7 Eclectic Small Towns In Oregon

With varied and winding roots laid by a range of explorers, Oregon is an eclectic state in the Pacific Northwest. Today, these roots breach the surface not only in large cities like Portland but also in extremely small towns. Just a few hundred to a few thousand people occupy monumental locales where Captain Cook sailed, Christian Utopians preached, Chinese merchants worked, pioneers plodded, and megafauna roamed. See what those residents get to see daily in the following minute yet multifaceted municipalities.

Depoe Bay

Depoe Bay is an ironic name for this coastal community. It boasts a 750-foot-long, 390-foot-wide, eight-foot-deep waterbody that's used as "the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor." The harbor was artificially enlarged in 1952, and in 1966, it allowed access to Omar, a 70-foot-long, 33-ton vessel that has dwarfed every harbor dweller before and since.

After marveling at how such a big ship could enter such a small bay, marvel at how such a small city can have such big attractions. About 1,500 people are lucky to live near the rocky Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area, the Captain Cook-sighted Cape Foulweather, and the leviathan-heavy Whale Watching Center. You can share their luck for a weekend by peeping at those natural wonders before grazing on gastronomic wonders at Ainslee's Salt Water Taffy and Gracie's Sea Hag.

Aurora

Aurora is an appropriate name for this spectacular sight. In 1856, German-speaking Christian Utopians founded the Aurora Colony, which persisted for decades before becoming the modern city of Aurora. "Modern" and "city" are both stretches, since it holds just over 1,000 people not including tourists who come for decidedly dated attractions.

Around a dozen Colony buildings remain. Many of them, namely the Ox Barn and the Will Family Wash House, are part of the Old Aurora Colony Museum. Other eclectic Aurora throwbacks are the Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage, South End Antique Mall, White Rabbit Bakery, and Fir Point Farms.

John Day

John Day was a Pacific Northwestern trapper who lent his name to the John Day River, John Day Dam, and the city of John Day. Home to roughly 1,600 people, this city is linked to another unique name, Kam Wah Chung, which marks a neat business-turned-museum. In the late 19th century, Chinese immigrants Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On Kam opened a general store/community center/boarding house/medicine shop with the aforementioned title.

After several decades of eclectic service, Kam Wah Chung was preserved as the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, complete with thousands of artifacts ranging from dried herbs to lavish furniture. Spend a cultured day in John Day by touring Kam Wah Chung before seeing A Bit of Europe and patronizing 1188 Brewing.

Turner

The Enchanted Forest is real and can be found near Turner, Oregon. Seeded with sweat and love rather than fear and magic, it is a homemade, family-friendly theme park on a wooded hillside. Unsurprisingly, the Enchanted Forest's theme is storybooks. In-park attractions include Storybook Lane with its Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole and Old Lady Who Lived In The Shoe slide; Old European Village with its Pinocchio playhouse and Blackbird Pie show; and the Comedy Theatre with its humorous twists on classic fairy tales.

The Enchanted Forest is surrounded by enchanted vineyards like Willamette Valley Vineyards and Cória Estates. Complete your enchanted excursion at Quesadilla Wizards in Turner proper.

Yachats

Continuing the mythical theme is Yachats, a small coastal community whose name is of mysterious origin. One theory holds that it's an Indigenous word meaning "dark water at the foot of the mountain." Some of the darkest water can be found at Devil's Churn, which is a black basalt inlet that churns giant waves just south of town. Just south of Devil's Churn is Thor's Well, an oceanic sinkhole called the "drainpipe of the Pacific."

Another nearby oddity, Spouting Horn, shoots water rather than sucks it, as does an underground whale sculpture at Whale Park in downtown Yachats. Despite its turbulent attractions, Yachats is heralded as a serene, sleepy city. Untangle the paradox for yourself.

Oakridge

Many people have heard of the Oregon Trail, but very few know of the Free Emigrant Road. A shortcut for pioneers heading to the southern Willamette Valley, this road crossed the Cascades and future mountain towns like Oakridge. Now a "city" of around 3,200 people (virtually all Oregon communities are incorporated as cities regardless of population), Oakridge pays tribute to its pioneering past with the Oakridge Pioneer Museum and several Free Emigrant Road Monuments.

While searching for the monuments, stop at modern marvels like the Willamette Fish Hatchery, Sacred Spiral Gift Shop, and Oakridge Bike Shop and Willamette Mountain Mercantile. Buy a bike or rent snowshoes from the latter to penetrate the real oaks of Oakridge.

Mitchell

Not far from John Day sits the town of Mitchell. The greatest/strangest attraction is located right outside of town and is called the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. It spans ~14,000 acres and ~40 million years of fossilized features in three distinct units: Clarno, Sheep Rock, and Painted Hills. The last of those is a geologic color wheel denoting ancient periods of wetness and dryness.

Each Labor Day Weekend, locals honor their ornate backyard with the Painted Hills Festival. Activities include a half-marathon and Tahitian fire dancing at such Mitchell hotspots as Mitchell Gym and Mitchell City Park, respectively. Even outside of special events, you can have eclectic fun in Mitchell. This super-small city hosts Tiger Town Brewing Company, whose slogan is "Buy our beer, or we'll punch you in the face." It's even trademarked.

As should now be apparent, Oregon is an excellent destination for eclectic tourists. Sure, you can find unique sites in larger cities, but to discover underseen oddities, explore the smallest of small towns. Depoe Bay's minuscule harbor, Aurora's radical Christian relics, John Day's Chinese medicine museum, Turner's Enchanted Forest, Yachats mythological maelstroms, Oakridge's pioneer monuments, and Mitchell's Painted Hills are awaiting true Oregon adventurers. Are you one of them?