Sea Lion Caves News
The Sea Lion Caves Story
posted on 1983-05-01 00:08:00At a time when many Oregon Coast businesses are working at plugging financial dikes to stay alive, Sea Lion Caves has recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by unveiling a life-sized bronze sculpture of a sea lion family near the head trail leading to the entry of the unique exhibit.
Manager Steve Saubert, grandson of one of the original operators, acknowledges theirs is an attraction with a built-in success factor. The majestic cavern at the base of the 325-foot headland eight miles north of Florence - two acres of stone "floors" and tumbled ledges beneath a 125-foot natural rock dome, inhabited by hundreds of sea lions - is recognized internationally as one of the world's greatest marine grottos.
But there is another significant element in the success story: a quality of caring which encompasses every phase of the operation. The owners have been dedicated to protecting the ecological balance of the wildlife of the cave since its purchase in the 1920's from the estate of Captain William Cox, who discovered it in 1880. And from the beginning, they held a vision of developing and preserving it for the enjoyment of the public.
When, in 1977, a movement started to place the cave under state jurisdiction, a grateful public responded decisively in favor of leaving the natural attraction in private ownership.
Then-governor Robert Straub concurred: "I am proud that here in Oregon a private organization has shown that it can . . . develop and protect such a great natural resource and attraction - and still show a profit."
"In a way it made us feel good that the state was considering taking it over," Saubert says. "They had financial resources to develop programs that still years in the future for us. Yet we are happy that the people felt we were the ones to continue to manage it."
And he adds, "But keeping it in perspective, the state had never shown a prior interest in maintaining the resource. They didn't want a building here. The state paid a bounty on sea lions until the late Fifties.? One perennial bounty hunter collected the annual limit of $10,000 for several years running. "We feel it might not be here at all as far as the public is concerned if we hadn't been operating it."
The rope ladder entrance
No one on the coast had ever heard of a "tourist attraction" in 1929 when the original partners dropped a rope ladder over a cliff to a primitive footbridge leading to the north entrance, inviting courageous visitors to view the sea lions up close for 25 cents. The coast highway was far from completion; the graceful bridges that eventually connected the sections, opening the coast to full-length motor travel, were still 10 years in the future.
After a highway blasting crew accidentally destroyed the cliff the state was required by law to furnish an alternate access to the caves. An agreement was reached to allow overlapping of the caves owners' parking turnouts with the state right-of-way which separated the headland from the owners' other holdings on the east side of the road, and they were allowed to build on the present site on the headland.
Profits, slow to develop during the 1930s depression, have since increased steadily to show a gross income of over $1 million in 1981.
Too many restrictions
"Thank goodness the families had the vision to hand on to their dream," Saubert comments. "It would be impossible to build this building today, on this site, on this side of the highway. There are just too many restrictions."
The present building was erected in 1938 to replace the original, exactly like it, which was destroyed by fire. "We're always batting around the issue of a new building," Saubert says. "But we'd have to get permits from 25 to 30 different government agencies just to get started. It's particularly hard to get approval for water and sewage plans in scenic areas now."
Also, there is a reluctance on the part of the owners to disturb the image of the coast they like to project. "Most people come here seeking the quieter, slower pace of an earlier day. A slick new building would be easier to maintain, cheaper to operate - but the nostalgic atmosphere would be shattered."
The owner families began work on the cliff trail by hand and boxing in the 125-foot wooden staircase at the north entrance; pouring a concrete foundation (still in use) from the headland above; doing virtually all of the work themselves.
By 1932, when the attraction was opened formally, dissension was growing among the owners - R.E. Clanton, J.G. Houghton and J.E. Jacobson. Two years later a "mutual agreement" sale was held on the steps of the Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, and Saubert's grandfather, R.A. Saubert, acquired Clanton?s interest.
Sea Lion Caves has been in operation continuously since that time, except for two years during World War II. Following the war, sons of the original operators took over management and, with post-war prosperity, it became a star coastal attraction.
The elevator is built
Increasing business made the need for easier access obvious, and in 1958 construction was begun on the elevator. Saubert still shakes his head in wonder at the magnitude of the project. "Two pressing concerns limited blasting and drilling: first, the dome is formed by the juncture of two earth faults; second, the animals are extremely sensitive to noise and vibration. In addition, when we were advertising the cave all over the country, we felt an obligation to stay open for those who came, at least during the summer season."
Construction was limited to April and May, when the sea lions normally breed outside the rocks; and was further restricted to the days when animals left the cave voluntarily. Drilling which should have taken roughly two weeks extended over two years, with water seepage a continuing problem.
The $180,000 elevator, specially designed by Otis Elevator Company to resist salt and moisture, was put into use the summer of 1961. it accommodates the 200,000 annual visitors at the rate of 400 an hour.
A major employer
Sea Lion Caves is one of the few private commercial enterprises on the Oregon coastline; only 27 miles of approximately 400 are in private ownership. It is also one of the coast's prime employers
Assistant manager Horace "Hod" Johnson is in charge of personnel. "We offer excellent first jobs to students," he points out. "We give them training, even for three-month summer work; and we pay better than average entry-level wages."
Johnson, who was employed as a "cave slave" himself during high school and college, returned permanently in 1968, the same year Saubert took over as manager. They compliment each other well.
"We try to be considerate of our employees," Johnson says. "For instance, we interview and hire during spring vacation. It's easier for those students who know they'll have summer jobs, and easier for us to have our help lined out ahead of time."
Although their business was down 10 percent from the year before (far less than the 25-30 percent average reported across the coast) they plan to maintain their work force at 45 persons, and possibly add a few.
"We believe when business is slow, it's time to expand when possible," Johnson says. "Too many businesses down here are cutting back on advertising now. We're increasing ours by 25 percent."
He feels people on the coast take it for granted that they "live in the greatest area of the greatest state in the nation," and that travelers will come as a matter of course to see what they offer. "The truth is, every state has unique attractions, and we're going to have to let people know about the wonders of Oregon if we want them to come here."
The owners see Sea Lion Caves as part of the state community of business. "We try to b good neighbors," Steve Saubert says. "When we advertise the cave, we're also advertising Oregon. It helps us all." The widespread national response to the publicity generated by the unveiling of the $75,000 Ken Scott sea lion sculpture supports his convictions.
Energy costs triple
Advertising is expensive, but payroll, insurance and taxes are the Big Three at the top of the expense column. Energy is taking its toll. Electrical bills that have hovered for years at $350 for peak months now top $1,000 monthly. Shoplifting creates pernicious expense currently amounting to $15,000 a year.
Still, in spite of escalating costs and increasing governmental restrictions, the caves are kept open to the public seven days a week the year around, except for Christmas. "We could close November 1 and open April 1 and make money," both Saubert and Johnson agree. But they feel a commitment to remain open for retired people and those in seasonal industries who often travel in off-season months. "We want them to come, and we know they will come if we're open to receive them."
That sincerity and caring and optimistic attitude have paid off in the public's enjoyment of this Oregon Coast nature exhibit seems obvious. That is has also paid off for Sea Lion Caves where is counts - in profits - is an interesting dividend.
by Marje Blood
Marje Blood is a free lance writer from Eugene.
