Whisky Creek Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whisky Creek Cabin
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| Location | Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest |
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| Nearest city | Wolf Creek, Oregon |
| Built | ca. 1880 |
| Architectural style | Rustic log cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001584 |
| Added to NRHP | 1975 |
The Whisky Creek Cabin is an old log cabin in southwest Oregon. It sits along the Rogue River, which is a special "National Wild and Scenic River." This means the river and its surroundings are protected for their natural beauty. The cabin is the oldest mining cabin left in the Rogue River canyon. In 1973, the Bureau of Land Management bought the cabin and the land around it. The Whisky Creek Cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 because of its important history.
Contents
The Cabin's Story
The Whisky Creek Cabin was built around 1880. We don't know who built it. At first, it was very simple. It had four walls, a dirt floor, and a roof made of wooden shakes.
Early Mining and Water
Around 1890, a flume ditch was built near the cabin. A flume is like a long, open channel that carries water. This flume brought water for "hydraulic mining" on Whisky Creek. Hydraulic mining uses strong jets of water to wash away dirt and find gold. The flume started about half a mile upstream from the cabin. It ended behind the tool shed. In 1905, the flume was made even longer. It also provided drinking water for the cabin.
Cy Whiteneck's Time
The first official record of a mining claim on Whisky Creek was in 1917. P.H. Rushmore filed this claim. A year later, he sold it to Cy Whiteneck. Cy Whiteneck lived at Whisky Creek for 30 years. He made the cabin much better. He put in a wooden floor and added a second room. He also built several work sheds near the cabin. Cy Whiteneck used hydraulic mining to search for gold, but he never became rich.
Lou Martin and Improvements
In 1948, Cy Whiteneck sold his claim to L. M. Nichols and his wife. In 1957, they hired Lou Martin to take care of the property. Lou Martin continued to mine Whisky Creek for 16 years. He also made many improvements to the site. Martin built a shower next to one of the sheds. This shower was special because it used the sun to heat the water! He also added a large walk-in pantry next to the cabin. A pantry is a small room for storing food.
Lou Martin also built a cool cable car to move firewood across the creek. He stretched a strong steel cable, 480 feet long, across the creek. He used hand-winches and pulleys to make it tight. Martin was the caretaker until 1973. That's when the property was sold to the Bureau of Land Management.
Public Access and Historic Status
In 1973, the Bureau of Land Management added signs at the site. These signs help visitors learn about the cabin's history. They also opened the cabin to the public for tours. Because it's the oldest mining cabin in the Rogue River Canyon, the Whisky Creek Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975. The historic area is about 20 acres and includes the cabin and one other old building.
Cabin Design
The Whisky Creek Cabin is in a quiet, isolated spot. This means it hasn't changed much since 1973. It's a one-story log cabin with two rooms. It also has a pantry next to it. The cabin has two long porches, one in the front and one in the back. Log posts hold up these porches. The floor inside the cabin is made of fir wood. The roof is made of corrugated metal. The pantry has double walls with sawdust in between for insulation.
There are two sheds at the site. One is a large tool shed behind the cabin. The other is a power generator shed a short distance north of the cabin. The unique solar-heated shower, built by Lou Martin, is between the tool shed and the cabin.
How to Visit
The Whisky Creek Cabin is in the Rogue River canyon in southern Oregon. It's about 640 feet above sea level. It's a remote spot within the protected Rogue National Wild and Scenic River area. The cabin is surrounded by the beautiful Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Getting There
To reach the Whisky Creek Cabin from Interstate 5, take the Merlin exit. This is north of Grants Pass, Oregon. Follow the Merlin-Galice Road west for 23 miles. You'll go through the towns of Merlin and Galice. Continue past the historic Rand Ranger Station to Grave Creek. This is where the wild and scenic part of the Rogue River begins. The Grave Creek trailhead is 4 miles past the ranger station.
Accessing the Cabin
You can only get to the Whisky Creek Cabin by floating down the Rogue River. Or, you can hike the Rogue River canyon trail. From the trailhead at Grave Creek, it's a three-mile hike to the cabin. The trail is called the Rogue River National Recreation Trail. The cabin is about a quarter mile up Whisky Creek from where it meets the Rogue River. You can get more information about the trail at the Smullin Visitor Center at the Rand Ranger Station. There's also a boat ramp at Grave Creek. You can get permits to float the Rogue River at the Rand visitor center too.
Visitor Information
Whisky Creek Cabin is a popular stop for hikers and people floating the river. There's a simple campground at the mouth of Whisky Creek. Public restrooms are available at the campground. You can get water from Whisky Creek, but it's a good idea to purify it before drinking. Remember to follow "Leave no trace" rules when camping and cooking. This means packing out everything you pack in. Also, you need to use fire pans if you have a fire within 400 feet of the river.
