About this Location

Facility Overview

Wasbauer Station is an open-air public transit and civic parking facility situated along the Oregon Coast Highway (US-101 / Chetco Avenue) at 5th Street in the heart of Brookings, Oregon. Dedicated in honor of long-serving Curry Public Transit General Manager Joanne Wasbauer, this site serves as the central multimodal transit hub and gateway for the southern Oregon coast. The facility occupies the grounds adjoining Elmer Bankus Fountain Park, integrating open-surface vehicle stalls, wide loading aprons, pedestrian walkways, and a covered passenger transit shelter. Because the parking area is fully open-air with no overhead canopies or multi-story deck barriers, it features unrestricted vertical clearance, easily accommodating full-size pickup trucks, oversized SUVs, passenger vans, and light commercial vehicles. High-profile adventure rigs with rooftop carriers and bicycles also enjoy stress-free clearance throughout the grounds.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Set right along downtown Brookings' bustling commercial corridor, Wasbauer Station is positioned within short walking distance of numerous local shopping, dining, and recreational destinations:

Bankus Fountain Park: Immediately adjacent to the station, featuring scenic landscaped grounds, seating walls, and the iconic memorial fountain honoring civic benefactor Elmer Bankus.
Downtown Brookings Commercial District: Less than a 3-minute walk (under 0.2 miles) to local eateries, bakeries, cafes, art galleries, and grocery shopping at Ray's Food Place.
Chetco Point Park & Mill Beach: Located approximately 0.8 miles southwest (a 15-minute walk or 3-minute drive), offering dramatic coastal bluff trails, panoramic Pacific Ocean overlooks, and direct beach access.
Azalea Park & Capella by the Sea: Approximately 0.7 miles east (a 4-minute drive), home to 33 acres of native azaleas, sports courts, picnic areas, and community event pavilions.
Port of Brookings-Harbor: Located roughly 1.5 miles south across the Chetco River bridge, providing marina access, chartered ocean fishing, seafood markets, and waterfront dining.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor: Begins just 2 miles north along US-101, offering 12 miles of world-class coastal hiking, sea stacks, and rugged ocean viewpoints.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle ingress and egress are exceptionally straightforward thanks to direct alignment with the Oregon Coast Highway (US-101 / Chetco Avenue) and 5th Street. Motorists traveling north or south through Curry County can pull directly in from the highway with clear sightlines and easy turning lanes. After peak midday hours or community events, returning to US-101 is quick and unobstructed by heavy urban gridlock. In terms of public transit integration, Wasbauer Station is the primary transfer point for the region, hosting Curry Public Transit's Coastal Express (connecting south to Smith River, California and north to Gold Beach, Port Orford, Bandon, and Coos Bay), the Oregon POINT SouthWest intercity coach (linking Brookings with Crescent City, Grants Pass, Medford, and Klamath Falls), and Amtrak Thruway bus service (station code BKO).

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt surface with clear stall striping and generous maneuvering aisles.
Unrestricted Clearance: Open-sky parking layout with no height restrictions, ideal for high-roof vans, tall trucks, and rooftop-loaded gear.
Covered Transit Shelter: Weather-protected shelter equipped with passenger benches, community bulletin boards, and transit timetable displays.
Accessible Design: Designated ADA accessible parking spaces situated near paved, step-free curb cuts leading directly to transit stops and sidewalks.
Illuminated Grounds: Well-lit perimeter streetlamps providing night-time visibility and personal security for early morning or evening arrivals.
Pedestrian Connectivity: Direct sidewalk connections onto Chetco Avenue and 5th Street with nearby crosswalks to retail plazas and civic spaces.

Ideal For

Intercity & Regional Bus Passengers: Travelers boarding or disembarking Curry Public Transit, POINT coaches, or Amtrak Thruway buses connecting across the Pacific Northwest.
Downtown Shoppers & Diners: Visitors enjoying quick access to central Brookings restaurants, boutique shops, and local services.
Coastal Road-Trippers & Sightseers: Drivers seeking a convenient, accessible rest stop directly off US Highway 101 near Bankus Fountain.
Pick-up & Drop-off Motorists: Commuters meeting friends, family, or rideshare passengers at Brookings' central transit junction.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When using the facility, drivers should pay close attention to posted parking signage. While short-term parking and passenger drop-offs are welcome, long-term multi-day commuter parking may be restricted in adjacent private shopping plazas (such as the neighboring supermarket lot). Overnight campers and RV travelers should utilize designated overnight facilities or port campgrounds rather than standard transit stalls. If catching the morning Curry Public Transit Coastal Express or Oregon POINT motorcoach, aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before scheduled departure times to ensure hassle-free vehicle parking and prompt boarding. For GPS navigation, enter either 'Wasbauer Station' or 'Bankus Fountain, Brookings, OR' for direct turn-by-turn routing to the 5th Street turnoff.