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Coast with the Most

Good Sam Club Highways
January 2009
Catching crabs and coffee klatches may sit at opposite ends of the recreation spectrum. But both extremes are within reach of visitors at Port Orford RV Village, 2 miles from Oregon’s Pacific coast in Port Orford.

Want to get wet? After settling in at one of the campground’s 40 spaces, RVers can head to the nearby Pacific shore for fishing, boating, crabbing, surfing, clamming and whale watching. Stay inland, and you’ll discover river and lake fishing, agate hunting and wildlife watching.

Prefer a steaming cup of java? Owners Tim and Cindy Pogwizd keep a pot of hot coffee along with muffins in the campground office at all hours during the winter months, and themed potlucks are regularly scheduled throughout the cold season. In the summer, morning coffee with the Pogwizds is offered daily for visitors in the campground office, and a 4 p.m. social hour is a fixture in the campground’s daily schedule.

This mix of nearby adventure and customer conviviality has helped the campground earn a 24.5 out of 30 rating by the Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds and Services Directory.

For the Pogwizds, the guest-first approach is all about “treating people as you wish to be treated.” Their adherence to the Golden Rule extends to offering special monthly RV rates for long-term campers.

Cindy, who previously operated a daycare business, notes that it’s more economical for campers to stay put rather than moving from place to place, particularly when fuel prices are high.

The strategy has helped fuel business. The 2008 season brought the Pogwizds more visitors than the campground ever hosted. Not bad, considering that the transplanted Californians have been running the place for only three years.

Tim and Cindy discovered the coastal area five years ago on an RV trip with five other couples. The visit reinforced a longtime dream the couple had of owning and operating an RV park.

“We drove right through Port Orford,” recalls Tim. “We got home and several months later were looking through a real estate guide.” That’s when they spotted the campground for sale.

“We made an offer, put our home on the market, and it sold,” says Tim, a former beer salesman. “We said, ‘Wow! We’re moving to Oregon.’”

Since taking over the park, the Pogwizds have thrown themselves into painting and landscaping the facility. They’ve also grown accustomed to some of the unique local attractions.

“Many of our winter visitors come to the area to enjoy the Northwest’s winter storms,” says Cindy. “We have great storm watching here. We love it. The campground is protected, though. Even with last winter’s storms, the campground had no damage.”

When the weather clears, guests at Port Orford RV Village can explore the town’s Prehistoric Gardens, complete with life-size statues of dinosaurs; West Coast Game Park Safari in nearby Bandon, where visitors can view free-roaming wildlife; Humburg Mountain State Park to the south, where hiking trails wend through forested hills; Cape Blanco Lighthouse, which has stood for more than a hundred years; and the Port Orford Lifeboat Station, one of the state’s earliest Coast Guard facilities.

Within the park, campers can take advantage of laundry facilities, a car-wash area, a fish-cleaning station, a library, RV storage, rental units, paved interior roads, propane sales, a recreation field and a rec hall with a full kitchen. A calendar of campground events is available on the campground’s website.

“We’ve just installed campground-wide Wi-Fi after discovering how important this is for our guests,” says Cindy. “Also, the coffee room has an Internet-equipped computer that’s open all the time. There’s a phone line, too, if guests want to bring their own laptop and log on to the Internet.”

Port Orford RV Village
541-332-1041
www.portorfordrv.com

Good Sam Rating
7.0/9.0☆/8.5

GPS Coordinates
42.7617° N/-124.4933° W

Explore Oregon’s Pacific Shore
...from these nearby Good Sam Parks

Also in Port Orford is Camp Blanco RV Park, named for the famous Cape Blanco Lighthouse, which has helped ships find their way along the coast since 1870. Guests in the 25 full-hookup sites will enjoy 30-amp power as well as the free newspaper that lands on their doorsteps. Rent a video, check out a book from the library or stock up on LP gas. Windsurfing, scuba diving, hiking, clamming, crabbing, ocean activities and agate hunting are just minutes away.
www.campblanco.com, 541-332-6175, 6/8.5☆/7.5
GPS Coordinates: 42.7542º N, -124.4973º W

Bring your fishing pole to Port Orford’s Elk River RV Park, on the banks of the river of the same name. Visitors can choose from 50 sites, including 14 full-hookup sites with 30-amp power. Spend your time angling or hanging out at the rec hall. A boat ramp and the fish-cleaning station help you land and prepare your big catch for dinner.
541-332-2255, 5/8☆/7.5
GPS Coordinates: 42.7767º N, -124.4731º W

From Port Orford, take coastal Interstate 101 south for roughly 30 miles to get to Gold Beach, home to Honey Bear Campground and RV Resort. Paved gravel interior roads lead to 60 RV sites, 50 of which have full hook-ups. A restaurant, freshwater fishing, a rec hall and Wi-Fi keep guests occupied when they’re not exploring.
www.honeybearrv.com, 800-822-4444, 6.5/7.5☆/9
GPS Coordinates: 42.5286º N, -124.4004º W

About 26 miles to the north of Port Orford on Highway 101 is Bandon, located at the mouth of the Coquille River on the Pacific coast. Here you’ll find Bandon by the Sea RV Park, where 41 full-hookup spaces with 30- or 50-amp power await RVers. A spa, a rec hall and a playfield give visitors plenty of opportunities to unwind. Active visitors can experience nearby canoeing, crabbing and more beaches.
www.bandonbythesearvpark.com, 541-347-5155, 5.5/9☆/6.5
GPS Coordinates: 43.1164º N, -124.4158º W

Also in the small seaside community is Bandon RV Park, where guests can relax in 47 full-hookup sites with patios. With 30- or 50-amp power, visitors can enjoy Wi-Fi or central Internet service. Take advantage of the laundry facilities or stock up on supplies at the store.
www.bandonrvpark.org, 800-393-4122, 7/9☆/7.5
GPS Coordinates: 43.1191º N, -124.4141º W

The town of Coos Bay lies 25 miles to the north of Bandon on Highway 101. Visitors there will find AAA Midway Park, which features paved interior roads and 59 full-hookup spaces. Take part in planned activities, toss some horseshoes or chill out in your rig as you enjoy the park’s Wi-Fi service.
541-888-9300, 9/10☆/9.5
GPS Coordinates: 43.3708º N, -124.2855º W

Alder Acres RV Park, also in Coos Bay, has planned activities to keep guests busy. Out of 88 spaces, 26 are full-hookup with 30- or 50-amp power. Wi-Fi and laundry are available to guests.
www.alderacresrv.homestead.com, 888-400-7275, 8.5/9.5☆/8.5
GPS Coordinates: 43.3800º N, -124.2463º W