Walterville, OR

Had a bit of time for lunch the other day, so I decided to stop at the McKenzie Stage Stop located in Cedar Flat but I would be surprised if you can find it on many maps. Cedar Flat consists of a small restaurant, a service station and a few homes between Thurston (Springfield) OR and Walterville and boasts the best food this side of The Sister's on their sign outside.

The offer Prime Rib on Friday and Saturday and I have been thinking about stopping in for that but haven't had the chance. So, I stopped in on Monday for lunch and had the Prime Rib sandwich instead. Needless to say, it was a bit dryer than if it had been fresh, but was flavorful nonetheless. It was a good sandwich but should have been served with horseradish which I had to ask for. I also had their "home made" potato salad that was tasty but the potatoes were a bit firmer than I liked.

Overall, it was a good dining experience. I was especially impressed with the bar stools. They match the regular chairs and are just a bit higher so you can sit at their serving bar quite nicely. Either the stools were custom made for the bar or the bar was custom made for the stools. Either way, that was a surprise. Most bars are uncomfortable to sit at, this was not. Maybe not a five star establishment, but very good food for a reasonable price.

Hendricks Bridge Park is located just a short distance from Thurston (Springfield) Oregon on the banks of the McKenzie River. The park is 17 acres just 9 miles from downtown Springfield.

As you can see, the park is open from dawn to dusk and there is a user fee of $3 per vehicle. It is located on Highway 126 just after crossing the McKenzie going east.

The park is located where there has been a river crossing since the days of horse drawn wagons and buggies. There is even a map of the McKenzie River showing the drainage system into the Willamette River.

There is a wading area at the park and although it was a cool afternoon during the week, there were still kids playing in the water. This weekend, the weather should be warmer and you will need to bring your own rock to stand on, it is a very popular place.

Lane County officials constantly warn about the dangers of getting into the river proper. Every year people lose their lives because they think the McKenzie is just a calm little stream. What they don't realize is that the McKenzie is hardly ever calm. So be sure and wear the proper safety devices.

There is a pavilion on site for those special occasions when you want your friends and family together for a special occasion. You can make reservations for this here.

There is also a boat ramp at the park with parking for your vehicle and trailer. This is a day use park and has a $3 per vehicle fee.

So, enjoy and be careful. There are several other county parks that I will try to highlight in future blogs.