The Best Oysters on the Oregon Coast: Umpqua Triangle Oyster Farm
If you're craving oysters rich in flavor, history, and coastal charm, Winchester Bay, Oregon, should be on your itinerary. Tucked where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific Ocean just off Highway 101, this peaceful fishing village is home to Umpqua Triangle Oysters—a farm that’s been carefully cultivating some of the Pacific Northwest’s sweetest oysters since 1991.
The story begins with husband-and-wife duo Cindy Sardina and Vern Simmons, who recognized the unique promise of the triangular area formed by the twin jetties at the mouth of the bay. In 1991 they founded Umpqua Aquaculture, introducing an innovative oyster-farming operation suspended on long lines in an ideal blend of river and ocean water (about 20 percent fresh, 80 percent salt) at a consistently cool 51°F. These conditions prevent the oysters from spawning, resulting in firm, clean, sweet meat year‑round—or what oyster connoisseurs now call the “gold standard” of Pacific Northwest oysters.
The farm’s history is a testament to meticulous aquaculture and perseverance. The seed comes from an Oregon Coast hatchery and is nurtured through a multi-stage process: larvae attach to recycled shells in incubation tanks, then are transferred to long-line rope curtains that bob with the tide. They mature for two to four years before being harvested using a custom barge and motorized boom, then brought to the processing facility, where each oyster bag is carefully tracked, washed, and sorted for sale.
Over the decades, the farm has expanded its footprint—leasing about sixty acres of surface water from the State of Oregon—and refined its growing and processing practices. The operation employs modern farming techniques, with a dedicated team managing seed batches, monitoring tides and weather, and supervising harvest and shucking. Manager Brandy Sullivan leads a rotation of harvesters and shuckers, serving hundreds of thousands of oysters annually.
Local journalism and traveler accounts back up the farm’s stellar reputation. Oyster fans and chefs describe Umpqua Triangle Oysters as exceptionally clean, sweet, and bright—with firm, pearlescent meat that’s ideal raw, grilled, steamed, or in chowders. One reviewer user put it simply: “Umpqua Triangle oysters … are always fantastic!”
Visiting today, the retail store at 723 Ork Rock Road is a must-stop. Open Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, the shop offers in-shell oysters by the pint, quart, or bushel; half-shell shooters; and myriad condiments, sauces, local beers, and Oregon wines. Inside are large viewing windows into the sorting and shucking area and a short educational video on the site’s growing process.
Beyond the fabulous oysters, Winchester Bay offers charming shopping and local flavor. The Porthole Gift Shop sells coastal-themed gifts, t-shirts, lighthouse décor, and local crafts. Nearby Reedsport Antiques (about 10 minutes north) and Dune Country Quilts (south by a few miles) are ideal for picking up mementos, textiles, vintage maps, and handcrafted items. The farm store itself also stocks cooler bags, shucking knives, shellfish accessories, and recipe cards—perfect for oyster lovers.
If you visit, plan to enjoy your bounty fresh on-site: shuck a dozen or more while sitting at picnic tables or near the shoreline. Pair them with lemon, cocktail sauce, or local Pinot Gris and beer—you’ll find no better spot to taste the sea’s bounty. And since Umpqua stores are popular, it’s wise to call ahead for larger orders to reserve oysters or specific sizes .
While you’re there, enjoy the rest of Winchester Bay: check out the historic Umpqua River Lighthouse (first lit in 1894), explore the dunes by foot or ATV, or rent a crab trap for a chance at Dungeness crabs. Stay overnight in local campgrounds, yurts at Umpqua River Lighthouse State Park, RV sites, or cozy motels. Sample local seafood at crab shacks and eateries in town—and, if your timing’s right, join a weekend seafood BBQ for a live-fire feast.
All told, Umpqua Triangle Oysters is a deep-rooted farming expertise plus the lively coastal atmosphere.. Their distinct “merroir”—a concept akin to wine terroir—makes Winchester Bay’s oysters uniquely reflective of this place where fresh river meets the ocean.
