About Hood River County, OR

Cascade Locks is a small town located in Hood River County. It is the home of the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. The Bridge of the gods connects Cascade Locks to the Washington side where the small towns of Stevenson, North Bonneville, and Carson are located in Skamania County. If you are interested in purchasing a home in Cascade Locks there are currently 15 homes listed for sale. The annual festival Sternwheeler Days will be held in Cascade Locks on June 26-28, 2009. There are always many activities planned on this busy weekend. A parade, arts and crafts booths, music, sternwheeler rides will be some of the things to enjoy in Historic Cascade Locks.

Guess what county in the United States leads in the production of pears? If you guessed Hood River County you are correct. Many varieties of pears are grown here in Hood River County. The Hood River Fruit Loop is a fun drive to visit farms in the area. Here are some local pear related links to visit: Packer Orchards and Bakery Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers

Pear trees blossoming in the spring in Hood River County

Parkdale, an unincorporated town in Hood River County was founded in 1910. Parkdale is located about 18 miles South of Hood River via Hwy 35. There are some beautiful places to stay while visiting Parkdale. The Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast and the Mt. Hood Hamlet Bed & Breakfast are both located in Parkdale. You can take a ride on the scenic Mt Hood Railroad either to Odell or Parkdale. When you visit Parkdale you may want to stop at the Elliott Glacier Public House for a meal. Taco nights on Mondays and Tuesdays are always popular. The Hutson Museum is located on a 2-acre complex which is designated as a National Historic Site. In 1993 the Hutson Museum was built to match the style of the Neighboring Ries-Thompson House, the oldest remaining residence in Parkdale, built in 1900. As Parkdale is a small town there are usually never a large number of homes for sale at any given time. Currently there are 13 homes priced from $179,900 to $495,000 in Parkdale. As far as unimproved property, there are currently 17 parcels for sale starting at $120,000-$250,000 in the Parkdale area.

With the slow economy we have seen a slowing of construction projects in the gorge. Lot sales in Hood River have been extremely slim. Lot prices have come way down in price. You can buy a buildable lot in Hood River starting at $69,000 now. I haven't seen prices like this in quite a few years. There are 69 lots currently listed in Hood River starting at $69,000. One very nice lot on the market is located in the East Stonegate neighborhood of Hood River. It is the last of 2 remaining buildable lots in Stonegate and priced now at $140,000 and even has the apartment option which allows for a legal studio or 1 bdrm apartment incorporated into the home design. I am very familiar with this lot as it is next door to a home my husband and I built 4 years ago and currently have rented. We built a second home that we live in next to the one we've rented out. We love living in the Stonegate Subdevelopment in Hood River. Other areas of the gorge have some low priced lots and land as well. In Stevenson, Washington you can buy a nice buildable lot in a country setting for just $39,900. There are 80 lots listed in Stevenson, WA from $39,900 to $200,000+. There is even a 5 acre parcel for $89,000. If you are thinking about building a new home now is an excellent time to start. Lot prices are lower than they've been in years and lumber prices are at very low prices as well. Work has slowed down for contractors and many are ready willing and able to start on your building project quickly.

Pictured above is one of the two last buildable lots in Stonegate-this one listed at $140,000. The house is located directly to the west of the buildable lot. This custom 3365 sq ft home with 5 bdrms, 4 full baths, 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, family room, study nook,balcony and covered front porch will be back on the market in appr one year.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.