The Gordon House is located just outside the Oregon Garden, close to the small town of Silverton, Oregon, about 42 miles south of Portland. It is the only building designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the State of Oregon. It is an example of Wright's Usonian vision for America. It is one of the last of the Usonian series that Wright designed as affordable housing for American working class consumers.
Oregon: Silverton – The Oregon Garden
The Oregon Garden located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a showcase of the diverse fauna found in the Pacific Northwest
Just a few miles outside the small town of Silverton, Oregon is the Oregon Garden. This 80-acre garden was opened in 1999, it is home to over 20 gardens including the Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and Silverton Market Garden.
The garden is quite small and is easy to walk around. My particular favourite display garden was the water garden, which is a maze-like area with numerous paths and bridges. At the far reach of the garden is a 25-acre native Oregon white oak grove that includes the 400-year-old, 100-foot Signature Oak, which is one of Oregon’s Heritage Trees.
The garden holds an annual festival each autumn. Also on the grounds is the Teufel Amphitheatre which hosts concerts and other events.
If you are travelling through this part of Oregon and would like an escape for an hour or two then I recommend a detour to the Oregon Garden. It is also a great weekend or short break destination. If you do stay in the area you should also check out the Gordon House, the only example of a Frank Lloyd Wright design in Oregon, and the impressive Silver Falls State Park.
Planning your visit to the Oregon Garden
The Oregon Garden is located a few miles outside of the small town of Silverton, Oregon. It is about 42 miles (66km) south of Portland along Interstate 5 and 14 miles (22km) west of Oregon’s capital, Salem.
Silverton is a small town, but there are places to eat and stay. There is also the Oregon Garden Resort, a cosy three-star resort which is ideal for romantic weekend getaways.
| Address: | 879 W Main St, Silverton, OR |
| Website: | https://www.oregongarden.org/ |
| Telephone: | T: +15038744294 |
| Hours: | April to October: 10 am to 4 pm November to March: 10 am to 3 pm |
| Fees | March 1 – October 31: Adult: $12, Senior (60+): $10, Student (12 – 15): $9, Youth (5-11): $6, Child (5 and under): Free November 1 – February 28: Adult: $8, Senior (60+): $6, Student (12 – 15): $5, Youth (5-11): Free, Child (5 and under): Free |
Best time to visit the Oregon Garden
The best time to visit the Oregon Garden weatherwise is from June to August when consistently warm weather and dry. In April and May, there will be plenty to see with the blooming of spring flowers, but you might want to bring a rain jacket as the weather will be typically North West spring weather – showery.
During the Christmas holiday season, the Oregon Garden and the Oregon Garden Resort put on a festive event including a Christmas fair and an impressive light show, with over 1 million lights.
Other things to do near Silverton?
1. THE GORDON HOUSE
The Gordon House is a residence designed by influential architect Frank Lloyd Wright, now located within the Oregon Garden. It is the only building in Oregon designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This family home is an example of Wright’s Usonian vision for America.
2. SILVER FALLS STATE PARK
Located close to Silverton, Oregon Silver Falls State Park is known by many as the “crown jewel” of the Oregon States Parks. Explore the picturesque and stunning canyon trail with its 10 waterfalls, some of which you walk behind! There are several beautiful trails which allow you to explore some of the waterfalls or you can take the longer trail to see all 10 waterfalls.
More to Explore
