A young man named Loyd Morgan was working in logging camps, bucking logs by hand, for a few dollars a day. This man had a dream! In about 1938, he bought two acres of land and in the fall of 1939 started building his restaurant. He named it Elderberry Inn because of the elderberry trees that flourish in this area. At that time, there was only a logging road across the mountain to Manning and Portland, which was blocked off to normal traffic. In the years of W.P.A. this road was made into a passable route, called the Wolf Creek Highway. It was later re-named Sunset Highway in honor of Oregon’s heroic Sunset Division of the National Guard in WW II-not because it traveled into the sunset, as many people still believe.

When Loyd first opened his restaurant in about 1941, it was a beer tavern with food, a gas pump (pumped by hand with gravity flow), and a garage for minor or tire repairs. In August 1948, the restaurant burned to the ground, with nothing salvaged. However, in just a few months, Loyd rebuilt it. An added attraction was a deer farm and the bears raised by the family. Travelers enjoyed feeding the animals and taking pictures. The bears would sit and drink Coke by the case, and the tame deer enjoyed eating cigarettes. The last bear was named Midnight and was here in the early 1950’s.

In the fall of 1972, Loyd retired, and his son David and his wife, Nellie, acquired the restaurant. The Aluminum Frying Pan on the front of the building was made by Benson High School in 1975 and is six feet in diameter and weights 240lb. After losing David, Nellie sold the restaurant around 2015 to a local family.

In the winter of 2023, partners Mihaela and Mugurel were able to purchase the restaurant with the existing lodge and RV park. Born and raised in Romania, the couple always had a passion for warm meals. They sought to improve the authentic feel of the restaurant with their own taste of home. The Transylvanian Cabbage Rolls and Hungarian Goulash are made from scratch using their grandmothers’ recipes and spices. Today, improvements are still being made around the property by the owners, especially Mugurel, the head of the kitchen. As construction continues outside, Mihaela assists the servers inside the diner, insuring that customers are always provided quality service.

Elderberry Inn is a beloved restaurant, bar, and lodge nestled in Seaside, Oregon. Serving a variety of comfort food and local specialties, it offers a casual and cozy atmosphere perfect for families, tourists, and groups alike. The welcoming space includes outdoor seating, onsite services, and an inviting bar with a great selection of beer, cocktails, and coffee.