Leaburg to Vida
Milepost 18: Deerhorn Park is located on Bridge Street about a half mile off Hwy. 126. Take Holden Creek Lane to the south, cross over the bridge to Bridge Street, the park is on the left. Facilities include a boat dock, toilets, picnic tables, and a great swimming hole. Continuing on Bridge Street you will find a 9 hole course.
MP 19.5: Leaburg Power Plant located on the north side of the river, was constructed in 1929 and is owned and operated by Eugene Water & Electric Board. It was the utility's second of three hydro projects in the Valley.
MP 20.1: Leaburg was named for the first postmaster Leander Cruzan, in 1877. A name change to Jim Town happened in the early 1900's - in honor of a local store owner. The Leaburg school was built in 1923. The old school bell is now in a center on Leaburg Road. A public library occupies part of the schoolhouse today. Besides the library this area hosts a community center/gym (with kitchen).
The old school grounds hosts the annual McKenzie River Lions Leaburg Festival every July. This community is also home to a veterinarian, auto repair shop, gas/grocery store, fire station, church/retreat center, and two art galleries. Further east along the highway you will find filbert orchards, also known as hazelnuts.
MP 22.5: The McKenzie River Salmon Hatchery is a state run facility with guided tours by appointment. The hatchery raises salmon from eggs until they are about six inches long. These "smolts" are released to travel to the ocean and return when they mature in about 3 to 4 years.
MP 22.7: At the east end of Greenwood Drive, stands the Ward/Currie house, now owned by the Bischoff family. It served as a stage stop for many years. There is also a boat landing on Greenwood Drive.
MP 23.5: Leaburg Dam offers views of salmon and steelhead climbing a fish ladder. Leaburg Lake is about 40 acres and motorized craft are allowed. The Leaburg Trout Hatchery and EWEB Water Board Park are located on the south side of the river. The trout hatchery is open to the public and features ponds with albino cutthroat, Columbia River sturgeon and Atlantic salmon, some weighing up to 20 pounds. The hatchery annually grows 750,000 fish, mostly rainbow trout, to be released in Oregon rivers. The 55 acre EWEB Park has facilities for groups up to 600 people (reservations required). It is only open during daylight hours and features picnic sites overlooking the McKenzie River, free covered electric cooking centers, outdoor firewood grills, a softball field, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, boat landing, trails, and swings for children.
MP 23.7: The historic Old McKenzie Hatchery Tourist Information Center was originally built near the turn of the century. The facilities were used by the state to grow trout and salmon until the 1950's. Many original structures are still on the property. The main house was built in the early 1900's for the hatchery superintendent. A number of local groups and government agencies joined together to revitalize the property, which is now part of the Lane County Park Department. The McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Information Center are located here. The Chamber carries tourist/travel information about the McKenzie area as well as attractions in other parts of the state. Hours are 10am-3pm 7 days a week.
MP 26.2: Goodpasture Covered Bridge: Built in 1938 it is 165 feet long, making it the second longest in Lane County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin Goodpasture. Following Goodpasture Road will lead you to a resort.
MP 26.9: Vida was named for the daughter of the first postmaster, Francis Pepiot, who settled here in 1868. The Minney family moved to the area in 1897 and purchased the Gate Creek Ranch and stage stop (red barn to the east of the community) from the Pepiots. Stage coaches would change horses here before continuing on to Belknap Springs, 32 miles to the east. From 1908-11 a state salmon hatchery was located on Gate Creek. The eggs came from fish which were caught by weirs placed across the entire river near where Leaburg Dam is now. After the eggs were harvested many of the salmon remains were given to Indians who came from Eastern Oregon, setting up camp and drying racks on an island in the river. The community now offers a dinner house, market, real estate offices, cafe, a post office and a fire station.
