Boring
Boring, an unincorporated community of 8,000 people in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, is twinned with Dull, Scotland and Bland, Australia. The Boring official slogan is "The most exciting place to live."
Understand
The town is named for William H. Boring, a Union veteran who had moved to Oregon after the Civil War as one of the earliest settlers in the area and donated an acre to build the first Boring school. Boring was established as a rail junction in 1903 (the lines of the defunct Portland Traction Company, which ran from Portland to Boring, are now mostly trails) and relied on timber as a principal industry for much of the 20th century.
Since 2012, Boring's sister city is tiny Dull, in Perth and Kinross County, Scotland (pop. 85), a former seventh-century monastery site by the River Tay. This partnership has brought many Boring visitors to the one tiny Dull corner of old Scotland and generated publicity for both communities. Along with former gold mining and farming area Bland Shire, West Wyalong, Australia (pop 6,000), these villages form the "League of Extraordinary Communities", a grouping to promote Dull, Bland and Boring by capitalizing on their unique names.
Get in
By car
Take US-26 to Oregon Highway 212, the Clackamas Boring highway. US26, the Mount Hood Highway, is the main road from Portland to Mount Hood through Gresham, Boring and Sandy.
Get around
There is no public transport in this Boring town.
See
- 🌍 Mount Hood National Forest, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy (headquarters), ☏ +1 503 668-1700. At its closest point, the forest is 25 miles (40km) southeast of Boring on US26. Camping is permitted.
Do
- Mountain View Golf Course, 27195 SE Kelso Road, ☏ +1 503 663-4869. 18-hole course with view of Mt. Hood, pro shop, café downstairs with sandwiches, snacks and beverages, upstairs restaurant and lounge. $20 (9 holes) - $35 (18 holes), lower rates at off-peak times..
- 🌍 Springwater Corridor Trail. The right-of-way of the former rail line from Boring through Gresham to Portland (1903-1989), the Springwater Corridor Trail follows Johnson Creek into the city.
Events
- Boring & Dull Day. Aug. 9. Annual celebration of sibling village relationship with Dull, Scotland includes a barbershop quartet performance, an ice cream social, an Oregon National Guard flag salute, Scottish bagpiper and drummer. “Welcome to Dull, Paired with Boring, Oregon, USA: Drive Safely.”
Buy
The Boring Community Planning Organization has been selling commemorative "Boring & Dull" t-shirts, mugs and merchandise.
There is also a raffle for a trip to Dull, Scotland.
Eat
- Nuts On Sports Pizza, 31265 SE Compton Rd, ☏ +1 503 663-0622.
- Red Apple Restaurant, 28300 SE 282nd Ave, ☏ +1 503 512-7819. Greasy spoon, good breakfast, American and Chinese cuisine.
Drink
- Backroads Pub & Grub, 13230 SE Orient Dr, ☏ +1 503 663-5777. 9AM-2:30AM daily.
- 🌍 Not So Boring Bar & Grill, 28014 SE Wally Rd, ☏ +1 503 328-8250. Chicken, burgers, beer, various 'not so boring' events.
- Timber Pub and Grub, 28052 SE Highway 212, ☏ +1 503 663-6092. Craft beers, t-shirts with slogan "We love Boring people"
Sleep
- Best Western Sandy Inn, 37465 US 26, Sandy, ☏ +1 503 668-7100. Sandy is directly southeast of Boring on US26.
- Additional lodging options are available in Gresham, South Portland and Clackamas