Tourists looking for the sea lions resting on the docks in Newport will need to come back at a later date.
One of Newport’s main tourist attractions took a beating last December during some winter storms and efforts are now underway to rebuild the docks and bring the blubbery mammals back to the port.
Jannel Goplen, president of the Newport Sea Lion Foundation, said some of the docks drifted away while others were destroyed.
Sea lions rest on the docks in this March 22, 2015 file photo, in Newport, Oregon. Efforts are underway to rebuild the docks after winter storms destroyed them last December.
/ OPB
“We had just installed new docks four months prior, they had never been through a storm quite this,” said Goplen, who owns Clearwater Restaurant overlooking the docks. “We ended up finding docks a couple miles away.”
Goplen said the huge animals have long helped draw tourists to Newport’s waterfront.
“It’s just a real treat, and it’s a free fun activity for families for visitors alike and locals,” she said. “To have them gone has been pretty quiet from that area. We can’t wait to get them back.”
The Newport Sea Lion Foundation wants to raise $24,000 for four new docks and is so far about half way toward reaching that goal.
Goplen said the foundation hopes to have one dock in place before Feb. 23, when the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival starts.