DISCOVER YOURSELF IN HOME VALLEY, WASHINGTON

In Washington D.C. 110 years ago, President William McKinley was negotiating the Treaty of Paris, ending the Spanish-American war. The treaty was declared in effect in April 1899 and Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States. Clear across the country in Washington State, many important events were taking place as well. Mt. Rainier National Park was established by Congress in March 1899. The state’s first hydroelectric plant began generating at Snoqualmie Falls. And Weyerhauser finalized one of the largest land purchases in U.S. history. Down in southwestern Washington, just above the Columbia River, Swedish immigrant Erik Bylin, began homesteading on 160 acres. With Homestead Certificate No. 4405 signed by President McKinley himself, the land claim of Bylin was established and duly consummated in conformity to law, for the “North East Quarter of Section 23 in Township Three North of Range Eight East of Willamette Meridian in Washington”. The community was previously known as “Heim Dal”, named by Norwegian emigrants who settled the area. Postal authorities translated the name to Home Valley in 1893 at a time when the mail was delivered by rail and the mailbag left on a hook near the tracks as the train sped by.

Home Valley lies on the north shore of the Columbia River at river mile 155 in Skamania County in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The area is home to endless recreational outlets including fishing at the mouth of the Wind River and hiking the trails on Wind Mountain. The property originally settled by Bylin has seen continuous family ownership. The current owner is Leroy Anderson whose father was Erik Bylin’s first cousin. Leroy was raised on the land above State Route 14 and attended classes at the one-room schoolhouse in Home Valley that is still standing today. As a child, he would return home from school, harness up the family’s old mare and deck logs to be hauled to the river at Cook. His childhood days were spent exploring the acreage just west of Wind Mountain.

Several years ago, as Leroy was nearing retirement from a career with Columbia Distributing, he began contemplating ways to share the beautiful landscape with others. After much consideration, the decision was made to build a campground and RV park on a small portion of the original homestead. There would be nothing else like it in the Columbia River Gorge, a park removed from the highway and the railroad tracks, providing the peaceful serenity that Native Americans found here hundreds of years ago. With assistance from engineer Bruce Powers with David Evans & Associates and over a three-year permitting process, Timberlake Campground and RV Park was created. Opening in the summer of 2006, Timberlake Campground was developed so that others might share the natural beauty of the land. The design has maintained the natural environment and the park is “green” and eco-friendly. The existing topographical vegetation was retained and the property is fed by natural spring water that is used for irrigation and potable water.

With 43 RV sites, 18 with water, electric and sewer and additional tent sites, Timberlake Campground is the perfect base camp location for exploring all that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument are a short drive also. Fishing, hiking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, swimming, mountain biking or just sitting back and enjoying a spectacular sunset – it is all accessible here. The park provides a children’s playground, pet area, modem and Wi-Fi, cell phone service and the nicest restrooms ever discovered at a campground. Plus Timberlake Hall is available for group use with a large stone fireplace, full service kitchen, tables and chairs to seat 100 people. All these amenities result in a wonderful site for weddings, reunions, RV clubs, scout outings and much more.

Young Native Americans used nearby Wind Mountain for vision quests during their teenage years and the rock structures and “nests” at the summit can still be seen today. Take care not to disturb these sacred sites. From those original stewards of the land to the Scandinavian settlers many years later, Home Valley has served as a haven for those seeking exquisite scenery in a natural setting. Visit Timberlake Campground & RV Park and enjoy that same experience.

Timberlake Campground & RV Park is open from March through October. For more information, visit their website at www.timberlakecampgroundandrvpark.com, e-mail timberlakecamprground@embarqmail.com or call 509-427-2267. 112 Bylin Road, Home Valley, Washington 98648. For more information on Skamania County and the Columbia River Gorge, visit www.skamania.org or call the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce at 800-989-9178.