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North Bend
Originally named Yarrow, after the flowering plant, a river in
Scotland or a vessel, North Bend's name reflects its geographic location
at the north bend of the Coos Bay channel. Timber baron Asa M. Simpson and
his son Louis built large sawmills and shipyards which helped fuel the
economy. Another prominent figure was Vern Gorst, a member of aviation's
Hall of Fame, whose land, water and air service provided the embryo of
United Airlines. He was a prominent figure in the town's transportation
improvement and expansion. Today, North Bend is home to 9,370 people and
enjoys a diversified economy including a U.S. Coast Guard air station,
Oregon International Port of Coos Bay's Business Enterprise Center, Pony
Village Mall - the largest enclosed mall on the Oregon coast, many antique
stores and other unique shops throughout the downtown area. With its
historic McCullough Bridge serving
as the Bay Area's northern gateway via Highway 101, the city is also the
site of the North Bend Municipal Airport, managed by the Oregon
International Port of Coos Bay, offering commercial passenger and freight
service, as well as general aviation facilities.
SHIPWRECKS
A must-see for many South Coast visitors is the site of the stern of the
wrecked freighter New Carissa, which ran aground on February 4, 1999.
While most of the wreckage has been removed, a large portion of the stern
section is still mired in the sand on the North Spit, just beyond the
surf. The site is accessible year-round via 4 wheel drive vehicle or by
hiking the 2.1 miles over the sand from the paved road. North on Highway
101, visitors must pass through North Bend then cross the
McCullough Bridge, make a left turn at the Oregon Dunes National
Recreation area Horsfall Beach turnoff. The road takes drivers across the
north bay and over the railroad tracks. At a fork in the road, take the
left fork onto the Trans Pacific Parkway and follow the road for a few
miles to the Bureau of Land Management boat ramp. Go about 100 yards
farther you will find the entrance to the North Spit road to the New Carissa
is on the right. The best site is an overlook two miles
down the road from the start of the North Spit access. Please Note: During
summer months, the dry sand areas of the North Spit beach are off limits
since this is one of the preferred nesting areas of the threatened Snowy
Plover birds. The Bureau of Land Management requires visitors to keep pets
on leashes and stay in the wet sand portion of the beach that is exposed
at low tide, to avoid disturbing the nesting shorebirds.
Winter storms change the surface of the sand at Horsfall Beach enough to
expose the remains of the Sujameco, a ship that ran aground there in 1929.
While most of the ship was removed during salvage operations, iron
projections can still be seen in the winter sand at the low tide line
north of the parking lot. For more information on the Sujameco and other
ships that have run aground in the Coos Bay/North Bend area click on this
link:
Local shipwrecks
WHALE WATCHING
From November through May, view the migration of gray whales from the
Arctic Sea to Baja California and back. By late December they are seen in
number off the Oregon Coast as they head south. Official whale watching
stations, including one at Shore Acres State Park, are staffed with
volunteers during the 'Official Winter Whale Watch Week' between Christmas
and New Year's Day. Whales also can be sighted from the headlands at Cape
Arago State Park, Simpson Reef Overlook, and Bastendorff Beach County
Park. |
