Historic Hood River
Koberg Beach, 1935
7-5-2012
Notes
We’ve seen several pictures of Koberg Beach, but here’s a view which includes the iconic dance pavilion which was constructed in 1927. This image from 1935 was taken just two years before the rising waters of Lake Bonneville changed the beachfront forever. Tomorrow we’ll see a very similar angle just three years later.
Charlott
Yes, it was quite the going concern. It must have been beautiful to sit out on that top deck, watch the events going on. Big dances held there, and events all summer long.
Too bad that the dam wiped it out. Could you imagine what it would be today, weddings, picnics, watching the wind group, boats. But like it is said, things never stay the same.
You can still see a little bit of I think the back portion of the foundation, or I saw it a few years ago.
Scott Cook
This pavillion wasn’t actually inundated by the 1938 waters from Bonneville dam. The Army Corps took possession of the Koberg land but didn’t tear-down the pavillion. Photos from the 1952-ish construction of I-84 clearly show the pavillion intact. Apparently cars stopped along the new I-84 (I-80) to visit the beches that still existed at Koberg. I imagine that at that point the pavillion became a "hazard", due to its now-easy access from I-84, probably sounding its death-knell and subsequent destruction.
After Bonneville’s second powerhouse came online in 1982, the normal level of the Bonneville pool was raised a few extra feet, finally inundating the foundation footings of the Koberg dance pavillion. In the low-water autumn times you can still easily see these foundations remnants at Koberg Beach.
Jill Stanford
My mother, Marguerite Peters Stanford, spent many a summer day there with her friend Leslie Forden 1930 – 1937.
Judy Mohr DeHart
My father, Johnny Mohr, had an orchestra that played for dances there. He later became the City Attorney, until his death in 1960.
Charlott
Judy I forgot all about your Dad and his orchestra there. Thanks for jogging my memory and sharing it with others.
Arthur
Judy, do you have any pictures of your Dad’s orchestra you can share? We have one nice picture of a dance at the pavilion, but the orchestra is obscured.