By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews
WALDPORT – Tee to green is a fair way apart but barring any sand trap trouble, a first-time developer hopes for a-hole-in-one with plans to land a golf course amidst a unique attraction in the heart of Waldport.
It could be another ace in the wake of Waldport developing Louis Southworth Park just blocks away and the desire of elected officials and some community members to increase the city’s curb appeal for both locals and visitors.
Livesay Development Group of Corvallis is chipping away at the permitting process for what would be a downtown campground of geodesic domes connected by a raised boardwalk, two open-air pavilions, a pole barn camp store, playground, food trucks and an 18-hole “Bonsai” golf course.
“It’s not a putt-putt golf course because there are no windmills or T-Rexes or that kind of stuff,” explained Waldport city planner Jaime White. “It is more boutique-like with manicured putting greens, no fairways, not a driving game but a putting game with landscaped rolling hills and sand traps.”
The development would encompass about three acres on two vacant lots wedged between Alsea Bay and Northwest Cedar and Northwest Spring streets where Waldport Middle School once sat.
With the tag line – ‘Picnic, Play, Stay’ – developer Amy Jamros says the geodesic domes will offer a glamping experience, a popular and growing national trend describing glamorous camping. They will have electricity for heat and outlets but bathrooms will be community campground-style.
“We want to keep it as authentic to camping as you can when you are in a downtown district,” Jamros said with a laugh. “It’s not really glamping the way you’re going out to an isolated place in nature. It’s definitely very much like downtown. But we want to create the environment that encourages people to want to camp out, feel like they are camping out at least a little bit.”
With a low-impact concept, there will be no night-lighting of the golf course or the campground beyond what is required for safety and with an open space sensibility to preserve views of the bay.
“We want people to enjoy the bayfront of Waldport like we enjoy it,” Jamros said. “And we want to keep the space open and encourage families and kids to come and just have a really cool place.”
The putting course and other amenities will be open to the public — whether a local looking to improve their golf game or a traveler looking for somewhere to picnic. Pavilions will offer cover from the weather and a place for event-type gatherings. The property’s two public beach access points will not be impeded.
Jamros wants it to serve travelers and locals alike, looking for a fun place for visiting family to stay.
“We want to give locals a code or something so they can get a discount, to encourage people to come to Waldport,” she said.
In husband’s honor
Jamros, her husband, Nic, and mother Jennifer Livesay make up Livesay Development. The project is one of love to honor of Jamros’ stepfather, Bruce Livesay, who died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2022.
Jennifer Livesay was thinking of selling the land because it was her husband’s passion to develop it in some way, Jamros said. But after the grief settled she suggested to her mom they do the project for him.
“He was really excited about this,” Jamros said. “And he loved Bonsai trees and he loved golfing. And he had just kind of landed on glamping. So we are hoping to make him proud. I felt like he gave us the golf idea from beyond. He would love this. So we are trying to make it cool for him.”
The property was previously owned by John Bradley, who was the primary money holder for Dream Harbor, which at one time planned to develop the property.
The space has been vacant for 17 years.
Jamros says it has so much potential, which she believes is “found in keeping it natural and keeping it open because then more people can gather and use it. I feel like that serves the higher purpose.”
The Jamros’ have a family home in Waldport but live in Corvallis. They have been visiting the city on a regular basis the past five years and have extended family who grew up in Waldport.
Council meeting Thursday
Part of clearing the way for the project includes Livesay filing a petition to have the city’s ownership of Northwest John Way vacated where it bisects the two lots. Livesay will go before the city council at its meeting Thursday, Nov. 14 for the vacate request. Jamros knows community members are used to accessing the road but said there are easements on each side of the beachfront for public access.
“But with the road right through the center of the resort it just separates the space in a way that’s not cohesive and not at its full potential,” she said. “I’m nervous people are mad about the vacate, but I hope that they can see why it’s necessary. And it would be a benefit for everybody if it was.”
If Livesay is successful in vacating the road and securing the necessary permits, they plan to break ground this winter and open in early summer. The golf course would be shaped in the winter and left to settle until artificial turf is installed in spring. The Waldport Planning Commission is considering the proposal at its Nov. 25 meeting.
“That’s the goal,” Jamros said. “But things like this get delayed all the time. We are ready to start cooking though. I’m ready to start hiring people”
Livesay is working with Terrace Hardscapes of Corvallis and the golf course will be built by Waldport resident Chris Holvey’s Cascade Greens of Oregon.
“And if anybody wants to volunteer to manicure a Bonsai tree, I don’t know how,” Jamros said. “It’s an art.
“We are really excited about this,” she added. “We are just a small family who want to keep it local and have it be this really cool little wonderland.”
- Garret Jaros is YachatsNews’ full-time reporter and can be reached at GJaros@YachatsNews.com
The idea sounds good although it’s hard to have an opinion with so little information. I urge the City Council to request the developer revise their design to exclude artificial turf however. The reason is microplastics being released to the water that is in such close proximity are harmful to marine and terrestrial species if ingested. Artificial turf also contains heavy metals which are contaminants. Additionally, the use of pesticides and fertilizers should be restricted and a “no impact” buffer of natural vegetation should be designated between the resort and the bay to add further protections.
No on glamping idea. Waldport is in dire need of affordable homes and apartments for residents. No vacation rentals. Glamping will need constant control keeping the homeless out. Let’s care for our own citizens first.