Main StreeT
Cascade Locks
A Community for Our Downtown . A Downtown for Our Community
$400,000 grant awarded to bring old fire station back to life
We are proud to announce our recent award of a $400,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization grant to help turn the former fire station on Wanapa Street into the new home of Locks family-favorite, Buddy’s Barcade!
This is the biggest downtown improvement project to be undertaken in Cascade Locks in two years. Construction is scheduled to begin next month under contract with the building’s owner, Heuker Properties, Inc., and will focus on bringing the structure into full compliance will all applicable code, heritage preservation, and new tenant use requirements by the end of August 2026. Improvements will include reinforcing the structure’s foundation and concrete block walls to meet current standards for seismic safety, and replacing both its roof and all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Buddy’s will relocate into the space with expanded hours and menu as well as entertainment offerings. At least ten new jobs are expected to be created in the process. Business activity on the north side of Wanapa Street will run unbroken from the bridge to Chevron station making pedestrian travel between those businesses – and use of the public parking/restroom facilities in Overlook Park – more visually appealing residents and visitors alike.
The project was one of several submitted to MSCL earlier this year for sponsorship through the OMS revitalization grant program. It was chosen on the merits of its alignment with grant objectives, feasibility, historical significance, value to the people who live here, and overall positive impact it would have on the visual appeal and economic strength of Cascade Locks as a whole.
A big thanks to Albert Nance (Buddy’s Barcade), ReAnna Heuker (Heuker Properties, Inc.), Jeremiah Blue and Genevieve Scholl (Port of Cascade Locks), Jessica Metta (MCEDD), Sheri Stuart (Main Street Oregon), Ben DeJarnette (Bike the Gorge), and everyone else who helped us put this winning project proposal together.
An especially big thans to our recently-retired MSCL board president, Denise Emmerling-Baker. Without her passion, commitment, dedication, and hard work none of this would have been possible. We look forward to continuing to benefit from here experience and expertise as she moves forward with us as the designated coordinator of this very exciting project.
Founded in March 2024, Main Street Cascade Locks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and proud Affiliate member of Main Street America. Our mission is to revitalize downtown Cascade Locks while enhancing and celebrating our community’s economic, cultural, social, and historical assets. Guided by the Main Street Approach, our vision is to create an active, vibrant, and thriving downtown district where residents and visitors alike can experience the rich history, diverse culture, and abundant recreational opportunities that make the Heart of the Gorge so
about us
Main Street Cascade Locks is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer-run, local affiliate of Main Street America program, using its four-point approach to create an organized, thriving, and vibrant downtown that reflects as well as supports the diverse interests and needs of the people who live, work, and visit here.
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