South Lebanon has large lots and quiet streets in Willamette Valley
Large yards, tall trees and private lanes all contribute to the serene and quiet atmosphere of South Lebanon. Around 2 miles south of its downtown, the community is close to waterside parks, city events and dozens of locally owned businesses.
Lebanon was founded in the 1840s by a group of pioneers looking for fertile land and, by the early 1900s was a lead producer of strawberries in the Willamette Valley. Locals come together each year to celebrate the town’s history and the valley’s continuous fruit production at the annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival. Through local events and support for small businesses, the area has a ‘everyone knows their neighbors’ community. “We have a nice, small-town atmosphere,” says Meredith Lankford, a local real estate agent with Sundance Realty Salem. “People really like that we have so many lakes and riverfront parks with walking trails nearby. It's a quiet area. I enjoy taking my solo walks with my dog each morning without worrying about traffic.”
Mid-century ranch-style homes on private properties
Ranch-style homes built between the 1940s and 1960s sit on spacious half-acre to 1-acre lots with gravel driveways and attached garages. The streets of South Lebanon are lined with towering fir trees, oaks and maples, with tree cover and foliage providing privacy between neighbors. Manufactured homes range from $60,000 to around $90,000 while single-story builds on half-acre lots go from the mid $300,000s to the lower $800,000s.
Main Street breweries, cafes and antique stores
Main Street leads directly to downtown’s storefronts. Hazella Bake Shop serves coffee and a variety of baked goods, from fruit pies to handmade scones. The bakery also hosts bake school classes, from how to make the perfect croissant to fall scone baking. Kristi’s 50s Cafe has a retro atmosphere and serves breakfast and lunch dishes from hot cakes and egg scrambles to patty melts and wraps. At Conversion Brewing, patrons can enjoy one of 16 house-made craft beers alongside a wood-fired pizza. On Saturdays in July and August, the brewery hosts Summer Bands and Brews, with live music and draft brew. Downtown Lebanon also has numerous antique and thrift stores, including Et Cetera Thrift Shop, Ruckus Relics and What I Wore. For groceries, there are a Walmart and Safeway nearby.
Walking trails along the South Santiam River
The South Santiam River runs just east of town and at River Park visitors can have a picnic by the water or cast a line from the bank. From the south side of the park, walkers and bikers can access the Old Mill Trail, which leads around a mile south to Riverview Park, which has water access and walking trails. The 72-acre Cheadle Lake lies across the street from the neighborhood and is a popular spot for walking, biking and fishing, with a boat ramp for non-motorized crafts on River Drive. The North Shore Trail borders the lake and is around 3 miles.
Lebanon Strawberry Festival is a century-old tradition
In June, Cheadle Park serves as the fairgrounds for the annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival, a community tradition since 1909. The festival hosts carnival rides, concerts, vendors and is home to the world’s largest strawberry shortcake. “There’s a parade downtown every year for the festival,” Lankford says. “And you always see people putting out their chairs the night before to reserve a good spot. It’s one of the biggest things Lebanon is known for.”
Career and technical education courses at Lebanon High School
Riverview School serves kindergarten through fifth-grade students and earns a B overall grade from Niche. Seven Oak Middle School has a C, with a variety of extracurricular offerings, from Science Olympiad to Oregon Battle of the Books. With a C-minus grade, Lebanon High School has an array of career and technical education courses, including social media marketing, 3D design and animation and horticulture.
Take the Linn Shuttle to Sweet Home or Albany
Interstate 5 is about a 10-mile drive away from South Lebanon, which also leads north to Salem or south to Eugene. The Linn Shuttle has stops throughout town and connects Sweet Home, Lebanon and Albany. The LINX Loop bus runs north and south with seven stops in Lebanon.
