s q u a r e . c o m Ripley’s and Believe It or Not are registered trademarks of Ripley Entertainment Inc.
B eaches Newport’s beaches are as varied as our city. There's the unique beauty and sound of Cobble Beach, the secluded dunes of South Beach, the art and history of Nye Beach, and the miles of unspoiled sand at Agate Beach. If you like beaches, you’ll find one to call your own at Newport.
Cobble Beach
Of all the great beaches in Newport, Cobble Beach definitely stands apart. Located at the Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding Area, Cobble Beach offers an experience like few other beaches on Earth. And despite what you might have heard, we do not check the cobbles daily for roundness. It's weekly.
Historic Nye Beach
Newport's first resort area dates from 1866. Experience the charm of an historic oceanfront neighborhood offering a variety of lodging options, fabulous restaurants, gift shops, galleries, services and the performing arts. This pedestrian friendly neighborhood has ample oceanfront parking and provides easy handicapped access to "The Most Romantic Beach" according to Sunset magazine.
Courtesy: www.discovernewport.com & The City of Newport.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Three miles north of Newport, windswept and wave-pounded Yaquina Head offers visitors trails, interpretive centers and the state's tallest lighthouse. Protected tidepools await down steps that access Cobble Beach. Yaquina Head also has one of the first wheelchair accessible human constructed tidepools in the world at Quarry Cove, a former quarry transformed by the Bureau of Land Management. Trails include the half-mile long Yaquina Head Summit Trail and the quarter mile Quarry Cove Tidepools Trail.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B EAC H ES
Photo by: Jo Wienert
Beverly Beach State Park
Seven miles north of Newport, Beverly Beach is a beautiful stretch of beach that runs from Yaquina Head to the headlands of Otter Rock. The park also offers plenty of camping sites, plus 21 yurts for overnight stays. Adjoining Beverly Beach State Park is Moolack Beach, a favorite for surfing as well as kite-flying and general beach fun. Yaquina Head and the lighthouse can be seen in the distance.
South Beach State Park
Located just two miles south of Newport, South Beach State Park offers long, wide stretches of sand perfect for kite-flying and building sand castles away from the crowds. The park is also a full-service campground with electrical hookups and a large selection of yurts. There’s an interpretive center, meeting hall, gift shop and miles of biking/pedestrian trails.
Agate Beach State Recreation Site
One mile North of Newport, Agate Beach is a popular destination for surfers and is reached by walking through a tunnel. Farmers once lead their cattle through this tunnel for a taste of sea salt. Photo by: Jo Wienert
37
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B EAVER C R EEK WET LAN D S 38
Photo by: Jo Wienert
Beaver Creek wetlands Story by: Larry Coonrod, of the News-Times The bald eagle perched atop a fog-enshrouded snag overlooking Beaver Creek gave the eight would-be kayakers their first indication that they were about to leave the ordinary behind. If the noble bird had a sense a humor, he was no doubt enjoying the sight of the novices nervously milling about trying to adjust foot pegs and absorb a three-minute course in kayaking from tour guides Ray and Joann Fowels. "The cardinal rule of kayaking is to stay centered," Ray advised. If any of the adults were having second thoughts about paddling the narrow craft away from the safety of the boat launch, the sight of a grinning 10-year-old Lauren Markley of Salem - eager to get started made them reconsider. Sponsored by South Beach State Park, the kayak tour program uses relatively stable recreational kayaks manufactured by the Old Town Canoe Company in Maine. And while an experienced
kayaker might find them a bit tame, they're perfect for novices. "These are very safe and easy to keep upright. They're like a boat on the bottom," Ray assured the group."Nobody's going to get wet." According to Joanne, in the couple's six-years of guiding tours on Beaver Creek, they've only had a handful of clients find themselves sans kayak and swimming, most the result of horseplay. "We went three years without anyone falling out," Joanne said. With the preliminary instructions out of the way, the cavalcade of sleek bright red, yellow, and blue craft began their journey upstream with Joanne in the lead and Ray trailing behind, like a couple of geese keeping watch over their young flock. "You're in a true sanctuary here," Joanne said as the tour group headed upstream. The Wetland Conservancy owns and manages 80 acres Photo by: Jo Wienert along Beaver Creek
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON B EAVER C R EEK WET LAN DS
wetland complex (designated one of Oregon's greatest wetlands) upstream of Ona Beach State Park. In 2007, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department purchased an additional 318 acres, establishing the Beaver Creek State Natural Area. The OPRD plans to open the area up for recreational use in 2010. Beaver Creek is home to coho salmon, cutthroat trout, steelhead, beaver, river otters, bears, bald eagles, blue and green herons, and numerous migratory birds. "A coastal marsh is like a biological supermarket," Joanne tells the group. "It's a virtual smorgasbord for these animals." The marsh acts much like a human kidney in filtering out pollution. Its muddy bottom is a giant sponge. True to its name, the creek is home to a thriving colony of beavers, although at one time they were nearly wiped out by trapping, Joanne said.
With all the kayaks, "logged up" in a tight cluster along the sedge grass covered bank, she pointed out a beaver lodge and explained how the beavers build a multilevel structure by first surveying the site and then gathering the building materials, much like a human construction crew might. Another resident of Beaver Creek, nutria, are more recent transplants. After trapping nearly depleted the beaver population in the late 1800s and early 1900s, fur traders brought the quick-breeding nutria from South America to replace beaver pelts. Nutria's feeding habits and burrowing cause erosion, and can devastate marshland. "I like to tell people that beavers are nature's engineers, and nutria are the demolition experts," Joanne said. They might be considered a "large rat" by some; nevertheless, an adult nutria and its offspring thrilled the kayakers by staying put in a canopy of grass as they took turns paddling to within a few feet and taking pictures. The park's Thursday evening tours produce more sightings of the nocturnal beavers, Joanne said. Before moving along on the tour, Joanne elicited some good-natured groans with a few corny wildlife jokes told in her soft Texan accent. "How can you tell a bald eagle in the wild? It combs its hair over to one side (Get it?)," and "Why do seagulls live on the sea and not the bay? Otherwise they'd be Baygulls." By the time the tour group turned around about a mile from the starting point, the novice kayakers looked like veterans, feeling confident enough to spread out and explore along the banks by themselves. Before ending the tour, the Smiths had one final exercise for the group: closing their eyes and drifting along for one minute just listening. Nature is anything but quiet along Beaver Creek. The call of a blue heron, the chirping of song birds, and the sound of raindrops splattering on the water made it easy to forget that just around the corner cars and trucks were whizzing by on Highway 101. Before they departed on that same highway back to the less serene sounds of modern civilization, Ray left everyone with a bit of wisdom about the future of wild lands: "The Lord created the world for us, but he also made us the stewards."
39
Little Creek Cove
• Unique ocean-level condos • Full kitchens and fireplaces • Private covered decks • Secluded location • Adjacent to golf course
Newport, Oregon
Photo by Chuck Forinash © Forinash Gallery
800-294-8025
www.littlecreekcove.com
PORT OF NEWPORT Photos By. Jo Wienert
History of the Port of Newport
The district was formed in 1910. Below are the minutes that record that first organizational meeting.
Terminal History
In 1948, a private company sank two 1940s-era, self-propelled, flat-bottom concrete barges at McLean Point to serve as wharves for cargo handling. Prior to sinking the ships, below-water preparation was performed by excavating relatively flat benches. The ship in Berth No. 1 settled on a sloping base and rests with a list toward the bay of about 8 to 9 degrees. The ships were floated into place and sunk by blasting holes in their sides and bottoms. The holes remained open to allow water to fluctuate with the tides. The area between the hull and the shore were backfilled with hydraulically placed dredged sand from Yaquina Bay. Fill material in some of the cargo holds washed out through the blast holes, and subsequently, the holes were closed and a series of 8-inch diameter PVC drainage pipes were installed at approximately 4.5 to 5 ft mean sea level. Additional backfill was added to the holds. The terminal was run by private operators from the 1950s through the late 1970s among them Yaquina Dock & Dredge and Sunset Terminals. In 1982, the Port issued G.O. bonds to purchase the terminal from Rondys Inc. and in 1987 contracted Jones Oregon Stevedoring/Newport Terminal Co. to manage the facility. The contract was terminated in 1995 when the Port took over management. Up until the early to mid 1990s when log exports trickled to a halt, the Newport Terminal was a busy dock, handling shipments of logs
and lumber. The last log ship called at the Newport Terminal dock in May of 1999.
Port of Newport Mission
“Promote and support projects and programs in cooperation with other community organizations and businesses, that will create new jobs and increase community economic development.�
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON POR T OF NEWPOR T
Photo by: Jo Wienert
41
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON NOAA
NOAA Story by: Terry Dillman Photos Courtesy NOAA Part of agency’s overall mission of ‘science, service, and stewardship’ Science, research, and their practical applications to everyday life is the foundation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA “enriches life through science,” says Jane Lubchenco, the agency’s administrator since 2009. “Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed about the changing environment around them.”
Scientific foundation
42
NOAA’s history is an integral part of the history of science and scientific research in the United States. NOAA has existed as an officially designated agency only since 1970, but the three agencies – the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the U.S. Weather Bureau, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries - that, along with other elements, merged to become NOAA are among the federal government’s oldest. Much of the nation’s scientific heritage and legacy lies within those three agencies. NOAA’s genealogy traces back to 1807, when science-oriented President
Thomas Jefferson created the Survey of the Coast to provide nautical charts for safe passage along the nation’s coastlines and into the nation’s ports. It provided the foundation for extensive research and information “to enhance the safe and efficient navigation of our nation’s waterways,” according to NOAA’s website (www. noaa.gov). NOAA currently manages the network that provides a common reference and coordinate system for all maps and charts, including position (latitude and longitude), elevation, and distance and direction between points. In 1870, the federal government established the first agency to provide weather observations and warnings within the U.S. Army. The Weather Bureau itself began in 1890, when Congress transferred those services to
Noaa pacific fleet homport newport or
Bell M. Shimada
the Department of Agriculture. The service evolved in scope and capacity, becoming the National Weather Service in 1970. Today, NOAA is the nation’s primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings. The fishing industry has played a vital role in the nation’s history since its inception. Formal efforts to protect fisheries started in 1871 with the founding of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, charged with protecting “food fishes,” along with scientific studies for managing and protecting marine mammals. In 1882, the USS Albatross became the first government research vessel built exclusively for fisheries and oceanographic research, during three decades of service, Albatross discovered more new marine species than any other research vessel, launching a tradition for NOAA’s current marine research efforts. Today, that research takes place in laboratories throughout the nation, including Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport’s South Beach district, and aboard the fleet of ships and airplanes operated by the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
On a mission
“NOAA’s mission touches the lives of every American,” says Lubchenco, who brought an extensive background as a marine ecologist and environmental scientist, and expertise in oceans and climate change to the agency’s leadership position. That mission, which focuses on “science, service and stewardship,” is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts, share that knowledge and information with others, and conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The NOAA Marine Operations Center–Pacific (MOC-P), now based in Yaquina Bay in Newport, plays a central role. It serves as homeport for four of NOAA’s research and survey ships, including its newest vessel Bell M. Shimada; provides administrative, engineering, maintenance and logistical support to the nine-vessel Pacific fleet; and houses the MOC directorate, which oversees both the Pacific and Atlantic marine centers, and all NOAA ship operations. NOAA officials celebrated 200 years of service in 2007 – the same year that the Port of Newport submitted a bid to provide a new home for the Pacific research fleet, responding to the agency’s request for proposals as a long-standing lease at Lake Union in Seattle neared an end. NOAA awarded the bid in August 2009, port officials managed a $38 million, 22-month construction project completed in May 2011, and NOAA signed a 20-year renewable lease with the port in July 2011. Continued on Page 44
Line Drawing of the Miller Freeman Courtesy of NOAA. See more information on following page
Cruising Speed: 14 knots Range: 12,000nm Endurance: 40 days Hull Number: R227 Call Letters: WTED Officers: 5 Licensed Engineers: 4 Crew: 24 Scientists: 15 Launched: 2008 Commissioned: 2010 Builder: VT Halter Marine, Inc. Moss Point, MS
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON NOAA
Line Drawing of the Rainier Courtesy of NOAA.
Ship Specifications Length: 208.6 ft Breadth: 49.2 ft Draft: 19.4ft – 29.7ft (Centerboard retracted or extended)
McArthur II Ship Specifications Length: 224 ft Breadth: 43 ft Draft: 15 ft Cruising Speed: 11 knots Range: 8,000 nm Endurance: 45 days Hull Number: R330 Call Letters: WTEJ Officers: 4 Licensed Engineers: 4 Crew: 23 Scientists: 15 Delivered to Military Sealift Command: 1985 Transferred to NOAA: 2002 Commissioned: 2003 Designer: Maritime Administration Builder: Tacoma Boatbuilding Company Tacoma, WA
43
Noaa pacific fleet homeport newport or
Miller Freeman Ship Specifications Length: 215 ft Breadth: 42 ft Draft: 21ft – 33ft (Centerboard retracted or extended)
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON NOAA
Cruising Speed: 11 knots Range: 12,582nm Endurance: 31 days Hull Number: R223 Call Letters: WTDM Officers: 7 Licensed Engineers: 4 Crew: 27 Scientists: 11 Launched: 1967 Commissioned: 1974 Designer: Philip F. Spaulding Builder: American Shipbuilding Toledo, OH
Rainier
Line Drawing of The Bell Shimada Courtesy of NOAA. See more information on following page
Moving forward
During the competitive lease process, port officials touted Newport as “the best working waterfront on the West Coast,” with its commercial fishing fleet, U.S. Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay, and ocean research activities. The NOAA fleet, they said, would not only enhance such research efforts, but would help attract additional marine science ventures, putting Newport’s already considerable marine science profile on a rising tide. The South Beach peninsula where the NOAA MOC-P facility is located is also home to one of the nation’s premier marine research facilities at HMSC, as well as the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Local, state and federal officials believe it could help transform South Beach into an international hub for research and development on ocean health – a key component in climate change. The fleet itself provides floating, mobile platforms for marine science research, collecting data essential to protecting marine mammals, coral reefs and historic shipwrecks, managing commercial marine fish stocks, understanding climate processes, and nautical charting. They also deploy and maintain buoys that gather oceanographic weather information and other data. Their activities also support existing NOAA facilities located at HMSC. The Newport Research Station at HMSC is the only ocean port research facility for NOAA’s Seattlebased Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Located in the heart of Oregon’s groundfish, salmon and other fisheries, the vessels offer support for the 70 scientists and staff who conduct marine science research throughout the Pacific coast region. Capt. Rick Brown, a retired NOAA Corps officer and current program manager at NWFSC at HMSC, says their work depends on those NOAA ships “to support a variety of fisheries and ecosystem-based cruises.” During the field season (spring, summer, autumn – roughly April through October or November), the vessels are almost always out at sea, conducting essential ocean research, fisheries surveys and seafloor mapping. When home, they are highly visible from many viewpoints, standing out at the facility’s central location in Yaquina Bay that allows them quick, easy access to the ocean, from where they an fan out in any direction for exploration purposes. Former Gov. Ted Kulongoski called the homeport’s construction in Newport “a landmark event for this state,” noting that the ensuing research and development that could evolve from it “will not only put Newport on the map, it will put Oregon on the map.” Folks from Newport, Lincoln County, and throughout Oregon agree, and are going full steam ahead in welcoming NOAA’s considerable presence and personnel to the community.
Ship Specifications Length: 231 ft Breadth: 42 ft Draft: 14.3 Cruising Speed: 12.5 knots Range: 5,898 nm Endurance: 22 days Hull Number: S221 Call Letters: WTEf Officers: 12 Licensed Engineers: 4 Crew: 35
44
Launched: 1967 Commissioned: 1968 Designer: Maritime Administration Builder: Aerojet-General Shipyards, Jacksonville FL Photo by: Jo Wienert
Story: Philip Swett While Newport’s maritime industries and heritage are almost taken as a matter of course today, it took considerable effort to make small Yaquina Bay a safe haven for seafarers. First came the Yaquina Bay lighthouse to mark the narrow entrance in 1871, then construction of the substantial north and south jetties in the late 1880s and early 1890s to establish a better channel. Those improved the ability of fishermen and sailors to leave and return to port safely, but could provide no succor in times of maritime distress. That took the establishment of the U.S. Lifesaving Service (a founding component of the U.S. Coast Guard) station in South Beach in 1896. Ever since then, the Coast Guard’s Station Yaquina Bay has played a key role in assisting those in need along this stretch of the central Oregon coast. To keep that in perspective, Bosun’s Mate 1st Class Adam Johnson said the Yaquina Bay bar (the natural deposition of materials at the mouth of the river) is considered the second worst for vessels in the United States, after that off the mouth of the much larger Columbia River. If you need proof, buy a copy of the fundraising video available at the station, you’ll be impressed. Moving from South Beach to the Newport Bayfront, and then to its present location just northeast of the Yaquina Bay Bridge during World War II, Station Yaquina Bay has been providing search and rescue services for more than110 years to those who sail to and from the docks along the lower half a dozen miles of the Yaquina River. Under the current command of Chief Warrant Officer Phil Jackson, the roughly 50 regulars and 12 reservists of the station conduct about 200 search and rescue and/or towing operations annually, from vessels that are lost in fog, out of power or fuel, taking on water, on fire, or that have medical emergencies. In addition, the men and women of the station also conduct marine law enforcement boardings and watch for marine environmental problems. The station coordinates its activities with USCG helicopters stationed out of North Bend, 50 miles to the south, which are regularly seen around the Newport area.
To perform its duties, Station Yaquina Bay is homeport to two 47’ motor life boats, both a decade old and capable of speeds in excess of 20 knots, with a towing capacity of 150 tons, and a range of 50 nautical miles; a 25 foot Response Boat Small for harbor and river work; and the aging (1956) but still valuable, 9 knot, 52’ Special Heavy Weather Boat Victory. She has a range of 150 nautical miles, the ability to tow vessels up to 750 tons, and can still handle 35’ seas and 30’ breaking surf, the best of the lot. All but the smallest vessel are self-righting, with everyone aboard strapped in when underway in heavy seas. USCG Station Yaquina Bay is an important part of Newport’s maritime heritage and is open for tours Monday to Friday from 1-3 p.m.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON U.S.C .G .
U.S.C.G.
45
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON VI SUAL AR T S C ENT ER
NEWPORT VISUAL ARTS CENTER By: Catherine Rickbone OCCA
Oregon Coast Council for the Arts Newport Visual Arts Center The View: The Newport Visual Arts Center (VAC) at 777 NW Beach Drive has a breathtaking view overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the Central Oregon coast in historic Nye Beach. Your experience in the visual arts is waiting, so step inside. Experience art exhibits. A variety of artistic visions from coastal artists, to artists from around the state, the region and the country are exhibited in the Runyan Gallery, open from 11 am -6 pm (April-September) and 11 am -5 pm (October-March), and the Upstairs Gallery open from noon – 4 pm (all year.) The Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA) hosts ground-breaking, beautiful, humorous, provocative and cutting edge art by young, as well as experienced artists. Friendly docents will answer your questions. Free admission. A portion of our exhibition schedule includes annual exhibits, such as the Yaquina Art Association (YAA) Member’s Show in February, the YAA Photographers Show and the OCCA exhibits of the Newport Paper Arts Festival Instructor’s Show in April, the Lincoln County Student Art Show in May and the Community PushPin show in December. A third exhibition space will open on second floor later this year which will feature mid-career Oregon coastal artists from Brookings to Astoria. Explore the arts. Drop in for free art classes in watercolor, oil, acrylic, china painting, hand building with clay, colored pencil or pastel, Monday-Thursday, hosted by Yaquina Art Association. Create a piece of art. Participate in workshops. OCCA hosts the Newport Paper Arts Festival, an annual premier Northwest paper arts conference. Join in the annual July 4th weekend Nye Beach Merchants Clambake while OCCA sponsors a free family art project at the VAC. Visit the OCCA website, www.coastarts.org, for a calendar of events and information about workshops. 46
NE WPOR T , OR EG ON PER FOR M I NG AR T S C ENT ER
NEWPORT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER By: Catherine Rickbone OCCA
Oregon Coast Council for the Arts Newport Performing Arts Center
The Venue. The Newport Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 777 W. Olive Street in historic Nye Beach is the premiere performing arts facility on the central Oregon coast and venue to over 160 performances per year. In its 23 years, quality entertainment from local, regional and international performers have graced the Alice Silverman (389 seats) and Studio (80 seats) Theatres. Come in, we have a seat reserved for you. Hear the Music. Do you like Classical, Pops, Jazz, Opera and everything in between? The Newport Symphony Orchestra calls the PAC home, as does Central Coast Chorale, the Lincoln Pops Orchestra, Oregon Coastalaires Barbershop, Oregon Music Teachers Association and the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA), which presents the annual international Newport Jazz Party, and the annual Met Opera Live in HD season. Experience the Drama. From musicals, to comedy, to serious drama you can experience it all at the PAC. Enjoy the artistic talents of the Coastal Act Productions, Porthole Players, Red Octopus Theatre, and OCCA’S National Theatre London Live in HD. Enjoy the Dance: From Ballet, to Tap, to Modern you will enjoy quality performances for youth and adults by the Oregon Coast Ballet Company, Pacific Dance Ensemble and T.J. Hoofers. View the Films. The Bijou Film Series offers over 18 top-rated internationally, award-winning films during the year. The Performing Arts Center is also a venue for other performances from around the world. Over the years, many young performers have found their “wings” to the larger world as part of the PAC “family”, either through participation in the local productions or as part of OCCA theatre camps. Visit the OCCA website, www.coastarts.org, for a calendar of events. Call 541-265-ARTS (2787) for event and Box
47
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON G ENT LE G I ANT S 48
Newport’s Gentle Giants Story and Photos by: Fran Mathews Marine Discovery Tours - Newport Grab some boat tickets to experience a true Newport adventure. Smell the salt brine that’s thick in the air... Watch a gentle ocean wave roll over a 45-foot body the size of a school bus…Hear the moisture laden blow of Newport’s largest summer and fall “visitors” - herds of feeding gray whales. The Oregon coast, like an aquatic super-highway that’s full of sea life on the move, offers a spectacular opportunity to watch these “gentle giants” as they majestically follow their seasonal rhythms of spring and winter migration, then, settling in for the balmy summer and fall to feed, on average, a half mile offshore during the calmest ocean conditions of the year. A robust population of 19,000 gray whales swims along our shoreline twice a year on one of the longest marine mammal migrations. They ply the near shore Pacific Ocean that laps along Newport’s beaches, following the sound of the surf that leads them south in the winter to their salty lagoons along the Baja Peninsula to mate and birth the next generation. The early spring finds them returning past Newport, as the majority head north, to abundant feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. Local marine operators love to share great news with visitors to Newport - there is a six-mile reef that runs close to shore along Oregon’s
central coast from Cape Perpetua to Cascade Head - by road, an hour north and south of Newport’s whale watching fleet. This rich reef structure teems with life, including a gray whale’s favorite food - tiny swarming mycids and amphipods no bigger than the tip of your thumb! So, like giant whale picnic baskets, the reefs lure an average of 200 - 300 of the migrating Grays into stopping and feeding throughout the summer months of June through mid-October. They dive to the bottom and feed, on average, 40 times a day - providing amazing opportunities to observe and photograph. A number of these “resident feeders” return year after year, having been identified by some of the Newport excursions through photos, markings and barnacle patterns.
Whale Watching Tips:
Make reservations in advance - peak boating season is during the active visitor months with boat departures leaving daily from the Newport Bayfront. Adult tickets range $30 - $36, depending on whether you want a selfguided ride or an educational tour with a marine naturalist. Dress in layers - it’s sometimes cooler on the water. Eat Look for the telltale spout to locate these gentle giants. something light and mellow - happy tummy. Take cameras of any kind - family snapshots to Facebook downloads!
HIKING Courtesy: www.discovernewport.com and The City of Newport Hiking is a fun and healthy way to see much of the natural beauty that exists in the Newport area. There are several trails to enjoy at Yaquina Head, as well as the educational trail system at Mike Miller Park. And for the ambitious hiker, there are also a number of excellent choices just to the south of us at the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Below are some favorites.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
At the north end of Newport, the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area provides visitors with an accessible wildlife and ocean viewing location featuring birds, whales, seals, and tidepooling. For more information, visit www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/index.php. 1. Ocean to Bay Trail Length: .67 mile Difficulty: Wheelchair accessible This trail runs from Big Creek Park west through the Agate Beach wayside tunnel and on to Agate Beach. It includes boardwalks and bridges through forested areas and over the winding creek. State Park restrooms are located at the wayside. Corner of NE Harney Dr. and NE Big Creek Rd. Newport, OR 97365 2. Lighthouse Trail Length: .75 mile Difficulty: Wheelchair accessible This trail along the southern edge of the headland to the historic lighthouse is wheelchair accessible. Along the way, watch for harbor seals lounging on the rocks. 3. Salal Trail Length: Need distance 1 mile Difficulty: Moderate This relatively short but steep trail makes switch-backs to the top. Along the trail and from the top of “the big hill” are some of the nest views around south to Newport, out to the Pacific, and the forest to
the east. 4. Communications Hill Trail Length: Need distance 1 mile Difficulty: Moderate A walk up Communications Hill presents a completely different community- a shore pine and Sitka spruce forest. Chipmunks, chickadees, and wrens are fairly common. The Coast Guard maintains navigation communications equipment on top of the hill. 5. Quarry Cove Trail Length: .75 mile Difficulty: Moderate Following the crest of Yaquina Head’s southern edge, this trail connects the Ocean Bluff Observation Area and Quarry Cove. You’ll have terrific views south to Agate and Nye Beaches.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H I KI NG
Photo by: Jo Wienert
49
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H .M .S.C . 50
H.M.S.C.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
Story by: Philip Swett While visitors to Newport generally take advantage of the many informative and interactive displays of North Pacific marine life and scientific research at the Oregon State University (OSU) Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center, adjacent to the Oregon Coast Aquarium on the south side of Yaquina Bay, most are unaware of the significant role the center and its partners play in marine research and education. Each year over 150,000 people stop by the visitor center displays and aquaria of North Pacific marine life and learn about the ecology that is an integral part of the central Oregon coast. However, much of the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s (HMSC) real work, and that of several federal and state partners, takes place out of public view. The HSMC was established in 1965 as Oregon State’s marine research station approximately 50 miles west along US 20 from the main campus at Corvallis. The 49 acre site is leased from the Port of Newport and has grown considerably over the years as its role within the university and as a partner with other state and federal agencies has continued to grow. In addition to providing facilities for land and sea-based research for its own staff and those of its partners, the HSMC also supports instructional and research activities for two dozen graduate students at any given time, and many others who take short-term focused undergraduate classes. It houses a nationally known residential internship research program for students each summer, and is greatly involved in cooperative education programs with local
schools and the general public. Director Dr. George Boehlert said some 30 scientists from OSU and other institutions and agencies come to the center each month to participate as visiting scientists in marine-related activities. OSU’s seagoing research vessel R/V Wecoma and the coast vessel Elakha, based at the center’s docks, provide offshore research facilities. “We have one of the best collaborative research centers in the nation with our diverse combination of institutions and resources,” Dr. Boehlert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON H .M .S.C .
The aggregation of research and regulatory operations is also a major economic force in Newport and Lincoln County. The OSU portion of HMSC employs about 120 people and has a budget of $21 million, only $5 million of which is provided by the State of Oregon. The rest comes from federal and private grants. Its associated agency partners employ an additional 180 people with total budgets of another $21 million. Director Boehlert says HMSC is now awaiting word on a significant grant application with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to build a new facility to house its Marine Genomics Program and Marine Mammal Institute, and improve its capacity for research and ability to apply for additional project grants. Noting that the center’s current capabilities are hampered by a lack of space, Dr. Boehlert said the new building, if approved, would be the first new research facility built in South Beach by the state since the center began in 1965. He said the transfer of NOAA’s Pacific Photo by: Jeremy Burke Operations Center from Seattle to Newport in 2011 will not affect his operations said, noting that the collaboration has fostered the center’s growth while directly, but will provide increased opportunities for collaboration simultaneously benefiting all involved parties. HMSC’s partners include the among all the partner agencies—the historic key to the developNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (which is buildment of the site into a prominent national research center. ing its new Pacific Operations Center next door), the U.S. Environmental The popular visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Dedays a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day and from 10 partment of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays to Mondays the rest of the year. AdmisU.S. Geological Survey. Areas of interest include coastal seafloor mapping, sion is free, but donations are appreciated. marine biology and ecology, oceanography, salmon migration, and ocean renewable energy, to name only a few.
51
Photo by: Jo Wienert
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON C AM PI NG
CAMPING Courtesy: www.discovernewport.com and The City of Newport An abundance of state parks, campgrounds and scenic RV sites in and around Newport provide peaceful retreats, where camping and hiking are favorite pastimes. Nestled in deep woods of pine and fir and among the rocks and dunes of the Pacific, these sites offer boating, fishing, swimming and lots of relaxation.
State Parks
South Beach State Park Located just two miles south of Newport, South Beach State Park is a full-service campground offering 228 sites with electrical hookups, six primitive sites, a group tent area and the largest selection of yurts in any Oregon State Park—27 to be exact. There’s an interpretive center, meeting hall, gift shop and miles of biking/pedestrian trails. One of the trails offers easy access to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Reservations: www.reserveamerica.com Beverly Beach State Park Seven miles north of Newport lies Beverly Beach State Park. It has 128 tent sites, 75 sites with electricity/water, 53 sites with electricity/ water/sewer and 21 yurts. The forest setting offers protection from coastal winds, with easy access to Beverly Beach—a long expanse of sandy beach that’s perfect for kite-flying, sand castle building and watching sunsets. Reservations: www.reserveamerica.com Contact the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department for more campsite information: (541) 867-7451
RV Sites
52
Agate Beach Trailer and RV Park 6138 N Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 (541) 265-7670 Bridgeview RV Park Full hook-ups, sewer, electric, water, cable tv, dump stations, new shower, bath, laundry, picnic tables, view, near crabbing, fishing, beach, aquarium, on-site store, small, quaint and friendly! 144-1 SW 26th Newport OR 97365 (541) 867-3742
Harbor Village RV Park On the end of Yaquina Bay with full hook-ups, including cable tv, laundry & showers. Just a short walk to old town Newport, fishing & shopping. 923 SE Bay Blvd Newport OR 97365 (541) 265-5088 www.harborvillagervpark.com Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort Oceanfront RV sites with clubhouse, two heated pools, three saunas , fitness center, two laundry rooms and shower facilities. 6225 N Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 (541) 265-3750 www.orapacificshores.com Port of Newport The Port of Newport has two RV Parks from which to choose: the South Beach Marina RV Park and Sportsman’s RV Park, both just off Marine Science Drive. Port of Newport Marina & RV Park 2301 SE OSU Dr. Newport, OR 97365 (541) 867-3321 www.portofnewport.com Sawyer’s Landing Marina, boat launch, grocery store and RV Park. 4098 Yaquina Bay Rd Newport OR 97365 (541) 265-3907 www.sawyerslandingnewport.com Whaler’s Rest - Leisuretime Resorts of America Whalers Rest Resort is located in the heart of the central Oregon coast with such amenities as a club house, indoor swimming pool, store and more. 50 SE 123rd Street South Beach OR 97366 (541) 867-3100
BARRELHEAD
ON
B U I L D I N G S U P P LY
EW
Family Friendly • Dining Room Bay View • Full Service Bar
O C S I D
Check our website for our live band events HANDCRAFTED OREGON COAST BEER ON TAP!
Building Materials from Local People You Know & Trust - Every Day! You Get rs! The R IGHT Answe ! ls The R IGHT Materia The RIGHT Prices! at
BARRELHEAD BUILDING SUPPLY
Lincoln County’s oldest locally owned building supply company
Experience the Oregon Coast Ocean and Non-ocean View Rooms, Indoor Pool, Hot Tub, Fitness Center, Restaurant & Lounge Free WiFi www.agatebeachinn.com 3019 N Coast Hwy, Newport OR for Reservations call 800-547-3310
Located Just East of Hwy. 101
3551 SE FERRY SLIP RD. SOUTH BEACH • 541-867-7681
BR
www.roadhouse101.com
4649 SW HWY 101 LINCOLN CITY 541-994-7729
FE
CTI
Oregon Coast Seafood to Fresh Sizzling Steaks, Burgers, Sandwiches, Pizza, Chowder & MORE!
R E V
OPEN AT 11:30
DAILY
www.rustytruckbrewing.com
541-265-7783 225 SE Avery St.
Newport, OR
COME STAY
in Lincoln City! 800-648-2119 • 541-996-3623 • fax 541-996-5585 www.oceanterrace.com 4229 SW Beach Avenue • Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
W A L M AR T SUPERCENTER Open 24 Hours! 160 NW 25th Street • Newport, OR 541-265-6560 • www.walmart.com
3517 NW Hwy 101 • Lincoln City, OR 541-996-9900 Also in Seaside, Oregon 866-738-6269 Check us out at BOTH locations! 1-800-4-MOTEL6 www.motel6.com
Port Dock One
WILDFLOWER DESIGN INTERIORS AND
2005 North Coast Hwy • Newport, OR wildflowerinteriors.com • 541-265-9300
Restaurant & Lounge
onnecting
e Wa tc h tho m o u r fr S N S E A L I Oa n t & L o u n g e R e s ta u r e H is to r ic o n th v e r lo o k in g to B a y fr o nu in a B a y ! Ya q
OUR
Serving Lunch & Dinner FRESH SEAFOODS • FISH N’ CHIPS • BURGERS STEAKS • DAILY SPECIALS • CHILDREN’S MENU
C C
COASTAL STYLES HOURLY DESIGN SERVICE SHADES DRAPES FURNITURE UPHOLSTERY WALLPAPER CARPET TILE HARDWOOD
ommunity
831 NE Avery St. Newport, Oregon 541-265-8571
LittLe Creek ApArtments 365 N.E. 36th Street • Newport, OR
97365
• 2 Bed/ 1 Bath
VOTED #1 ts Apartmenst for the pa s! ar ye e thre
• 3 Bed/ 2 Bath • On-site laundry facilities • 2 Play Areas
325 SW BAY BLVD. • NEWPORT 541-265-2911
• Public Transportation
Call 541-265-2663
Professionally managed by sima management, inc.
Every Room Has a View of Beautiful Yaquina Bay
GREIATTIES! AMEN
Where special memories are relived... and new adventures begin!
• Restaurant & Lounge • Crab Dock • Swimming Pool
• Hot Tubs • Saunas • Exercise Room • Free WiFi 1000 SE Bay Blvd. Newport OR
• Banquets & Catering • Crab Boat Rentals • Charter Fishing • Laundry Facilities
For reservations call 541-265-8521 or 1-800-547-4779 • Visit us online at www.embarcadero-resort.com
Experience the sea first hand at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Newport, OR •TIDEPOOLS •BOOKSTORE •WILDLIFE VIEWING •HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE •INTERPRETIVE CENTER
750 Lighthouse Drive • Newport, Oregon www.yaquinalights.org
You can count on us for your special diet needs when you visit the Coast • • • • •
We’re Open Full-line grocery Gluten & Dairy Free Foods Every Day Organically grown produce Large variety of bulk foods, herbs & spices Sandwiches, soups, salads & entreés made fresh weekdays 159 S.E. 2nd Street Newport, Oregon 97365 541.265.8285 www.oceanafoods.org
Monday-Friday: 8am-7pm Saturday: 8am-6pm Sunday: 10am-6pm
Find us on Facebook!
Surf Continued from page 18 sive and fun and are crucial in teaching novice surfers how to deal with hazardous surfing conditions, like rip tides. You can always go out and learn with someone who knows what they’re doing, but a two-hour lesson is the best way. Otherwise, you may just end up struggling. Beginners usually start out with a nine-foot rental board. Many firsttime surfers “Jones-out” on the sport and return to buy brand new boards the same afternoon, which start at about $450. Even more critical than the board is the wet suit — look for one that’s at least 5 mils thick, and is full-bodied with a hood and booties. Good surfing can be found almost anywhere along dozens of beaches between around Newport. Shifting sands that play havoc with “the break” and seasonal changes in the currents make a call to a favorite surf shop a mandatory routine. You can waste a gallon or two of gas just looking for waves, so give the local surf shops a call, first.
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON C ONT I N UED 56
Surfing in Oregon started in the 50s and saw the formation of surf clubs in the 60s, but it wasn’t until the 80s when things really started to grow. Now it’s a family event, with the parents and the kids discovering a sport they can all participate in and have fun. The sport offers great exercise — like swimming, it uses most of the body’s muscles — and surfers agree it’s “major stress-reducer.” The smooth moves of experienced surfers make the sport look easy, but even the best longboarders admit they never stop learning. Surfing, like any sport, takes practice and commitment to master. “Actually, surfing is real easy once you get to know it, and get past the part where you’re just getting bashed around,” said Albany surfer Ronnie Walls. “There’s a lot more surfing going on around here than people think.” Surfing lessons available from the local Newport shops are inexpen-
CLAMMING Continued from page 19 mallet, then dipped in egg, breaded with corn meal or cracker crumbs and fried. The smaller softshell clams of Idaho Flats are also pursued with zeal and a common garden shovel. Like the gapers, they have a neck that gives their location away: usually an oblong hole an inch or less in diameter. The intertidal bivalves can be found six to 20 inches beneath the muddy surface. They can be dug individually or, when numerous, by the trench method. Many people like to soak their steamers in cool water overnight to cleanse any impurities. In any event, softshells can be frozen in their shells for up to three months. Gapers and razor clams are better if cleaned before freezing. So grab your shovel and crawl out of your shell. With a bucket full of steamers simmering on the stove or a platter of breaded gapers fried to a golden hue, you’ll be glad you stuck your nose in the mud. In fact, you’ll be Oregon clam diggers armed only with buckets happy as a clam. and shovels will find plenty of table fare just below the mud-and-sand surface.
Surf Shops For more information on lessons and equipment sales and rentals, contact experts at the following local surf shops: Ocean Pulse Surfboards, 429 SW Coast Hwy, Newport, 541-265-7745. The Oregon Surf Shop, 4933 S. Hwy 101, Lincoln City (Taft area), 541-996-3957. Ossie’s Surf Shop, 4860 North Coast Highway Newport, OR 97365 541-574-4634 Safari Town Surf Shop, 3026 NE Hwy 101, Lincoln City, 541-996-6335.
HIKING
Continued from page 49
Mike Miller Park 1. Mike Miller Park Educational Trail Length: 1 mile Difficulty: Moderate This trail will take you through a slice of one of the most productive and unique forests in the world, the Northwest Coast Sitka spruce forest. To get there, travel 1.2 miles south of Yaquina Bay Bridge in Hwy 101 to NE 50th St. Proceed approximately 1/4 mile. Mike Miller Park is located on the north side of the road, with an informational kiosk posted at the trailhead.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
FEEL THE
POWER
OF NEWPORT Buy e W rs! Ca
Overlooking the historic baybront Explore the unique galleries, shops, dining, and activities the historic bayfront has to offer
OVER
500
VEHIC TO CHOLES O FROM! SE
541-265-5642
www.thelightkeepersinnbb.com • 811 SW 12th St • Newport, OR • 97365
POWerFOrD.COM POWerDODGe.COM
SHOP ONLINE 541-265-4601
POWer NeWPOrT 1107 n. coast hwy • newport
Join a GLASS BLOWING CLASS! 541.867.4198
3916 south coast hwy. south beach OR 97366
www.theedgeartgallery.com
B US SCHEDULE NE 73RD & AVERY SALMON RUN/OCEANVIEW
PACIFIC SHORES RV PARK
CITY LOOP
AGATE BEACH RV
BUS SCHEDULE
LONGVIEW HILLS CLUB HOUSE LIGHTHOUSE DRIVE
LITTLE CREEK APTS.
LITTLE CREEK COVE
WALMART
WAVES MOTEL 8Th & COAST
SAFEWAY WEST END WHALER’S VILLAGE FRED MEYER NW 12TH
SW 2ND & COAST
SUPER OSCARS
FAST LANE COFFEE NW 3RD & COAST
COURTHOUSE
1ST & AVERY
COAST & OLIVE NEWPORT ELKS POST OFFICE ELIZABETH STREET INN/ WHALER NEWPORT CITY HALL 7TH & HURBERT 9TH & HURBERT NEWPORT SHILO CANYON WAY MUSEUM YACHT CLUB HALLMARK RESORT MARINER SQUARE PCH CLINIC 9TH STREET BAY BLVD SW 8TH & BAYLEY
ROGUE
NEWPORT CITY LOOP
Salmon Run/Oceanview NE 73rd & Avery Street Pacific Shores RV Park Lighthouse Drive Little Creek Cove Wal-Mart Whaler's Village NW 12th Waves Motel - 8th & Coast NW 3rd & Coast Coast & Olive Courthouse Newport Elks Newport City Hall
Newport City Hall 9th & Hurbert Parking SW 7th & Hurbert Post Office 2nd & Coast Elizabeth St. Inn/Whaler Newport Shilo Hallmark Resort SW 8th & Bayley St The Edge Gallery Newport Business Plaza OCCC Aquarium Village Aquarium HMSC Port RV Park Rogue PCH Clinic 9th Street Museum Canyon Way Parking Bay Blvd Mariner Square Yacht Club Elks NE 1st & Avery Fast Lane Coffee on 101 Oscar's on Hwy 101 Fred Meyer Safeway - west end Little Creek Apts 7:15 Long View Hills Agate Beach RV Park ***
7:23 7:25 7:27 7:28
7:32
8:37 8:39 8:41 8:42 8:43 8:46 8:47 8:49 8:51 8:52 8:53 8:54
10:22 10:24 10:26 10:27 10:28 10:31 10:32 10:34 10:36 10:37 10:38 10:39
11:50 11:52 11:54 11:55 11:56 11:59 12:00 12:02 12:04 12:05 12:06 12:07
2:25 2:27 2:29 2:30 2:31 2:34 2:35 2:37 2:39 2:40 2:41 2:42
3:55 5:41 3:57 3:59 4:00 5:45 4:01 4:04 4:05 4:07 4:09 4:10 4:11 4:12
7:42
7:58 8:00 8:01 8:05 8:06 8:07 8:08 8:09 8:12 8:13 8:16 8:18 8:19 8:21 8:23 8:26
8:59 layover 9:19 9:21 9:22 9:23 9:24 9:25 9:25 9:26 9:27 9:30 9:32 9:37 9:40 9:41 9:43 9:45 9:46 9:50 9:51 9:52 9:53 9:54 9:57 9:58 10:01 10:03 10:04 10:06 10:08 10:11
8:29
10:14
7:55
10:42 12:12 2:47 4:17 xxx layover xxx layover 10:47 1:22 2:52 4:37 10:49 1:24 2:54 4:39 10:50 1:25 2:55 4:40 10:51 1:26 2:56 4:41 10:52 1:27 2:57 4:42 10:53 1:28 2:58 4:43 10:53 1:28 2:58 4:43 10:54 1:29 2:59 4:44 10:55 1:30 3:00 4:45 10:58 1:33 3:03 4:48 11:00 1:35 3:05 4:50 11:05 1:40 3:10 4:55 11:08 1:43 3:13 4:58 11:09 1:44 3:14 4:59 11:11 1:46 3:16 5:01 11:13 1:48 3:18 5:03 11:14 1:49 3:19 5:04 11:18 1:53 3:23 5:08 11:19 1:54 3:24 5:09 11:20 1:55 3:25 5:10 11:21 1:56 3:26 5:11 11:22 1:57 3:27 5:12 11:25 2:00 3:30 5:15 11:26 2:01 3:31 5:16 11:29 2:04 3:34 5:19 11:31 2:06 3:36 5:21 11:32 2:07 3:37 5:22 11:34 2:09 3:39 5:24 11:36 2:11 3:41 5:26 11:39 2:14 3:44 5:29 11:42
2:17
3:47
5:33
PORT RV PARK HMSC AQUARIUM AQUARIUM VILLAGE
EDGE ART GALLERY
NEWPORT CITY LOOP Bus Schedule
O.C. COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NEWPORT BUSINESS PLAZA
Bus runs seven days a week. The cost is $1 per ride. Includes holidays except Thanksgiving & Christmas Day.
“Newport City Loop,” runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Seven days a week. Includes holidays except Thanksgiving & Christmas Day. The cost is $1 per ride (Free passes available for visitors via their lodging facility management.) The bus is wheelchair accessible and has a bike rack. Schedules are available: online, on any bus, & at the transit office: 410 NE Harney St., Newport.
541.265.4900
www.co.lincoln.or.us
HISTORY OF THE
YAQUINA BAY BRIDGE Excerpted from The Bayfront Book by Steve Wyatt Published by the LincolnCounty Historical Society Photos also Courtesy L.C.H.S.
Yaquina Bay Bridge And A New Newport
Its steel and concrete arches skip across Yaquina Bay like a perfectly thrown rock, providing a picturesque backdrop for tourists’ snapshots. For residents however, it’s far more than an architectural wonder: it’s a historic monument to hope, hard work, and the promise of economic prosperity. Yaquina Bay Bridge was built in the 1930s when the Oregon coast, like much of the nation, was in the midst of a deep economic depression. When federal money became available through President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Oregon State Highway Commission applied for more than $5 million for construction of five bridges along the coast. More than $1 million was earmarked for construction of Yaquina Bay Bridge. Double shifts of designers and engineers began planning five Coast Highway bridges under the supervision of Conde B. McCullough. In just three months, they drew plans for the Yaquina Bay Bridge, Alsea Bay Bridge (Waldport), Siuslaw River Bridge (Florence, Umpqua River Bridge (Reedsport), and the Coos Bay Bridge (North Bend). Despite some arguments from lumber interests in favor of wood construction, all plans called for cement and steel. By January 1934, the coast bridge system plans were not only complete, but they had been endorsed by the federal government and the Oregon Legislature. The Yaquina Bay Bridge was to be 38 1/2 feet wide and 6/10ths of a mile long, with a main span of 600 feet. When word of approval reached Newport, an impromptu parade was held and there was general merrymaking among the town’s 1,500 inhabitants. Although locals were happy with the massive project’s approval, they could not have been too surprised. Months before the official go-ahead, lands were acquired at South Beach for a state park. Sam Boardman, state park engineer, told reporters it was desirable for his agency to acquire the park site “to eliminate . . . the usual cluttering Continued on Page 60
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Y AQUI NA B AY B R I DG E
Photo by: Jo Wienert
59
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Y AQUI NA B AY B R I DG E 60
up of cheap hot dog stands and unsightly cheap eating joints that might otherwise mar the entrance to the most picturesque bridge on the Oregon Coast Highway.” A few months later, the parks department also acquired the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Reservation (located at the north end of the bridge) for the same reasons. Once land was acquired, workers from another federal job-creation program, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), began park construction. When Sixth Street was widened to accommodate the new highway, several buildings were moved; perhaps most notably was the IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) building at the corner of Hurbert and 101. At first there was talk of cutting twenty feet off the front of the turn-of-thecentury, three-story building, which at that time housed the post office. This idea was discarded and instead the building was moved back six feet. The newspaper described the move as “no picnic undertaking.” The move of this building and the one behind it facing Hurbert
Street was successful. The Tip Top Motors building at the intersection of Alder Street also stood in the way of the new highway. The Highway Commission cut twenty feet from its front and built an addition to the north end to compensate the owners for their loss. All controversy and relocation aside, August 14, 1934, was a red-letter day for Newport. The first bridge test pile was driven successfully, and construction was under way. More than 200 men were employed by the Gilpin and General Construction Companies. The weekly payroll amounted to as much as $5,000. Local merchants also benefited from the roughly $100 each week spent on equipment repairs. Skilled positions went to electricians and iron workers with bridge or dam building experience. Many local unemployed millworkers were put to work in positions requiring more muscle than skill or experience. The Consolidated Highway Company employed 160 men to construct hard surface roads leading to the north and south approaches
concrete. When a concrete pour began, it continued 24 hours a day no matter how bad the weather. Remembered Towsley, “Sometimes it was so foggy from the cement mixer you couldn’t see where you were going to pour.” Pier No. 3, located at the south end of the main arch, was the largest and most challenging because of its placement on sand. More than 700 wooden pilings were driven 50 feet below the channel bed of No. 3. Workers on the highest span were 135 feet above the water in high winds and driving rain. In 1986, Ken Bach recalled that his father, who was foreman over the carpentry crew, discovered an error in the site survey. The placement of the south end of the bridge was a little off to the east. “The original survey work had nailed the south side marker on a board between two pine trees. They shot all lines from that marker. When the wind was from the west, it threw all measurements off to the east.” If this had not been discovered, construction on
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Y AQUI NA B AY B R I DG E
of the bridge. Local restaurants, hotels, and auto camps suddenly shifted into high gear, busier than they had been in years. According to one man who worked on the project, much of the labor was done by hand. Use of machinery was kept to a minimum to create as many jobs as possible. Workers were placed on a six-day, thirty-hour work week, enabling two shifts a day. When Paul Towsley (1918-1984) got a job on the project, he started at forty-five cents an hour with a penny a day taken out for insurance. When word got out about the Yaquina Bay construction job, about a dozen unemployed men came to the site each day looking for work. According to Ken Bach, who worked on the bridge crew as a carpenter helper, “If anybody goofed up or slowed down, he was fired on the spot, and one of these guys got to go to work.” Swift currents posed an incredible challenge in placing Pier No. 2, which required a 100-hour continuous pour of 2,200 yards of
Continued on Page 62
61
NEWPOR T , OR EG ON Y AQUI NA B AY B R I DG E 62
the south end of the bridge would not have aligned with the work in progress on the north end. Although falls were commonplace, the only fatality on the massive project came three months prior to completion of the bridge when 36-yearold Ted McDaniel fell 110 feet to his death while peeling away wooden framework. On September 6, 1936, the bridge was opened to traffic. In its first 10 hours, a steady stream of 5,190 cars McCullough, Conde crossed the bridge. The Newport Young Men Business Club was put in charge of the official dedication gala to be held October 3, 1936. First up was to be a salute to President Roosevelt, who had been invited to the ceremony but was unable to attend. Designer Conde McCullough also was unable to attend as he was in Costa Rica designing bridges for the Inter-American Highway. Despite the absence of the President and McCullough, and the presence of a thick fog that blinded the entire coast, 3,000 people turned out to listen to speeches by dignitaries from all over the state. This was followed by another round of general merrymaking and a parade which included the
Ladies Drum Corps of Toledo. A scheduled flyover by sea planes was canceled because of the fog. Fireworks were shot off but they were shrouded in fog. Later that night a banquet was held at the Abbey Hotel with Mayor Carson, of Portland, as toastmaster. The dedication ceremonies were complete but the bridge was not; detail work remained. All five of the McCullough bridges built at this time included subtle art deco embellishments. Ken Bach pointed out that all this detail work was done with wood; concrete simply filled in the shapes that he and the other carpenters nailed together. A few weeks after the dedication ceremony, the local newspaper matter-of-factly announced in its November 19, 1936, edition, “Yaquina Bay Bridge is completed and the workmen were discharged Tuesday. Two years, three months and seventeen days have elapsed since construction began.� In the course of construction, 25,000 cubic yards of earth were moved, 30,000 cubic yards of concrete poured and more than 3,000 tons of steel bolted and welded into place.
Photo by: Jo Wienert
THE LANDING AT
NEWPORT
WiFi Full Kitchen Fireplace Bay View
GROVE VETERINARY CLINIC
“
Making a difference in the lives of our clients and their pets on the Central Oregon Coast.
”
Mon-Fri
— Charles A. Hurty, DVM
Saturday
— Natasha B. Knight, DVM
7:45-5:30
8:00-12:00
— Jay B. Fineman, VMD
890 SE Bay Blvd Newport 541.574.6777 800.749.4993 www.thelandingatnewport.com
Brian McEneny
W O O D CA R V I N G G A L L E R Y SEAL ROCK, OREGON Woodcarvings for Interior and Exterior Bears • Dolphins • Sea Turtles Whales • Otters • Seals & More
— Marianne Clunes, DVM
448 E. Olive Street • Newport 541-265-2381 • www.grovevet.com
Fitness Center Pet Friendly BBQs 24-Hour Front Desk
10727 Highway 101 Seal Rock, Oregon 97376 • 541.563.2452
www.woodcarvinggallery.com
h yeah! Whether you’re coming on business, pleasure or just to play in the sand. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is the perfect place to relax. Come and enjoy our complimentary “Express Start” Hot Breakfast Buffet featuring our signature warm cinnamon rolls, free high speed internet, indoor heated pool & hot tub, business center, fitness center and guest laundry. Included are:
• Complimentary full hot breakfast buffet daily • Indoor heated pool & hot tub • Well equipped fitness center • 24 hour business center • Free high speed wireless internet • Coin operated guest laundry • All guest rooms include microwave, refrigerator coffee maker, iron, ironing board, hair dryer & in-room safe.
135 SE 32nd Street Newport, Or 97365 Phone: 541.867.3377 Fax: 541.867.3378
www.hiexpress.com/newportcoast • www.newportcoasthotel.com
Come to Newport Cafe where Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are served 24 hours a day! Fish & Chips•Shrimp•Crab • Oysters•Steamed Clams & much more! Bread Bowl with Homemade Chili or Chowder Pancakes •French Toast • Stuffed French Toast Breakfast Burritos•Cafe Omelettes Burgers•Sandwiches • Soups•Salads EVERY THING HOMEMADE!
PUBLIC VOTED #1
NE 6th Street & Hwy 101 Across from ProBuild
541.574.6847
great breakfast and seafood all day