In the high desert of north Central Oregon on highway 97 is a little spot in the road just east of the highway. Old rusted out cars and leaning barns surround the town while a grand old hotel dominates the one main street. The spot is called Shaniko and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you flew by without stopping and taking in a little taste of the old-west.
Originally its name was ‘Cross Hollow’ but was changed to ‘Shaniko’ when a new town was plotted in 1899. With the arrival of the railroad the first decade of the 20th century was a boom for the new community. Shaniko became known as the world’s largest inland shipper of wool. Homes, saloons, and barns sprang up and it looked as though the town would establish itself as one of the main cities of Central Oregon. But when the railroad laid a track along the Deschutes River to the south, it quickly spelled the demise of the town.
Today Shaniko is a literal shell of its boom-town days. With a population of 26, Shaniko is a virtual ghost town. The few residents there have undertaken the task of restoring some of the remaining buildings and preserving much of the history of its boom times. There is much to see in Shaniko and well worth the time to stop, stretch your legs, and take a few pictures.
The center-piece of the town is the Shaniko Hotel. Its original name was the ‘Columbia Southern Hotel’ and was opened around 1901. The hotel was restored and opened for business in the 1980’s, but has since closed and is for sale. It is a beautiful building and gives one a glimpse into the grandeur of the town’s past. Walk along the boardwalks and take a seat next to the cowboys who occupy the benches in front of the large picture windows and its hard not to get the feeling of nostalgia for simpler more adventuresome times.
The Shaniko School dominates the skyline just north of the hotel. It closed in 1946. It was restored in the 1990’s and is used as a Community Hall today. It is one of the most photographed buildings in Oregon! Also still standing are the old city hall and jail, as well as the post office and water tower. One of my favorite spots in town is the old livery barn. The building is filled with old cars and wagons and is free to tour. There is a wedding chapel, a few antique shops and an ice cream parlor. Stop by the Shaniko Sage Museum that is open to the public as well as an outdoor display of old wagons of various kinds.
On the eastern edge of the town is the massive wool barn with the name of the town stenciled on its roof. Scattered around are various buildings in an arrested state of decay as well as cars, trucks, and fire engines in various stages of decomposition.
When you step out of your car in Shaniko, you are stepping back in time. So bring your camera and an extra couple of hours and you won’t soon forget the ‘wool capital of the world’, I guarantee it. Shaniko is located on highway 97 about 70 miles north of Bend, Oregon.