Ghost towns can be found in every state in the country. In fact, it’s been said that they exist in every country around the world. But what is a ghost town? Ghost towns occur when a community forms around the production, excavation, or otherwise manufacture of resources, but those resources dry up or become obsolete. Some ghost towns arise when a natural disaster strikes and destroys the town. Sometimes, these ghost towns are preserved to share history with visitors from far away or to be celebrated by curious locals. Fortunately, a few ghost towns near Salem also happen to be visitor-friendly and welcoming, such as Oregon State Parks.
Champoeg District’s Empty Field
The Oregon territory of the early 19th century spanned Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of Wyoming and Montana. Not long after fur trappers began collecting pelts in the northwest, Jason Lee, a missionary, was sent to Oregon to minister to the Native people. Soon, farmers began to clear fields, flour mills were built to grind the wheat, and lumber mills were erected to saw house plank logs. Within a short time, Euro-Americans built bustling towns along the Willamette River, a hunter-green behemoth flowing innocently before them. In 1843, in the town of Champoeg, these settlers came together for a vote that made the Oregon territory part of the United States by a vote of 52 for and 50 against.
In December 1861, the Willamette River swelled mightily, with snow melt pouring from the mountains during an unseasonable warm spell that coincided with historic heavy rainfall. As the once innocent-looking behemoth of a river rose and rose, people were forced to evacuate their homes. The water kept coming up, rising faster and higher than the highest banks and hillsides. First, the water rose over the bank, and then it bounded through their front doors with no slowing in sight. The folks of Champoeg headed to high ground in a hurry, carting as many belongings as they could gather.
Today, the Champoeg State Park and Heritage Area offers a long list of activities for the adventurer, history enthusiast, and nature lover alike where Champoeg was platted then lost all those years ago.
Amenities at Champoeg State Park and Heritage Area:
- Champoeg State Heritage Area
- Miles of hiking or biking trails
- Year-round camping
- Disc golf
- Manson Farmstead
- Pioneer Mother’s Log Cabin
- Butteville Store
- Newell House (Dr. Newell and his family brought the first wagon train into the Willamette Valley)
- View the original townsite area (so far above the current level of the river–an amazing sight to see).
Willamette Mission’s Ghost Structure
Fifteen miles south of Champoeg, not far from present-day Gervais, another area was obliterated by the same December Willamette flood of 1861. The building, which was the original mission building of Jason Lee’s missionary endeavors of the early 19th century, was destroyed by the river.
The Willamette Mission State Park is a quick drive from Salem and a local favorite for various outdoor activities and equestrian campers. The park displays an ominous ghost structure of the Jason Lee Mission and hosts the nation’s largest black cottonwood tree.
Other amenities at Willamette Mission State Park:
- Miles of bicycling and hiking paths
- Horseback riding trails
- Informative, educational signs
- Covered picnic areas
- Disk golf
- The Willamette Lake may be full of algae, but remember, that’s where the river once flowed.
Silver Creek Falls Historic Park
Up in the foothills east of Salem was once a thriving town known as Silver Falls City, directly platted near what is now known as the South Falls. The town grew to upwards of 200 residents before its demise. Silver Falls City maintained a hotel, church, dance hall, tavern, blacksmith, granary, grocery stores, and many houses complete with barns and other outbuildings.
The South Falls of Silver Falls City once attracted the attention of Al Faussett, adventurer extraordinaire. Mr. Faussett’s bent for adrenaline was evident in his portfolio, which consisted of many of the northwest’s waterfalls, from Washington to Oregon City’s Willamette Falls. He lived through the 177-foot drop over Silver Creek’s south falls in his tweaked and modified-for-safety canoe but ended up in the hospital, definitely worse for wear.
Essentially a logging town, Silver Falls City began to fail during the Great Depression with the decline in homebuilding. The city of Salem began to purchase the land where Silver Falls City once thrived, and Silver Falls State Park was created in 1933.
Amenities at Silver Falls State Park:
- Hike of Ten Falls
- Camping
- Biking
- Hiking
- Covered picnic areas
- Horseback riding
Important note: All three of these parks require a day-use parking permit. The permit is $5 a day, $30 a year, or $50 for two years. A comprehensive list of fee parks can be found here.
