MT HOOD PERSONALITY

A Landmark for Leisure

Bob Gamble Brings Back the Brightwood Tavern

A long toot followed by a short toot from the yarder in the woods meant quitting time, and the loggers around Brightwood headed into town for a welcomed cold beer and friendly conversation. At the same time the millworkers were changing shifts at the lumber mill down the Sandy River at Sleepy Hollow. The day shift was off and was heading to Brightwood too. They would all meet at the Brightwood Tavern in the heart of town.

The Brightwood Tavern has been a traditional watering hole for the hard working folk of the area since 1946; until recently. The old log tavern had fallen onto a few rough times, but it appears that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for her again. Long time Mountain resident Bob Gamble has come to her rescue. He and his crew have been working feverishly to reopen the quaint log cabin tavern in the woods and hope to have her in full swing the first of June.

Bob is no stranger to the “The Brightwood”. When asked what brought him to The Mountain in 1976 he will tell you... “I had an opportunity to buy a tavern”.  He explains that he was involved with another tavern in town and the Heidelburg distributor told him about the Whistle Stop.  He and his wife Lenna moved to the mountain and bought the business. He ended up selling the Whistle Stop and after hearing news about the Brightwood Tavern being available and he decided that it was for him.

The era that Bob owned the Brightwood was an era of prosperity and popularity for the establishment. “Everybody came to The Brightwood back then” Bob explained. It was the spot on the mountain that all the locals came to. In time even the best things pass and Bob’s era in the taverns history passed too, or so it seemed.

Thirty years later and it seems that history is repeating itself. When asked why he decided to acquire and re-open The Brightwood he replied, “I wanted to save her.  There’s too much Oregon history and memories that would be lost if she were to become irreparable”. You can tell how much that the tavern means to him by the look in his eye and the enthusiasm that he has for its current remodel. 

His dear wife Lenna has passed, but he holds her memory dear. She was such a part of his life that hardly a breath goes by in his conversations of the past without a mention of her name. Bob is 77 years old now and finds comfort in the old tavern.  His efforts are a gift to the local culture and the history of the Villages of Mt Hood.

Of course not all can be the same as before. Bob wants to keep the spirit and atmosphere the same, but the days of cigarette smoke and a single tap handle of Heidelberg are gone. The Brightwood Tavern will welcome a non smoking atmosphere and will offer a series of craft beers. A big screen will be installed for sports events and he will be installing a pizza oven for the newly remodeled kitchen and will offer pizza and pub fare to go.

Please take a little time and leave the hustle of Highway 26, head down Brightwood Loop and stop into the Brightwood Tavern for an authentic local Mt Hood area experience.

Written by Gary Randall
 

May / June 2009

« Back to this issue...