Valsetz, now listed as an Oregon ghost town, was a company owned logging and lumber town in southwestern Polk County, Oregon.
The Cobbs & Mitchell company of Cadillac, Michigan bought 36,000 acres in 1904. After a 1910 fire killed much of the timber a logging camp was established to salvage the remaining timber. By 1919 the Valley and Siletz Railroad was extended an additional 3 miles to the camp, orginating in Independence, Oregon. The camp now hosted 32 family houses, 2 bath houses, 2 dining rooms, a rec hall, cook house, blacksmith shop, oil house, and 20 students with one teacher. The camp officially became Valsetz (named after the railroad) with the completion of the general store in 1920.
The logging and lumber town continued operations for years changing hands in 1946/47 to the Valsetz Lumber Company and in 1959 to Boise Cascade Corporation. In 1954 Valsetz had a population of over 1,100 including 260 mill workers, 125 loggers and families. It had its own general store, cafe, high school, post office, railroad station, movie house, and recreational facilities.
As the old growth timber in the area was becoming depleted, the railroad ceased operation to Valsetz in 1978. Later in the early 1980s the timber business fell flat ultimately leading to the end of Valsetz. In 1984 all remaining residents were required to leave since the property and structures were company owned. The town was entirely removed including burning the mill and bulldozing residences and streets. The dam removal and draining of the Valsetz Lake occured later in 1988. Thousands of loggers, mill workers and their families lived and worked in Valsetz over its 65 year history. The area has been replanted as part of a tree farm. Essentially nothing remains now but memories. An interesting documentary with interviews of residents is available on YouTube at Home:The Story of Valsetz.
This cache is placed as a tribute to Gary (caching name Valsetzpegleg) who was the town carpenter for more than a decade during the waning years of Valsetz. An additional tribute to Valsetz is located at George Kitchen Upper Park in Falls City.
The structure at the cache site appears to be a maintenance facility for tracked forestry equipment that was built near the end of Valsetz's existence.
***Important Note*** The easiest access is the Valsetz mainline gravel logging road leading west from Falls City (Chamberlain Road in Falls City). The area is open for day use by the public, but is sometimes closed during fire season. At the first gate out of Falls City watch for signs indicating if the road is closed 8 miles ahead (look for unofficial looking signs nailed to the trees near the gate, sometimes to the left of the gate). If the road is closed you will not be able to access the cache. If the road is open beware of logging trucks and yield to any logging traffic. A map showing landwoners in the area and public access rules can be found here: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/maps/access_habitat/stott_mtn_n_alsea_page1.pdf. Recreational access rules and the map are also posted near the intersection of Valsetz Road and Fanno Peak Road 8 miles west of Falls City.
Enjoy exploring Valsetz and Oregon's costal range!, and do so safely!