Perched on a scenic bluff above the Pacific Ocean, Shore Acres State Park began as a private estate with luxurious gardens featuring trees, shrubs, and flowering plants brought from around the world aboard the sailing ships of pioneer lumberman and shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson.
Shore Acres’ Mansion History
Simpson developed the summer home into a showplace three-story mansion complete with a heated, indoor swimming pool and a large ballroom. The grounds contained five acres of formal gardens, including a Japanese-style garden built around a 100-foot lily pond. When fire destroyed the mansion in 1921, Simpson began to build an even larger replacement – two stories high and 224 feet long. However, financial losses in the 1930s caused both house and grounds to fall into disrepair. In 1942, Simpson’s beloved Shore Acres was purchased by the state of Oregon for use as a public park.
Year-Round Floral Displays and Holiday Lights
While structural deterioration eventually forced the mansion to be razed, the restored formal gardens continue to attract thousands of visitors. The garden features year-round displays of floral and scenic beauty and the annual “Holiday Lights at Shore Acres” from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Wildlife & Scenic Views at Shore Acres Observation Building
A fully enclosed observation building now occupies the site of Simpson’s mansions, offering spectacular view of rugged seascapes, towering storm waves, and glimpses of migrating whales from December through June.
More Nearby State Parks
One mile north of Shore Acres, Sunset Bay State Park offers extensive picnic and overnight camping facilities. One mile to the south, Cape Arago State Park has hiking trails, picnic tables, and excellent opportunities for viewing tidepools life and marine mammals (whales, seals, and sea lions). A hiking trail, which is part of the Coast Trail, also connects the three parks. South of the park is the newly renovated Simpson Reef interpretative stop. View the seals, sea lions, elephant seals and other marine life from the new viewing deck.
Seasonal Peak Bloom Periods
Fall:
250 dahlias: August – October
Winter:
300,000 or more holiday lights (almost all L.E.D.): November 24 – December 31
Spring:
Hundreds of spring bulbs and daffodils: February – March
8,000 tulips: March – April
Hundreds of rhododendrons and azaleas: April – May
Summer:
5,000 flowering annuals/perennials: May – September
800 rose bushes: June – September
King Tides:
King tides are the highest tides of the year that happen every winter on the Oregon Coast. The king tides are an awe-inspiring sight and Shore Acres is always a safe bet if you want to see the massive waves crash into the cliffs. Please do not stand on the sandstone terrace and take extra caution when enjoying the show.
For more information and directions, please visit the Shore Acres Website