By: Tia Politi, ORHA President
May 2024

Looking forward to our May meeting and Property Management Palooza this month in beautiful Hermiston! Committee meetings for the month of May have been scheduled virtually for the Friday before Palooza, May 10th so we can focus on the seminar and board meeting. Hope to see you there virtually or in person.

For those attending the Palooza, a group of us will be heading out to Nookie’s Hermiston Brewing Company – 125 N 1st Street, Hermiston – at 6 p.m. Join us if you can, and thanks to Joe Bachmeier of Bachmeier Property Management in Pendleton for setting it up.

If you’re staying over Saturday night, we’re looking at some options for another fun thing to do that evening, and we’ll share details at the Board Meeting if you wish to join us - more food, drink, and merriment – always a good time!

Remember, if you’re bringing the family, there’s a lot to do in Hermiston and the surrounding areas and Eastern Oregon is spectacular in the Spring. In Hermiston, there’s the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center, Butte Park with a great view if you hike to the top of the Butte, the Hermiston Raceway, Desert Lane Bowling Alley & Arcade, and Winery Tours.

The town of Hermiston has long been a stopover for travelers. The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery passed the distinctive outcropping of Hat Rock, now a state park, and wrote about it in their journals. The town site in the 1860s was known as an overnight spot for horseback travelers who frequented an Old West hotel and bar here. The Maxwell Siding Railroad Display recalls a former time when rail was king. Visitors can view the early 20th-century rail cars and collection of railroad memorabilia. (Tours are available by appointment.)

Umatilla is only a 12-minute drive from Hermiston and offers their own array of things to do. Head down to the river at the Umatilla Marina R.V. Park, a great spot for boaters, and the McNary National Wildlife Refuge, with walking paths around the ponds and sloughs that provide key habitat for migrating and resident water birds as well as other wildlife. Visit the nearby Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center at McNary Lock and Dam to learn about the life cycle of salmon and the history of hydropower in the Columbia. Don’t miss your photo op with the giant cowboy sign outside the Columbia Harvest Foods store. Then head west toward the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, where you can look for burrowing owls, overwintering eagles, mule deer and badgers.

Thank you for your support!