Interestingly enough the Doris Davis Trail (a.k.a. Utility Trail, Beaver Pond Trail) has a rich history dating back nearly 100 years and is regularly accessed by nearly 200 households throughout the year. It has become the primary beach access for these families ensuring safety and beach accessibility for the Classic Ridge Community and surrounding neighborhoods.
The trail represents an interesting confluence of history and geography, spanning three properties; dividing two municipalities (Manzanita and Neakahanie); sits abreast a sewage easement; all while skirting a memorial pond. This is not a typical trail by any measure. The community recognizes this and pays tribute to its value by placing gifts on the "gratitude stump" (see image) located at the intersection between the Cherry and University street entrances. It is not just a trail but a slice of community heritage. There are four historical elements to this trail starting with its inception circa 1980.
The Trailhead
“It seems crazy to us that a trail that has so much history and is also on Google maps could be closed down. We're hoping there is an easement and enough history that this trail can remain open for the community.”
~Andy and Emily Miller (Manzanita Home Owner)
The entrance of this trail was revealed as early as 1911 when Portlander JH Edwards bought the land he would call “Classic Ridge Beach” from homesteaders John Gerrise in 1908. Edwards platted the land into almost 400 lots in 1911, in which today represents the sand dune between Neakahnie and Manazanita. Edwards lived in a large two-story house located where Laneda Ave and Hwy 101 now intersect. (Manzanita Lumber, Big Wave Restaurant, total of about 200 acres.)
The surveyor, Poysky, who plotted the land, chose an academic theme for the street names north of the dune. College and University respectively. When University was established, the trailhead to the Doris Davis trail was born. The end of the road dipped over the top of the trail leading to natural water runoff and animal passage down to the ridgeline slowly carving shrubs to reveal a path to the then named Beaver Pond. This natural occurrence later came to represent the border between Manzanita and Neakanie municipalities. Manzanita annexed Classic Ridge in 1946 at the same time it became a city, making the official distinctions between the two municipalities: Manzanita City and the unincorporated Neakanie.
The Inception
"Our family has owned the beach property [In Classic Ridge] since 1969. Over the years we have lost access to the beach due to new construction and homeowners restricting that access. The trail on the north end of Cherry St. is currently our only access besides College St."
~Beth-Ann Wesley (Manzanita Home Owner)
While the trail was likely revealed through natural water runoff and the local animal population it was not until Nehalem Bay Waste Water Agency (founded 1979) laid down sewage pipe along the natural fall line of the ridge (via conventional gravity sewer). This created a clear walking path. While the residents of Classic Ridge had accessed this natural occurrence before the Nehalem Bay Waste Water made the trail navigable, it was this development that made it the trail accessible for residents and employees of county government. As Terry Stenke (sp), a retired builder living in the neighborhood, believes, the sewer easement was cut circa 1980 and recalls usage of the trail since that time. Manzanita's population was 443 people with roughly 100 of those permanent residents living on Classic Ridge. No doubt all of these residents (Including their friends and family) appreciated the direct access to the beach afforded them by the sewage easement. From that point on home owners and their guests utilized the trail for its accessibility as far east as the Oak Street water tower.
Memorial Pond Access
"[Doris Davis Memorial Pond] Reminds me of what the Serengeti would be like"
~Sydney Jordan (11 years old)
In 1991 the Doris Davis Pond was established. This was made possible by the generosity of Jerry Davis, a longtime resident of Neahkahnie. As a result, the Doris Davis Memorial Pond and Wetlands has been turned over to the Wetlands Conservancy for public use. There are more than 100 species of birds as well as beaver, muskrat, deer and elk that inhabit and visit the pond.
The trail was no longer simply access to the beach, it was now a gateway to a memorial and animal sanctuary, one of the few established nature preserves in the area. The expanse of the trail skirted the Doris Davis pond offering the only view of its expanse making it ideal for bird watchers and natural lovers.
Can’t you read the signs?
“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?”
~Les Emmerson
On April 23, 2020 the Oullette’s (residents of Salem Oregon) fenced off the trail with barbwire fencing and placed surveillance cameras. Based on a brief provided by David Matthews, the Oullette’s real estate agent, via the North County Facebook Page (Posted 04.27.20, but has since been removed) the Oullette's put this fencing up without consulting the community.
The Oullette family has owned this property since 1989. Their two lots have been off and on the market since that time. David Matthews of Pete Anderson Realty articulated through the same notification that the Oullettes have had difficulty selling the property.
We had the fortune of interviewing two of these potential buyers (Now a residents in Manzanita). They stated their primary concern was the complexity of building a house foundation on the property. Due to the steepness of the grade it was not financially viable. In short, the embankment is significant enough to inhibit would-be buyers, but gradual enough to promote water runoff and access as a walking trail. This property has not been developed since its mapping over a 100 years ago and while it’s not advantageous for progress, it has been a benefit for the community for both beach access and safety. This trail has been access for the community long before 1989...so the disruption caused by this fencing has been significant. Over 100 community members have subscribed to the Trail Access campaign effort and this number is increasing weekly. In short...this concern is not going away any time soon.
It is important to note that the west entrance intersects with a second property owned by the Simmon's. Their driveway intersects with Beach street so as to cross the trail entrance. The 1960 sq ft single family home was built in 1979 and remodeled in 1985. We were unable to reach the owners and are not aware if they are engaged with the Oullettes with the fencing which was erected on April 23, 2020. What we do know is that the other residents of Beach street are concerned with the closure. Specifically due to cutting off their only reasonable escape in the event of a tsunami.
The End of an Era?
"The trail is valuable to us and to all others who seek to view the wetland and get to the beach from the area around College Avenue."
~Harvey Rogers (Manzanita Home Owner)
By 2020 there were only two access points left to the beach. One from the westward Dune (off of Cherry Street) the other being the Doris Davis trail. Due to a property purchase earlier in the year the Dune trail was closed for restoration leaving only the Doris Davis trail for Classic Ridge beach access. Once Doris Davis trail was closed, Classic Ridge residents were left with few options short of getting in their car and driving to the beach. While the trail's future is uncertain it’s past is well established, regardless it will be a part of Classic Ridge History and the community for time and memorial.
Sources:
There is no apparent reason for the area near the trail that encompasses each lot to be considered as necessary to construct a residence. No part of any building would be allowed over the sewer easement under the auspices of Nehalem Bay Wastewater. The current trail disruption may continue for some time. However, there is no reason that the closure is dependent on any future physical structural development.
Some means of common sense and consideration will change the current trail status. No one has any idea when that may happen. Thank you Emily and Andy for carrying the torch and allowing awareness for the community
My wife and I also tried to purchase the Oulette’s property in 2017 through Pete Andersen Realty. The trail was not a concern for us and in fact we considered it to be a benefit since it allowed easy beach access from the property. The steepness of the lot was a building challenge but we were able to come up with an engineering solution. Factoring in that large expense to our offer made our offer too low for the Ouellettes to accept. We would have loved to have built our home on that lot and we would have respected the historic trail access since it is a trail we have been walking down for decades as well.