Shore Acres Botanical Garden - Coos County, Oregon
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 43° 19.391 W 124° 23.097
10T E 387707 N 4797635
Shore Acres is one of the truly spectacular locations on the Oregon Coast with waves crashing on the unique rock formations below, and the year-round botanical gardens where something is always in bloom, and lighted to the extreme at Christmas.
Waymark Code: WMB90N
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 04/20/2011
Views: 3
There is something to see in the botanical gardens at all seasons of the year - tulips, azaleas and so much more. The features include the All American Rose garden with 800 bushes, the Japanese Garden and pond, and one of the largest Monterey Pines in the world.
In 1906 wealthy businessman Louis J. Simpson acquired this location and built a house for his wife Cassandra who had divorced her husband to marry the free-wheeling young Simpson. The original house was destroyed by fire to be placed by an even larger mansion. Simpson turned the estate into a showcase garden with ponds, rose gardens, shrubs, and wide variety of plants. With economic decline, the estate fell into disrepair and was acquired by the state of Oregon for a state park in 1942, thought the house eventually deteriorated and was demolished.
It is easy to see why Simpson was attracted to this area as the view from these cliffs are truly spectacular. The huge waves, esp during a winter storm, crashing on a fantasy of rock formations are breathtaking. At other times of the year, migrating whales can be seen, or one can watch the sea lions nesting on the offshore rocks. There is an enclosed viewing shelter with binoculars - especially nice when it is cold and windy.
A trail leads down from the gardens to a small beach below where one can clamber over the rock formations or just relax with the sound and sights of the crashing waves.
One of the most popular attractions is the annual Christmas light display organized by The Friends of Shore Acres, a private organization of area citizens who love, protect, and develop this treasured resource. There are thousands of lights throughout the garden with imaginative animated displays of spouting whales, leaping dolphins, and many more. There are special displays and warm drinks with homemade cookies in the carriage house.
There is a five dollar day use fee, a gift shop. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. (Later during the light display season, of course). No pets in the protected areas.
Access is via Cape Arago Highway leading south from Coos Bay through Charleston. It is NOT a through road, but there are two other wonderful state parks on this road - Sunset Bay and Cape Arago where the road ends.