Welcome To Bandon Visitors Guide 2010

• Shipwrecks! Ahoy!

Published: Thursday, May 21st, 2009 Shipwrecks! Ahoy! While Oregon's South Coast has no history of pirate attacks, hundreds of vessels have gone down in this area's waters.
Shipwreck mania struck the area in early 2008 when shifting sands on Oregon beaches uncovered buried shipwrecks and artifacts from sunken vessels in several places along the coast. The remains of at least eight wrecks are visible in and around Bandon today.

During the winter of 2006-07, part of the bow section of the 154-foot schooner Acme was revealed after strong storms lashed the coast. The stern section of the Acme rests under sand dunes near the Coquille River Lighthouse, where it was visible for years before being covered by shifting sands.

Local cartographer Ned Reed has been researching shipwrecks off and on for about 40 years.

According to Reed's research, the U.S. government believes that about 120 vessels have gone down on or near the Coquille River bar.
If the feds are right, another 70 to 80 wrecks rest beneath nearby ocean waves, along the river bottom and under drifting sand dunes.

Reed, has published a shipwreck map covering lost vessels in this area.

The best views of several of the local wrecks probably can be had from a boat in the river. Reed strongly cautions wreck hunters to ask permission from property owners before crossing their lands to see a wreck.

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