Eighteenmile Island

USA / Oregon / Mosier /
 Upload a photo
Eighteenmile Island is a 9.89-acre island on the Oregon side of the Columbia River at river mile 174 in Wasco County, Oregon. It can be seen from Interstate 84 and from the historic Columbia River Highway. The island is mentioned in the journal of Meriwether Lewis, from the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

During the 20th century it was popularly called Chicken Charlie's Island, after Charles Reither, who lived on the island from 1915 until his death in 1963. There were not actually chickens on the island during Reither's residency, but there may have been a chicken ranch there around 1904.

It was mostly barren as of 2007, but features several douglas firs and willows, a basalt cliff, wildflowers and a sandy beach. It is closer to the Oregon side of the river, and only a few hundred feet from its shoreline.

The island's only structure is a private residence, a three-story wood-frame house built in 1969. A line from the mainland supplies electricity to the island; drinking water must be filtered from the Columbia. The island can only be accessed by boat.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighteenmile_Island
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   45°41'22"N   121°25'20"W

Comments

  • Growing up, it was called Chicken Charlie Island
  • I'm told this is where the actor Tom Selleck once lived. Anyone else heard that?
  • Yes, he owned it for a few years back in late 80's.
  • I'm the current owner. Tom Sellick never owned, or even visited the island. It's a "rural myth".
  • Oh wow! Is it true the island is not part of either state, and only subject to federal jurisdiction?
  • That's true though I am unsure if he still owns it
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 12 years ago