To get to the cache you will be headed through 1600 acres of land that used to belong to Carl Shafer. He was one of the heirs to the Schafer Brothers Logging Co. started in 1895 in the Satsop valley. The company soon grew larger. At the peak of operation, the Schafers were running one of the largest logging, milling and shipping concerns in the lumber industry of the Pacific Northwest. Their properties and equipment at that time, not counting ships and tugs (they owned their own shipping line), included five sawmills in operation, served by six camps sending logs over 100 miles of rail. This required 18 locomotives, both geared and mainline types, and a total of 70 donkeys and 325 logging cars. To operate all of this equipment called for approximately 3000 employees.
Carl bought this land in 1955 when the logging company was sold to Simpson Timber Co.. It was where his dad and uncles started their first logging operations in 1895. He named it Schafer Meadows and built a fence of railroad rail posts and chainlink fence around the whole 1600 acres. This fence ran from the main gate up and over the hill and down to the river on the other side of the ridge. This fence created what locals called the Schafer Game farm as deer and elk roamed its confines in complete security. Even the state game dept. brought injured deer here to live in safety and peace. Carl also built a covered wooden bridge on his property.
In 1958 Carl built Vista House for his and his wife Mabel’s enjoyment. A place to look over all the land he owned. When He passed away his wife Mabel sold the half that vista house was on to Weyerhauser and the rest to others that wanted to build homes here. For now we are free to come and visit this place. There has been some vandalism so please be respectful. Bring a camera and binoculars as you may have a chance to see some wildlife.