Rufus, Oregon
"We'll take the backroads to Rufus."
"What's a 'Rufus'?"
- actors Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton, in the movie Bandits, filmed in Oregon.
Rufus was named for Rufus C. Wallis, the original settler in the community. Wallis later moved across the Columbia River and settled in Klickitat County, Washington. He received a U.S. patent for the Klickitat County land on Dec. 13, 1876, for 163.75 acres. -- Source: Oregon Geographic Names, Sixth Edition, 1992, Lewis L. McArthur, Oregon Historical Society Press, ISBN O-87595-237-2.
The incorporated City of Rufus is located along the south bank of the Columbia River in Sherman County, five miles east of Bigg's Junction at Highway 97 and I-84. The John Day Dam Visitor's center is accessed by the same exit you take to get to Rufus. Rufus was incorporated in 1965. The elevation of the town is 235 feet.
Rufus City Offices
400 Main St.,
PO Box 27
Rufus, OR 97050
Phone: 541-739-2321
Fax: 541-739-2460
Email: rufuscity@oregontrail.net
Website: http://www.cityofrufus.org
Fire, 911;
Non-emergency: 541-739-2222
Rufus Post Office:
541-739-2465
Wasco Electric:
541-296-2740
Garbage - Sunrise Sanitation:
541-442-5410
Colville Tribal Services Corp.
541-739-2183
NOAA Nat'l Marine Fisheries Service
Rufus
541-739-2387
Rufus Community Center
304 W. 2nd St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2300
Rufus Baptist Church
307 Wallace St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2328
Local Businesses & Attractions:
Bob's Texas T-Bone & Frosty's Lounge
101 E. 1st St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2559
Rufus Hillview Motel
203 Wallace St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-8221
Tyee Motel
304 E. 1st St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2310
Rufus RV Park
311 Wallace St.
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2272
Deschutes State Park / East Bank
541-739-2322
Dolph's Rock Shop & Museum - Rufus-Biggs Highway 30
Call in advance: 541-739-2816.
Giles French Park below the John Day Dam
(boat ramp, fishing, camping, restrooms) John Day Dam Visitor Center
PO Box 564
The Dalles, OR 97058-0564
Phone: 541-296-1181
Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger
95920 I-84 Hwy
Rufus, OR 97050
541-739-2713
The John Day Dam is located at the head of Lake Celilo, 216 miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River. The dam crosses the river near Rufus, Oregon, 28 miles upstream from The Dalles, just below the mouth of the John Day River. To get to John Day Dam take exit 109 from Interstate 84.
Source: Oregon Hiways
The Dam has a lift of 95 feet and the backwaters behind it are called Lake Umatilla with a pool of 268 feet. It was constructed in 1968. Owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District. Hydraulic capacity: 322 kcfs, Spillway: 1228 feet, 20 gates.
More information:
Photos: http://www.cbr.washington.edu/crisp/hydro/hydrojdap.html
Park & camping information: http://gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nra/ace/or_john.htm |
