It was one of the final stops of their journey, and the beginning of Astorias.
Where is Astoria?
Astoria is located in the far northwestern corner of Oregon, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.
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Surrounded by forested hills and dramatic water views, Astoria anchors the northern edge of the Oregon Coast.
Why are so many films made in and around Astoria?
Salmon canneries once lined the riverbanks.
Bumble Bee Seafoods ran its operations here until shuttering in 1980.
The Astoria Plywood Mill, the towns biggest employer, closed in 1989.
The rail line was pulled up in 1996.
That could have been the end.
But instead, Astoria pivoted.
With help from preservationists, artists, and a new wave of entrepreneurs, the town slowly transformed.
Tourists came first for the Goonies, then stayed for the beer, the views, and the history.
Tourism is now the towns heartbeat.
Astoria-Megler Bridge Drive the 4.1-mile bridge to Washington for some of the best views on the West Coast.
Buoy Beer Co. Sip craft brews above a colony of barking sea lions.
Fort Stevens State Park Explore a fort once shelled by a Japanese submarine during WWII.
Astoria Riverfront Trolley Hop on Old 300 and ride along the river with narrated history.
Flavel House Museum Step inside a perfectly preserved 1885 Queen Anne mansion.
Fisher Poets Gathering Hear sea shanties and poems from real-life fishermen each February.
Youngs River Falls Swim or picnic by a 65-foot cascade just 10 miles outside town.
Is it expensive to buy a home?
Heres a chart setting out the median home prices over the last five years.
While the pace of growth has slowed slightly year to year, Astorias housing market continues its upward trajectory.
How does the town score across other important categories?
Its fairly consistent across the board.
Its not a top ranking town to live in but it scores respectibly well across every category.
FYI, these scores obtained in conjunction with a third party data analytics firm.
Scores based on surveys and data analysis.
It punches above its weight with museums, galleries, and events.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum sees over 100,000 visitors a year.
Some hotels now book up months in advance.
Still, this isnt just a tourist town.
The port is active.
The fishing fleet is real.
Artists live alongside welders, and espresso stands share blocks with hardware stores.
Its gritty, yes.
But its real and thats what keeps people coming back.
Astoria didnt venture to become something new.
It just kept being itself and eventually, the world caught on.
