Oregon Tribal Elder Still Missing 10 Months After Mysterious Disappearance
More than 10 months have passed since Umatilla tribal elder Wesley Dixon Jones disappeared under circumstances that have never been fully explained. His family still doesn't know where he is, no major breakthrough has been publicly announced, and the strange details surrounding his last known movements remain unresolved. But the case has not gone cold. When That Oregon Life first wrote about Jones' disappearance on January 25, 2026, the investigation had reached what appeared to be a troubling...
THINGS TO DO & EVENTS
Festivals, concerts, seasonal celebrations, and memorable Oregon adventures worth putting on your calendar.Fresh ideas for getting out and enjoying Oregon, from upcoming community events to unforgettable places and experiences around the state.
The Oregon Coast’s Most Colorful Spring Celebration Is Back In Florence This May
Every spring on the Oregon Coast, the town of Florence bursts into color as thousands of blooming rhododendrons transform the area into a coastal garden paradise. Streets fill with parade floats,...
This Free Oregon Coast Festival Will Fill the Sky With Giant Kites This Summer
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Oregon Coast come alive with color, movement, and pure joy, this is your weekend. On June 27–28, 2026, the skies above Lincoln City will once again transform into a...
This Retro Game Festival in Eugene Is Bringing Classic Gaming Back for One Weekend
There is something about classic video games that never really fades. The sounds, the pixel graphics, and the challenge of beating a level without saves or shortcuts all come rushing back the moment...
ODFW Confirms Sighting Of Extremely Rare Portland Seagull
PORTLAND, Ore. — Wildlife officials say they've confirmed the first documented sighting of an Extremely Rare Portland Seagull, a subspecies long believed to exist only in stories told by brewery...
Gov. Tina Kotek Debuts Bold New Purple Mohawk
PORTLAND, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shocked residents this week after unveiling a dramatic new purple mohawk during a public appearance, prompting widespread confusion over whether the...
Nabisco And Newport Announce Limited Edition Dungeness Crab Stuffed Oreos
NEWPORT, Ore. — In what experts are already calling “the most Oregon thing to ever happen,” Nabisco has officially partnered with the coastal town of Newport to release a new flavor nobody asked for...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
Watch Planes Take Off Next To Your Window At One Of Oregon’s Most Unique Restaurants
There are certain places in Oregon that make you slow down without even realizing it. You walk in expecting a meal, but somewhere between the first sip of coffee and the arrival of your food, you...
This Historic Sunset Highway Restaurant Has Been Feeding Oregon Coast Travelers Since 1939
There are certain places in Oregon that become part of your family's story. Not because they're famous. Not because they're trendy. But because they were simply there, year after year, waiting for...
This Unexpected Restaurant Serves One Of Oregon’s Most Talked-About Steaks Since 1984
If you've spent much time in Oregon, you've probably heard the claim before: Portland has more strip clubs per capita than any other city in the United States. Whether you're a lifelong Oregonian or...
Oregon Safari Owner Pleads Guilty to Animal Neglect, Drugs, and Weapons Charges
BANDON, Ore. — Nearly a year after a dramatic multi-agency raid shut down operations at a controversial Oregon roadside zoo, the park’s owner has now pleaded guilty to dozens of criminal charges tied to animal neglect and a wider web of illegal activity uncovered...
Quiet Day On The Lake Ruined By Kid Who Doesn’t Know How To Fish
BEND, OR — What began as a peaceful, carefully planned morning of solitude on a quiet Central Oregon lake quickly unraveled Saturday after local father Mark Ellison, 42, made the critical error of bringing along his 7-year-old son, who sources confirm “doesn’t know...
Portland Police Warn Enforcing Laws Could Result In Suspects Staying In Jail For Entire Afternoon
PORTLAND, OR — In what officials are calling a “deeply concerning and potentially irreversible shift,” Portland police warned Friday that fully enforcing existing laws could lead to suspects remaining in jail for an entire afternoon, marking a dramatic departure from...
Could Oregon Really Ban Hunting and Farming? A Closer Look at IP28
Lately, I cannot go anywhere without someone bringing this up. It comes up in passing conversations, quick chats with friends, even random messages out of nowhere. “Have you heard about this IP28 thing?” And every single time, my answer is the same. Absolutely. I have...
Oregon Family Who Vanished in 1958 Found in Car Submerged in Columbia River
For decades, the story of the Martin family lingered like a ghost along the Columbia River Gorge. It was one of those Oregon mysteries that people whispered about, revisited in old newspaper clippings, and passed down through generations. Now, nearly 70 years later,...
Newport Police Want To Remind Residents You Can’t Booby Trap Your Porch for Thieves
NEWPORT, Ore. — In what can only be described as the most 2026 sentence imaginable, the Newport Oregon Police Department took to Facebook this week to remind residents that no, you cannot rig an exploding package on your front porch… even if someone is actively...
This Retro Game Festival in Eugene Is Bringing Classic Gaming Back for One Weekend
There is something about classic video games that never really fades. The sounds, the pixel graphics, and the challenge of beating a level without saves or shortcuts all come rushing back the moment you pick up a controller. That feeling is exactly what the Eugene...
Amazon Workers Say They Were Told to Keep Working While a Man Lay Dead Nearby
A troubling situation inside an Oregon Amazon warehouse is raising serious questions after employees say work continued even as a coworker lay unresponsive on the floor. According to reports, a 46-year-old worker collapsed on April 6 while working inside the facility....
Tired Sea Lion Snaps After Being Climbed Over, Breathed On, And Generally Disrespected
NEWPORT, Ore. — What began as a typical afternoon along the docks in Old Town Newport quickly turned into an unexpectedly entertaining spectacle Tuesday, as two sea lions engaged in what onlookers are calling one of the most dramatic “dock disputes” of the season. The...
40-Foot Gray Whale Washes Ashore on Seaside Beach as Necropsy Planned
A large gray whale that had been drifting offshore for days washed up Tuesday morning on the south end of Seaside Beach, drawing attention from scientists and beachgoers along the Oregon coast. The whale, estimated to be about 40 feet long, was identified as a male....