5.1 Acres for Sale in Welches, Oregon for $195,000

5.1 acres of undeveloped mountain woods at the foot of Mt Hood with towering Douglas fir, Western Red cedar, and Broad-leafed maples as well as typical lush, northwest understory. Perfect for a single family dwelling. An hour’s drive from Portland and 20 minutes to the ski slopes. Some of the last dry (as opposed to wetland) property available in the area. Walking distance to the grade school. Clearing at heart of property suitable for parking a trailer. Perk test has been done and the property is suitable for septic and a well. Public water and sewer in future. Electric company is Portland General Electric.

MAP: 37E04 and the property tax account is 00968126. Last year the taxes on the property were $611.16. Address is 69655 E. Routledge Lane, Welches, OR 97067. Price: $190,000

If a buyer wants to put multiple units on it, as in a subdivision, an application must be made to Clackamas County and each unit must have at least 10,890 square feet, making provisions for subdivision needs such as streets, water, lines and sewer/septic. Looking optimistically, a developer might squeeze in 15 to 18 units. Currently the public water system (Salmon Valley Water District) is not capable of adding that many new units, but there are plans in the works for additional wells to increase the District’s capacity.

The neighborhood

The property is located approximately 50 miles from Portland, an hour’s drive. Portland is known as one of the most environmentally and socially progressive cities in the nation, a leader in “green building” and sustainability.

Located in the unincorporated town of Welches, Oregon, one of the villages of Mt. Hood, the community has a number of restaurants, an art gallery, liquor store, library, supermarket, (the only supermarket of its scale for miles, but still not a “super”store), post office and resort with a golf course . The Resort webpage is full of tourist information. Welches also contains a good coffee place, the Java Hut. It wouldn’t be Oregon without a good coffee place. There is also a newspaper in Welches, the Mountain Times, which serves the villages. Located in Wemme (though the address is Welches), just a bit west of Hwy 26 is the Rendezvous Bar and Grill, a favorite venue for Northwest style dinning. Also near that restaurant is small bookstore that always offers a 15% discount. An art gallery cohabits with the bookstore and an antique store is next door.

Hwy 26 has historic roots for the region. It is part of the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway as well as being part of the Oregon Trail. The local piece of the Oregon Trail was Barlow Road which allowed pioneers to avoid travel down the Columbia River , with its many dangers, on their way to the furtile Willamette Valley. The Barlow Road was not without its hazards, including a spot where wagons were lifted by ropes down a rock face. The historic marker and site are just a bit east.

Education opportunities

The school district is Oregon Trails. If you look at the property pictures you can see a view of a road with two ruts and also a picture of a clearing where once a trailer was located. You can see a path leaving the clearing. The grade school and middle school are a five minute’s walk away. From the woods you can hear the sound of children playing in the school yard at recess. The high school is in Sandy, a twenty minute drive west. Sandy has a terrific little museum on mountain history. Mount Hood Community College is in Gresham, about 35 minutes away. The closest state university is Portland State University.

The land is close to historic Timberline Lodge and less than a 20 minutes drive from Skibowl, site of year ‘round recreational facilities as well as other commercial ski areas. There is also a wealth of cross country ski trails for those who enjoy a more personal ski experience. During the warmer months hiking opportunities are unlimited.

View slide show of Hood River County, an hour’s drive from Welches . The county is presently a meca for wind surfing, and is part of the Columbia River Gorge, a national scenic area. The town of Hood River is filled with galleries, good, small restaurants and some terrific breweries such as Full Sail Brewing; Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom; as well as the brewpub, Big Horse Brewing. Even closer to Welches is the Mt. Hood Brewery in Government Camp (20 minute drive), featuring Ice Axe Ale. The food there is good too.

Weather

Unlike the multiple inches of snow at Government Camp or Timberline, Welches traditionally has only a few good snow falls per winter that vanish shortly. Who knows what will happen with global warming? Generally speaking, Welches is refreshingly cooler than Portland during the hot summer months and only slightly cooler during the winter.