Sample Salem eats and explore caves

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By Special to The Oregonian

May 28, 2010, 1:30PM

A cold, lofty space near Salem’s downtown has been warmed up by a new operation with the catchy moniker of Prudence Uncorked (325 High St. S.E., 503-362-0888; www.prudenceuncorked.com). Jesse Tomaino has taken over the kitchen from former owner/chef Jeff James. The trendy appetizer plates include selections of mushrooms, figs, cheeses and crab cakes. The spinach pecan salad with mustards and apples is delicious. Moderately priced sandwiches and lunch-size plates are available at noon; entrees include boneless beef short ribs, pastas, grilled salmon and a satisfying lamb stew with red wine for evening selections. One negative is that the bread is tasteless and needs to be warmed up. Choose the “snowball” (house-made Tico’s coffee ice cream with a candied nut crust) from the reasonably priced dessert menu.

Eugene has some interesting places, one of which is the locally owned Glenwood (1340 Alder St.; 541-687-0355; and 2588 Willamette St.; 541-687-8201; glenwoodrestaurants.com). The two locations are slightly different in nature and menus. Glenwood is perhaps best known for outstanding breakfasts (served all day), but it also is open for lunch and dinner, serving casual, healthy fare. Pick from Glenwood hazelnut French toast to a long list of three-egg omelet combos and burgers, sandwiches, salads and meat entrees. Value $14 dinners-to-go are offered Monday through Friday and designed to feed a family of four. Call or order through glenwoodinner@yahoo.com before 2:30 p.m. for same-day pickup.

One of our state’s great places to visit is the Oregon Caves National Monument (19000 Caves Highway, 541-592-2100; nps.gov/orca) near Cave Junction in southern Oregon. The magnificent marble caves of re-crystallized limestone are breathtaking. General cave tours, $8.50, adults; $6, ages16 and younger. This year’s season is May through October; accessibility depends upon the snow.

The nearby picturesque Oregon Caves Chateau (20000 Caves Highway, 877-245-9022; www.oregoncaveschateau.com) is one of Oregon’s most charming lodges. Sue Densmore is leading a drive to raise funds for needed restoration. Originally designed by local architect Gust Lium, this six-story national landmark offers 23 small but comfortable rooms. Room rates start at $90.

– Gerry Frank

Greetings:

Thanks to increasing support and enthusiasm we have successfully kicked off the Friends and the planned restoration of the Oregon Caves Chateau. We have completed what we believe is a remarkable year with numerous accomplishments in pursuit of our goal of restoring the Chateau. The rare cave geology, historic Chateau and breathtaking views at the Oregon Caves National Monument have been enjoyed by families for over 100 years. That is why I am writing to you. I would like to ask you to join me in a very special opportunity.

After visiting the caves in 1907, Joaquin Miller wrote an article about his experience in the cave for Sunset Magazine. This was the first nationwide coverage of the caves. Due to the urging of Miller, C.B. Watson, and other influential people, the caves were declared a National Monument by President William Howard Taft in 1909.

Built during the recession of 1934, the Chateau is a National Landmark and considered one of the best examples of rustic architecture in the Park Service. The architect Gust Lium used amazing ingenuity in the design and construction. But the Chateau is need of attention after so many years. It is the last of Oregon’s three grand lodges to be restored.

The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau is a non-profit organization cooperating with the National Park Service (NPS) in the preservation, stewardship and improvement of the cultural and natural resources of the Oregon Caves National Monument. We will help raise project donations and capital funds to restore and improve the facilities, and to involve the community and visitors in the future plans of the monument. www.FriendsOCAC.org.

How you can help:

• Become a Founder of the Friends, with a donation of $1000 or more.
• Join the restoration of the Model Room with a gift of $100 or more.
• Honor a friend or relative by supporting the full restoration of one of the 23 guest rooms.

Thanks for considering my request. I would not ask were I not committed to the effort myself; my fellow board members join me in this sentiment. The benefits are many, but the real benefit from supporting the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau will be to future generations, who will recognize that while there was still time to act, there were those who did. Please join us today.

I have also posted our most recent Friends newsletter, available as a PDF by clicking here.

With sincere thanks,
James R. Dole
Chairman of the Board
Grants Pass, Oregon

The Oregon Caves National Monument is particularly beautiful, restful and inviting during the fall season.  We have several very special events planned as we continue to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the Monument and the 75^th Anniversary of the Oregon Caves Chateau.   Read on for all the details.

You’re Invited to Join Us – First Annual Reunion Weekend
September 25, 26 and 27, 2009

The National Park Service, The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau and the Chateau at the Oregon Caves, invite you to our First Annual Reunion Weekend .  If you have ever worked at the Chateau, made beds or served meals… been a tour guide in the Caves or one of many other positions, please join us.   We want to hear your stories, copy any photos you are willing to share, and make sure you get a chance to meet and connect with other former employees.  We also want you to all be a part of the Friends  of the Oregon Caves and Chateau and the first project which is to work to gain full restoration of the Oregon Caves Chateau and the historic collection of Monterey Furniture.

Chateau  Room Reservations for Reunion Weekend can be made by visiting us online at www.oregoncaveschateau.com or call today – 541-592-3400 or toll free,  1-877-245-9022.  We look forward to seeing you.

REUNION EVENTS:

Friday – September 25

Sue Densmore – Executive Director of the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau will be in the lobby of the Chateau throughout the weekend to visit and receive photos ,  stories and to help connect Alumni to former  employees and friends.

Saturday – September 26

• 9 am  – 5 pm – Cave Tours – Cost $8.50 with  a chance for Alumni and Guests to win a free tour when they register for the tour.
• 11:30  - Special Cave Tour:  The Exploration and Development of the Oregon Caves by John Roth, Natural Resources Specialist – Reservation required – Limit of 15  – Phone 541-592-2100 ex 2230.
• 1 pm, 2pm and 3pm -  Guided Tours of the Chateau and Model Room by Park Historian Steve Mark – Free – no reservation needed.
• 7 pm -  Evening Campfire Program featuring the “Ghost” of Elijah Davidson by Tom Siewert, Park Ranger and Storyteller – Free – no reservation needed
• 9am – 5 pm -  Third Annual National Public Lands Volunteer Cave Cleanup -  Phone 541-592-2100  extension 2254 and ask for Elizabeth Hale to register.
  Pre-registration is required – Lunch is provided and a special off-trail caving tour in the evening.

• 5 pm – 10 pm  – Octoberfest – Guests can purchase 6 tastes of local Southern Oregon Beer for $5.00.  Live music and dancing in the lobby of the Chateau.
• 5:30 – 9 pm  – Octoberfest Dinner in the Dining Room  – Special German menu  – Phone 541-592-3400 to make a reservation.

Sunday  – September 27

• Breakfast in the Diner  - No reservations needed.
• 10 am  and 11:30 am – Guided Tours of the Chateau and Model Room by Park Historian Steve Mark -  Free- no reservation needed.
• 10:30  am – 1:30 pm Alumni Brunch Buffet in the Dining Room  -  Special Menu -  10.95 a person… Reservations recommended – Phone 541-592-3400.

Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau

Founders Dinner -  October 24, 2009

We will be hosting a special event on Saturday October 24 for our first 50 Founding  Donors who contribute $1000 or more to the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau.  We have received generous support from the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, the Oregon Community Foundation, the Four Way Foundation,  the REC Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, the  Oregon Cultural Trust, the Kinsman Foundation, the Carpenter Foundation, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund of the National Historic Trust and many individual donors.

You still have the opportunity to join us in this exciting – once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of a living legacy.  For details phone or email:   Sue Densmore -  541-944-1139 or sue@FriendsOCAC.org

Model Room Update

We have completed the first phase of the Model Room.  The second phase will be completed before the opening of the 2010 season.  We are still seeking support for phase two and will be honoring former General Manager Harry Christenson as we celebrate the opening of the second phase.     We would welcome your contribution.  Phone or email   Sue Densmore -  541-944-1139 or sue@FriendsOCAC.org

You can also buy a raffle ticket  during the Reunion weekend, to have a chance to stay in the model room during the 2010 season.

National Park Service

2009  is here!  And for those of you keeping count, you know that the Oregon Caves National Monument is celebrating 100 years since it was designated.  The Chateau, a National Historic Landmark, is marking its 75^th year since it opened to visitors.

This fall, a  new PBS 12 hour series will be premiered – The National Parks, America’s Best Idea by  Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan and will  be accompanied by a magnificently illustrated companion Book by the filmmakers.   The series features the national parks as opposed to other designations that the National Park Service manages such as Monuments. When you work in a National Monument, Like Oregon Caves, you are often asked about the difference between the two designations.  A National Monument is created by Executive Order of our President.  President Taft created the Oregon Caves National Monument on July 12, 1909.  Our Congress must pass legislation to create a National Park.    Although the Oregon Caves is not a National Park, you will see a short film on the Monument as a part of the PBS series.

The Chateau is also a National Historic Landmark.  In order to be designated, the Secretary of Interior must determine that the resource possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the Heritage of the United States.  The Chateau was designated as a landmark because of its progressive architectural statement.  The Chateau’s architecture set a precedent for how buildings could reflect their natural setting, and illustrated a “vernacular” that is now found in park and monument settings across the U.S.

You can become a Friend of the Oregon Caves and Chateau by contributing $25 – $99.  You will be a Model Room Friend with a contribution of $100 – $999 and will be listed as a contributor to the Model Room.  With a contribution of $1000 you will be one of only 50 Founders who will receive special permanent commemoration and a chance to enjoy special events.

Please phone or email Sue Densmore, Executive Director of the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau at 541-944-1139 or  Sue@FriendsOCAC.org . You can donate directly right here, or on our website   www.FriendsOCAC.org .  Just look for the Network for Good logo.

You can send your contribution directly to:

Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau
P.O. Box 2195
Grants Pass, OR  97528

Thank you so much for your generous support.  This is a very exciting time in the life of the Oregon Caves National Monument and the Chateau.  Join us in being a part of an important legacy for state of Oregon, Josephine County and beyond.

Celebrate 100 years at the Oregon Caves National Monument – July 11 and 12, 2009

Join us on Saturday July 11

1:00pm Commemorative Festivities, remarks from Mary Oberst, the First lady of Oregon
NPS, Congressional Delegation and special guests.

Followed by:

• an Ice Cream Social -  the First Lady and the Governor will be scooping Ice Cream.
• Tours of the caves -  sneak peek and full tours
• View the Model Room in the Chateau – historical photos of the Chateau construction will be on display in a sitting room being renovated as a model room as part of an $8 million-plus renovation and restoration of the property, targeted for completion in 2012.
• Historic-preservation specialists, National Park Service leadership and National, Regional and Local Elected Officials will be in attendance.

Sunday July 12

• Hike, tour the caves and the Chateau.
• Hear stories from the Cave Queen, and reunion of former staff and the Oregon Cavemen.
• Educational and Informational Booths by the many Monument Partners:  BLM, USFS, Siskiyou Field Institute, IV Fire Department and the IV Arts Council and other community groups.
• Centennial celebrations  are being organized by the National Park Service, the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau, and the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization

Visit the websites for lodging, restaurants, tours, hours, special events and more information:

www.nps.gov/orca -  The Oregon Caves National Monument
www.OregonCavesChateau.com -  The Chateau at the Oregon Caves

Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau

We are very pleased to report the generous response to our request of support as we begin the multi-year process of the restoration of the Chateau at the Oregon Caves. We have received a grants from the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, the Kinsman Foundation, the REC Foundation, the Avista Foundation and many private donations to support the restoration.

Model Room Update: We are planning to restore the sitting room first, and encourage you to watch the progress.. We are also working with the State of Oregon on several projects to make the Caves and Chateau energy efficient.

We are pleased to have been awarded our official Non-Profit Status in February. We will no longer be under the Fiscal Sponsorship of the IVCDO, although we will still work closely with them as a partner. So you can become a Friend by contributing $25 – $99. You will be a Model Room Friend with a contribution of $100 – $999 and with a contribution of $1000 you will be one of only 50 Founders of the Elijah Davidson Society. Please phone or email Sue Densmore [sue@suedensmore.com] or send your contribution directly to

Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau
P.O. Box 2195
Grants Pass, Oregon
97528

Or you can donate directly right here

Thank you so much for your support. This is a very exciting project for Josephine County and the entire state of Oregon.

Please join us.

The Chateau at the Oregon Caves

The Chateau at the Oregon Caves Preparing for 2009 Special Events

The staff and volunteers of the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization, the non-profit concessionaire of the Chateau, the National Park Service and the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau are in full swing planning a season of special events to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Caves as a National Monument and the 75th anniversary of the Chateau. Join us for the day, stay for dinner, or plan to spend a night in the historic Chateau and enjoy some of the events we have planned.

May:

8, 9 Classics at the Chateau Opening Event: David Rogers, Classical Guitar Soloist
9 Oregon Caves Community Day (Free Cave Tours!)
15 75th Anniversary of the Chateau at the Oregon Caves: Chateau Open House

June:

20 Elijah Davidson Day
20, 21 Early Transportation: Live Mule & Horse Pack Train Demonstration

July:

12 100th Anniversary of Oregon Caves National Monument
17, 18 Williams Trail Commemorative Hike and Horseback Ride to the Oregon Caves
30,31 Remembering Elijah Davidson: Discovering the Cave

September:

11, 12 Classics at the Chateau Series: Alan Matthews, Classical Guitar Soloist
26 Oktoberfest at the Chateau

October:

3 Oktoberfest at the Chateau
9, 10 Learn-to-Tango Argentine Style at the Chateau

And during the week, every Wednesday evening from June through October, join master storyteller David Hodges in the Chateau lobby for stories and poetry readings. More information about these and other events can be found on the Chateau “Special Events” page of our website, www.oregoncaveschateau.com.

Special Spring Lodging Packages at the Chateau

Book your reservation online!

In honor of the Chateau’s 75th Anniversary, 2009 Spring Lodging Packages are available at our 2008 rates! For reservations and more details, visit us online at www.oregoncaveschateau.com or call us today at 541-592-3400 or toll-free, 1-877-245-9022. We look forward to seeing you!

Limited availability, so call for reservations today, or make your reservation online…

For more details about these and other packages, group events, and to make reservations, please call us at

541-592-3400 or toll-free at 1-877-245-9022

Share your event ideas! Do you have an idea for an event you would like to host or coordinate at the Caves and Chateau as part of the centennial and 75th anniversary celebrations? Please call us at (541) 592-4440 or email caves@cavenet.com.

We can come speak to your group!

Are you part of or do you know a group that would like to learn more about the Chateau and the events planned for 2009? The Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO), concessionaire to the Chateau, has prepared a PowerPoint presentation and is available to be a part of your next meeting agenda. Contact the IVCDO to learn more at (541) 592-4440 or norah@ivcdo.org.

National Park Service

2009 is here! And for those of you keeping count, you know that Oregon Caves National Monument will celebrate 100 years since it was designated, and the Chateau, a National Historic Landmark will mark 75 year since it opened to visitors. When you work in a National Monument, as compared to a National Park, you are often asked about the difference between the two designations. Are Monuments managed differently than Parks? Why are these two different titles? The simple answer is how Parks and Monuments are established. In order to establish a National Park, our Congress must pass legislation to that effect. A National Monument is created by Executive Order of our President. President Taft created Oregon Caves National Monument on July 12, 1909.

So what about National Historic Landmarks? What does that title mean? In order to be designated, the Secretary of Interior must determine that the historic resource possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the Heritage of the United States. There are fewer the 2500 Landmarks within the country today. The Chateau was designated due to its architecture that set precedents for how buildings can reflect their natural setting and illustrated a “vernacular” that is found in park and monument setting across the U.S.

As mentioned above, 2009 is the Monument’s 100th birthday. In honor of the occasion, the NPS and its proud partners, the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau, the Oregon Caves Natural History Association are planning a number of events. If you’re traveling in July, you’ll see the Monument featured in the Horizon Air Magazine. Also, this month you’ll see the unveiling of the Centennial Logo designed by artist Paul Lanquist. For Women’s history Month in March, there will be a special article in the local newspapers telling the story of how women finally were permitted to give cave tours. A poetry contest is planned for the local school children that will be Centennial “themed”. On May 9th, the NPS will offer free tours of the cave for Community Day. See the schedule of events in this issue for more details of all the plans leading up to our weekend-long celebration in July when the Centennial arrives on the 12th of that July. We’ll provide the details for that weekend in the next installment of the newsletter!

With the official launch of the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau, comes the official launch of FriendsOCAC.org! While the site has a whole lot of information about the Friends, The Caves, and The Chateau, there’s still a bunch more to come. Keep checking back for news, history, and, most importantly, our progress in restoring the Chateau to its original grandeur.