About Ripple Run

General information

Located near beautiful Nehalem Bay, Ripple Run Resort & Marina offers all-season Oregon Coast lodging right on the Nehalem River. It’s located just 80 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon.

Ripple Run is a perfect destination for family vacations and romantic getaways, salmon fishing excursions, sea kayaking, crabbing, or just relaxing and enjoying the stunning views of the river and the Coast mountains.

Elk have been spotted on the bank across the river from Ripple Run. Otters sometimes play under the dock, and seals occasionally relax on our riverside decks. Resident herons, eagles, kingfishers, and double-crested cormorants fish along the river. The property also hosts an active bald eagle nest, first built around five years ago.

Ripple Run is environmentally friendly. The sewage system is hooked to Nehalem’s waste treatment plant so we don’t pollute the river. We also provide recycling bins for your use. In addition, for your safety, all lighting is by permit.

History

Ripple Run has undergone many changes over the past century. It was the location of a sawmill during the 1890’s and early 1900’s when the nearby town of Nehalem was booming from the growing dairy, fishing and forestry industries. The town was a stopover for both coastal and inland commercial activities. It boasted a population of 3,000 to 4,000 people, four hotels, movie theaters, a brothel, and a music band. A generator even provided electric street lighting until 10:00 at night. Nearby Wheeler, Oregon was originally a logging company town.

Later, the property was used as commercial fishing venture, supplying fish to canneries that were located all along the Nehalem river. Each morning, boats were towed upriver, then set to drift downriver dragging fishing nets behind them. Our Crow’s Nest cottage was originally the caretaker’s residence. The larger house to the right was the net-drying house. Our Oar Shack and Roe House units are built on one of the original floating platforms used to store the fishing boats at night.

In the 1950s, the Nehalem River was closed to commercial fishing. The property was sold and became L&L Marina until the late ‘60’s or early ‘70’s. It didn’t see much use until the 1990’s when new owners purchased the property and built the floating duplex that houses our Oar Shack and Roe House units.

In 2002, the owners added the Black Knight tugboat and a classic Chris-Craft yacht to their accommodations. This year, Tradewinds, a converted river barge, replaced the yacht. In August 2005, we purchased the property along with some of the floating accommodations and the Crow’s Nest cottage.