Historic buildings, golf course score a hole in oneGearhart is situated on dunes beside the Pacific Ocean, 14 miles south of Astoria. The Necan-icum River Estuary divides it from what some residents call the “busy tourist mecca” of Seaside to the south. Its quiet residential streets are lined with grand old vacation houses, many redolent of East Coast beach communities. Old homes in the center of town wear cedar shingles, weathered to a stately gray by years of storms. Gearhart is a mix of permanent and summer residents.

There are several wonderful stores on its main street where you can pick up artwork, greeting cards and other small gifts.

Golf in GearhartGearhart Golf Links goes back a long time. Legend has it that Gearhart Golf Links began in about 1888, starting out as two or three holes of true links golf among the seaside meadows that characterize the North Oregon Coast. Gearhart was officially opened as a nine-hole course in 1901, and from 1913 to 15 grew to 18 holes and began a long heritage as one of the state’s premiere golf venues.

A 2000 redesign incorporated styles a Scottish links courses would have, such as pot-style bunkers, mounding and beach grass. Seventeen-thousand beach plants were imported to stabilize the dune areas.

The new course tempts golfers with obstacles and features rarely seen on golf courses around the Northwest. Two holes – No. 12 and No. 17 – have “sleeper-faced walls” – high vertical walls stabilized by stacks of sod.

The course has a slope rating of 135, making it “extremely difficult.” The average course in the United States is 113. The toughest course in this part of the world is Canterwood, which has a 142.

A links course is a golf course built on sand left by the sea, and is affected by the wind and rain and natural forces.

Gearthart Golf Links is located on North Marion Avenue in Gearhart. The course is 6,218 yards with a par 72. For more information, call (503) 738-3538.

Historic buildingsRare or unique buildings abound in Gearhart and have been recorded with the state using an intensive inventory.

The livery stable on Pacific Way was likely one of the first structures built in the city in 1910. Stables of such age are extremely rare, as they usually disappeared when cars replaced horses, but Gearhart’s remained and was used for James Nicol’s riding academy until 1960.

Gearhart’s former railroad station stands behind the Dairy Queen at the intersection of Pacific Way and U.S. Highway 101. Beside the store is the historic home of William Badger – the first black elected official in Oregon, a member of the Gearhart City Council in the 1920s.

Cynthia Anderson Antiques at 567 Pacific Way used to be a sweet shop and home to the Poppino family of Gearhart. The shop is on the historic site inventory. The shop was reopened last year as Pop’s Sweet Shop to honor the Poppino family.