The community is invited to the official grand opening of the Blimp Base Disc Golf Course this Saturday, August 15, near the Tillamook Air Museum.
A short ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at noon, followed by recognition of the volunteers and community partners who made the course possible, a guided tour, and open play starting around 1:00 p.m. New players and families are welcome. The course is one of Oregon’s newest and highest-rated disc golf destinations, winding through lush coastal rainforest with tight technical shots, elevation changes, longer drives, and scenic views.
The course is the result of a partnership between the Port of Tillamook Bay and Tillamook School District #9. The two entities signed an agreement in late 2021 designating Port property for the project. The Port owns the land and course, while the school district has been responsible for design and maintenance, with priority access for physical education classes and middle and high school disc golf clubs and tournaments. The public is welcome the rest of the time.
The location sits on the former Naval Air Station Tillamook, the World War II blimp base, across from the Tillamook Air Museum. Organizers deliberately tucked the layout into the tree line away from industrial areas and planned interpretive elements highlighting the site’s history and the natural surroundings.
Local disc golfers had already built the more beginner-friendly Bohannon Disc Golf Course at the schools. Demand grew for a more challenging layout that could serve experienced players and attract visitors. School employee Colin Walker, who helped establish Bohannon, worked with Port leadership and others to make the new course happen. Early design work involved nationally recognized course designers, and local players—including Slade Sapora of the Tillamook Disc Golf Club—played central roles in design, construction, and ongoing care. Volunteer work parties cleared brush and shaped fairways over multiple seasons. A key contributor, David James, has been widely credited by local organizers for the hands-on building that brought the course to life.
The project received community and tourism support. The Tillamook Coast Visitors Association provided $8,000 in sponsorship funds for construction and tools, plus a $75,000 facilities grant that helped prepare the parking lot and related infrastructure. Custom-stamped discs are sold at the Tillamook Air Museum gift shop. A $5 daily pay-to-play fee (payable via Venmo, PayPal, or QR code at the parking lot) helps the Port of Tillamook Bay and the Tillamook Disc Golf Club maintain the course.
The first nine holes opened in 2024. The full 18-hole layout (with options for the technical front nine, the longer original back nine, or the complete “Big Boy Special”) was completed and listed on UDisc by mid-to-late 2025. Players and reviewers have praised the variety, elevation, scenery, and upkeep.
Come Celebrate!
Saturday’s grand opening recognizes the years of collaboration among the Port, the school district, local disc golfers, volunteers, and tourism partners. Bring the family, invite a friend, and come check out what the community has built at Blimp Base Disc Golf Course, near the Tillamook Air Museum.Saturday, August 15
Ceremony at noon
Open play around 1:00 p.m.
