Shore Acres is a Garden of Coastal History

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

About a two and a half-hour drive from Grants Pass, and lying right along the coast outside of Coos Bay and just a few minutes South of Sunset Bay State Park lies a piece of coastal history more than worthy of the trip. Following along the Cape Arago highway you will make your way up the scenic path to the park. Shore Acres State Park is a stunning piece of the past that was created when Louis Simpson purchased the property in 1905. After building one of the most expansive and luxurious mansions for the time Louis also created acres of gardens all with botanical elements both found locally and from across the globe.

The property originally showcased an opulent three-story mansion complete with an indoor swimming pool and ballroom. The majority of the rooms had ocean views as the mansion sat atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Most interestingly it even contained its own electricity source and power plant to generate the thousands of lights that lined the rooms and halls. The mansion was tragically lost in 1921, with only the saltwater pool remaining. The home was rebuilt, but changes were made. The home then had two stories but spanned the length of a city block. The original saltwater pool was repaired, and the mansion was brought back to glory with seventeen bedrooms. When the great depression hit the Simpson family was set out on a tragic financial path and eventually sold the property to the state of Oregon for just under $30,000.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

The plan had been to turn the property into a park, but with the advent of World War II, the property was primarily turned into barracks and used as a military station. After the war and when the army finally left the state the home was left in such disrepair that the state of Oregon and the parks department was forced to tear the mansion down. The surviving buildings and property were left in disrepair until 1974 when the parks department began an initiative to bring some of the glory back to the property and further its use as a state park. Now visitors the world over are so grateful for the group that has worked diligently to restore the property to its glory. Though the mansion was never rebuilt, a small observation building sits in its place and allows viewers a stunning glimpse into the views that the mansion once looked over.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

The park showcases several styles of gardens that range from American Rose focused to Japanese ponds. Just walking through the garden fills your body with the most wonderful smells. There is simply nothing like the scents that permeate the areas the sun beams down on as freshly dewed flowers and a cool coastal breeze floats across the fields. The best times to visit the gardens, and to see the most blooms and buds are from June through August, but thanks to the artfully curated and landscaped region there are plants and animal life even to be seen in the winter.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

After walking through the classically designed pillars and the wooden garden gate visitors are greeted with an expansive and perfectly landscaped garden that gives the feel that you're stepping back in time. An antiqued fountain sits just inside the entrance to the garden and as the water flows and splashes it glistens and sparkles like pure magic. The kids loved counting the wishing coins that laid at the bottom of the crystal-clear waters and tossed in a few wishes of their own.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

The lily pond is a family favorite as the children can sit for hours watching as tadpoles and salamanders swim casually through the lily pads. The bronze heron sculptures that sit within the calm waters of the water feature are so beautifully crafted that they leave visitors watchfully waiting for the metal birds to spread their wings and fly off as soon as they turn around.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

The rose garden contains roses of every color under the rainbow. The gardens even have some multi-colored and those whose petals look like they have been splatter painted by the great abstract artists throughout history. Personally, I am a sucker for a deep red rose with petals that look like the finest crushed velvet. Meanwhile, my girls each picked out pastel pinks and purples for their own favorites. Thorin chose the bright reds, his favorite color, but mostly enjoyed smelling the varied aromas of each. It thrilled me to have the kiddos explore the different roses and see how each one was just so different and how each could have entirely different colors, shapes, and smells. The scents varied from traditional and iconic roses to more citrusy, or even sweet like candy.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

One of our all-time favorite places to visit while walking through the lavish gardens is the small beach found on the property, simply known as Simpson Beach. Simpson Beach is located on the property and can be found by taking the small hiking trail located on the cliffside of the gardens. The beautiful trail is lined with trees and ferns and along the way has a few locations where you may step out onto small cliffside overlooks to view the beach below. Once getting down to the beach visitors are transported to a scene straight out of Treasure Island. This beautiful cove is a breathtaking piece of the park and its views are further enhanced by the imagination. For my husband, a child at heart, his thoughts instantly traveled to the world of pirates and treasure hunters. Just looking out over the moon-shaped rock features and crashing waves one can instantly picture a pirate ship docked out to sea and small boats pulling up to shore, filled with buccaneers seeking shelter and fortune. Truly I say that the beauty of this small cove is the greatest treasure of all.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

Our children had a blast running through the warm sand, made entirely up of shells that had been scrunched up into bits and pieces, while the older members of our party dared to travel into the small cave on the side of the beach. A small creek streams through the beach and is perfect for splashing and playing, or for the mini builders in your group, diverting and building, as they learn the art of erosion. The rock cliffs also offer a wonderful learning opportunity as numerous layers of sediment create incredible formations each with its own different colors. The kids loved counting the layers and colors and it was a great way to explain how the layers are formed and created.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

The gift shop located at the entrance of the garden offers plenty of souvenirs and collectibles many of which are locally crafted and designed. Everything from sweet treats to educational delights like books and experiments can be found in the store, making sure you can find something for everyone. Our children delighted in the various books in the shop and loved how they could relate the books to what they had seen on our vacation on the coast.

And do not think that the park is a summer-only kind of attraction. Each year from Thanksgiving to New Years the park is lit up with thousands of beautiful lights and structures to bring a modern holiday flair to this beautiful piece of history. Visitors can delight in sparkling lights of every color and ocean-themed scenes light up the night.

(Photo Credit - Summer Mincks)

No matter the season or visitor Shore Acres is a must-see coastal attraction to add to your list. With everything from history and mystery all the way to beautiful plants and breathtaking views, there is something for everyone to enjoy. And don’t just take it from me. In the words of my seven-year-old daughter:

“I loved how beautiful and fancy it was. Every bit of it was pretty, and I can’t wait to go back!”

And in the words of my seven-year-old son:

“Yeah! What Arwen said! It was great!”