Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum in Elsie, Oregon: Review

I recently had the pleasure of taking my family to Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum in Elsie, Oregon. While out of the way, Camp 18 is definitely worth visiting if you are ever on the northern Oregon coast. Besides having excellent casual family dining, the outdoor logging museum is a treat unto itself.

Located about halfway between Astoria and Portland, Oregon on Highway 26, Camp 18 is hard to miss. The restaurant looks like a huge log cabin, and basically that's what it is. Large, rustic antique pieces of logging equipment flank both sides, and at least two huge statues of Bigfoot greet you at the door.

The interior of Camp 18 is even more spectacular than the outside. A huge rectangular wooden table is the centerpiece of the open floor plan, and can easily sit twenty-five. Real antler chandeliers, a life-like stuffed mountain lion, and a quaint dining loft are just a few of the visual treats that make the restaurant unique and special. Antique logging tools, like beautifully hand-painted saws line the walls.

I have been to Camp 18 several times, and every time the food has been delicious, and the service excellent. My most recent trip was no exception. My main desire was to have one of their specialties, the Camp 18 Cinnamon Roll. This thing is huge. At least 10 inches wide, and they're absolutely delicious. Of course I had to share it with my kids, there's no possible way I could ever eat one of those on my own.

Pretending I didn't just come for the cinnamon roll, I ordered a cup of soup as well. The choices that day were Split Pea and Ham, and Clam Chowder. I hate clam chowder, and therefore decided on the split pea, as the waitress assured me it was exceptional. While not my favorite soup, I was still in the mood, so I ordered it, and it turned out to be delicious. Very delicious. The "cup" I ordered was the size of a normal sized bowl, but I ate it all, I had to, there was no other choice. It was good.

My children ordered kid-sized pizzas, which came with applesauce and a choice of soda, milk or juice. My seven-year-old loved everything, but the two-year-old spent most of his time looking around and didn't eat a thing. I think he was a bit scared to tell the truth, especially with the mountain lion looming over us.

After lunch, I took the kids outside to check out the logging equipment. They ended up being more interested in the creek that runs down below the rear of the restaurant. Amazingly, there were two huge mammoths or elephants, a mother and baby, on the far side of the creek. They were fashioned out of logs and covered with moss, which gave them a woolly appearance.

I definitely recommend Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum for anyone, especially families. It was more than just a great dining experience.

Sources:

Personal Experience
www.camp18restaurant.com