Property Watch: Buy This 1976 Fishing Cabin for $418K

There has been a lot of discourse about the Airbnb “aesthetic” as it applies to home design. Think: White painted wood. Subway tile. Edison bulbs. Old hardback books as decor, maybe even turned backward on the shelves. In 2016, a writer for the Verge coined the so-called neutral and Instagrammable look AirSpace.

Perhaps that’s why, more than ever, we want to appreciate time capsules just like this one: a 1976 fishing cabin in Tillamook, complete with tongue-and-groove knotty fir, a vintage orange enamel freestanding fireplace, and a sleeping loft tucked under the vaulted ceiling.

The main entry is just below a metal-roofed portico, at a blue-painted door that opens directly into the kitchen and eating area. There, find a nice-sized U-shape layout with wood cabinets, plenty of prep space, and full-size appliances, as well as enough room for a sizable dining table by the big window overlooking the river.

A wooden staircase divides the plan, landing at a second glass door to the rear deck, with the living room on the other side. It has the vintage fireplace, another big window, and a continuation of the wood paneling along the rear wall and up the vaulted ceiling.

Upstairs, there’s a generous loft, and even laundry, in the (nonconforming) 232 square feet, while the downstairs has two cozy bedrooms and a full bathroom, the latter with a touch of yellow laminate on the vanity.  

But it’s not just about the throwback vibes. Located in the Narrows, a private gated community in Tillamook State Forest just 55 miles from Portland, and perched above the Wilson River, this is a prime spot for fishing steelhead, salmon, and cutthroat trout (we’re told). There’s also a wraparound deck for sitting out and listening to the river below, or eating meals at the picnic table, or reading a book in an Adirondack chair. This might be the perfect cabin experience for the next buyer—made even better, in our humble opinion, if they can keep that vintage charm intact.

• Address: 25380 Wilson River Hwy, Tillamook, OR 97141
• Size: 1,000 square feet/2 bedroom/1 bath 
• List Date: 10/24/2024
• List Price: $418,000 (dropped from $525,000)
• Listing Agent: Jeff Weithman, Real Estate Through Design

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].