Did you know that Oregon has its own “Sahara by the Sea?”
It’s one of the most interesting destinations in the state and there are so many ways to explore the Oregon Dunes near Florence: on foot, on horseback and even on a sand board.
This week, we go aboard a most unique four-wheeled vehicle that you will find in the Oregon Dunes: giant balloon-tired dune buggies that carry passengers across the sand.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area provides plenty of elbow room to stretch out and play; a giant sandbox that takes the breath away -- 32,000 acres from Florence to Coos Bay that offers endless sand dunes, forests, rivers and lakes.
Many plan vacation time at one of the oldest parklands in the state: Honeyman State Park, three miles south of Florence – where a camping tradition reaches back over 80 years.
Photos: The Oregon Dunes
Photos: The Oregon Dunes
Swimming and fishing dominate the recreation scene at Honeyman State Park; plus, nearly 300 campsites for tent or trailer await you at Oregon’s second most-popular state park.
Honeyman State Park boasts a history dating to the 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps built a massive stone and timber day-use lodge along Cleawox Lake.
“Hundreds of unemployed young men from many cities in America came here and were put to work building facilities that the public could use,” said Park Historian Cal Lewis. “The idea was to make parks available for the common man. This huge labor force was available and so they went to work.”
Today, several park buildings show off the enduring craftsmanship in the rock and timber construction. In fact, sandstone was mined from a local quarry and each stone was hand carved and chiseled into place.
“In fact, look close and you can see the original chisel marks,” added Lewis. “If you stand and look at these buildings, let your imagination wander a bit and you can picture those young men that had come across the country. Those little details tell the story of the CCC as much as anything.”
Five miles north of Honeyman State Park, explore a parkland that’s also a unique botanical garden too. Stroll the boardwalk at Darlingtonia Natural Area where you can gaze across a collection of native carnivorous plants:
“These are the amazing cobra lilies and they reach a foot and a half to two feet tall with gorgeous green lanterns,” noted retired Honeyman SP Manager, Mike Rivers. “The plants have a fascinating way of capturing and digesting insects and that makes it really worth a visit!”
When you visit Sand Dunes Frontier at Dunes City near Honeyman, step up and buckle up on Dune Buggy Number 6 and then be ready for a one of a kind experience exploring the dunes.
Dune buggy rides at Sand Dunes Frontier, a private parkland, reach back to the 1950s when an entrepreneur named Rush Chapman created a new way for folks to get around the Oregon Dunes.
“The very first big buggies were actually old military transports,” noted Chuck Chapman, son of the late Rush Chapman. “My Dad was a U.S. Marine and he got hold of them, cut them up, threw some big old seats in them and they were ready to take on passengers and go! Those early dune buggies were great and had a lot of character to them – they were fun to ride in too!”
They still are! Although they are no longer military transports, the fleet of six balloon-tired buggies can carry more than a couple dozen passengers each -- the rear end drive buggies thrill passengers during a two-hour tour of the dunes. Each buggy is powered by a Chevy 454 big block engine and each roll along on airplane tires that have just ten pounds of air pressure in each.
“The bigger tires keep you way above the ground,” noted dune buggy driver, Bob. Less air pressure equals wider tires with more contact on the sand. And you want to stay on top of the sand and not get bogged down or stuck in it.”
Bob said the dunes are an always shifting playground that keeps him on his toes – and that no two days are ever the same on the dunes.
“My Dad was a buggy-nut,” said Bob. “I was out here with him all the time as a kid and to be a good driver, you need practice, lots of practice! Too many folks come out here and get themselves stuck time after time. Well, you have to be able to read the dunes. If you can’t read the dunes, you’ll be in big trouble.”
If you would like to visit more of Oregon – consider a walk on the wild side with my latest book: “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids.” You’ll find activities to engage any kid, from archery to clamming on the coast to hunting for thundereggs to zip-lining through trees in an aerial adventure park.
In addition, be sure to check out “Grant’s Getaways Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon.” you will enjoy 48 uniquely Oregon adventures highlighting my fish and wildlife encounters. scores of colorful photos by Grant’s Getaways photographer, Jeff Kastner, show off some of our finest moments in the field. You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon adventures in: "Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures."