About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breathtaking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveler, but anyone else can go and find it, too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Website.
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights the railways of NW Oregon.
About Willow Creek MAX Station
Welcome to the Willow Creek / SW 185th Ave MAX Station. Today this is a major transit hub, served by the MAX Blue and Red Lines, but its roots go back more than a century. The modern MAX alignment follows the former Oregon Electric Railway (OE) interurban line, which once connected Forest Grove and Portland. Based on historic OE timetables and maps, it appears there was no stop between Elmonica and Quatama on the original interurban route.
A Bit of MAX History
In 1993, I filmed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Westside MAX project right here. At the time, this area was simply an open field—185th Avenue was far quieter, and the daycare center that stands here today didn’t exist.
Originally, the plan was for MAX to terminate at 185th, with a future extension to Hillsboro. However, delays in constructing the West Hills tunnel shifted the timeline. With the tunnel already behind schedule, the decision was made to build the Hillsboro extension in parallel and open the entire line together on September 12, 1998.
When the station opened, the surroundings were still mostly open land with a large park‑and‑ride. Since then, the area has transformed dramatically, with a PCC campus, apartments, and a much busier 185th Avenue.
Station Artwork
The Westside design team imagined passengers reading beneath cherry trees—fitting, since a library branch was once planned nearby. Today, the station’s art reflects that literary theme:
- “Living room” furniture sandblasted with the names of authors and characters
- Tile word puzzles hiding literary references
- Letters from alphabets around the world scattered in the concrete
- Christopher Rauschenberg’s Time Window, documenting the station’s view in 1994
- Brick patterns on the system buildings recalling falling cherry blossoms
Today’s Transit Center
Willow Creek is now a busy transit center, served by multiple bus lines, MAX, and the PCC Willow Creek campus. What was once a quiet field has become one of the most active nodes on the Westside.