About Gold Beach Oregon
You haven’t really seen the Oregon Coast until you explore Gold Beach.
In this friendly community where the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean, the beaches stretch for miles – miles of uninterrupted, secluded beaches. Or you can try hiking the windswept headlands or watching amazing wildlife—on land and or even capturing nature’s perfection in a photograph or painting inspired by the gorgeous scenery. Gold Beach is what the Oregon Coast is meant to be: Wild and Natural.
Gold Beach is your Oregon Coast Destination. One of the warmer and lower-lying towns on the Oregon coast, Gold Beach where the mighty Rogue River empties into the Pacific, its scenic waters winding up through the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, enjoyed by hikers, boaters and fishers alike.
Enjoy the gorgeous views, good weather, easy-going attitude and natural attractions that surround Gold Beach. Make it a destination or a hub for broader travels, just don’t count Gold Beach out.
About The Area – a short history
Curry County is situated along the Pacific Coast in the southwest corner of Oregon. It is bounded on the south by California, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Coos County, and on the east by Josephine County. The county contains1,648 square miles.
Upon creation of Curry County, the Territorial Legislature fixed the county seat temporarily at Port Orford until the citizens of the county could determine a permanent site. In 1859, following an informal vote of county citizens during the general election, Ellensburg was designated the county seat. In 1891 Ellensburg was renamed Gold Beach because of the gold and other minerals found in the sands in this area and to eliminate confusion with the city of Ellensburg located in the state of Washington.
In 1852, explorers discovered gold and other precious metals in the rivers and along the beaches of this area. Initially, settlement in the county was concentrated along the coast and depended primarily on water transport. The slow development of inland transportation routes kept the county relatively isolated well into the twentieth century. While there is still some mining of cobalt, nickel, and chromium in the southern part of the county, most of the county’s economy has reoriented to agriculture, recreation, tourism and forest products. Port Orford cedar (Lawson Cypress) and myrtlewood are important export commodities.
The county has excellent grazing areas for raising cattle and sheep as well as favorable environmental conditions for the production of blueberries, cranberries, and horticultural nursery stock. The Harbor Bench area of southern Curry and northern Del Norte counties produces ninety percent of all Easter lilies raised in the United States. Vacation and recreational possibilities in the county draw tourists to the area and provide additional economic diversity.
To find out more about relocating into the area, we encourage you to use the following resources:
Newspapers
Curry Coastal Pilot
Curry County Reporter
Port Orford News
The local Chamber of Commerce can assist you as well:
Gold Beach Chamber of Commerce
Brookings Chamber of Commerce
Port Orford Chamber of Commerce
Destinations in the Gold Beach Oregon Area
Crater Lake
Crater Lake has inspired people for hundreds of years. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; two picturesque islands; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom.
Oregon Caves
Take a tour through a marble cave. Learn and discover how the geology, fossils, cave life, bats, watershed, old-growth forest, and human history make Oregon Caves significant.
Shore Acres
Perched on a scenic bluff above the Pacific Ocean, Shore Acres (approximately 1 1/2 hours north of Gold Beach) began as a private estate with luxurious gardens featuring trees, shrubs, and flowering plants brought from around the world. It later was purchase by the State of Oregon for use as a public park. Here you’ll find a botanical paradise surrounded by oceanic vistas.
Sea Lion Caves
Visit nature’s home for wild sea lions and a variety of sea birds. The vast cavern with the roar of the great Steller sea lions, the cries of the wailing birds, and the restless surge of the ocean into the cave below, form an unforgettable experience.
West Coast Game Park Safari
Enjoy this walk thru Safari, where visitors meet, pet, film, and walk among hundreds of free-roaming wildlife located approximately one hour North of Gold Beach.