Part 1: The Illinois Valley

History Loop Tour - Cave Junction, Oregon

The tour begins at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center located on Highway 46 about half a block from Highway 199.

Illinois Valley Visitor Center parking lot: The Gate-Winthrow Lumber Mill was located between the parking area of the visitor center and the Chevron Station. The foundation for the mill’s steam engine can be seen near the back corner of the visitor center parking lot. A picture of the steam engine boiler being brought to the mill can be seen in the photo below left. The mill closed in the 1950’s. The small building seen next to the gas station and Highway 46 is Coffee Heaven, the first espresso coffee shop in Josephine County. Drive out of the visitor center parking lot and turn right to begin the tour. Drive 0.2 mile to the first point of interest.

Steam boiler for the Gate & Winthrow Lumber Mill is delivered to the mill by a horse drawn wagon. Cave Junction, Oregon Coffee Heaven was the first espresso coffee houses in Josephine County. Located at the intersection of Highway 199 and the Oregon Caves Highway, Cave Junction, Oregon

Old Stage Road: Old Stage Road follows closely the route of the historic stagecoach and freight wagon road between Grants Pass and Crescent City. The road was first constructed in 1857 and was named the Turnpike and Puncheon Road (locally called the McGrew Trail). In 1882, a second road, called the Wimer Road was constructed over the mountains to Crescent City but used the same valley road, Old Stage Road, was followed by stagecoaches and wagons in 1857. This road was the primary supply and travel route between southwest Oregon and the coast for about 50 years. Drive one mile to the next feature

Laurel Road: Laurel Road follows closely the route that may have been used to go to from Kerbyville to Crescent City when automobiles began to replace stagecoaches and horse drawn wagons in the early 1900s. This route eventually connected with the Wimer-Gasquet Toll Roads near O’Brien, which then took travelers over the mountains and through the redwood forest to Crescent City. The terraces above the road on the left may have been part of a small lumber mill. Drive 0.9 mile to the next feature.

The American Legion hall was originally designed and constructed to be an ice house and meat locker for the local community. Cave Junction, Oregon Legion Hall: The large cinder block building on the left was originally designed and constructed to be an ice house and meat locker. It was built around 1945. Most households in the valley at that time didn’t have power, and hence no refrigeration, until the early 1950s. Most residents kept their meats in a private locker inside the ice house’s freezer. When they went to town to buy groceries at the store, they would stop at the ice house and get the meat the might need for the next 2-3 days and drive home. Continue 1.0 mile.

Historic Barn: The old barn on the right side of the road was constructed around 1885 and is one of the oldest barns in Josephine County. The entire structure was constructed using mortise and tenon fittings. Once the two pieces of wood are joined, a hole is drilled through both of them and a peg is driven through the hole to hold the boards together. This style of construction was probably used because nails at that time were difficult to obtain. Continue 0.6 mile.

This barn was constructed around 1885 and is fitted together with mortise and tenon structure held together with pegs of wood. Cave Junction, Oregon

White School House on the Oregon Caves Highway is a one-room school constructed around 1910. Cave Junction, Oregon White School: The small white house on the corner to the right with the multiple framed windows is the White School House. It is the first of three one-room school houses that will be seen on the tour route. All of the school were constructed around 1910. The White School House was closed in the 1940’s when many schools in the area were consolidated with the Kerbyville Union School. Drive 0.9 mile to the next feature.

Teepee burner at the Oregon Caves Lumber Mill. Scap wood and saw dust was burned in this metal structure. Oregon Caves Highway, Cave Junction, Oregon Oregon Caves Lumber Mill: The sharp curve at this feature makes this a dangerous place to try to look and drive. Find a place to pull over if you want to try and see this site. The Oregon Caves Lumber Mill was located on the left at this curve and began operation in the mid 1930’s. The last remaining teepee burner in the valley can be seen in the trees behind the open lot. Drive 1.5 miles to Holland Loop Road

A steam shovel was used for the construction of the Oregon Caves Highway in 1922. The picture to the right shows it being towed down the road with two dump trucks and a bulldozer.

SPECIAL NOTE: For those people who are only going to follow the Holland Loop section, you may want to consider continuing on Highway 46 Canyon section, a distance of five miles. This section is well worth the time to see and includes the site of Camp Oregon Caves, the historic Cedar Guard Station and two easy hiking trails. Return to Holland Loop Drive and pick up the tour into Gold Country.

1) Continue on Highway 46 toward Oregon Caves National Monument: NEXT...

2) Continue on Holland Loop Road. TURN RIGHT and drive 0.3 mile to the next feature. NEXT...

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...