2015 Edition
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As stated on this trip's
Champoeg State Park trip report, it's
really not worth the $5 day use fee to visit that park (unless you
happen to have an annual pass as I do).
The only interesting structure in the park has been moved up the street
to a seperate museum site.
So... you're supposed to pay $5 to get into Champoeg State park and then
*ANOTHER* $6 to walk around the Newell House "complex"?!?!?! This seems
rather excessive and greedy to me.... especially since you need to pay
$6 even if all you want to do is just walk around the grounds and look
at/photograph the 4-5 buildings at this location.
It took some doing to take a picture of the Newell house without getting
an obnoxious worker in the frame.... I'm guessing he was being intentionally
disruptive standing in the doorway while pretending to talk to someone inside.
Strike one.
This is the first time in my very long life that I've ever had a problem
with someone saying I cannot take pictures of the outside of buildings that
are on the grounds of a pay-to-enter museum. Especially since I was "welcomed"
to return ten weeks from now when the Newell House will actually open to visitors.
So... I can come back on May 17, 2015 to take all the pictures I want and tour the
structure FOR FREE, but I *CAN'T* take pictures on the grounds today without
paying even though the Newell House is still under construction and not
open even to paying visitors.
Strike two.
According to the Park Service, all of the original structures here were destroyed
in the flood of 1861. So I'm wondering how authentic the Newell House building is
considering that it was built in 1850-something.
Here's a picture taken about five seconds before we were kicked out.
I'm sure the "tour" includes a lot of interesting historic information
about the area. I would normally be predisposed to recommend this museum
as a destination for our readers who are into Oregon's early history. But my one
and likely only visit here was... unfulfilling... so I'll give it my lowest
review rating and flag it as a "better avoided", poor value for your money
museum.
Considering that I had already taken most of the pictures I intended to, I don't
understand why it would have been such a hardship for her if she just let me take
the last 2 or 3 pictures I wanted.... not very gracious.
Strike three
Left alone or invited to spend five more minutes to finish my photo shoot
would have resulted in a MUCH better review. Can you say "bad public relations?".
As it is, the chances that we will ever return, even for free, are zero. And the
Newell House Museum is one of the few venues we've visited that made it onto our
"not worth your time or money" list... nice going!
The Original Easyrider®
Motorcycle Touring Forum
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