Oyster Shells in Oysterville

Oysterville, Washington ~ October 30, 2001

Mountains of oyster shells are what remains of many, many oysters pulled from Willapa Bay on the Long Beach Peninsula. I didn't know anything about the area when I took this drive in 2001, so I was astounded to find these heaps of shells piled up at the end of the road. I can't tell you much about the oyster farming operations, but I can tell you that these oysters are world class fare. There's nothing like a good oyster shooter or huge, fat, Willapa Bay oysters cooked just right.

I walked into a small oyster processing place where they had tubs and equipment for pulling the oysters out of the shells to clean and can them, but I believe it was after hours or off season, because I don't remember a lot of activity. But I can tell you they sold just about the best cookies in the world there, too, and the cookies were not made of oysters. You could buy the dry mix packaged, take it home, and "just add water." I think I'm going to have to go back. I'm making myself hungry. (I'll bet it was this place.)

The town is quaint, historic, and interesting, and recommended for an out-of-the-way drive. It has some cool buildings from the 1800s. I also found online a local oyster cam. I can't wait to see what it looks like in the morning, because it was dark when I wrote this. At night it looks like a deserted concert venue with the stadium lights still on and shiny rain puddles on the ground.

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