Story and photos by Cheryl Hartz
A couple who to who chose to wait years to marry left their legacy of love – and love of the outdoors – to Benton County, Oregon, for the public to learn from and savor.
Fred and Dolores Beazell honored the wishes of her mother and it wasn’t until her death that the couple married, in 1968, at ages 52 and 44. Two years before that, Fred bought land in Kings Valley (Benton County) and began planting trees, traveling often from his home in California to the 586-acre parcel he loved.
The couple moved to Oregon in 1981, where Fred continued planting trees and both enjoyed bird watching and feeding their feathered friends.
Dolores died in 1993 and, to honor her memory, Fred willed the property to Benton County as the Beazell Memorial Forest before he died in 2000. It opened to the public in 2003.
Management also ensures conservation and restoration of meadows, natural resources, outdoor recreation, and wildlife such as bears and cougars.
The emphasis of the mixed species forest is placed on restoring the Douglas fir/oak forest and oak savanna ecosytems through conservation forestry. Along with protecting old trees, a certain amount of harvesting is permitted in addition to planting new trees to balance the forest’s age and provide biodiversity. More than half of the land always will be left in its natural state.
Environmental education and research also are important. The Plunkett family barn, built from lumber milled on site in the 1930s, was adapted in 2007 for students of all ages as the charming Beazell Forest Education Center.
Trails wind up and down hills, through the moss-laden forest, along an active stream of ripples and small waterfalls, and across rustic-looking bridges, for an invigorating and refreshing hike.
On our fall hike, we saw a patient young man joyfully leading several special needs boys along the trails, enjoying the fresh air and the forest’s beauty. The Beazells would be touched to know their legacy benefits so many every day of the week.
Happy heartfelt hiking!
