Sweetbrier Pool Coverage - Tualatin Oregon - By Kilwag - Posted 8-30-06
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The Sweetbrier Inn pool was another one that everyone seemed to know about. Hell, it was visible from the interstate exit to head to Newberg. The law of averages made it a high probability that more than a few enterprising pool hunters would notice a hotel being torn down and would decide to investigate.
24 hour security guard on premise! Those guys ran into more than a few sketchy looking characters milling around the grounds. Some people came in through the front gate (derrr!) while others came around the side to the back with no fence jumping or security guard interaction required.
A couple of different crews tried on several occasions to drain this thing. There were electric pumps but no power. There were buckets, but the problem was that the work crews tended to work until sundown even on weekends, and too many guys strolling through the front gate (Again, Derrr!) meant the security guards would often take up position outside, close to the pool. Especially when more and more of the buildings began to disappear.
After several attempts, a lot of people gave up. Some began to wonder if this thing would disappear under the backhoe before there was a chance to ride it. A BMX contingent was informed about the pool in hopes that they would do all the dirty work, and rumor has it, they were the ones that actually did. Turns out the security guards were only ther to keep people out of the buildings. As soon as they were demolished the security guard detail was pulled.
For a couple of weeks there were giant piles of rubble, concrete, and asphalt. Heavy machinery was brought in to crush everything and recycle it for reuse in whatever they do with that type of thing. Were the developers environmentally conscious? I suspect there was money to be saved. Before demolition began, all the surrounding massive trees were harvested and undoubtedly sold for lumber.
All in all I'd say this pool was probably ridden fro 3-4 weeks before finally being destroyed.I don't know why they waited till the last possible minute to demo the pool. We'd like to think it was a construction worker who was sympathetic to our cause. On the few times I was there there wasn't nearly as many people as I thought there would be, considering the limited amount of hours per day with sunlight and an absent work crew. MC has a good comic about the experience. He also provided the shots of the destroyed pool. David Vierra provided the last five pictures including the aftermath. My apologies to the guys I met with Zaac, I forgot your names and I didn't get any decent shots of you.
As of the time this was written the Sweetbrier Inn is still listed on a web site called Travelhero.com Amenities include Live Jazz Wednesday through Saturday, and of course, a heated outdoor pool! For more pics (and a few of the same ones) you can check out this post at Antigravity Press. Might as well hit this one too. Oh yeah, that reminds me. What about the damn pool? It had a pretty tight transition, even if you were only trying to hit the face wall. The corner was actually the sweetest part of the whole ride. Easier to drop in there than anywhere else. Cat's out of the bag now. Goodbye Sweetbrier!
Sweetbrier Pool Coverage - Tualatin Oregon - By Kilwag - Posted 8-30-06
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photos © kilwag