Dabney State Recreation Area
Chester H. Armstrong, History of the Oregon State Parks: 1917-1963
Dabney State Park is located on the scenic, old Columbia River Highway near its junction with Base Line Road, approximately 16 miles east of Portland in Multnomah County. The land lies on both sides of the highway along the north side of Sandy River.
The original area of 70 acres was a gift to the state from Multnomah County in 1945. It is a delightful area for public use, being moderately low land divided into two benches south of the road. The lower bench is subject to flooding during periods of heavy river flow. This area is extensively covered with maple and other indigenous species. The river shore furnishes an excellent beach for wading, swimming and fishing. The parcel north of the road is covered with a dense, young growth of fir trees.
The park acreage has been increased from time to time. At the close of 1963 there were 78.65 acres in this park.
Improvements are an entrance road, car parking area, sanitary facilities, tables, stoves, water from the local water district, trails, swimming beach, cottage and a completely facilitated overnight camp.
The river bank has been riprapped along the shore to prevent the stream cutting into the use area.
The name for this park was taken from the platted area comprising the same land and carrying the name of Dabney Park. All of the streets were vacated by the county in 1946.
Dabney Park is heavily used by residents of Portland and Multnomah County.
Attendance during 1963 was 260,680 day visitors and 9,251 overnight campers.
Water right #44807 covering 0.06 c.f.s. is dated October 30, 1947.
http://npshistory.com/publications/oregon/history/sec5.htm#D
Oregon State Parks: Dabney State Recreation Area
The park was acquired between 1945 and 1968 through gift and purchase. The first tract was a gift from Multnomah County in 1945. Dabney Park was originally owned by Richard T. Dabney and his wife Martha. The Dabneys came to Oregon in 1887 and prospered from their investments in timber and real estate. Richard Dabney was an enthusiastic promoter of the Columbia River Highway and proposed a large hotel at Crown Point. Nothing came of the hotel, but the Dabneys maintained a summer house at the park site until his death in 1916.
Acreage: 134.96
Annual day use attendance: 256,050
Oregon State Parkshttp://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkHistory&parkId=110
