Zigzag, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zigzag
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The Zigzag Inn
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 Zigzag
Location in Oregon
Zigzag
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Clackamas |
| Elevation | 1,424 ft (434 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97049
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| Area code(s) | 503 and 971 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1152771 |
Zigzag is a small, unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. This means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own city government. You can find it along U.S. Route 26, nestled between the towns of Rhododendron and Welches.
Zigzag is part of a group of communities called the Villages at Mount Hood. These villages stretch from Sandy all the way to Government Camp. The community gets its name from the nearby Zigzag River. This river flows into the Sandy River, which then joins the mighty Columbia River.
Contents
History of Zigzag
Early Explorers and the Zigzag Trail
In 1845, a pioneer named Joel Palmer crossed a very deep valley called Zigzag Canyon. This canyon is located near the tree line on Mount Hood. On October 11, 1845, he wrote in his journal about how tricky it was to get down.
He described the path as going "zigzag" back and forth. You would turn right, go for about 100 yards, then turn sharply and go zigzag again. You would keep doing this until you reached the bottom.
The Zigzag River itself isn't more winding than other nearby rivers. It's believed the river was named after this "zigzag" way of crossing the canyon. This helped early travelers on the Barlow Road understand how to navigate the area.
Zigzag Post Office
A post office was first opened in Zigzag in 1917. It operated on and off for many years. The Zigzag post office was even located in what is now the community of Rhododendron for a time. It finally closed in 1974.
Historic Buildings in Zigzag
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Zigzag is home to some important historic buildings. The 1935 Zigzag Ranger Station is a special place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This means it's recognized as a building important to the history of the United States.
Another historic building, St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, was also once in the Zigzag area. It is also an NRHP property.
The ZigZag Inn is another famous building. Like the ranger station and church, it's built in a rustic style using logs. William John "Bill" Lenz built the ZigZag Inn. He was the son of the person who founded the community of Lenz in Hood River County. Bill Lenz also built many other important structures in the area.
