Legendary Safari Club

So... taxidermy.

Every Thanksgiving growing up, my family would gather in my Uncle Pat's game room/man cave, dish up our heaping plates of turkey and mashed potatoes, and eat around the pool table or -- for the kids, of course -- seated at the fully-stocked bar, directly under the noses of some pretty amazing taxidermied heads.

There was a big ol' mountain goat, and I think a moose. It's the mountain goat I really remember, because of his huge curly horns and glassy sideways stare basically asking if I'm going to eat that, as I pushed some dry turkey around my plate.

Before the Legendary Safari Club, I thought I knew what it meant to eat your meat with taxidermied animals breathing down your neck. I was amateurishly, embarrassingly kidding myself.

It's impossible to properly describe the entire scene here, but I would never describe this place as serene. Most of the at least 100 animals were shot, literally on safaris, by the original owner. The dioramas are graphic.

The calmest animals, say like a monkey, will be free-standing, so if you're, say, stumbling around after a few too many blended drinks, dancing to the super loud rock band on the laser-lighted dance floor, as it appears many of the regular locals (stars of an entirely different nature show) are wont to do, you might turn around and accidentally grope one or knock one over. A monkey, that is.

There's a large mounted head above or near every table, so even when I looked down, there was a reflection of a zebra in the (imitation maple) syrup that I poured over my chicken (strip) and (Eggo) waffle. My vegan friend really loved that part.

So tips:

The best part about this place is, of course, the taxidermy. Followed up by probably the mac and cheese bites. Although our service was golden-hearted (and, in response to a previous review, seemingly neutral-trending-kind toward the gays in our party), it was a little frazzled and seemed maybe not really designed for dinner, and our Sysco food took forever and was liberally deep-, and possibly double-deep fried.

Really, maybe just get drinks. A lot of them are sweet and blended and safari-themed. Maybe get one before you go, too. My imagination is very active. This place sends it into overwhelmption and requires some alcohol to dull it down.

Cast lots for the designated driver, because it'd be hard to be sober here, and also it takes about an hour to get out there, so plan for that.

But... you should go.

A few months back Mr. Kupcakes and I joined some of our friends at the Legendary Safari Club in Estacada Oregon one sunny afternoon. The drive out was easy and relaxing. As soon as we came into Estacada we knew right where the Safari Club was by their huge sign beckoning all to some explore all they had to offer. And
explore we did.

Now, I've never been one for stuffed animals. Real or fake. I'm not too fond of furs, either. Our friend, Julie can detest to that from when one of her furs touched me and I screamed. Both of them are just kind of well, creepy, to me. However, I love kitch and the history different places have to offer so I wasn't going to let anything stop us from checking-this place out. Especially since we'd been saying for years we were going to get out there one of these days.

The Safari Club was designed and constructed by Jorgans Construction Company in 1970. It is the only establishment of its kind in the world today. The collection of trophies housed at the Safari Club, came from 23 different hunting expeditions in six different countries throughout the world over a six year period. Glen Park, one of the most active hunters of his time, wanted to share his trophies with others and as a result, opened the Safari Club. The trophies are displayed in grandiose glass enclosures replete with faux foliage and lavish murals, with some even being engaged in everlasting battles to the death.

Admittedly, the displays are a bit out there and have aged in a most interesting manner. You will just have to see it to see what I mean.  However, this place still somehow becomes that place that you've been looking for way too long. A place that can become a bizarre  playground, of sorts. I mean come on, it's a classic dive bar with strong drinks, low light, live bands on the weekends and is also a natural history museum. Our friends can't phantom a better place to get drunk, especially off Monkey's Milk, and play make-believe.  Plus, there's an animal for every one's liking to take a picture with.

I highly recommend checking this Oregon oddity out. Who knows, you might just see us there...

In the Northwest we like one of a kind mashups. The film Sometimes a Great Notion is a logger love triangle. Bagby is a hippie hot spring. We have gastro pubs, record store bars and thrift store bars, bicycle shop bars and bmx track restaurants.

But in all of Oregon's oddities, the Legendary Safari Club is at the top in mashups, it's a dive bar-natural history museum-all American restaurant. It would fit perfectly into Grimm or David Lynch's Twin Peaks.

Back when logging was king, and primordial trees from virgin forests fell in the Clackamas River Basin, Glen E Park prospered. Born in 1913, he developed a passion for big game hunting. Eventually he sold his mill, and in 1970 constructed the Safari Club to display his trophies. Outside it's stone with a faux thatched roof, perfect!

Inside, trophy heads and full animals are arranged around the club, which takes up a half city block. Some are posed in dramatic dioramas behind glass, museum-style. Others are free standing, tucked in corners here and there. There were originally over a hundred animals at the Safari Club!

Mr Park traveled the world to countries whose names have changed since his visit: British Honduras, Rhodesia, Bechuanaland. Shooting big game has passed from style over the years too. Now people more commonly take trophies as photographs with ridiculously expensive fast wide prime lenses. That is why the place is so fascinating. But Mr Park did donate money in his lifetime to wildlife conservation.

Now the building is a little worn and divey. Inside, the trophies are a bit shaggy. The bathrooms are a little beat and the decor somewhat mismatched, with genuine '70's items on up to now. There is a private Jungle Room filled with tribal artifacts, viewable through the window, a vast main area, including a stage for bands, and a bar area.

After the original owners, the Safari Club was briefly an American Chinese restaurant. The place has new owners since September 2011 and a classic American menu.

The food portions are large and inexpensive. They have a vast menu and a huge kitchen. The menu has breakfast items, appetizers, sandwiches, pizza, and plated dinners. The salad that comes with the dinners is large, but not too distinguished. The chicken and waffles was substantial, but nothing special about the waffles. This is not a Portland-style gourmand spot. All the menu items have humorous safari or animal-themed names and there is a sweet-style mixed drink list with entertaining names too. They had 5 micros and 2 macros on tap, and an about half and half mix of bottled micro and macro beers. The bar is not set up with fancy obscure top shelf bottles, but that is fitting and goes with the vibe.

We had the dining room to ourselves on a Sunday dinner time, though the bar area was pretty crowded with regulars. Our server was great and the kitchen apologetic for being short staffed. One gentleman who wasn't even working there that day volunteered to help out the wait person. That is Estacada community spirit in action!

On Saturday nights they have bands and DJ's that take requests. There might be a cover then. They also have their own small bus, you could check on transporting your party.

They have a very unusual selection of extremely blingy purses and jewelry in a display case for sale.

It's a great place to stop inbound or outbound on your recreational trips in the Clackamas Basin. It is an easy detour from Sandy on the way to or from Hood or any East Hwy 26 destinations. You could camp out in McIver Park. Or from Portland, it's about 45 minutes each way. I'm hoping this place booms again, upgrades the food, and starts a brewery.

The attraction of the Safari Club is the epic authenticity of a classic bar with a personal history and retro elements you literally will not see anywhere else in the world! The only thing missing from the Legendary Safari is you and a big group of your friends!