Camp 18 Restaurant - a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast

As you were reading my last post in which I shared what I did with a 24 hour trip to Cannon Beach, you may have wondered where did breakfast go, as I only showed what I had for lunch and dinner on the beach. The answer to that is Camp 18 Restaurant is a coast must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast. Even before moving to Portland, when I first visited Oregon as a tourist and was taken to the Oregon Coast, it’s pretty become tradition that if we can, we stop for a meal on the way. Camp 18 Restaurant is located on US-26 between Portland and US-101, in Elsie. Almost every time, we stop here for breakfast or lunch and to appreciate the cat (no petting though, per request of the signs up). The classic American menu here serves breakfast until 2pm, but and also has a lunch and dinner section available after 11am. Camp 18 Restaurant is also a roadside attraction of history of the logging industry with a logging museum and loggers’ memorial. Note: the photos for this post are over multiple years of visits and may not reflect current Covid setup.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101

The name of Camp 18 Restaurant comes from its located at milepost 28 on Highway 26. In Oregon’s logging history, logging camps were usually numbered – and there you go. Camp 18 Restaurant has been offering family dining since 1986, but was a dream that started construction in the early ’70s by Gordon and Roberta Smith and logging friend the late Maurie Clark. Gordon, who with his own experience and knowledge of the logging industry (the story on the menu and Camp 18 website tells us he was called “Riggin Boss”), logged all the timber used in the 14,000 square foot log cabin himself and was hauled in, hand peeled, and draw knifed with help of his family and friends. Almost all the lumber used in this log cabin was cut in Goddon’s saw mill, set up on the property across Humbug Creek, that he had been running since 1966 and before the restaurant opened.

Gordon collected and restored logging equipment via loans, purchases, and donations. As you pull up into Camp 18 Restaurant, the log cabin that is the main restaurant and gift shop area, and some of the larger pieces of equipment on display around the edges of the parking lot. There is a old fashioned red caboose from Clark & Wilson Lumber Company, who purchased 10,000 acres with 400,000,000 feet of standing timber, a Goble, Nehalem and Pacific Railway, a ten mile logging road and all the logging and camp equipment now on the land from the logging outfit that had already been putting about 100,000 feet of logs into the river daily (keep in mind Oregon logging history has been going on since the 1850s)- all for the sum of $800,000 in 1907. After the purchase, the plan was to increase capacity to 150,000 feet of lumber a day, and they heyday of logging seems to have been from the 1920s and 30s, until it stopped running its railroads in 1944. You’ll also find other equipment like a “single-cylinder vertical-spool Dolbeer donkey”, a double-bitted bandsaw, a steam crane and logging arch, and more.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Exterior area by Camp 18 Restaurant includes a chance to inspect up close some old logging equipment

The back area in general is worth a little walk while you are waiting to be seated (if the restaurant is busy) or after your meal. There you’ll find the previously mentioned Humbug Creek. This creek is also where river rock was sourced to create the two fireplaces inside the building. Camp 18 Restaurant also has plenty of bird feeders (some by tables if you are seated in the back area farthest from the entrance so you can bird-watch as you eat) so you will hear lots of wildlife in the air along with the sounds of the flowing waters and wind through the forest along the short walking trail here, and plenty of wooden picnic tables and benches too. Also in added on buildings you can visit a gift shop and a Loggers’ Memorial dedicated to those who have lost their lives and commemorate those who worked in the woods or the wood products industry. The museum and memorial is part of a non-profit established now separate from the restaurant.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Outside while waiting or after your meal check out the back which has lots of tables and benches and a trail along Humbug Creek

I’m sure you can’t help but notice all the carvings outside the restaurant as well. You might even find a Sasquatch among bears and lumberjacks…
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Outside while waiting you can see many carvings

As you enter the restaurant, notice the door handle of the authentic ax, and thick (4.5 inch thick) heavy doors. These are hand-carved from old growth Fir log, and these doors each weigh 500 pounds.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it

Once you are inside, don’t forget to look up! Among the antler chandeliers you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US – when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin you will find a massive 85 foot Ridge Pole above you. Camp 18 notes that this is the largest known in the US - when initially cut, it weighed approximately 25 tons, and has 5,600 board feet of lumber in it

Pre-Covid times I would recommend checking out all along the walls the various other collections of photos (several include Gordon and his family and friends), smaller logging equipment, and wooden carvings throughout the restaurant. Use your best judgement depending on how busy the restaurant is and ability to practice safe social distancing. You will notice there is an upstairs area, and there are two fireplaces, built with approximately 50 tons of local rock. That mantle of the main dining room fireplace is solid black walnut.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Inside the main log cabin of the restaurant you will find all sorts of wooden carvings and photos and smaller logging equipment exhibits on the walls

I don’t think the menu has changed that much through the years though it’s a bit smaller during the current pandemic – lumberjack portions of homey American food. On this last visit I tried the Kielbasa plate with two jumbo links split and grilled, served with homemade fried potatoes, eggs your way, and homemade biscuit. F tried a slice of French toast with blueberries, holding the whipped cream and butter. In previous visits I’ve also really enjoyed sides – yep those are just all sides, one side of biscuit with gravy, one side of an egg with Tillamook cheddar, a side of 2 flatcars, a side of homemade potatoes. The menu also boasts country fried steak, massive homemade cinnamon rolls that I’ve heard weighs a few pounds, 1/3 pound burgers, breaded and pan fried razor clams or rainbow trout, marionbeery deep dish cobbler, a bigfoot brownie sundae, and more. Probably something for everyone.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. Kielbasa plate with two jumbo links split and grilled, served with homemade fried potatoes, eggs your way, and homemade biscuit

And remember how there is a cat we appreciate? Here you see photos from 2010 (the first), 2015 (next 3), and this trip in June 2021, of said kitty. To be fair the 2010 was before they put up signs saying no petting. In 2015, when you see it on my lap, that was the year my cat Mew passed and I felt like it choosing to sit with me awhile was its way of trying to comfort me. We aren’t sure if it is the same cat or another generation, but we appreciate the kitty of Camp 18 restaurant through the years.
Camp 18 Restaurant, a must stop on the way to the Oregon Coast on US 26 on the way to US 101. We've seen this same cat over multiple visits - here is 2010

The lumber industry was a critical foundation to Oregon – seeing the size of the equipment here and photos and objects as gathered by an enthusiast who experienced it himself is a unique perspective that’s worth a stop on the way to the Oregon Coast. If you are interested in more about Oregon forests, wood industry now and back then, you can find out more at the World Forestry Center. Camp 18 restaurant is still family owned – Gordon is now 89 and his children and grandchildren are still part of the restaurant in many ways. We were both super stoked Camp 18 restaurant has survived the hard times of Covid-19 and adjusted by building an outdoor dining area that is covered and has heat lamps. We’ll be back again and again.

Have you stopped at Camp 18 restaurant? What did you order and what was your experience like?