Shore Acres State Park
Shore Acres State Park | |
---|---|
Type | Public, state |
Location | Coos County,Oregon |
Nearest city | Coos Bay |
Coordinates | 43°19′25″N124°22′55″W/ 43.323672°N 124.38192°W[1] |
Area | 745 acres (301 ha)[2] |
Created | 1942 |
Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
Visitors | About 250,000 a year[2] |
Open | 8am to dusk |
Website | http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=68 |
Shore Acres State Parkis a state park 13 miles (21 km) south ofCoos Bayin theU.S. stateofOregon.[1]It is one of three state parks along the Cape Arago Highway, which runs along the Pacific Ocean west ofU.S. Route 101.Sunset Bay State Parkis about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Shore Acres, andCape Arago State Parkis about a mile south.[3]
The park features 5 acres (2 ha) of formal gardens including a rose-testing plot and Japanese lily pond,[3]as well as ocean views and beach access.[1]In the cooler months, visitors can watch storms and migrating whales from the park's sandstone cliffs.[3]Another seasonal attraction is the Shore Acres Holiday Lights, lasting from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, when the gardens are decorated with lights and illuminated sculptures.[3]
Shore Acres was originally built as an estate in 1910 forLouis J. Simpson,aCoos Countytimber baronand son of shipping magnateAsa Meade Simpson.[4]After a 1921 fire and financial losses devastated his estate holdings, Simpson sold the land to theState of Oregonfor use as a park in 1942.[4][5]The site was initially used as aradar stationby theU.S. ArmyduringWorld War IIand decommissioned in 1948; the buildings on the property were used as barracks and were demolished after the war.[5]The state, which acquired park additions from other owners between 1956 and 1980, began restoring the garden in 1970.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abc"Shore Acres State Park".Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.RetrievedJuly 1,2011.
- ^abc"Park History".Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.RetrievedMay 12,2016.
- ^abcd"Shore Acres State Park"(PDF).Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.RetrievedMay 12,2016.
- ^abWagner, Richard; Wagner, Judith."Louis J. Simpson (1877–1949)".The Oregon Encyclopedia.Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society.RetrievedMay 12,2016.
- ^abHale, Jamie (August 24, 2018)."From luxury estate to state park paradise, Shore Acres is an Oregon treasure".The Oregonian.RetrievedJuly 28,2023.
External links
[edit]- Media related toShore Acres State Parkat Wikimedia Commons
- Shore Acres State Park- Oregon State Parks
- Friends of Shore Acres