Sad: forgotten, rotting car museum in Central Oregon

**Jedi** · #1 09-11-2011, 01:24 PM

I first visited this car museum in the early 1970s, when it was new. Nothing
at all exotic - just old American cars. Back then, it was pristine inside and every
car sparkled and shined. But over the years, fewer people came and the little
town slowly died off and it just fell into neglect. I last visited in 2002, and it
was very sad then.

But over this last week I stopped in again, and it's just really sad to see all these
cars rotting like this. Virtually all the emblems and hood ornaments have now been
pilfered, along with trim parts and other bits. A fence was put up inside years ago
apparently to slow the theft of bits, but it's been pulled down in places and folks
just keep slowly stripping the cars.

I have no idea who owns them or if they are for sale - but sure would be nice
to see someone stop in to Shaniko, Oregon to suss all that out and rescue
these nice old American cars from their ultimate destruction when the old barn
they are in finally collapses...

Just thought I'd share the pix...

Jedi

**TexasF355F1** · #2 09-11-2011, 03:05 PM

That's really sad.

I'm sure its an interesting story of how it all went down hill, and why the cars have been left to rot.

**JeremyJon** · #3 09-11-2011, 03:18 PM

wow...amazingly sad to see .....i know a couple of people that would come take them as rescues asap ......i wonder if there is some legal hurdle to them having been claimed/rescued??

**Jedi** · #4 09-11-2011, 03:27 PM

I'm sure they're not "abandoned" in the normal sense. There are only 28 residents
of Shaniko, Oregon and I'm sure one of those folks owns the barn, land & cars.
Shanko used to be a tourist stop on Hwy. 97, which goes right by the town. The
old 1906 buildings were nice shops and cafes, and it cost a few bucks to enter
the car museum. But over the years, the shops all closed and fell into severe
disrepair, and the last real draw, the hotel/cafe shuttered its doors in 2008. So
it's reverted to being a real ghost town again... I'm sure one day the barn will
just collapse on the cars and that'll be the end of it. If the owner hasn't sold off
by now, I doubt he ever will.

Jedi

**UroTrash** · #5 09-11-2011, 03:28 PM

Rust to dust.

Dust to dust.

An allegory for our very beings.

Or sumpthin.

**Jedi** · #6 09-11-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UroTrash

Rust to dust.

Dust to dust.

An allegory for our very beings.

Or sumpthin.

Sumpthin like that

Jedi

**tuttavelocita** · #7 09-12-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi

Sumpthin like that

Jedi

Im going to pass this on to my friends dad who collects tons of american cars (portland native also) and see if he's interested in pursuing saving these cars, won't be too hard finding the owner/s.

**Jedi** · #8 09-12-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da3bous

Im going to pass this on to my friends dad who collects tons of american cars (portland native also) and see if he's interested in pursuing saving these cars, won't be too hard finding the owner/s.

Keep us posted. No, it should be fairly easy to find the owner. However, I
strongly suspect if he hasn't sold before, when the cars had a lot more value,
he's not selling now either. But ya never know

Jedi

**tuttavelocita** · #9 09-12-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi

Keep us posted. No, it should be fairly easy to find the owner. However, I
strongly suspect if he hasn't sold before, when the cars had a lot more value,
he's not selling now either. But ya never know

Jedi

It'd be a shame the cars are just going to get gutted and it might be one of those deals that he just wants out of it, Im guessing the collection must of belonged to a patriarch of a family and the kids inherited all the cars after his death and this is the end result. Either them holding onto the legacy of their father/grandfather or inability to come to a unanimous decision on what to do with the collection.

kali · #10 09-23-2011, 04:19 PM

What a shame, I'm sure there's plenty of folks who would love and cherish one of those.

**badges2** · #11 09-24-2011, 07:50 AM

That story sounds familiar.....

Bxtech · #12 09-24-2011, 08:55 AM

Wow........that is sad! I hope there's a happy ending to this story. There are enthusiasts all over just aching to restore those cars!

**jefffromcanada** · #13 09-25-2011, 09:47 PM

I may be the only one....but in all honesty. I would have more interest in walking around that "museum" as it sits now than if all the cars were restored and sitting on a black and white checkered floor.

**Jedi** · #14 09-25-2011, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefffromcanada

I may be the only one....but in all honesty. I would have more interest in walking around that "museum" as it sits now than if all the cars were restored and sitting on a black and white checkered floor.

Well, there isn't much "walking around" room actually. It's filled with clutter, and
some of the cars are almost touching. I looks like the roof leaks, it's unheated and
the windows are gone. So if you want to see it, you should plan to hit Shaniko
in the next couple years - I have a feeling it's really on its last legs at this point.
Oh, and bring a flash light - there are no working lights inside.

But it is interesting to see it "in situ" like this, I agree.

Jedi

**JeremyJon** · #15 09-25-2011, 11:43 PM

Jedi, when you're there next (if so?) or even in contact someway? perhaps let them know about the reynold-museum up here.....they are very active in retreiving and restoring of significant automobiles

my late uncle was involved with them, travelling to retrieve some cars himself (he had/restored several model T and model A fords, and various vintage tractors)

anyone travelling up this way i can suggest a visit, they have a large collection...really something i enjoyed IMO

http://www.history.alberta.ca/reynolds/default.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi

Well, there isn't much "walking around" room actually. It's filled with clutter, and
some of the cars are almost touching. I looks like the roof leaks, it's unheated and
the windows are gone. So if you want to see it, you should plan to hit Shaniko
in the next couple years - I have a feeling it's really on its last legs at this point.
Oh, and bring a flash light - there are no working lights inside.

But it is interesting to see it "in situ" like this, I agree.

Jedi

Justin@Jalopnik · #16 09-27-2011, 11:52 AM

Jedi, can you email me? I have a query for you. Justin at jalopnik dot com.

**texasmr2** · #17 09-27-2011, 12:09 PM

Barn finds such as that make me randy. My point being that such a collection regardless of make/model/year/era etc etc connects us all and I would have been drooling just as much at 10yr's old as I am now at 47.

Thanks for sharing.

**Jedi** · #18 09-27-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin@Jalopnik

Jedi, can you email me? I have a query for you. Justin at jalopnik dot com.

Feel free to send me a PM

Jedi

**Jedi** · #19 09-27-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasmr2

Barn finds such as that make me randy. My point being that such a collection regardless of make/model/year/era etc etc connects us all and I would have been drooling just as much at 10yr's old as I am now at 47.

Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome. But technically, it's not a "barn find" - it's a very neglected car
museum that happens to be in a barn. These cars I'm sure are not abandoned
in the "barn find" sense... I'm sure they're very much known to their owner who
makes no effort or expense to keep them from rotting. The museum is right next
to Highway 97 (a very main drag!) in central Oregon - with a zillion cars driving
by every day. All he'd have to do is put out a "for sale" sign and they'd be gone
by the weekend. But for whatever reason, he chooses not to.

The location is NOT "secret" (as in classic barn find scenarios). Just drive into
Shaniko Oregon sometime and you'll see them all right there, free to wander
about inside - no one will bother you.

So no, this is not a "barn find" case

Jedi

**texasmr2** · #20 09-27-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi

You're welcome. But technically, it's not a "barn find" - it's a very neglected car
museum that happens to be in a barn. These cars I'm sure are not abandoned
in the "barn find" sense... I'm sure they're very much known to their owner who
makes no effort or expense to keep them from rotting. The museum is right next
to Highway 97 (a very main drag!) in central Oregon - with a zillion cars driving
by every day. All he'd have to do is put out a "for sale" sign and they'd be gone
by the weekend. But for whatever reason, he chooses not to.

The location is NOT "secret" (as in classic barn find scenarios). Just drive into
Shaniko Oregon sometime and you'll see them all right there, free to wander
about inside - no one will bother you.

So no, this is not a "barn find" case

Jedi

Pardon my reference I got carried away and all foggy lol. Thanks for sharing.