NORTH PLAINS, OREGON
North Plains, a
charming rural town located in Washington County just 19 miles west
of Portland, is surrounded by miles of picturesque farmland, creeks
and forests near the foothills of the Coastal range. Referred
to as the “City to the Sunset,” the small town is situated adjacent
to Highway 26, the major thoroughfare from Portland to the Oregon
Coast. With an estimated population of 1,700 and growing (not
including pets and horses), North Plains is home to many wonderful
family activities and festivals that attract visitors from all over
the state.
Each August, North Plains hosts its signature
event-- the “World’s Largest Elephant Garlic Festival.” Giant
garlic, also known as “Elephant Garlic,” is grown right in North
Plains. The three-day event is officially kicked off on Saturday
morning with a parade of floats, marching bands and creatively
costumed residents, who wave to spectators and throw candy to
children along the route. (Contact
www.funstinks.com for parade route and
time.) The festival features numerous arts & crafts booths, and rides
for kids and live music provide entertainment for old and young
alike. Food vendors are
required to have at least one menu item that contains Elephant
Garlic. Garlic wine and garlic beer are also offered in the family
friendly atmosphere, along with conventional beer and wine.
Garlic ice cream is even available—yes, GARLIC
ice cream!
The miles of country roads that meander
through and around North Plains and the surrounding farms and
nurseries attract cyclists who ride at leisure, or are part of one
of several bicycle marathons. To get a break from the heat, another
fun activity is Horning’s Hideout, a perfect getaway for picnicking,
camping, fishing, hiking, or just a leisure day of relaxation. Open
year round, Horning’s fishing and picnic Hideout is popular for
company and family gatherings and other events. Located just north
of town off of Pumpkin Ridge road, this 25 acre recreational area is
secluded in 120 acres of timberland in serene Brunswick Canyon. It
has a nice size lake for fishing and paddle boating. Paddleboats are
available for rent, as well as fishing poles and bait. It also has a
beautiful large covered stage for entertainment in a natural
amphitheater type of setting, perfect for large crowds. There are
several elaborate play structures for kids on both sides of the
lake, as well as horseshoe pits, picnic and camping facilities. Call
503-647-2920 or visit
www.horningshideout.com for more
information on rates and scheduled events.
As the seasons change, an autumn time favorite
is the pumpkin patch at Lakeview Farms. Family owned and operated,
this 1,250 acre farm produces 14 acres of pumpkins and serves over
50,000 visitors every year during the month of October. A barn at
the entrance has snacks and gifts for purchase, and the stables
house several types of animals for petting. Two miniature trains
take visitors out of a large stand of trees through a haunted tunnel
and across the fields to the heart of the pumpkin patch and nearby
lake. Here families search for the perfect pumpkins. With so many
pumpkins to choose from, and so much acreage to cover, children are
granted a reprieve with the opportunity to navigate paths in mazes
stacked by hay bales. After the right pumpkins have been chosen,
three large paddleboats operating on the lake take visitors out of
the pumpkin patch fields by way of water. Pirates firing
cannons at the boats is but one of the many perils that face the
weary pumpkin-pickers, where you can even come face to face with a
sea monster rising from beneath the deceptively calm surface! And
just when you thought you were safe, a large great white shark also
springs forth from the lake and spits a blast of watery mist on
unsuspecting passengers. Though the effect is all in fun and all
props are electro-mechanical and made by the owners of the farm,
it’s an experience that gives Universal Studios a run for their
money at a fraction of the price. Call 503-647-5596 or visit
www.lakeviewnorthplains.com
for seasonal activities.
The Christmas season in North Plains is no
different when it comes to holiday family activity enjoyment. The
experience of cutting your own Christmas tree with your children is
priceless. Nearby
Loch Lolly Christmas Forest is a 35-acre “U-Cut” Christmas tree
farm. Opening the day after Thanksgiving, families have made it a
tradition to come and cut their tree at Loch Lolly. Santa sits in
his sleigh on the front porch of the gift shop where he talks to the
children about their Christmas wishes. Gifts and ornaments and
holiday decorations can be found in the store along with wreaths,
garlands and table arrangements. The covered shelter provides a
wonderful warm fire with picnic tables overlooking Loch Lolly pond.
Enjoy the hot chocolate and coffee while watching and feeding the
ducks and geese after choosing the perfect tree. (Call 503-647-2619
or visit
www.lochlollychristmasforest.com.)
All tree farms provide saws, tie-rope, and a huge selection of
various species of Christmas trees to choose from. The
colors of Christmas, the sweet scent of fir, and the scenic location
of these tree farms make searching out and cutting your own
Christmas tree an unforgettable experience.
As
spring comes around again, with it comes Easter. An annual Easter
egg hunt is held in town. Prizes are awarded, and visits from Peter
Cottontail and the North Plains Fire department (complete with fire
trucks available for kids to sit in) help make Easter Sunday a
memorable event for children.
The strategic location of North Plains, in
addition to the natural surrounding beauty and small town appeal,
make the community a very attractive place to live and raise a
family. (See schools at
www.northplains.org) The town is a rural
paradise, located only five miles from the global companies in the
nearby high tech “Silicon Forest.” A 20-minute jaunt east puts you
in the city center of Portland, and a short but scenic trip west
takes you through the coastal mountain range to the rugged beauty of
the Oregon Coast.
North
Plains has a bit of history as well. Walters' blacksmith shop is the
last standing blacksmith shop in Washington County. Operated by
Charles Walters, he worked his trade in this shop from the late
1800's to the 1960's. The legendary mountain man Joe Meek, who was
the first marshal of the Oregon territory, and first census taker of
this region, made his home here and his final resting place at the
picturesque Old Scotch Church cemetery on Scotch Church road.
Many a golf sportsman visit the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course located
just a farmer’s field away behind the Lakeview farms Pumpkin Patch.
Pumpkin Ridge, opened in 1992, boasts two separate 18-hole
championship courses. Visit
www.PumpkinRidge.com.
Site of the 1996 U.S. Amateur Tournament won by Tiger Woods, and
voted to be among the top 100 Women-Friendly Courses by Golf for
Women magazine in 1998, both courses continue to be named in the
top 100 courses of the country.
At the west end of town, a small airstrip in a
large field is the staging ground for local aeronautical enthusiasts
of the Willamette Valley Soaring Club. Single engine prop
planes tow gliders with passengers into the air for a panoramic
bird’s eye view of the entire Tualatin plains, Coastal and Cascade
mountain ranges and Columbia River. Without the engine noise to
interfere, gliders provide absolute silence allowing one to hear
nothing but the wind passing beneath the wings as you soar lazily in
the air high above. A crisp clear cool September morning is ideal
for such a leisurely ride. Rides typically last about 20-30 minutes
depending on Thermals and type of plane. Call 503-647-0913 or visit
www.wvsc.org
for times and rates.
For the
Equestrian lover, Arcadia Farm located on Scotch Church road,
provides full care boarding, training, clinics, and both English and
Western style riding lessons. Riding a horse for the first time?
Beginners are welcome!
For generations North
Plains has been a quiet town built around farming and the farming
way of life. A friendly place where neighbors know one another and
are involved with their community. As the inevitable growth comes
in the name of progress, all too often poor planning can bring
negative effects. But city officials and residents are working
closely with developers to allow for the right kind of growth for
North Plains that will maintain the antiquity and quaint rural
appeal that helps make this small town so desirable. The people of
North Plains are looking forward to the revitalization of downtown
and the town’s expansion, utilizing “Smart Growth” land planning.
New neighborhoods will be pedestrian-friendly and feature charming
traditional architecture.
As nearby high-tech businesses are centered in
an area that is literally surrounded by a way of life that is
centuries old, it's a perfect example of how two different trades
over 200 years apart can co-exist. For more
on North
Plains visit the city’s web site at
www.northplains.org, or the North Plains
Chamber’s web site at
www.northplainschamberofcommerce.org. |
