As a diehard Goonie geek, this title seemed perfectly fitting for the start of our Oregon adventure. This is my first time traveling to the west coast of the U.S., and I am already in love on day one of our trip.
We begin our Oregon journey in Astoria. Founded in 1811, Astoria is known for much more than the home of the iconic 1980’s film The Goonies. Astoria sits on the Columbia River near the Pacific, and was named by its founder John Jacob Astor, a fur trader from New York. Astoria grew to become an important port city, attracting Swedish and Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century to work in fishing and cannery jobs.
Through the early 1900’s, Astoria’s economy depended on fishing, fish canneries, and lumber, with the North Pacific Brewing Company significantly contributing to Astoria’s economy as well. Today, logging and fishing are still strong, but Astoria’s growing art community, tourism, and light manufacturing are the main economic means of the city.
As you approach the city you are greeted by a charming view of hillside homes and the impressive Astoria-Melgar bridge. The Astoria-Melgar bridge is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the world and stretches from Astoria to Point Ellice, Washington.
We headed straight to the Goonies house. Imagine living in the house made famous by a popular film. The owners are kind to accommodate Goonie obsessed fans like me by allowing visitors to walk up to the house for a closer look.
I can almost see Mikey, Brand, Data, Mouth, and my favorite, Chunk scheming their pirate treasure adventure.
As a true Goonie fan, I wore a Goonie t-shirt (don’t judge) to properly explore Goonie movie sites. Next on the Goonie tour we visited the county jail, where Jake Fratelli planned his escape with the help of Mama and brother, Francis Fratelli. The movie jail is the old Clatsop County Jail that became the Oregon Film Museum in 2010 at the 25th anniversary of the film. For a $6 entry fee, the museum features exhibits and memorabilia from films made in Oregon. Visitors can also create their own short films in the exhibits featuring sets and green screens. At the end of your visit, you can purchase souvenir items at the museum shop.
Right next to the jail is the Flavel House Museum. This Victorian beauty was featured in the Goonies as the museum where Mikey’s dad worked as a curator. The Flavel house was home to Captain George Flavel, who built his home from 1884 – 1886. Flavel was a beloved man in the community for his kindness, integrity and support of Astoria residents. As a successful entrepreneur and bar pilot, guiding ships navigating through the mighty Columbia River, he was the first millionaire of Astoria. He lived in his stunning home with his wife Mary Christina Boeling, and two daughters, Katie and Nellie. The couple also had a son who had married and lived in his own home.
When you enter this magnificent house, you are welcomed by a majestic hall, with formal rooms on either side designed for entertaining. A music room features a grand piano and other instruments, with exquisite furniture pieces demonstrating the wealth of the family. A parlor, dining room, and library complete the front rooms of the house. The kitchen and a bathroom are at the back. A grand staircase leads you to the second floor with five bedrooms and a bathroom. Twelve foot ceilings, elegant fireplaces, carved wood mantels and doors built by master craftsmen have stood the test of time. The Flavel house was fortunately spared by a devastating fire that destroyed most of Astoria in 1922. Today, the Flavel house, along with the beautifully maintained gardens and carriage house, stands proud as one of Astoria’s treasured historical landmarks.
One of the things we are excited to experience on our Oregon adventure is the food scene. Known as one of the best foodie cities in the U.S., we look forward to our visit to Portland in a few days. Along the coast, we are getting our fill of some of the best fresh and locally sourced seafood in the Pacific Northwest. We decided on lunch at the SEA Crab House, where I began my quest for the best clam chowder in Oregon. Stay tuned for the Great Clam Chowder review! My husband has his own quest for the best raw oysters. Both dishes were delectable, and the panoramic view of the Columbia River was spectacular. The SEA Crab House is owned by Patta and Kim, foodies and Thailand natives. SEA stands for South East Asian, combining a fusion of Thai and Cajun flavor for a unique and delicious culinary experience.
In a true Goonie state of mind, we finished our visit at one of the favorite tourist destinations in Astoria. If shipwrecks excite you, visit the Wreck of the Peter Iredale in Fort Stevens State Park. The Peter Iredale ran ashore in 1906, and it has been there to delight visitors ever since.
The Peter Iredale reigns on this stretch of beach like a ghostly reminder of its deadly voyage. This awesome site is not part of our Goonie tour, but it does feel like a place the Goonies would explore to find One-Eyed Willy and his treasure.
Here’s a fun fact. One-Eyed Willy’s ship was The Inferno. It was 105 feet long and took 2.5 months to construct. The ship was kept a secret from the Goonies cast. The director, Richard Donner, wanted to capture the true reactions of the cast for a spectacular scene. The reaction was indeed completely real when a surprised Josh Brolin shouted “F**k!! upon seeing the ship, consequently ruining the scene.
You may wonder about the scene at the end of the film where the pirate ship is seen sailing among massive rocks jutting out of the ocean. This scene was shot at Cannon Beach, south of Astoria. We visited Haystack Rocks at Cannon Beach, but as majestic as these rocks are, they were not visible because of the intense fog. Although we were a bit disappointed, we had the opportunity of visiting a lovely beach town.
Visiting Astoria brought back memories of watching a magical film with my young daughters. The Goonies represents that sense of adventure innate in the fabric of our family, that childhood innocence that takes us to places unexplored, and fills us with excitement and wonder. I hope that whatever takes you to Astoria brings as much joy to you as it did to me.
Road Drifters 