HOOD RIVER, Or., Aug. 8 -- (Special.) -- J.H. Koberg, of this city, against whom the Pacific Power & Light Company has filed condemnation proceedings, whereby it hopes to secure a right of way over his property along the Columbia bank east of the city, declares that he will fight the case "to the last ditch."

Mr. Koberg and several other local business men recently formed a company to raise funds for the purpose of exploiting a basalt quarry over which the proposed line of the power company will pass. "If this line is placed here," says Mr. Koberg, "it will be impossible for us to quarry the stone; for the blasting would be a serious menace to the line. The power company will be able to secure just as good approaches to the river at other points without destroying the value of property."

The Pacific Power & Light Company desires to cross the tract of land in order to reach Stanley Rock, from which point it proposes to extend a cable across the Columbia to carry high-power lines. These lines will connect the local power plant and that above Husum, Wash."


Source:    Morning Oregonian, August 9, 1912, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspaper Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2016.

Koberg Beach Wayside is located on Interstate Highway 80N and includes a basaltic promontory on the south side of the Columbia River about two miles east of Hood River in Hood River County.

The wayside comprises three areas totaling 87.55 acres purchased in 1951 in connection with construction of the Columbia River Highway. One tract of 22.57 acres was obtained from the Koberg family. On it is a large rock, approximately 100 feet high, from which a great quantity of road material was taken for use in constructing the adjoining freeway. An enjoyable beach area extends from this point downstream various distances, depending on the height of the water. The other two areas are excess right of way land. One is approximately one mile east of the Koberg tract and contains 54.58 acres and the other contains 10.40 acres located at the west edge of the town of Mosier. An easement was obtained on a strip of land 30 feet wide from a point 1,122 feet south of the railroad right of way to the park on which to place a water reservoir and a pipe line to furnish water for the park.

This wayside area was acquired for three principal reasons—to develop a swimming beach on the Koberg tract, to provide a wayside rest area for the weary traveler and to preserve the land in its present state so that no objectionable use could be made of it.

Realignment of the highway between Hood River and Mosier left the old highway blocked at Mitchell Tunnel. The old right of way was abandoned to the county, and by so doing, the wayside strip along this section of the road was given to the county. Deed was written in 1953.

The recreational area was owned for many years by the Koberg family who developed the beach as a commercial playground with swimming and other sports. They constructed a large, rustic type dance hall to furnish entertainment for the people of Hood River and the surrounding country. This recreational area was known as Koberg Beach, therefore the state continued that name. The dance hall was removed in 1954.

It was not until 1962 that the entrance road, parking area and sanitary facilities were constructed and the area made ready for full use.

Attendance in 1963 totaled 65,972 day visitors."


Source:    Chester H. Armstrong (compiler), 1965, "History of the Oregon State Parks: 1917-1963, published by Oregon State Parks.