Oregon Caves Proclaimed a National Monument in
1909 the Oregon Caves has remained a geological wonder for all
to experience. A 75-minute guided interpretive tour will allow
you to view the stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone and
other beautiful formations. Tours are available all year. The
adjoining Oregon Caves Chateau offers accommodations from June
to September, year-round bed and breakfast and was designated a
National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Kerbyville
Museum in Kerby provides a wonderful insight into the
history of our area with many artifacts displayed. See Kerby in
our Profiles.
Selma - Named in 1897 by
the postmaster's wife after her home town in Iowa, Selma is
today the gateway to Southern Oregon's wild and scenic Illinois
River and to the vast Kalmiopsis Wilderness which stretches 60
miles westward through the mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The
surrounding trees and mountains create a rustic setting for the
town businesses and services which are located along a half mile
stretch on both sides of the Redwood Highway 99. It is home to
Lake Selmac & Resort.
See our
Lakes Page.
Wild Blackberry Arts and Crafts Festival in
Illinois Valley is a favorite n annual event..
Boating and Water Sports include rafting, kayaking and canoeing.
There are plenty of creeks, rivers and Lake Selmac for swimming
and water activities.
Winter Sports
include cross country skiing and snow mobiles at the Page
Mountain Snow Park and a downhill facility at nearby Ashland.
Serious skiers can travel to Mount Bachelor in Sun River, about
a 4 1/2 hour drive.
Hiking, Camping and Picnic
Areas are limitless in many state and federally
operated locations. Trails include those for hiking, biking,
horseback riding and four-wheel drive vehicles or motorcycles.
Illinois Valley Golf Course and several
other golf courses in the surrounding areas. We also have
baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and horse
riding clubs.
Climate with an average
elevation on the valley of 1,350', we offer more than 300
frost-free days per year, attested to by our fast-growing wine
vineyard operations. The Illinois Valley lies in one of the few
U.S. climatic zones which experience little summer precipitation
and comfortably low humidity. Some summer days may reach 100
degrees, but the nights often will still require a blanket.
For the vast majority of the year there is zero air pollution
and a low percentage of cloud cover, which contributes to the
valley receiving more solar energy than most of the United
States.
Winter
temperatures seldom fall below 20 degrees. Occasional snowfall
on the valley floor seldom reaches 6 inches and usually melts
away in two to three days. Precipitation averages 30-40 inches
in the winter. The water supply is primarily subterranean or is
from the snowpack in the surrounding mountains.
The
average latest and earliest killing frosts are April 17 and Oct.
25. Located less than 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean, our
valley has cooler summers and warmer winters than adjacent areas
located farther inland.
Local winter energy needs are met
primarily by wood and heat pumps with solar energy being
designed in new structures.
Public Schools
- The Illinois Valley has an elementary school - Evergreen
Elementary in Cave Junction. There is one middle school, Lorne
Byrne, and Illinois Valley High School, both located in Cave
Junction. There is also a Head Start Program and Alternative
Education Center.
Private Schools -
There are several pre-school and kindergarten programs and some
providing education through the 12th grade. The Seventh-Day
Adventist Academy and the Community Christian Academy are two
having religious affiliations.
Higher Education
s Rogue Community College has its main campus in Grants Pass, 25
miles north of Cave Junctions.
Geographical
Location Illinois Valley In the Southwest corner of
Oregon covers about 1,600 square miles of mountain terrain. The
elevation ranges from 1,240' above sea level along the river to
7,055' above sea level on Grayback Mountain.
Valley Soil consists of stream-deposited sand, silt and
gravel, bench gravel deposits, and glacial moraines. Some areas
contain deposits of placer gold, minor platinum, nickel, and
chrome made commercially unimportant by current regulations and
restrictions.
Illinois Valley Economy
is based on a fast-fading lumber industry; growing tourism,
cottage industries and retirement, minimal agriculture, and
employment by the government.
Lake Selmac in Selma
offers boating, fishing, swimming, camping facilities, and
horseback riding. See our
Lakes
Page
Labor - Almost any industry or company locating in the Illinois
Valley can look to Rogue Community College for technical and
vocational training to upgrade existing worker skills.
Seventy-five percent of its 350 classes each session relate to
job training and it can even provide special short-term programs
for individual employers. A Small Business Development Center
offers continuous courses and training in the Historic City Hall
in Grants Pass as well as on campus.
Churches
- The
Illinois Valley is home to more than 20 churches covering almost
every denomination.
Illinois Valley Airport
s located four miles south of Cave Junction and
provides a major flying and skydiving center, The
paved landing strip is 5,200 feet long, 75' wide and at an
elevation of 1,400'. It has 20,000 pounds single and 30,000
pounds double wheel bearing weight. Airline service is available
at Crescent city, California or Medford, Oregon (verify info).
Ground -
The Illinois Valley is bisected by US 199 (also called the
Redwood Highway) which runs from Interstate 5 at Grants Pass to
US Hwy. 101 on the coast. There is limited bus service in and
out of the area. Daily delivery service is provided by UPS and
FEDEX with local drop-off points. Several regional and national
freight carriers also service the area. A Greyhound bus station
is located in Grants Pass, approximately 30 miles from Cave
Junction. Go-kart and motorcycle racing enthusiasts travel to
nearby Crescent City in Northern California.
Hunting and FishingOregon hunters annually bag more than
100,000 deer and 15,000 elk as well as a number of antelope and
bear. For the bird hunter, pheasant, quail, pigeon, geese and
duck provide a sportsman's selection. The Illinois (check
restrictions), Rogue River and Applegate Rivers provide salmon,
steelhead and trout, while Selma's 160-acre man-made Lake Selmac
is the state's premier trophy bass lake. A 55-mile drive to the
coast affords surfcasting and deep sea opportunities.
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