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Dorris Ranch Living History Filbert Farm
South 2nd & Dorris Streets
Springfield, OR

Mailing address:
200 South Mill Street
Springfield, OR 97477

Hours
Open daily for self-guided tours. Call for information on organized tours.

541-736-4044

Admission
Self-guided tours: Free
Guided tours: Call
Special events: Call

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At Dorris Ranch, the story of the past is told in the crunch of nutshells underfoot, in the crisp bite of a wild herb, and in the whispering, rushing sound of water spraying over rocks where the Middle and Coast Forks of the Willamette River converge. The past meets the present in the special place that is Dorris Ranch.

Dorris Ranch is known as the first commercial filbert farm in the United States. Lawyer-turned-farmer George Dorris and his wife, Lulu, purchased the property in 1892 for $4,000. George Dorris experimented with peaches, cherries, grapes, and hops before planting the first 50 filbert trees in 1903. George and his nephew, Ben Dorris, perfected a propagation method that made the Ranch one of the most successful filbert tree nurseries anywhere. Over the next 50 years, the Dorris family planted an additional 9,200 filbert trees and harvested more than 50 tons of nuts each year.

Dorris Ranch continues to make history as Oregon’s first living-history farm. Purchased by Willamalane Park and Recreation District in 1972, the 258-acre farm operates as a nonprofit organization. The appearance and farming practices at Dorris Ranch have changed very little since the days of George Dorris. More than half of all commercial filbert trees in the United States originated from Dorris Ranch nursery stock.

Natural Wonders
Dorris Ranch’s orderly orchards give way to 175 acres of riverside forest teeming with life. Beaver, bobcat, and several species of birds have been sighted. Native plants range from a big-leaf maple tree that towers over a meadow to fragile spring trilliums and fawn lilies native to Oregon. Of particular interest is a savanna of threatened Oregon white oak at the center of the Ranch, home to more than 200 species of wildlife. Maps are available at the kiosk for self-guided tours.

Living History
Through school field trips and interpretive Trail Talks, Dorris Ranch Living History Program guides describe Ranch life from the beginning, when a band of Kalapuya Indians camped and fished here in winter. Trappers, fur traders, and Oregon Trail pioneers also played important roles in Dorris Ranch history.

Special Events
The Dorris Ranch Living History Festival, held in September, is one of the best times to learn about Dorris Ranch. Costumed historical interpreters from several eras offer visitors a stroll through time. And don’t miss October’s Haunted Hayride, when hundreds of jack-o-lanterns decorate the trails.

Rent Dorris Ranch
Dorris Ranch is a popular site for weddings, business retreats, parties, and company picnics. The orchard areas, the Dorris Ranch Barn, and the Tomseth House are available for rent.

How to Get There
Dorris Ranch is located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, two miles east of Interstate 5 in Springfield, and is accessible via Interstate 105 or Highway 126.

From Pioneer Parkway West in Springfield, go south past Main Street and South A Street. Pioneer Parkway West becomes South 2nd Street. Continue south to the intersection with Dorris Street. Go straight ahead on the gravel road to the Ranch.

Guides dressed in period costume for the annual Living History Festival.

One of the filbert orchards.

A guided classroom tour.

Horse and buggy at the Living History Festival.

Students learning about the ecosystem of the Ranch.