1600 Air Museum Rd
Hood River, OR 97031
(541) 308-1600
Open Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
With one of the largest collections of working antique planes and automobiles in the country, Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) is a must-visit for plane and automobile enthusiasts. Located adjacent to the Ken Jernstedt Memorial Airport in Hood River, Oregon, WAAAM is also a great place to visit on your way in or out of town.
About the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum
Dedicated to the preservation, operation, and education about planes and automobiles, Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum prides itself on being a “living museum.” With one of the largest collections of working antique planes and automobiles, WAAAM not only restores the exterior of the planes and vehicles they acquire, they also restore the engines inside and out.
WAAAM opened after its founder Terry Brandt donated his huge collection of planes and aircraft memorabilia. Over the past 15 or so years, WAAAM has acquired more planes and many cars through auctions, donations, and other avenues. Today, the antique car collection at WAAAM is equally as impressive as their aircraft collection!
Visiting WAAAM
To visit the 2.5-acre indoor Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum hangar-turned-museum, visitors can acquire tickets daily at the museum’s ticketing office. Kids under four can enter for free and WAAAM offers discounts to active military, veterans, seniors, and youth under 18. We recommend planning to spend at least an hour in the museum, especially if your kids are interested in checking out the hands-on children’s area in the museum.
Classes and Events at WAAAM
To showcase their hard work, WAAAM hosts community events several times a year where they drive and fly the antiques they’ve restored. Every second Saturday from 10AM until 2PM, for example, WAAAM brings out select antiques to drive and fly for visitors. Visiting WAAAM during Second Saturdays is fun, educational, and will surely help you appreciate how luxurious modern planes and vehicles are, in comparison.
Each summer, Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum also hosts several other workshops and events including a car show, a swap meet, antique driving school, and more. To get the full list of events and classes, look at the calendar on WAAAM’s website.
Things to Do Nearby
Scarcely a three-minute drive from the WAAAM is Barrett Park. This lovely park was purchased in 2006 as 31-acre pear and apple orchard, and today it’s known as the place where the Columbia Gorge Aeromodelers meet up. It’s their official flying field, so in Barrett Park there are often fun events and competitions. It’s the perfect place to spend some time after you’re done exploring the antique aeroplanes at the museum. What’s better than going out to see some real flying machines in motion after walking through the museum’s hangars and seeing the retired planes of the past, with the gorgeous Mt. Hood as your backdrop against the wide, blue sky?
Indian Creek Trail cuts through the northern part of the park, and it’s a lovely and easy walking trail for any time of year and any time of day. The view is unbeatable, and the weather is always nice. If you pack a picnic, you can bring it along and eat your lunch in the park before heading over to the museum. But if you’d rather eat at one of the local restaurants, save your appetite to visit one of the restaurants nearby after you’re done exploring.
Restaurants Nearby
If you’re looking for a nice time to round out your trip to the museum and you’re not that hungry, try some small batch brandy, liqueur, and grappa made with love and care from locally grown fruit at Clear Creek Distillery. For over three decades this distillery has provided the finest goods to Hood River. You can enjoy the tasting room 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM every day of the week.
If you’re looking for something quaint and quick, try Twin Peaks Drive In. They sell all the classic American favorites here like burgers, sandwiches, fries, salads, and even ice cream for those warm afternoons. The prices are the fairest around, and the patio is cute and cozy.
If you’re hungry for something a little more upscale, Hood Crest Winery is waiting for you just a bit farther south than the Twin Peaks Drive In. This is one of our favorite places to eat in all of Hood River. Gourmet pizza always hits the spot after a delicious wine tasting. Try the Mediterranean with its Kalamata olives and pine nuts, or the Hood Crest Special with house made red wine jelly, dried cranberries, and caramelized onions.
Visiting the WAAAM
To visit the 2.5-acre indoor Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum hangar-turned-museum, visitors can acquire tickets daily at the museum’s ticketing office. Kids under four can enter for free and WAAAM offers discounts to active military, veterans, seniors, and youth under 18. We recommend planning to spend at least an hour in the museum, especially if your kids are interested in checking out the hands-on children’s area in the museum.
Stay with Hood River Vacations
With so many fun things to do in Hood River, Oregon, we recommend staying right in town. Hood River Vacations offers a large variety of homes scattered across Hood River that are conveniently located to Hood River’s activities.
We offer everything from multi-story homes to condos, budget-conscious rentals to luxury properties, and everything in between. Browse our available vacation rental homes today and discover your new home away from home!
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