Bluff Creek Company Store, in 2009. Photo by Steven Streufert |
The BLUFF CREEK PROJECT page on Facebook just received notice from a friend that the historic spot at the bottom of the Bluff Creek watershed, once known as the Bluff Creek Company and lately known as the Bluff Creek Resort, has been purchased by the Yurok Tribe next door in Weitchpec, and is going to be redone for modern times. Unfortunately, the old store where Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin stopped for supplies, along with all the early Bigfooters, will be demolished. In the last few years the building has lost all of its historic signage and has begun to collapse in on itself.
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The Resort store as it appeared after gas pumps were added in 1976. Photo from Phil Smith, Sr. via Roger Knights. |
Rollie Nelson, Jun 20th, 10:45pm
"Update bluff creek resort has been sold to the Yurok Tribe.
Expect improvements in services soon.
The resort greatly will be improved over the next few years to meet a greater number of needs for the locals and the guests of the resort.
This will include but is not limited to:
improved river access via boat ramp.
Interpretative trails. Guided river tours. Rafting. Possible Ziplines. Fishing and bait supplies. Small engine repair basic service auto shop with tire changer. Fuel.
The store: The original structure of the historic bluff creek store is sadly a total loss due to years of neglect. Yurok tribe plans to demolish the old store and build a new store in its place. Heart breaking I know but too many years of neglect has made to structure totally unsalvagable.
The resort just changed hands on the eighteenth so please be patient with us and we will get bluff creek back on the map."
Our reply:
Bluff Creek Project, Sent by Steven Streufert, Jun 21st, 4:21pm
Rollie, thanks for the updates! We're pleased to hear that Mr. Smith has finally found a buyer, and a great local one at that. It's sad to hear about the final fate of the old historical store, though. If you have any more or any links you could share that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! Steve, Bigfoot Books, Willow Creek.
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More photos from 2009. Keep in mind that the store structure has since fallen into total decreptitude. All photos following by Steven Streufert, save as noted.![]() |
Myself with the poor old store, 2009, photo snapped by Craig Woolheater with my camera. |
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Another angle of view. |
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The old gas pump platform with the now tall cedar tree Phil Smith's wife planted back in 1976. |
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The Resort office, building still in nice shape. |
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Ruins of the part of the old Greasy Spoon Restaurant, behind the store building. |
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Members of the Believe-It Tour, Michael Esordi and Craig Woolheater, speak with the owner. |
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Here is the Company Store in 2010, missing its signs, and starting to collapse in the middle. I'll try to get you a current photo of it, as its condition is much worse today in 2015. |
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View Roger Knights' Photobucket collection of old photos, along with notes from Phil Smith Sr., the owner of the Bluff Creek Resort at its end, here:
http://s7.photobucket.com/user/RogerKni/library/BF%20BCCS%20Photos?sort=6&page=1
http://s7.photobucket.com/user/RogerKni/library/BF%20BCCS%20Photos?sort=6&page=1
See my previous blog posts about the BLUFF CREEK COMPANY here:
http://bigfootbooksblog.blogspot.com/search?q=bluff+creek+company
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