Rocky Point, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rocky Point, Oregon
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Upper Klamath Lake Canoe Trail near Rocky Point
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 Rocky Point, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Rocky Point, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Klamath |
Rocky Point is a small, unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It sits on Pelican Bay, which is on the west side of Upper Klamath Lake. You can find it about 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Klamath Falls. It is also about 3 miles (5 km) north of Oregon Route 140 on Forest Highway 34. This area is part of the beautiful Winema National Forest.
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Rocky Point's Story Through Time
Rocky Point has been a popular spot for lakeside fishing resorts for a long time. Wealthy people, including those from San Francisco, started coming here in the late 1800s for their summer vacations.
The area had a few different post offices over the years. The first one was called Pelican, opening in 1888 and closing in 1907. Another one, Lawrentz, was named after its postmaster, Martha A. Lawrentz, and operated briefly from 1894 to 1895.
Later, a post office named Recreation opened in 1913. Its name changed to Pelican Bay in February 1924. Then, just a few months later, in June 1924, it became Rocky Point. This post office stayed open until 1947.
In 1947, the post office name changed again to Harriman. This was to honor Edward H. Harriman, a famous railroad business leader. He used to have a summer camp in the area for several years. The Harriman post office closed its doors in 1954.
Famous Resorts and Guests
The Harriman Springs Resort was bought by Edward Harriman in 1906. It was first known as the Pelican Bay Lodge, built in 1889. Harriman renamed it Harriman Lodge. Sadly, the original lodge burned down in 1942, but it was rebuilt in 1953.
One of Harriman's famous guests was the naturalist John Muir, who loved nature and helped create national parks. Harriman Springs later closed to the public in the late 1990s.
Another important building is the Point Comfort Lodge. It is also called the White Pelican Inn. This hotel was built in 1912 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building with historical importance.
The Rocky Point Resort itself started in the 1880s. Back then, the area was known as Leavitt's Point. In 1910, steamboats would travel from Klamath Falls to Rocky Point. From there, passengers would take a special car, called a stagecoach, to complete their trip to Crater Lake. Klamath Lake remained a favorite summer getaway for wealthy San Franciscans through the 1930s.
Logging in the Past
Besides tourism, logging was once a big part of the area's economy. This started in the early 1900s. There was a sawmill in nearby Odessa that operated for several years. Today, large-scale logging operations no longer happen in the forests managed by the government in this region.
Fun Things to Do at Rocky Point
Rocky Point is a great place for outdoor activities! You can access the Upper Klamath Canoe Trail here. This trail is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) long and goes through a freshwater marsh. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service takes care of this trail. It is part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
At Rocky Point, you will find a boat launch, a boat dock, and a fishing dock. All of these are designed to be barrier-free, which means they are easy for everyone to use. You can also rent boats at the Rocky Point Resort if you want to explore the water.
Rocky Point's Weather
The weather in this area is usually warm and dry during the summers. It does not get extremely hot, with average monthly temperatures staying below 71.6 °F (22 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rocky Point has a type of Mediterranean climate called "Csb." This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
