Visit the 75-acre sculpted landscape preserve designed by John Yeon for the pure pleasure and solace of experiencing the Columbia River Gorge
In the early 1960s, Yeon purchased a mile-long stretch of the Columbia River’s north shore, directly across from Multnomah Falls, to save it from industrial development. With a bulldozer and sweat equity, Yeon shaped the land into a private park he dubbed, The Shire. Drawing inspiration from the picturesque landscapes of England, yet wholly Northwest in its fealty to the native watershed and flora, The Shire offers a series of captured views of the falls from groomed paths and, most breathtakingly, from a central, amphitheater-shaped, grass berm. The Shire’s purpose is simple: a site for enjoying the landscape and for inspiring visitors to join Yeon’s lifelong cause to shape the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.