Be sure to come meet the new owners next season at The Gorge White house!
Landmark Gorge White House will transfer to another longtime valley orchard family
Posted on October 11, 2012 by stuwatson
From one longtime orchard family, to another, the historic Gorge White House will change hands Nov. 1 when Camille Hukari and Jerry Tausend turn over keys to Pat, Beth, Barry and Carrie Kennedy.
The iconic White House, along Oregon 35 between Hood River and Pine Grove, will move to management of only its third owner since 1901.
In a media release, Hukari and Tausend note that their family has owned the 31-acre property since 1947. That was when Hukari’s grandfather, Don O. Nunamaker, purchased it from Ruth Hill Beacon, the daughter of M.M. and Carrie Hill, who built the home.
Hukari grew up in the home and in 2006 began a restoration and transformation. It opened to the public in 2007, showcasing local products including wine and micro-brews from the Columbia Gorge, local seasonal fruit, honeys, U-pick fields of flowers, strawberries, blueberries and table grapes, a variety of pear based products and hosts a variety of events including weddings and anniversaries.
The Kennedy family is based in Odell.
“I can’t think of a better family to continue the legacy here,” Hukari said.
“What is most amazing about this transition is that there is a direct link back to the original MM Hill family. Pat and Barry’s grandmother was a sister to Ruth Parks, who married Bob Hill of Willow Flat. Bob was a first cousin of MM and Carrie Hill. I called Priscilla Carrasco on Tuesday to tell her about the sale of the property. Priscilla lives in Salem and is the granddaughter of MM and Carrie Hill. She was delighted that the property will be staying with a local family. In some ways, the ownership has come full circle back to the original Hill family.”
Tausend cited a quote from one of their neighbors: “They said, Our property values will go up since the Kennedys are moving back into The White House!”
Sellers and the new owners will co-host an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Staff at The Gorge White House will be offering complimentary tastes of their signature Heritage Bosc Pear wine as well as introducing their new Blueberry wine made from crops grown on the farm.
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