Antique Car Tour slated for Saturday July 23, 2016 from Troutdale to The Dalles

As part of the Historic Columbia River Highway Centennial Celebration, the Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway is hosting an Antique Car Tour, Saturday, July 23, 2016 from Troutdale to The Dalles.

The tour will conclude at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, which is hosting a “Meet and Greet BBQ & Brews” welcome from 4 to 7 p.m. The museum will have free admission after 4 p.m.; exhibits will close at 5.  Restrooms will be open until 7 p.m.  Barbecue choices include ribs $12; chicken $10; burgers $9; side dishes of potato salad, coleslaw, or baked beans for $1 each.

The public is invited to enjoy microbrew beer produced by local breweries, including Freebridge Brewing, Sedition Brewing and Route 30 Bottles & Brews. 16 oz. keg beer on tap $5. The year 2016 marked the opening of all three breweries in The Dalles, the first commercial breweries in The Dalles since prohibition took effect in 1916.

The arrival of the Antique Car Tour at The Dalles is estimated to be around 4 p.m. where they will pick up Mayor Steve Lawrence to tour the downtown, then travel on Highway 30 out to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles. The public will be welcome to come and view the fleet of vintage autos, all manufactured by 1949 or earlier, and talk with the owners.

The day will begin as cars and other vehicles such as motorcycles and trucks assemble at 6:30 a.m. at the ODOT building in Troutdale, then at 7:15 a.m. proceed to a viewing along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Troutdale.  The vehicles will be on display while drivers and passengers have a chance to have a pancake breakfast, after which they will lead the parade beginning Troutdale's SummerFest, with the oldest vehicle leading the way and with Troutdale's Mayor Doug Daoust in the lead car to Glenn Otto Park.

The next stop will be Vista House, with its amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge. It will be followed by a 'tour-in-slow-motion' through the waterfall area, past the most visited natural site in Oregon — Multnomah Falls.

After a short drive on Interstate I-84, the vehicles will assemble on the lawn at the pavilion in Cascade Locks Marine Park, near the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. They will parade through Cascade Locks, then drive to Wyeth, followed by another short segment on Interstate 84 to Hood River.

The tour will travel through Hood River approximately 1:30 p.m. and onto the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and through the Mosier Twin Tunnels.

In Mosier, they will be greeted by the Mayor Arlene Burns and 'Mosierites' at approx. 2:45 p.m., who will be with the vehicles in the parade through town.  As the tour proceeds east they will drive by the beautiful mansion at historic Mayerdale Estate, and experience the panoramic view at Rowena Crest.

After touring through The Dalles, the Antique Car Tour will end at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, at The Dalles. Arrival time is estimated to be approximately 4 p.m. and the day will wind down with the BBQ and Brews from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.gorgediscovery.org or  http://www.hcrh.org/events/2016-antique-car-tour/.