On the banks of the Columbia River, tucked into the trees on a nude beach on Sauvie Island just north of Portland, sits a strange craft. It is UFO-looking, landlocked and lonely…
And Covered in Grafitti
For many years, not a soul seemed to know how this saucer-like shipwreck came to its final resting place on Collins Beach. This clothing-optional beach has seen plenty of bare bottoms, but the craft’s origins were not so revealing. That is until a new story came out on the UFO-like structure, and suddenly, the skeletons came out of the closet.
Namely the designer and builder of the boat. His name? Richard Ensign, a resident of Hubbard, Oregon. Now Mr. Ensign was a bit of an eccentric, in that he believed that the impending social and financial collapse of society as we know it would drive people to live more simply. He was a bit before his time, however, as it appears the Tiny House phenomenon is just starting to gain roots.
But I digress. His answer to this was an experiment: using $10,000 of his own money to build a concrete sailboat to make a quick getaway from the collapse of society that would surely happen at any time.
An Experiment Gone Awry?
The 31-foot-long self-righting boat had hulls filled with foam (for general floatiness) and was powered by two sails, and a paddlewheel powered by your standard 6-cylinder car engine. This was 1972. The next year Ensign embarked on his maiden voyage down the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, with a crew of eight. The boat was outfitted with everything needed for a crew of 12, and set sail, bound for Astoria, Oregon. The boat was in use off and on until 1996 when flood tides from a storm on the Columbia River deposited the boat too far above the high-water line at Collins Beach and ran aground. It remains there to this day, well out of reach of the current high-tide waters.
I wasn’t sure how hidden this apparent UFO-looking thing was, so I followed my nose to the general Collins Beach area. Turns out it’s not hard to find. Once you follow the short path past the Collins Beach Entrance sign and reach the beach itself, turn left and follow the water for a short way. Keep looking to your left among the trees and you won’t miss it. It’s close to the Warrior Rock Trailhead if that helps you at all. The trailhead is part of the seven-mile Warrior Point Hike also offers the Warrior Rock Lighthouse for those that are so inclined.
Final Resting Place
It almost looks at home in the trees, and you can walk all around it on the sandy ground. Someone has thoughtfully erected two large tree branches where you can shimmy up into the ship to get a look inside the hull. I’m not sure how safe it is, however, as I wasn’t in the mood to climb up myself. But it looked like a fun thing to do if you’re so inclined (just do so at your own risk.) Even if there were lifeguards on Collins Beach, they sure as hell wouldn’t stop what they’re doing to fetch some poor schmuck out of an abandoned graffiti ship if they were to get stuck in there. As with anything in life, use your best judgment here, people.
It’s a bit of a mystery why exactly it looks so UFO-like. Perhaps that was just part of Ensign’s eccentric experiment – to make a unique-looking ship and to find out if such as design was practical on the water. Still, it’s an interesting story and a unique day trip from Portland with which to keep your out-of-town friends entertained.
Just don’t be offended by the naked people on the beach.
What Else To Do on Sauvie Island?
Sauvie Island is the largest island along the Columbia River, just 10 miles northwest of Portland. The island is rich in farmland and you will see many farmhouses driving down the road. When you’re not scouting for fake UFO’s, here are some other things to do while you’re here:
- Wapato Greenway Access State Park – Hiking, picnicking, relaxing, a great place to unwind.
- Halloween Hoopla Pumpkin Patches – Fall means pumpkins, and this place has one of the best in Portland.
- Sauvie Island Wildlife Area – an awesome bird-watching activity.
- Hang out at the Beach – there are several beaches on Sauvie Island, with Collins Beach being clothing-optional.
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2 Comments
This is not true. I saw this vessel on the beach in Sauvie Island is the late 70’s early 80’s. It was not the flood of ’96.
Very interesting, Lisa! My research said is landed there just a couple of decades ago.