Lincoln City was originally five small communities. This is the final article in our series regarding the roots of Lincoln City and explores Nelscott and its intriguing history.

The Early Days

Early Nelcott was remote and densely forested with spruce and hemlock. The Dawes Act of 1887 provided free land to new colonists and Siletz tribal members, but few took the government up on their offer.

Among the adventurous were Charles P. Nelson and Dr. W.G. Scott, developers looking for land in the early 1900s. Nelson first came to see the area around 1906 and the two men later returned to buy. Many parcels of relatively flat land with beach access offered development promise. The two men combined surnames and formed a new partnership firm: the Nelscott Land Company.

The area remained mostly inaccessible until the construction of the Roosevelt Military Highway (Highway 101) in the 1920s.

Automobiles Changed Everything

Automobiles were affordable by the 1920s and travelers found the drive down the new Oregon Coast Highway almost irresistible. Suddenly, motoring tourists flocked to the area in droves and an economic boom ensued in the area.

Nelscott’s development was relatively small compared to others along the coast. The Nelscott Land Company subdivided their property into 87 small lots for small vacation cottages. The company wanted to create a small summer resort town, not a massive development.

Scott and Nelson wanted a wholesome environment for visitors. They outlawed public halls and taverns and the community operated on coal oil lamps. Even when a diesel-powered generator arrived on the property in 1926, it was shut down at ten o’clock every night.

Early Nelscott catered to motorists and tried to entice campers to the area. The Nelscott Auto Park was basically an elaborate campground, which accommodated 100 tent campers at the height of the automobile craze. It offered tent houses for fifty cents a day.

The Nelscott Cash Store built in 1927 had a general store, bus depot, gas station, and restaurant. It was so busy during the summer that six clerks sometimes staffed the store. Photos of the auto park and store are courtesy of the North Lincoln County Historical Museum.

Eventually, travelers wearied of camping in tents and business owners offered cabins instead. Modern private cabins rented for $1.50 to $3.50 per day completely furnished and with hot and cold showers. Visitors could also partake in pony rides, Friday night entertainment, and church services.

The Great Depression and World War II eventually brought tourism to a halt. Blackouts after sundown, rationing, and the migration to the coast for employment stunted growth during these periods of uncertainty.

Nelcott Becomes Lincoln City

Despite these hardships, people remained in the area. However, the rise in modern hotels and new state parks meant few people stayed in tourist cottages or tents. A 1939 directory recorded only seventy-one residents and by 1950 there were just 180.

Nelscott never incorporated and when given the option to amalgamate with Oceanlake, DeLake, Cutler City, and Taft, residents voted 85 in favor and 57 against. In 1964, all five communities became Lincoln City for improved fire, water, and sewage services.

Nelscott Today

You can find the Nelscott area north of Spanish Head. Fashionable beach houses line the coast and the Nelscott Strip offers shops and diners.

Nelscott is most well-known for its stunning beaches and the Nelscott Reef, home to world-class big wave surfing competitions. It was named as one of the Pacific’s best surf locations in Surfer Magazine in 2003, and home to the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Pro-Am in Lincoln City.

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If you’re interested in exploring historic Nelscott, why not stay in a comfortable Lincoln City oceanfront vacation home with stunning ocean views and high-end amenities. These well-appointed condominiums offer stunning ocean views, HDTV, wireless internet, an exercise room, a heated indoor pool and a games room, and more.

You’re perfectly positioned to explore the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway and all the Oregon Coast has to offer, without sacrificing comfort or affordability.

Lincoln City was originally five separate communities. This is the third in our series focusing on one of these – Taft. Discover its fascinating past and why it makes Lincoln City such an interesting place to visit today.

Early Settlement

European immigrants appeared in the area in 1894 when North Lincoln County allowed settlement. It began as a small trading and social center for homesteaders living in the isolated area. Homesteaders often traveled by water to patronize the waterfront stores.

Allotments ran along the north end of Siletz Bay that bordered the open ocean, now 49th and 51st streets. The waterfront eventually earned the nickname “Taft Flat”, and was a popular place for get-togethers and camping.

To say the village grew slowly would be an understatement. By 1904, there was only one house and commercial ventures. In 1906, Taft earned its official name with the addition of a post office honoring President William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary of war. Retail, the post office, and fishing and logging were the only noteworthy concerns in the area for the primarily Finnish residents.

Economic Boom

This small settlement nestled on the floodplains of Schooner and Drift Creeks grew very slowly until the Roosevelt Military Highway (Highway 101) opened in the 1926. It opened the area to tourism and linked once remote communities along the Oregon Coast.

Almost overnight, everything changed. Trade moved away from the waterfront to the highway to accommodate automobile traffic. A covered bridge at Schooner Creek welcomed motorists to Taft from the north. Promoters advertised Taft as the ideal destination for a holiday and a picturesque place for a vacation home. A small economic boom ensued and the once sleepy town became a resort community for motorists.

In 1949, Taft officially became a city with a population of 498. However, the city teemed with tourists and lodging to accommodate them. The first was The Pines Hotel with a ballroom and restaurant. Later, 91 tourist cabins and two trailer courts joined the ranks on or near the waterfront.

A few of the cabins can still be seen in the southern end of Lincoln City. However, most cabins disappeared when hotels and state campgrounds appeared in the area.

Incorporation as Lincoln City

Today, the Taft archway adorned with Dungeness crabs marks the entrance to this historic waterfront area. Taft, along with 4 other districts became Lincoln City in 1965. The business district remains, with art studios, coffee and pastry shops, restaurants, and shopping. It is still a popular tourist destination, because it offers unparalleled Oregon Coast beaches, surfing, and pristine tidal pools and wildlife. The oceanfront is ideal for whale watching, digging for clams, or trapping crab.

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Some of the historic buildings still stand in the area. If you’re interested in exploring historic Taft, why not stay in a comfortable Lincoln City oceanfront rental with stunning ocean views and high-end amenities. These well-appointed condominiums offer space and comfort at a very affordable price.

This is the second in our series regarding the roots of Lincoln City. This article focuses on Delake, one of the five original communities of Lincoln City, each with an interesting past.

Delake was one of the towns that sprung up after the Dawes Act in 1887 offered eighty-acre allotments to Native Americans and settlers. By 1924 Delake had a post office and a general store. The Roosevelt Highway opened in 1926 making it easier for people to reach the town and the population grew quickly.

D River

You know you’re in what was once Delake when you see the “D” River. Guinness World Records recognizes it as the shortest river in the world, but its state recreation site is one of the busiest on the Oregon Coast. Its home to the spectacular, world-class Lincoln City Kite Festival scheduled for June 24th and June 25th this year. Competitors from around the globe show off their creations and skill, but anyone can join in if they register.

Delake School

The official boundary of Delake is actually seven blocks south of the river, where you’ll find the Delake School seen in the photo (courtesy North Lincoln County Historical Museum). The Lincoln Cultural Center operates there now, but when the school was completed in 1929 it was the first in the town center. It accommodated the many grade school students in the rapidly growing community. Before it was built, many students walked up to four miles to attend classes. Today, you can take an art class, what a magic show, or enjoy a special event in the facility.

Old Delake bustles with tourists now and offers modern amenities. However, the miles of sandy beaches and the sense of community remain. It’s still a great place to grab a burger, chat with a local, and experience the glory of the Oregon Coast.

Lincoln City has much to offer, including many snippets of Oregon’s colorful past. Its oceanfront is also the ideal place to watch the grey whale migration, trap a Dungeness crab, or dig for razor clams. The city offers incredibly fresh seafood, microbreweries and wineries, and untouched wildlife reserves too. If you like to fish, steelhead, bass, sturgeon, and trout abound so you won’t leave empty-handed. Of course, the kids can explore the tidal pools, visit an arcade, or check out a movie at the local theater.

If you’re interested in exploring the area, why not stay in one of our Lincoln City oceanfront rentals? They’re affordable and offer all the comforts of home while you explore Lincoln City and its charms. Rentals include stunning ocean views and high-end amenities including HDTV, wireless internet, an exercise room, a heated indoor pool and a games room, just to name a few. Why stay in a stuffy, pricey hotel when you can stay in a spacious, well-appointed condominium instead?

Lincoln City Oregon has a diverse history, particularly since it is the amalgamation of 5 small towns. It now stretches along the Pacific Coast Highway for about 8 miles. However, this area was home to the Siletz band, rugged, and relatively untouched in the past.

Settlement began when fisherman came to the area for the prolific salmon stocks. Homesteaders followed soon after as the Dawes Act in 1887 offered eighty acre allotments to Native Americans and settlers. Consequently, many people began to populate the coast to forge new communities.

By 1926, the completed Roosevelt Highway provided a passable roadway between Taft and Newport, Oregon. These were very isolated areas until that time, but the new road made it much more accessible. Eventually, the Roosevelt Highway became part of coastal Highway 101, bridging the Washington, Oregon, and California coastlines.

The Beginnings of Oceanlake

Records indicate the name of one town became “Oceanlake” due to its position between Devil’s Lake and the Pacific Ocean. Apparently, they hadn’t needed a name until the post office opened in 1926.

Oceanlake, along with Delake, Taft and the communities of Cutler City and Nelscott united to become Lincoln City in 1965. Today, officials refer to the original communities as the “String of Pearls”. Each retains its brilliance and unique characteristics.

Oceanlake Today

Oceanlake did not become a city until 1945, and it is now the principle shopping district and business region of Lincoln City. Its urban renewal project widened the highway and tucked utility wires away, but it still retains its small town charm. The Oceanlake arch with sand dollars on each side marks the entrance to the area.

The snapshot from the North Lincoln County Historical Museum archives shows the old Lakeside Theater. Today, it is the Bijou theater showing classic films, befitting its Art Deco architecture and roots.

Before the antique and gift shops and a 50’s-style ice cream parlor with memorabilia, you’ll find Oceanlake sidewalks adorned with 65 artistic glass inlays. You’ll also find a statue of Abraham Lincoln here and the colonial-style Dorchester House, completed in 1935. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was home to the oldest annual political conferences in the nation.

Oceanlake and Lincoln City have much more to offer. No matter what time of the year you choose to visit, the Oregon Coast is an ideal holiday location. You can watch grey whales, go crabbing for Dungeness crab, or hire a boat for some incredible fishing. The restaurants offer fresh local fare and world-class chefs and you’ll find many microbreweries in the area too.

If you’re itching to explore, why not stay in one of our Lincoln City beach rentals? They’re the ideal spot to use as a comfortable, affordable home base while you explore Oceanlake and everything it has to offer. Rentals include stunning ocean views and high-end amenities including HDTV, wireless internet, an exercise room, a heated indoor pool and a games room, just to name a few. Why stay in a stuffy, pricey hotel when you can stay in a spacious, well-appointed condominium instead?