Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay, OR

Today’s excursion was to Shore Acres Gardens.  The gardens are now part of Shore Acres State Park in Coos Bay, Oregon.   

From the park brochure: “Perched on a scenic bluff high above the Pacific Ocean, Shore Acres began as a private estate with luxurious gardens featuring trees, shrubs, and flowering plants brought from around the world aboard the sailing ships of pioneer lumberman and shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson. 

Simpson developed the summer home into a showplace three-story mansion complete with a heated, indoor swimming pool and a large ballroom.  the grounds contained five acres of formal gardens, including a Japanese-style garden built around a 100-foot lily pond.

When fire destroyed the mansion in 1921, Simpson began to build an even larger replacement.  However, financial losses during the Depression caused both house and grounds to fall into disrepair.  In 1942, Simpson’s beloved Shore acres was purchased by the state or Oregon for use as a public park. 

The mansion no longer remains, but the restored formal gardens continue to attract thousands of visitors.  The garden features year-round displays of floral and scenic beauty and the annual “Holiday Lights at Shore Acres” event that runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.  

A fully-enclosed observation building now occupies the site of Simpson’s mansions, offering spectacular view of rugged seascapes, towering storm waves, and glimpses of migrating whales from December through June.”

Tomorrow I will post pictures of the shoreline—another spectacular sight.

Thanks for reading!