Nehalem Bay State Park in Oregon is set to reopen the majority of its campground on July 1 following a seven-month construction closure, with reservations available starting at 6 a.m. Friday, June 27.
“We’re excited to welcome visitors back to the campground in time for the Fourth of July holiday,” Park Manager Ben Cox said, as reported by Tillamook County Pioneer on June 23.
The reopening aligns with peak summer demand, offering guests renewed access ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year.
The phased reopening includes loops D, E, and F, along with the hiker/biker camp and the horse camp. Loops A, B, and C will remain closed for about another month to allow crews to complete roofing and accessibility upgrades to the park’s yurts.
The day-use area at Nehalem Bay reopened in May, providing visitors partial access during the final stages of construction. This latest development marks significant progress in a broader infrastructure improvement plan funded by GO Bonds authorized by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021.
Among the completed upgrades are new water and electrical lines throughout the campground loops. These enhancements aim to reduce service interruptions and improve long-term utility reliability.
Nehalem Bay is one of eight Oregon parks benefiting from the $50 million GO Bond package, which targets critical infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity, ensure compliance with modern standards, and sustain long-term visitor satisfaction.
Additional projects include a new restroom and shower building designed to serve increasing visitor volumes and provide improved accessibility. This facility features an adult changing table to accommodate guests with disabilities.
Accessibility improvements also extend to the horse camp as well, with a new accessible restroom, upgraded campsites, and the addition of hose bibs at individual horse camp sites.
Crews have also renovated existing campsites and added more accessible paths throughout the campground.
The main entrance road has been repaved, and traffic calming measures have been installed from the Garey Street entrance to the airport intersection.
A new day-use fee station near the airport intersection is now operational, streamlining revenue collection and easing congestion during peak times.