Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay, Oregon, USA
The jewel of the South Coast, Shore Acres State Park is perched on rugged sandstone cliffs high above the ocean. Shore Acres is an unexpected combination of beautiful natural and man-made features. Once the famed estates of Louis Simpson, Shore Acres features lushly planted gardens with plans and flowers from all over the world. There’s something blooming everyday of the year.
Botanical Gardens: Shore Acres began as a private estate with luxurious gardens Shore Acres Gardens, Coos Bay. Tulips bloom late March thru April featuring trees, shrubs, and flowering plants brought from around the world aboard the sailing ships of pioneer lumberman and shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson.
When fire destroyed the mansion in 1921, Simpson began to build an even largerreplacement – two stories high and 224 feet long. However, financial losses in the 1930s caused both house and grounds to fall into disrepair. In 1942, Simpson’s beloved Shore Acres was purchased by the state of Oregon for use as a public park.
Shore Acres State Park is a state park 13 miles south of Coos Bay in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is one of three state parks along the Cape Arago Highway, which runs along the Pacific Ocean west of U.S. Route 101. Sunset Bay State Park is about 1 mile north of Shore Acres, and Cape Arago State Park is about a mile south.
The park features 5 acres of formal gardens including a rose-testing plot and Japanese lily pond, as well as ocean views and beach access. In the cooler months, visitors can watch storms and migrating whales from the park’s sandstone cliffs. Another seasonal attraction is the Shore Acres Holiday Lights, lasting from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, when the gardens are decorated with lights and illuminated sculptures.
Shore Acres was originally an estate owned by Louis J. Simpson, a Coos County timber baron and son of shipping magnate Asa Meade Simpson. After fire and financial losses devastated his estate holdings, Simpson sold the land to the State of Oregon for use as a park in 1942. The state, which acquired park additions from other owners between 1956 and 1980, began restoring the garden in 1970.
Visit USA. Epic USA Adventure route © Monika & Simon Newbound. All rights reserved 2017
Own or work here?
