Shore Acres State Park


Beautiful rehabilitated gardens are the highlight of this unusual state park, 4 miles southwest of Charleston. Louis Simpson, a shipping and lumber magnate, was exploring for new stands of lumber in 1905 when he discovered this wildly eroded headland.

After buying the 320 acres for $4000 he built a three-story mansion, complete with formal gardens. It burned down in 1921. A trail leads to an observation building on the cliffs where the mansion once stood, then continues to the beach. Don't miss stopping at the Simpson Reef Viewpoint a mile southwest of the park, to spot migrating birds and whales, plus a variety of pinnipeds.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Sunset Bay State Park

1.08 MILES

Three miles southwest of town on Cape Arago Hwy, this state park is nestled in a small, protected bay that once served as a safe harbor for fishing boats,…

2. Cape Arago State Park

1.14 MILES

About 5 miles south of Charleston at blustery Cape Arago you can scan the horizon for whales, seals and watch ships passing into Coos Bay. The 0.2-mile…

3. Charleston Marine Life Center

3.5 MILES

This fantastic new little museum/aquarium has lots of interactive displays plus views out over the harbor. Touch a whale on a screen to hear its song, pet…

5. Coos Art Museum

9.32 MILES

The Coos Art Museum, in a historic art deco building, provides a hub for the region's art culture. Rotating exhibits from the museum's permanent…

6. Coos Historical & Maritime Museum

9.66 MILES

In gigantic and fancy new digs on Coos Bay's waterfront, this museum displays exhibits from Native American culture to maritime shipwrecks, plus mining,…

7. Washed Ashore Gallery & Workshop

13.95 MILES

This tiny but cool gallery features gigantic sculptures made from trash washed up from the sea. Walk through a life-sized whale skeleton made from plastic…

8. Bandon Historical Society Museum

13.97 MILES

This museum has exhibits on the area's historical industries and the Coquille Native Americans, along with memorable photos of Bandon's two devastating…