Photos by Cheryl Landes

I never tire of walks through Shore Acres State Park four miles south of Charleston on the Oregon Coast. The beautiful botanical garden, ocean views, and sunsets are a treat any time of year. There’s always something different to see.

The park is the historic estate of North Bend timber baron Louis J. Simpson. Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, he bought more than 750 acres from Sunset Bay to Cape Arago to build a summer home for his wife, Cassie. They named the summer home Shore Acres.

In 1932, Simpson donated 134 acres south of Shore Acres State Park to the State of Oregon to be used as a park. The state developed the property into the Simpson Reef Viewpoint and Cape Arago State Park. Ten years later, he sold 637 additional acres to the state, which included thes Shore Acres estate.

Enjoy today’s tour!

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, enjoy beautiful light displays in the botanical garden.