After 5-month closure for remodeling, Cape Perpetua center will reopen May 20

YACHATS — The Siuslaw National Forest will host a reopening ceremony for the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 20. The center has been closed since mid-December for an interior remodel that included upgrades to the infrastructure, interpretive displays, and the gift shop.

“We’re thrilled to reopen our doors to the public,” said Reba Ortiz, the visitor center director. “This remodel has been a dream of mine since I began working at the Cape. We’ve refreshed the interior from the floor up and I can’t wait for visitors to discover something new. We owe a huge thank you to our volunteers and partners. This project would not have been possible without their efforts.”

Doors will open to the public at 10 a.m. on May 20 after a short ribbon cutting ceremony. During the summer, the center will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter hours will begin after Labor Day. A valid recreation pass or day pass is required for parking.

Many organizations and volunteers helped make the visitor center remodel possible. Students and staff at Angell Job Corps lead the demolition and installed new flooring and walls. Art students at Waldport High School and other local artists sculpted and painted new display structures. Members of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians collaborated with Siuslaw Forest staff on the creation of several new exhibits. Additional financial support and guidance was provided by Discover Your Northwest, Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve, and current and former Cape Perpetua volunteers and interns.

The Cape Perpetua Scenic Area offers 26 miles of trails featuring old growth forests, tidepools and views of the ocean. For more information about Cape Perpetua, visit the Siuslaw National Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/r06/siuslaw/recreation/cape-perpetua-visitor-center. For additional questions, call the visitor center at 541-547-3289.