Welcome to historic Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area! As Judy and I set out on our latest adventure, we invite you to come along.

For eight years as of the first of June, we have been traveling our great country in search of adventure. June and July of 2004 we traveled in a Honda Civic, “Little Blue,” and a tent. For five weeks in August and September we cruised the San Juan Islands in our 23 foot sailboat, “Regal Jug.” In mid September we purchased “Arcturus,” a 34 foot Alpine motor home and we have traveled all across this wonderful country. We have been from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Alaska to the Mexican border. We have camped in the open dessert and in full service resorts; in the back lots of Elks lodges and right on the waterfront; we have even stayed in the parking lot of a WalMart or two. Our favorite places to camp are the State Parks, National Parks and Corps of Engineer Parks.
What we like about them is that their campsites are generally a little roomier. They are more remote and thus a little quieter. There are generally places to hike and bicycle in these parks. They almost always have helpful volunteer camp hosts to help you find supplies and laundry in the neighborhood.

Starting the first of June, Judy and I are now the newest of the newbie camp hosts in the Oregon State Park system. Our first assignment is Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area near Grand Ronde Oregon. We have our own spacious camp site under a towering oak tree. One slight disadvantage is that we are the only hosts. Most parks have multiple couples and the experienced hosts help the newbies find their way. We do have a great Ranger, Ranger Matt Heurter, and he has been getting us up to speed.

One of our daily duties is raising and lowering the flag. It is a rather special flag. Since Fort Yamhill was established just before the American Civil War, we are flying a period flag with 31 stars. Fort Yamhill State Park is a State Heritage area and it is a day use area only. Much of the fort is still here, it is just underground. There have been a few archeological digs performed at this site and they have learned a lot about the daily life here at the Fort.
We will be here all of June and July and we hope that many of you can get to visit us here. We are about half way between Salem and the coast on highway 22. It is a reasonable day trip from Portland; (about 60 miles from downtown Portland.) For our RV friends there are two commercial campgrounds within a couple miles, (Rivers Edge, 503-876-3442 and Wandering Spirit, 503-879-5700) There is also free dry camping at the Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde about 3 miles away.) Our days off are Monday and Tuesday, but every day is a half day off. We are only expected to work about 4 hours a day; and of course if we are giving someone the grand tour…that is working!
We have talked about volunteering for several years now, and it is a rewarding way to give back to the state and the people who visit the state parks. It is also a way of slowing down. We don’t have to pack up every two or three days and move on. There have been moments when we have had to stop and think about how to get back home to Arcturus.
Now Y’all come, you hear!
Gary and Judy
GPS Coordinates are N 45 04.157, W 123 34.258
Check out our web site for some photos. www.dinsmore-enterprises.com