An outdoor lifestyle meets modern convenience in Reedsport
Reedsport is home to an active community along the banks of the Umpqua River in southern Oregon. “It’s a semicoastal town that’s a great place to live if you love the outdoors,” says Realtor Jesse Jackson with Crescent Lake Realty, who has sold in the area since 2007. “Most coast communities are windy and cold, while Reedsport is situated just a couple of miles inland, which allows proximity to the local beaches without having to deal with the wind.” Apart from exploring the immense natural surroundings, residents can shop for everyday needs downtown and try restaurants serving authentic dishes from various regions. Reedsport is also conveniently located at the intersection of two major highways, so commuters can quickly reach bigger cities and interstates.
Outdoor exploration on the river, trails and dunes
Reedsport offers plenty of recreation, from small parks with playgrounds to boat launches on the Umpqua River. Nature preserves, wetlands and state parks also surround the area. “We have lots of hiking trails, fishing opportunities and the sand dunes are just a couple of miles away,” Jackson says. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area attracts visitors nationwide. Hikers and off-roaders carve through the vast, wind-sculpted dunes spanning 40 miles of the coastline. The river cuts through the community, and Winchester Bay’s Pacific beaches are under 10 miles away. About 3 miles east, people gather at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area to glimpse the grazing Roosevelt elk. In town, the Reedsport Golf Course is open to the public, and Lions Park has a skate park with a full pipe ramp. Bicentennial Park features a disc golf course, and the Champion Dog Park has 7 acres for off-leash play.
Properties vary in price, size and landscape
Housing close to the center of town offers densely packed lots in a suburban layout. Others sit up in the hills, providing seclusion beneath towering trees. Buyers choose from condos, manufactured homes and single-family options. Ranch-style and split-level houses are common, along with New Traditional builds from the last decade. Condos typically sell in the $200,000 range, and manufactured homes most often go for $20,000 to $110,000. Apart from a few outliers, single-family prices fall between $200,000 and $600,000.
An array of restaurants and stores downtown
Reedsport has a small downtown area centered around Oregon Route 38. Restaurants feature a variety of cuisines, from enchiladas at Sol De Mexico to fine dining options at Kismet Landing. Highwater Café & Market serves breakfast and lunch. For fresh seafood and chowder, “Harbor Light is a must-stop location when visiting or dining out,” Jackson says. McKay’s Market and Safeway sell groceries, though Jackson says, “For major items, locals usually travel to either North Bend or Florence.” Both of these cities are within about 25 miles.
Events revolving around nature
Apart from a few holiday celebrations, most festivities involve outdoor activities. The Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championships, held annually over Father’s Day Weekend, showcases live artists transforming logs into intricate sculptures. DuneFest brings ATV enthusiasts to the Oregon Dunes in Winchester Bay for motocross races and sand drags. Also in Winchester Bay, the Kool Coastal Nights event fills Beach Boulevard with over 300 vintage cars, and participants compete in a tire burnout competition.
Two schools in the Reedsport School District
Students begin their education at Highland Elementary for kindergarten through sixth grade. The campus has an indoor swimming pool that offers passes to the public. Reedsport Community Charter School enrolls seventh through 12th graders and has a variety of electives, including culinary arts, film animation and computer technology. Both schools receive C-minus ratings from Niche.
Getting around Douglas County by car
U.S. Route 101, also known as the Oregon Coast Highway, and Oregon Route 38 intersect in Reedsport and serve as the main local and regional thoroughfares. “Traffic is not bad at all in Reedsport unless it’s during the summer months, especially around DuneFest,” Jackson says. “Other than that, it usually only takes a couple of minutes to get to any location in town.” Eugene is 80 miles away, and 200-mile drives to Portland take just over three hours. Though no public buses operate in the area, CB Cab services are available upon request.
