This year the Annual “Willys at Whitewater Ranch” near Eugene, Oregon, has been moved up a month to July 18th (in the past it has been held in August). You can learn more about the ranch at http://www.whitewaterranch.com. Host Jim Russell is hoping to get some RSVPs ASAP. You can call him at 415-516-4778.
******************************
5th Annual Willys At Whitewater Ranch July 18th, 2015
I can’t believe this is the 5th year of the event but here we go!
Once a year we open Whitewater Ranch for a weekend of Willys fun. The main event starts about 10:30am on Saturday July 18th. We meet at the Whitewater Ranch barn for some Willys talk and catching up. About 12:00 I will fire up the BBQ and serve lunch. After lunch we will go for a drive through the forest and use the Willys as they were intended to be used. We can then go over to the house, have a frosty one, and relax before we have dinner along the beautiful McKenzie River.
For those of you who arrive early, we have a casual BBQ Friday night and you are welcome to stay through Sunday morning.
In the past many guests have enjoyed camping at Whitewater Ranch. If you would like something a little more comfortable I can recommend the Wayfarer Resort which is both spouse and dog friendly. Here is the link but book early as they are a popular resort, http://www.wayfarerresort.com/. As you can see, if you arrive Friday and leave Sunday you can create a great Willys weekend.
I hope you guys can make it! Please RSVP to me by email or call, 415-516-4778
See you at the ranch!
Sincerely,
Jim Russell
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Whitewater Ranch is a working timber, Christmas tree and organic blueberry ranch located 25 miles east of Eugene, Oregon.
Directions to Whitewater Ranch
90255 Fish Hatchery Road, Leaburg Oregon:
(Do not use mapquest, google maps, yahoo maps or your GPS, etc. or you will get lost.)
Whitewater Ranch is located about 25 miles east of Eugene, Oregon off Interstate 5 on Highway 126 in Leaburg Oregon.
From I-5:
Take exit 194A (Hwy 126 East) toward Springfield. 6.6 miles
Turn left onto Main St/McKenzie HWY 126 East. 17.7 miles
Just past mile marker 23 (actually mile 23.5) turn right onto Leaburg Dam Road. .2miles
Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road.
Drive through the trout hatchery, fo
Looks like a great weekend. Hope to make it next year.
I will get there early because I have to leave a little early. This is a guaranteed good time if you’re within driving distance of Central Oregon. It will be worth me driving 330 miles to spend a weekend in a beautiful place with a some great Willys owners. There will be others who will drive many mile further than that.
There was a nice variety of Jeeps there last year. I wonder what kinds of Jeeps will show up this year? I hope there will be another FC truck to hang with. I hate being the only bastard child. (LOL)
**Steve E.**
yes, looks like a wonderful event.
Jim Russell hosted another Willys family gathering at the White Water Ranch in Oregon last weekend. It was a great time with some new faces and others who attend every year. Three nice Willys Wagons looked great all in a row, corralled with two CJ-2A’s, and a CJ-5. The perfect lightweight (300 lb) off-road trailer was on display and was proven offroadworthy on the Saturday off road caravan through a portion of Oregon’s Cascade Range above the ranch (See http://www.dinoot.com). Jim B. usually brings his beautiful Jeepster, but it is currently undergoing another facelift. It was there in spirit with nice photos. I’m Glad Jim and Minn came to join in, even if they couldn’t bring their Willys, which is one of my favorites. I’m pretty sure they have been to all five events. At least they have been to the last four that I know of. I also am certain that Kirk & Bonnie S. have been to all the events, who brought their modern Jeep this year. They also have a nice Willys Jeepster at home. They always run their Jeepster with Jim Russell on the Caravan to Willys America, which happened to be the weekend before.
We all appreciated the invite to Jim’s fifth annual event relaxing along the McKenzie River talking about the vehicles we enjoy the most. Jim and Jane’s hospitality is the best.
The long distance award (my theoretical award, as this is social event, not a judged event) goes to Mike S. from Walnut Creek, who drove his ’51 Willys Wagon 530 miles each way. There were some who drive a little further, but not in their Willys. If you are in the Central West, you should not miss the White Water Ranch trip. It’s the best way to spend a great weekend in a beautiful setting on a working Blueberry and Christmas Tree Ranch. And the berries are the best I’ve ever had.
**Steve E.**
Thanks for the update Steve!