Brookings Area Profile 

BROOKINGS-HARBOR WEATHER
With the mildest climate on the coast, Brookings-Harbor Oregon has earned its name as "Oregon's Banana Belt." The coastal climate is mild all year, with temperatures usually between 50-70 degrees. Brookings is blessed with a south-facing location that warms the

"Basking in Brookings, 

'The Brookings Effect,' the term meteorologists use for the phenomenon that keeps Brookings-Harbor weather so pleasant, has to do with shifts in high pressure regions in the Pacific Northwest that encourage hot air from California's interior valleys to migrate into the Brookings area in the summer. In the winter, a "downslope" movement of air from higher elevations, warmed and compressed as it moves toward sea level, collects around Brookings and sometimes pushes temperatures as high as 8o degrees on a winter day.(Larry Bacon, "Basking in Brookings" Oregon Coast, Dec. 2005)

Summers are generally warm and clear, although coastal fog can be common when inland temperatures reach over 100 degrees. Warm days with temperatures of 60-70 degrees can be common even in the winter, although rainy winter storms are common.

BROOKINGS-HARBOR SCENERY AND PARKS
Brookings is located along an outstandingly beautiful section of the Pacific Coast.  Rock outcrops dot the ocean shore. Beautiful, clean, healthy rivers support some of the last great runs of salmon and steelhead. This picturesque setting is perfect for summer coastal photography, exploring, fishing, hiking, rafting, and much more.

Harris Beach State Park is Brookings' gem. Incredible ocean views invite you as you enter the park. To the right, a popular campground provides showers, tent pads, picnic areas, yurts, and RV hook-ups. A short walk will take you to several trails that go down to the beach.

Loeb State Park is about 8 miles up the north bank of the Chetco River. This park has 320 acres of myrtle wood (a local species found only in Oregon), Chetco River access, fishing and camping areas. Riverview Nature Trail, which winds through a mixed myrtlewood forest, connects Loeb State Park with Redwood Nature Trail. Loeb State Park is home to Oregon's largest stand of coastal redwoods. Redwood Nature Trail meanders through a pristine redwood grove with trees up to 350 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter.

Four miles north of Brookings-Harbor, Samuel H. Boardman State Park encompasses 11 miles of Oregon's most spectacular and scenic coastline. The seven mile Oregon Coast Trail is the best way to experience one of the world's finest coastline stretches. There are many viewpoints along the trail, including House Rock Viewpoint and Whalehead Viewpoint. Boardman Park is also known as being a great tidepooling area during low tide, where visitors can scramble out among the rocks and see starfish, sea urchins, crabs, sea anemones and other ocean creatures.

Brookings-Harbor is also famous for growing nearly 90% of America's Easter lilies, and an early summer drive between Brookings-Harbor and Crescent City takes you through breathtaking views of fields of blooming lilies.

THE BROOKINGS-HARBOR COMMUNITY
Located approximately 6 miles north of the California border on Hwy. 101, Brookings has grown at a fast pace over the last 20-30 years. Noted as one of the best places to retire in several books, the community is home to many retired persons. Investors have flocked to Brookings in recent years as housing prices have rapidly climbed. Many residents are former Californians.

Brookings hosts many activities throughout the year. The Second Saturday Art Walk invites residents to Brookings galleries to view the works of local artists every month. The Azalea Festival and parade occurs over Memorial Day weekend. The summer brings free summer concerts at Azalea Park, the annual kite festival and the yearly artists fair at the Port of Brookings-Harbor which features over 100 booths. Numerous arts and craft bazaars occur thoughout the year. In December, Azalea Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with Nature's Coastal Holiday Light Show and Sculpture Display. Many residents enjoy attending live plays by the Pelican Players.

BROOKINGS DEVELOPMENT
The Brookings community is experiencing many changes associated with growth. Large housing developments may add more than 3000 homes in the coming years. A big player in this growth is US Borax, who has planned a 1,000 unit housing development on their land near Lone Ranch just north of town. In the summer of 2005, Borax was working on  laying water and sewer lines to this property. A new local campus for the Southwestern Community College is in the works as well, and may be a part of the Borax development. Other planned developments in the Harbor Hills have been controversial but are expected to add up to 2,000 homes. In the winter of 2005-2006 work was begun in Brookings to bury the power lines downtown and pour new sidewalks. To see the Planning Department's master plan for downtown Brookings, click here.

The community already has many new and improved ammenities for its residents. Fred Meyer finished a multi-million dollar remodel in November of 2005. The enormous store has everything one would expect from a store in a large city, from a large natural foods section in the grocery store to name-brand clothing in the upstairs clothing department. The remodel gave Fred Meyer a face-lift, and added a drive-through pharmacy, a Starbucks, an expanded garden area, and a new interior look.

In addiditon, the 17,000 square foot community library is housed in a beautiful newer building. The library is complete with a computer room and community events room, which showcases local art during the Second Saturday Art Walk.

The Salmon Run Golf Course located up the South Bank of the Chetco River is also popular with residents and visitors.

BROOKINGS TRIVIA
Brookings-Harbor is the only spot in the continental U.S. that was bombed by a foreign power (Japan) in World War II. The bomb site is marked by a monument accessed from the Bombsite Trail, located about 10 miles inland from Brookings-Harbor on South Bank Road. The pilot of the plane returned to Brookings twenty years after the bombing during their annual Azalea Festival, and presented the town with his personal samuri sword. The sword, now on display at Brookings City Hall, had been carried in his plane for good luck.

INFORMATION COMPILED BY HILARY MCDONALD

Brookings Area Information