Chinook Bend Resort News

“HERE WE GO AGAIN”

CHINOOK BEND NEWS

Winter 2009

Hello from the beautiful Oregon Coast, well most of the time, currently it is 30* and there is 2” of snow on the ground. But other than that, it looks like a poster perfect Christmas card (in March) as you look out onto the Siletz River.

 Spring is in the air however and up until two days ago, the weather was perfect, in the mid 60*s during the day, and a chill in the air at night. For me, it meant deep sleep as you pull the sleeping bag up over your head to warm up from the chill in the air.

"Steelhead"

The fishing has been fantastic, the Steelhead run has produced some record size fish this spring and the anglers are coming in from all over to enjoy the bounties of the catch. We have enjoyed a large variety of fish stories as we now are selling fishing license and get to see first hand the results of the catch.

"Party on Garth"

The staff of Chinook Bend is gearing up for a fun filled camping season complete with numerous activities. Concerts in the park, pancake feeds complete with membership participation, festivals and campfire events along with some specialty parties such as the “hat party”.

 "Get in Touch with your Bed Sheets"

The “Sunfest Group” will also be back in June. The theme for this year’s event is “Toga”. (You make up your own visions on this theme), and with them comes a variety of venders selling everything from incense, custom carved items, Tie-Dye Tee Shirts and other unusual items that you will not find anywhere else. The Sunfest event is planned for June 24^th thru the 28^th.

 Chinook Bend is again sponsoring a 4^th of July campout that is geared for the family. Live music in the park, a 4^th of July BBQ on the “River Deck” horse back rides for the children, 4^th of July celebration and lots of family activities. Make sure you make your reservations early for this weekend event.

 “The Morning Brew Crew”

 The pancake breakfast is a staple of Chinook Bend, all you can eat pancakes with all the “fixins” eggs, country gravy, bacon, sausage and fruit. Ralph tells me this year he is going to try “eggs to order.” We will see how that goes.

We have also added Mochas’ and Latte’s to the list of new items offered. The brewing machine has been installed in the Bait Shop to allow the fishermen to indulge in a warm beverage first thing in the morning.  

 “NO Jimmy Hoffa found”

 The Chinook Bend staff is improving the park in every aspect imaginable. We have installed our first concrete pad site for camping. This is a big deal if all you have ever camped on gravel. Several more are slated for installation this coming season.

 "On the Road Again”

The gravel road into the resort continues to improve, several tons of gravel has been added to make the half mile trek into the park more pleasurable. As we improve the road each year, it seems to hold up better and slightly pulls us out of the minor flooding during the winter.

“Were Going Uptown”

We have ordered our first “Park Model” rental unit, and it is incredible. Complete with a full size kitchen, full size bathroom, full size bedroom and a very nice dining and kitchen area. The Park Model will be situated on the river so that the deck will be facing over the water. What a great way to spend the morning while sipping your coffee.

The Park Model Cabin will be offered to Chinook Bend members at a substantial discount, so bring your family and stay on the Siletz River in style. 

Let Us Provide the Camping Adventure

If you want to come and enjoy Chinook Bend and do not own a tent or trailer, we have both waiting for you. With a little notice, we can set up a nice camping tent or camping trailer at a very minimal charge. All you need is a sleeping bag and we will provide the rest. Come and join us for a weekend of camping, campfire story telling and lots of fun for a family weekend getaway.

"Warm and Cozy"

The new bathroom remodel is in full swing. You will need to come and see what we have done. Complete with heaters and lots of room, (I checked; the toilet stall door will not hit you in the head anymore)... I promise that this will be one of the nicest Bidet’s on the Oregon Coast.

“Stayin On the River”

As Chinook Bend members can tell you, camping on the Siletz River is one of the most beautiful places to be in the spring and summer. The problem however is that the campground has 14 river sites (actually on the river camping) and 300 members. This becomes an issue every year, trying to sort out who gets river sites. After researching this and discussing the options, Chinook Bend Staff has set in place the original policy of two weeks in, one week out of river camping, as a guideline for river sites. What this means: when you make your reservation, you can request a river site and if it is available, you can stay for three weeks on the river, and then you must move into another park site to allow other members an opportunity to be on the river. I believe this to be the fair way to allow all members to enjoy camping on the river. This policy will only be in effect from June 1^st thru November 15^th, before or after these dates, the river sites are available as an off season camping site for longer stays. If you are a Chinook Bend deluxe member, we will continue to honor the agreed upon contract of river site camping. 

"Boat Docks"

WOW, this is always such a delicate subject. How are we going to approach boat mooring for the 2009 Season: And this is what we have come up with:  “on a first come, first serve basis”. How it will work (hopefully) is the following. If you are a Chinook Bend member, you will be guaranteed a spot to moor your boat. Their will be a master board in the bait shop. When you check in, you will find an open spot that will accommodate your boat, take the slip and dock number to the bait shop and place your name on the board. This will be your spot until you decide to leave it. You can mark your dock site with markers if you wish and we will spot check to make sure no one has wiggled their way into your spot. Dock #3 and #4 are for members only, dock #2 will have some boat mooring but is mainly for fish cleaning, potty stops and pick up and drop off of passengers. Dock #1 will be available for some public mooring, but will be offered to members first. Chinook Bend plus member’s contracts will be honored as it pertains to boat mooring.

This years storms were tough on the docks, as I write this, Martine’ is working on dock repairs. The Oregon winters just knock the heck out of them. With trees and debris rushing down the Siletz River at racecar speed, the docks take a beating. But at the capable hands of Martine’ he is keeping them in excellent condition.

“We’re Getting Babies” 

We are negotiating with a local rancher to buy 10 calves. We have learned from previous experience that they need to be off the bottle before buying them (thank you Debbie Hilton) the calves will graze on the acreage to the east of the campground. They will be far enough away from the campground for obvious reasons, but close enough if you want to walk over and say hello to them.

“Hay”

I guess we are in the farming business; we plan two cuttings of hay this year. Along with providing some extra revenue for the park, it supplies feed for our livestock, it keeps our fields in check, lowers the chances of wild fire and allows us to maintain the walking trails.

We Love You “Berry Berry” Much

The Black Berries are already in full bloom, we have cut some new trails through the heavy berry patches allowing member’s access to the ones “you can never get too”. If you like to pick berries and are a pie baker (we love pie bakers), come this spring and fill your baskets. There are several varieties of berries growing on the resort, all of which make great pies for the Chinook Bend Staff. J

Constant Fence Repairs, “Thanks to the Elk”

Yes, I love them as much as anyone who has seen the magnificent heard which live at Chinook Bend. But the Elk are “hell on fences” with their big lumbering bodies, they just have not mastered “fence jumping” (our Llama’s have mastered that) the livestock fences are a constant repair issue. The Elk instead of jumping, just walk through the fence as if it were not there. So, we are working on creating an area where the Elk can walk through the wetland area with no fence hindrance. It is a little more work for us, but in the long run, will encourage the Elk heard to continue to live on the property. At last count, there were 77 Elk in the heard, one of which has only one antler (we named him “one horny elk”), and one that has one antler up and one antler down (“we call him Lefty”).  

As all of you know, we do not allow hunting and are very protective of our wildlife neighbors.   

“Chancy Will Be Back”

If you were around Chinook Bend last season, then you met Chancy. She is a 26 year old mare (horse) that loves children. Martine’ and LeAnna’s father loan her to us every year during the camping season as she loves children. She is the gentlest horse I have ever been around. We bring her out on most weekends and let the little ones saddle up for a guided ride around the park. It is a great photo opportunity and Chauncey loves the attention.

“Boatin on the Siletz”

We acquired a nice Pontoon Boat for use on the Siletz. It will hold six comfortably and had its maiden voyage during the 2008 season. Equipped with a BBQ, and very comfortable chairs, you can sit back and be guided up the river by Ralph for a very relaxed boat tour. The views are amazing, seals, otter, elk, deer, raccoon, eagles, osprey, and ducks of every variety, Mexican Long Horn cattle and some of the most spectacular river views around. Come and join us for this great adventure.  

“Let Us Park It”

We encourage the members to store their motor homes and camp trailers at Chinook Bend. We have groomed a spot for our members to leave their “Rigs” during the season. The cost is minimal and you can call up ahead for our staff to set it up in your campsite before you arrive. We have been testing this new concept, and it seems to be working well.   

"The End"

Well, I have come to the end of a long list of Chinook Bend information. However, I want to say from my heart, that the members and staff have made campground ownership one of the most exciting adventures in which I have ever been involved. As always, we have a great team with the support of cousin Billy, sister Cheryl (Master Baiter, bait shop extraordinaire), Vern and Elaine, Ralph and Karen, Martine, Rosa and Dorothy, good friend and believer in a dream “Kyburz Bob”, and most of all my wife Nat (she would have been happy with just my retirement). I want to invite you to join us this season, for lots of fun, family interaction and adventure at Chinook Bend Resort.

Great camping and best wishes

John Telban 

 And the Crew.....

 Nat, Billy, Ralph, Karen, Bob and Martine’