Historic Downtown

Historic Downtown Echo

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National Register of Historical Places
20 S. Bonanza Street
Echo, Oregon
Info: (541) 376-6038

In 1920 downtown Echo was a bustling center with two commercial streets and a railroad right-of-way filled with businesses such as warehouses, a wool scouring plant and stockyards.

Today, Echo's downtown is a work-in-progress; a mix of historic buildings and complimentary in-fill. The railroad property may be vacant, but it offers a great deal of development potential for interested entrepreneurs. The downtown retains an historic look and ambience with seven National Register of Historic Places' buildings and a dozen other locally recognized historic buildings.

Businesses

Echo Community Center
Echo Historical Museum
Echo Community Church
His Design Second Hand Store
Sno Road Winery / Echo West Vineyard Office
H&P Cafe
Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. Railroad Museum
U.S. Post Office
Echo Secured Storage
Honey of Life SPA
Echo Fort Storage
Redhead Express Business Solutions
Buttercreek Coffee House
Wild Bleu Yonder

Others

Apartment Buildings
City Parks
Fire Hall
Lodge Halls
Mini-Storage Businesses
RV Parks

Downtown Restoration Projects

Three of Echo's downtown buildings show the great potential that restored historic buildings offer a community, both in unique architectural style and functionality:

The Echo Community Center was restored from the 1916 city hall building to create a modern city hall, library and auditorium-ballroom while retaining the historical look and feel of the original building. The building also attracts visitors who enjoy historic displays of vintage clothing, Native American artifacts, artwork, Fort Henrietta-Utilla Indian Agency archaeological site displays, historic photographs and many other historic displays related to Echo's History.

The Piercy family has restored a c. 1870 building that has been used as a grocery store, and school house, giving it new life as their ranch and vineyard office.

Brie Piercy and Angel Ledesma completed renovation of the Echo meat market and grocery building in the fall of 2006 and opened the Red Express. The Red Express now houses a bakery and deli-restaurant that offers an upscale, yet homey atmosphere for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner, or to enjoy the wide selection of northwest wines and beers.

The Future of Downtown Echo

Echo's downtown offers many opportunities. Over seven acres of undeveloped land is located along the Union Pacific Railroad and State Highway 320 on Echo's Thielsen and Main Streets. There are other buildings and lots ready for infill on Main Street. Rental and property prices in Echo are much lower than those found in surrounding towns. Utility rates and connection fees are reasonable.

In July 2007, the city and businesses adopted a downtown plan funded by an Oregon Department of Transportation grant. The plan focuses on enhancing and beautifying Echo's downtown while retaining the historic look and ambience that makes Echo and its downtown unique.

Echo has been involved in the America in Bloom program since 2006 and a number of improvements to parks, roadside landscaping and floral displays have been added as part of this project.

Visitors to Downtown

The downtown has a number of historic attractions for visitors. A brochure provides a walking tour of 23 historic buildings and sites. The Echo Historical Museum is open weekends from April through October. The Echo Community Center at City Hall has displays of vintage clothing, Native American artifacts, historic photos, artifacts from the Fort Henrietta-Utilla Indian Agency site and other historical displays.

Fort Henrietta Park is a National Register of Historic Places site with a Covered Wagon Museum and Antique Fire Equipment Museum. These unmanned museums and displays have push button controllers that provide information. Displays open dusk to dark.

Maps

Photos & Media

Our interactive photo and media galleries bring historic Echo to life in crisp and vivid detail.

Click below to to view the gallery which contains images included on this page. Browse our Galleries' home to access all images.