Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area
Chester H. Armstrong, HISTORY OF THE OREGON STATE PARKS: 1917-1963
Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Park is located on Interstate Highway 80N, near Mitchell Point, approximately five miles west of the city of Hood River in Hood River County.
The entire park area, 126 acres, was a gift from the Columbia River Gorge Commission on August 14, 1961. It was first a gift to the Gorge Commission from the Lausmann family on December 28, 1954, as a memorial to Vinzenz Lausmann and to be used for park purposes. The document relinquishing title to the state specifies that title is given upon the condition that said land shall be designated and forever known as "Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial Park."
Preservation of the scenic aspects of the Columbia River Gorge prompted the Commission to accept this generous gift. The Lausmann tract is located in a scenic section of the gorge and joins Seneca Fouts State Park to the north and east and Wygant State Park to the west.
The terrain in general is quite steep, and south of the old highway it rises abruptly. The coverage is small fir trees intermingled with maple and alder, two varieties which add greatly to the beauty of the gorge when fall turns their green leaves to many brilliant colors.
A plaque giving information about Mr. Lausmann and his gift to the public is to be erected at this park. Mr. Lausmann supplied $753.45 to the Columbia Gorge Commission toward the plaque.
No improvements have been added to this area.
Armstrong, Chester H. HISTORY OF THE OREGON STATE PARKS: 1917-1963. Oregon State Parks. July 1, 1965. http://npshistory.com/publications/oregon/history/sec5.htm#V Accessed June 16, 2020
As stated on the plaque, the memorial is near the park, not actually in the park itself. Likewise, the old sign at the bottom of the page at the Mitchell Point Overlook and trailhead was actually, along with the memorial, in Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area.
Oregon State Parks: Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area
The family of Vinzenz Lausmann gave 126 acres of rugged scenic land to the State of Oregon in his memory. This park adjoins two other state parks tract near Mitchell Point located about 5 miles west of Hood River on Interstate 84. A plaque honoring Mr. Lausmann is at the foot of the park, where a trail leads the visitor up the steep faces of fir, alder and maple which define the Columbia River Gorge in this area. The views of the Gorge from this trail are spectacular.
This area was a gift from the Lausmann family to the Columbia River Gorge Commission in 1954. In 1964, the Gorge Commission gave the tract to the state for park purposes, stipulating that it be named in memory of Vinzenz Lausmann. It was acquired to protect the scenic features of the Columbia Gorge.
Acreage: 126
https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=124
Here's the old sign, below, or one very similar to it, when it was still up... Plus a great post on the Mitchell Point Trail (http://wyeastblog.org/2012/05/05/exploring-mitchell-point/)!
Historic Hood River: May 19, 2014
Comment by i.e. on May 19, 2014:
In the book "Swivel Chair Logger", Tony Lausmann states that the family owned the beach at Mitchell point, which was the best beach in the area. He says they never charged the public for using it....
He says Bonneville Dam took out much of the beach and what was left was taken by the freeway.
Comment by spinsur on May 19, 2014:
Actually l.e., the Lausman name shows up on these same Bonneville Lands Maps west of Koberg's, west of Mitchell Point, section 31 of T3N, R10E. There is a nice long "gravel beach" that parallels the river.
http://historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=894
