In a few weeks I will hear the rolling thunder of the local high school drumline coming from over the hill from my house, the metrical chant of cheerleaders practicing their routines, the echo of helmets and pads crunching followed by the blaring sound of coaches’ blowing whistles to end a play, all in preparation for football season.
Out here in Washington County we have even more reason to celebrate football this season as NCAA Division I (FCS) makes its way out west. That’s right, the Portland State University (PSU) Vikings will be playing their four home games this season at Hillsboro Stadium, due to renovations at their home field, PGE Park. Under the leadership of first-time head coach Nigel Burton, the Vikings are looking to bring a new game to the field this season. Coach Burton played for the Washington Huskies in the late ‘90s, and has an impressive coaching resume, which includes his most recent role as defensive coordinator for the Nevada Wolf Pack.
We are excited to welcome visiting fans to Hillsboro for some fantastic football action. The SpringHill Suites in Hillsboro located less than a mile from Hillsboro Stadium is offering discounted rates for PSU home games. For more information or to book a room at the SpringHill Suites, click the following links. Studio Suite with one King bed.Studio Suite with two Queen beds. For a complete list of hotels in Washington County, visit the Reserve Hotels section of our website.
Idaho State University, the Viking’s first home game opponent, kicks off the season with a 5:05 p.m. game on October 2, 2010. Additional home game opponents include:
University of Montana, October 16th
Eastern Washington University, October 30th.
Northern Colorado, November 13th
A little inspiration to get you pumped.
For a complete schedule of PSU Football Games and ticket information, check out their website at www.GoViks.com. We look forward to seeing you in Viking Green at Hillsboro Stadium this fall.
WCVA's own Allison George navigates the obstacles at Tree to Tree Adventure Park
When I first heard about a new aerial adventure park opening in Washington County, Oregon, my first reaction was, “what is an aerial adventure park”? Now that Tree to Tree Adventure Park is officially open, I now know (as well as many others who have already ventured out to sneak a peek).
Billed as the first adventure park of its kind “west of the Mississippi,” the park consists of four increasingly difficult courses of various tree-top obstacles. Rope swings, tight ropes, tunnels, bridges, and, yes, several zip lines, from tens of feet from the ground await adventurers of all skill levels. (Well, everyone except for me, who chickened out after attempting the training course, which was a mere three feet or so off the ground.)
My explanation doesn’t do this unique park justice, so take a look for yourself at the latest edition of “Grant’s Getaways,” featuring intrepid reporter Grant McOmie, as he visits Tree to Tree Adventure Park. (Video courtesy of our friends at Travel Oregon.)
Tree to Tree Adventure Park is open March-November, from 10 a.m. until two hours before dusk. Adults are $39, per person, and children are $25. It’s situated on property right near the entrance to Hagg Lake in Gaston, Oregon.
Tee pad #8 honors those who had a hand in making the Meadow Ridge course a reality.
Perhaps a day on the disc golf green is your pace. If so, there’s a new course that has it all.
Horning’s Fishing and Picnic Hideout celebrated the grand opening of its newest 18-hole, championship disc golf course in late 2009, which is sure to be one of the most challenging courses in the region. The opening marks the third 18-hole disc golf course to open at Horning’s Hideout.
Built as a Pro Championship “Gold Tee” course (Gold Tee is the top rating, as certified by the Professional Disc Golf Association), Meadow Ridge is a challenging 7,035-foot course that winds through trees, hills and fields. Also open are Canyon, a “Blue Tee” course, and Highland, a short-throw, “Red Tee” course.
So warm up your arm and throwing discs and head out to North Plains for a day of disc golfing fun. While you’re there, be sure to also explore the serene picnic setting and the paddle boating, fishing and camping available at Horning’s Hideout.
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, located in North Plains, Ore., has hosted various tournaments, including professional, amateur and charity games.
Washington County, Oregon, will be in the spotlight September 13-14, as stars from various cable television reality series join the Roloff Family, stars of the TLC series “Little People Big World,” for the Amy Roloff Charity Foundation’s first ever charity golf benefit and tournament.
Along with the Roloff family, special celebrity guests* scheduled to attend include:
Crew from “Time Bandit” from the Discovery Channel’s series Deadliest Catch
JM Browning and other stars from the History Channel’s series “Ax Men”
Alex Eusebio, a contestant from season five of “Top Chef,” which airs on Bravo
AC Green, three-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion
Michael Harper, former NBA player and Portland Trailblazer
*Celebrity appearances are subject to change
The event launches with a “tee-off” dinner and auction at Roloff Farms, followed by a golf scramble and dinner the following day at Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek golf course. All proceeds will benefit the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) and local organization Bridge Meadows.
The Roloff Family owns and operates the Roloff Family Farm, located in Helvetia, Ore. The series, “Little People, Big World” debuted March 2006 on Discovery Network’s TLC, and the fifth season is scheduled to premiere this fall. The farm, which has gained national attention since the reality series started airing, is open to the public each October for its annual pumpkin patch and harvest festivities.
On July 25, Saturday, thousands of cyclists will ride through scenic Washington County – including stretches of the new Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route – for the annual Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s nationwide fundraising event.
This is the first time the annual ride comes to Washington County. In previous years, the event, formerly titled “Summit to Surf,” has taken place in the Mt. Hood Territory. “We are thrilled to have this year’s Tour de Cure in Washington County,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association. “The Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route is an exceptional complement to the event, and will give riders a variety of scenic views and terrains unlike any other.”
While you’re out riding and supporting the American Diabetes Association, take some pictures and enter our Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route photo contest. There are nice prizes to be won.
To participate, riders must raise a minimum of $150, plus submit a registration fee. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association’s mission to “prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” All monies raised will be used for research, information, advocacy and local programs. Come one – come all! Riders of all levels are welcome, there’s something for everyone.
This past weekend, Cherie and I were lucky enough to staff a visitor information booth along with the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce at the 10th Annual Dressage at DevonWood event. For three days, riders from across the northwestern U.S. and southwestern Canada competed in dressage, which we overheard being compared to “ballet on horses.”
It’s a beautiful and very impressive thing to watch, as riders decked out in knee-high boots, jodhpurs, tailored jackets and top hats use nothing but their weight and legs to steer their well-trained mounts in a precise dance around the arena. The result is a very regal and graceful show that leaves you wishing you were the one on the horse! DevonWood Equestrian Centre hosts a variety of events throughout the year, most of which are open to the public with no admission fee and a $5 parking fee per car. The grounds alone are worth a visit, and you’ll be awed by the immaculate stables and multiple arenas, not to mention the beautiful views and towering Douglas Firs.
Watch local report at DevonWood Equestrian Centre.
Cherie Prochaska, DOS - manning the visitor information center for WCVA.
This Saturday, June 6, is Oregon State Parks Day. Stub Stewart State Park is offering a full slate of events to get kids of all ages outside to celebrate; activities range from guided mountain bike rides and trail hikes to disc golf demonstrations and bike safely checks.
You can get a guided tour of the upcoming single track biking trail, and a preview of the location for the park’s Gold Tee Disc Golf Course, to be built this summer. The park is also hosting a hot dog lunch from 11:30-1:30, so don’t miss out!
•Stub Stewart Activities •State Parks Day Flyer
Oregon State Parks are also offering FREE day-use and overnight camping (in traditional campsites only).
To reserve your campsite for June 6, call 800-452-5687 today!
On Saturday, May 16th, Shilo Inn Beaverton will be holding an event to welcome the new Oregon Waves International Basketball League team to Beaverton!
Prizes and Oregon Waves tickets will be given away every fifteen minutes from 2pm – 6pm in the main lobby, and players will be on hand for a meet-and-greet.
Bring the family out for some fun and score free tickets to see the Waves! All home games will be held at The Hoop YMCAin Beaverton.
Here’s a little bit of what the WCVA has been up to for promoting the county that we live and work in and come to visit and play in. Well, you get the picture.
Last week our Sports Sales Manager, Laura Garratt, returned from one of the largest sports related tradeshow and conferences re-energized and full of new ways, not to mention several new contacts, that will bring more visitors and sporting events to our county.
The 2009 NASC (National Association of Sport Commissions – Sports Event Symposium) was held at the Hyatt Regency in Denver, Colorado, the home of the Broncos NFL franchise.
With 600+ attendees, Laura schmoozed with fellow CVB’s sport commissions and most importantly event owners representing a wide range of sports while proudly talking up our state-of-the-art facilities, local attractions and the Northwest flavor in Oregon. Education sessions, certification courses, and several networking receptions combined with the hundreds of die-hard sports enthusiasts made for one awesome and unforgettable conference!
Highpoint – punting on the turf at Invesco Field, Bronco’s territory and high-fiving ‘Miles’ the mascot.
Lowpoint – being harassed at 4:30 AM! by an airline that shall remain nameless about the bottles (yes, several bottles of fine Washington County wine) she was taking as ‘gifts’.
Hey, it’s time for the 2009 OACVB Auction! That stands for the “Oregon Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.” Whew, that’s a long one! The auction will be held at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Salem, Oregon on April 20, but if you can’t be there don’t worry- the auction is also on line.
All proceeds will directly benefit the Oregon Association of CVBs, so don’t hold back! You’ll be helping the Oregon Association of CVBs fund their work to make sure that Oregon’s Convention and Visitor Bureaus are the best in the nation and give the highest quality of service to our Oregon visitors! Insider tip: you’ll notice that most auction packages have either ridiculously low bids- or no bids at all- so you just may sneak up on some great stuff!
Here’s what the Washington County Visitors Association donated: (with a special thanks to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club!!):
A round of golf for four (4) players at the Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club plus two (2) Nike Golf Storm-Fit Caps and two (2) Nike Ball/Valuables Pouches. Ghost Creek is hailed as one of the nation’s premier semi-private golf courses. The Robert Cupp-designed layout emulates traditional golf course architecture with gently rolling terrain and a creek that reappears throughout. Ghost Creek was home to the NIKE TOUR Championships in 1993 and 1994 and was rated in 2005 in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Places You Can Play.
One (1) Nike Women’s “Brassie” Carryall Bag, one (1) bottle of Beran Pinot Noir, one (1) bottle of Appolloni Dolce Vino wine, and two (2) boxes of chocolate covered hazelnuts. This is a stylish, sophisticated athletic bag that’s suitable on the golf course or the runway. Inside the bag, you’ll also find chocolate covered hazelnuts and two bottles of wonderful wine produced in Washington County, Oregon. However, bringing the wine to the golf course is not recommended. FORE!
With 600+ attendees, Laura schmoozed with fellow CVB’s sport commissions and most importantly event owners representing a wide range of sports while proudly talking up our state-of-the-art facilities, local attractions and the Northwest flavor in Oregon. Education sessions, certification courses, and several networking receptions combined with the hundreds of die-hard sports enthusiasts made for one awesome and unforgettable conference!
(2) boxes of chocolate covered hazelnuts. This is a stylish, sophisticated athletic bag that’s suitable on the golf course or the runway. Inside the bag, you’ll also find chocolate covered hazelnuts and two bottles of wonderful wine produced in Washington County, Oregon. However, bringing the wine to the golf course is not recommended. FORE!