Shop Historic Hood River

Storefronts from a bygone age house shops celebrating the good life of today

By Laura Schulte
For Oregon.com

The Old West’s Main Street has a new look in Hood River. From the town's early days as a fruit growers’ shipping depot located an hour east of Portland on the Columbia River, it has evolved into a destination for visitors seeking the better things in life.

Blessed with natural beauty, fertile orchards, impressive vineyards and perfect windsurfing conditions, Hood River has much to offer.

In recent years the town’s businesses have come to reflect the interests and tastes of their new patrons. Once home to practical shops serving the needs of the region's farmers, Hood River’s historic district now caters to customers who want to indulge in everything from fine wines to exhilarating winds. With adventure sport outfitters next to art galleries, the mix of unique stores makes for a wonderful shopping experience.

 

Start your shopping excursion under the vintage sign for the Hood River Hotel, located at the corner of Oak and 1st Streets.

Shopping the Historic District
Begin your day at 102 Oak St. from the grand lobby of the oldest hotel in town, the Hood River Hotel. The building was completed in 1913 as an annex to the original Hood River Hotel, which dated from 1881 and stood just across First Street.

Head next door to the Visitor's Information Center for free maps of town and brochures for Hood River's many attractions, activities and accommodations. The downtown core of Hood River runs along Oak and Cascade Streets from 1st to 6th Streets.

From the Information Center walk west to the corner of Second and Oak. From here you can see signs for sporting goods stores in nearly all directions. The stores support the region's thriving outdoor adventure industry with everything you need for kayaking, hiking, swimming, windsurfing, skiing, snowboarding, kiteboarding, fly-fishing, camping, biking, mountain climbing and more.

Cross Oak to the south corner to visit Yum Gallery, one of the many venues in town where talented local artists exhibit their work. Cross to the northwest corner of Oak and Second to visit G. Williker's Toy Shoppe at 202 Oak St., where specialty toys look at home in the vintage storefront.

Wander into 2nd Wind Consignment a few doors down at 210 Oak St. for used sports equipment. Low prices and a great selection (fueled by the town's avid outdoorsmen) make trying a new sport more tempting.

Next, cross Oak to check out Frolik Clothing for Girls and Guys for styles that keep pace with the trendiest stores in the Northwest. For gifts and odds and ends with a style all their own, try Antiques & Oddities, Inc., at 215 Oak.

Walk onward to 305 Oak to reach Twiggs where chic candles, elegant hand-made jewelry and hip knickknacks adorn the display cases. For the cook with taste (and hunger pangs) venture on to Annz Panz at 311 Oak St. Browse a huge selection high-end cookware or just sample what such cookware can produce at the on-site café.

In the next block visit the artist's cooperative Made in the Gorge at 403 Oak Street for pottery, jewelry, essential oils and more - all crafted locally. Cross Oak St. again - being careful to mind the Route 30 traffic - and head for Gorge Dog where you will find everything for the outdoorsman's favorite sidekick.

From April to October stop in for a cone at Mike's Ice Cream located in a little cottage on the north side of Oak between Fifth and Sixth. A landmark and local hangout, Mike's is well known for its ice cream give-a-way on the last day of the season, usually sometime around Halloween.

Turn downhill on Fifth. Tucked in an old warehouse at 104 Fifth St. is Bart's Better Boards Consignment Shop, where the owner specializes in matching the right carefully inspected used board to the buyer.

Continue downhill on Fifth to the next block, then turn left (west) to find Full Sail Brewing at 506 Columbia St. Tour the state-of-the-art, employee owned brewery then enjoy the river view as you sample craft beers from the tasting room deck.

For fun on a smaller scale, make your way east on Columbia, then turn right up Fourth Street to find Hood River Hobbies. Store shelves hold hard-to-find model trains, planes and automobiles as well as comics, kites and remote-contolled vehicles.

Lovers of full-size trains will want to backtrack to Fourth and Cascade Streets and walk east three blocks to arrive at the historic craftsman-style Hood River Train Station, from which the Mount Hood Railroad excursion train departs. The train offers its passengers excellent views of orchards, forests and streams as it winds its way from Hood River up more than 1,700 feet to the tiny fruit-picking town of Parkdale at the base of Mount Hood. To complete your shopping tour, walk up First Street to return to the Hood River Hotel.

Stop and enjoy
Take in a movie at the Skylight Theatre & Pub across the street at 107 Oak Street inside Andrew's Pizza. Fairly recent releases, beer and food during the show (no alcohol at matinees) and a see-through projection booth make this theater a hit with locals and visitors alike.

Sculpted salmon swim upstream year round in the fountain at Hood River's Overlook Memorial Park.

Walk up Second Street and State Street to find the Overlook Memorial Park. Here a beautiful fountain depicts salmon making their way upstream. Turn toward the river for a great view of the gorge or climb the stairs for more impressive views from the garden above the bluff. If the climb makes you thirsty, a visit to Horse Feathers Brewpub for its strong brews and icredible views may be in order.

Walk or drive down Second Street to the waterfront to see windsurfers and kiteboarders enjoying the Columbia Gorge's famous winds. Variations in air temperature on the east and west sides of the Gorge cause the wind tunnel effect that is responsible for the thrilling gusts sought out by adrenaline junkies throughout the year on the Columbia River. If you dare to join in, lessons and rentals are available from several outfitters located at the river's edge.

History
In 1854 the first Euro-Americans, Nathaniel and Mary Coe, settled in what is now Hood River to develop a mail route in the Oregon Territory. When Coe noticed his apple seeds thriving, he decided to make his fortune through fruit instead of mail.

With the arrival of the railroad in 1882, Hood River experienced growth and prosperity as fruit and timber could be shipped easily and cheaply out to buyers. Many of the town's galleries, gift shops, eateries and recreation outfitters occupy buildings that date from this era. Plaques commemorating the original tenants, including the Johnsen Shoe Store, Otten Power & Electrics, Kelly Bros. Hardware, Paris Fair Department Store and many others are mounted on historic buildings.

One hundred years later in the 1980s Hood River began to see another period of growth as adventure sports such as skiing and windsurfing caught on nationwide. The town's proximity to year-round snow on Mount Hood, ideal wind conditions on the Columbia River and beautiful wilderness throughout the Mount Hood National Recreation Area has made Hood River a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.

In recent years, a wine industry has begun to make headway in Hood River as some farmers have been replacing orchards with vineyards. The region is already producing some very respectable wines which can be sampled at many of the vineyards along the scenic "Fruit Loop" driving tour. Maps are available at the Visitor Information Center.

Special Events
Hood River Saturday Market - 5th and Cascade, from May through October
- First Friday Art Walk - Throughout the downtown historic area, March through December
- Hood River Valley Blossom Festival - Third weekend in April