The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather in Lincoln County is among Oregon’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1937, it is improbably perched on a knobby promontory on the jagged south flank of Cape Foulweather, 453 feet above the Pacific Ocean. This secondary headland is commonly known as Otter Crest, a name also appropriated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the adjacent State Scenic Viewpoint. The Look-Out was built and operated by Wilbur “Buck” and Anna Badley. The business began briefly as the Foulweather Coffee Shop, but soon shifted into a very successful gift shop when the Badleys realized people were most interested in purchasing souvenirs of their visit to the coast. Upon the completion of the Roosevelt Coast Military Highway (U.S. 101) in 1932 and associated bridges in 1936, tourists could more easily travel and visit sites along the Pacific Ocean. The Look-Out is an excellent example of an isolated entrepreneurial venture along the central coast that capitalized on the public investment based upon the urging and support of the citizens of Oregon. This building is also associated with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Beach Patrol, which operated in Oregon from 1942 to 1944. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the coastline was considered vulnerable to attack and constant surveillance was vital to protect the U.S. from further attacks. The Look-Out was a strategic vantage point from which to watch for enemy invasion. Six men from the Coast Guard resided in The Look-Out to help defend the coast during this period of time. A place for visitors to enjoy spectacular views, watch for whales and other sea life, and purchase souvenirs of their travels to the central Oregon coast, The Look-Out is now an Oregon State Park facility that continues to provide unique experiences for those who travel to see the Pacific Ocean and all that it has to offer.
