Tillamook

Mt Hebo Air Force Station was part of the 25th Air Division, McCord AFB, WA. Mt Hebo was located on a 3150 foot mountain in the Siuslaw National Forest overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The nearby large town was Tillamook, OR. An 8.5 mile access road from US Hwy 101 rose 3000 feet from the valley up a steep and winding road. From the mountain top the view was spectacular. Mt Rainer, WA and the mountains south to the Three Sisters in Oregon were easily visible. Dominating the eastern skyline was Mt Hood east of Portland, OR. The weather at Mt Hebo was often wet, windy, cold, and snowing. Three giant radomes about 140 feet in diameter and 100 feet high were destroyed by the elements. Winter snow accumulations often totaled 300 inches. Despite these conditions, the 689th Radar Squadron did its mission. All that remains is a plaque – “In Memory Of Those Who Served At Mt.Hebo AFS, Oregon. 689th Radar Sq., Oct.1956-June 1979. Det.2 14th MWS July 1967 – Sep.1980”

It wasn’t a bad place…I mean it smelled…like cow shit and something else, which I’m guess was the cheese.

And yeah its close to the ocean and lighthouses and what not, but really the only reason to go there is for the factories so i wasn’t that interested in the place.

Mmmm…. Squeaky cheese!

California likes to advertise how good it’s cheese is, that’s because it can’t compete with Tillamook. I’m willing to bet the Cheddaheads in Wisconsin curse the name under their breaths!

Like everyone seems to mention, it’s worth visiting if just to tour the cheese factory. It is also a pretty nice area in general, being by the coast. Nice lighthouses withing fairly easy driving distance, and great overall sea-side views. The people are pretty friendly, too!

Tillamook is not exactly an exciting place, but the cheese factory is fun to visit. They make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. And the Oregon strawberry ice cream is the best strawberry ice cream I’ve ever had.

The town kinda smells like poop. But it’s close to the coast and who can resist fresh cheese curds? Some decent thrift-store shopping too.