The Maryhill Loops Road Tour and Wine Tasting will be held on Friday September 17, Saturday September 18, and Sunday September 19, 2010.
Nestled amongst the foothills above the Columbia River in Southwestern Washington, the Maryhill Museum of Art has a little-known secret on it's property. The Maryhill Loops Road, owned by the Maryhill Museum of Art, was the first macadam asphalt-paved road in the Pacific Northwest. In 2.8 miles the road ascends 850 feet via a series of 25 curves, 8 of which are hairpins. Generally the road is only open to pedestrians and bicyclists but on Saturday, September 18th, Audi Club Northwest has private use of this road for a tour. We have planned a weekend of driving and social events around this tour. This is a casual event where you are welcome to attend any and all portions that suit your interests and schedule.
On Friday September 17th those in the Seattle area who are interested can meet up and caravan over to Goldendale, WA together. The Seattle caravan will leave Friday morning and our route offers some beautiful scenery as well as some fun on curvy roads. People from other areas such as Portland also have the opportunity to meet up and caravan over. If you would like to caravan over with one of these groups, please indicate so on the registration page. We will all meet up on Friday evening in the Goldendale, WA area. Everyone is on their own for dinner on Friday night.
On Friday night those who are interested can visit the Goldendale Observatory, which hosts a summer evening program at 8:00 pm. We have a group reservation at the observatory so if you want to attend this program on Friday night, please indicate so on the registration page. There is no admission fee, but donations are requested.
On Saturday September 18th, we will tour the Maryhill Loops Road during the day beginning with a driver's meeting at 8:30 am. In order to make this event enjoyable for everyone, the number of drivers on the Maryhill Loops Road is limited to 40 so sign up early! We will waitlist latecomers to the event to fill in if we have any cancellations. The past few years we did have cancellations and were able to let people into the event off of the waitlist so do not hesitate to register for the event anyway, even if it is full.
On Saturday evening we will head down the road to the Maryhill Winery for a winery tour, wine tasting and catered dinner until 9:00 pm. Maryhill Winery was named Washington Winery of the Year in 2009 by Wine Press Northwest. Producing 80,000 cases of wine each year, Maryhill Winery is the region's largest winery and the state's 10th largest. The catered buffet menu will consist of: European cheese and crackers with fresh fruit garnish; caprese salad; caesar salad; rustic breads with herb butter; cheese stuffed tortellini served with alfredo sauce or marinara sauce; pasta toppers of grilled chicken or jumbo meatballs; fresh seasonal fruits and berries; steamed green beans; chocolate dessert; lemonade and ice water. We will taste wine and eat dinner under the arbor overlooking the winery's amphitheater and vineyards and the Columbia River gorge. This setting will be ideal to relax after a good day of fun driving!
On Sunday September 19th, those that are returning to the Seattle area can caravan back together on the same fun route that was driven on Friday. If you would like to caravan home with this group, please indicate so on the registration page.
The fees for these activities are: $125 for the Maryhill Loops Road Tour, Maryhill Winery tour, wine tasting and catered dinner; $90 for the Maryhill Loops Road Tour only; $50 for the Maryhill Winery tour, wine tasting and catered dinner only. Both of the Maryhill Loops Road options include lunch for you and your guests on Saturday. Each person who wants to drive on the Maryhill Loops Road on Saturday must complete their own registration. Family and friends are welcome to come along and can attend the winery activities even if they are not going to drive the loops road. Guest visits to the winery are available for $50.
Registration for this event has reached capacity of 40 drivers on the loops road. Please register for the event anyway at MotorsportReg.com and you will be put on the waitlist. The past few years we did have cancellations and were able to let people into the event off of the waitlist so do not hesitate to register for the event anyway.
While we have reached our maximum number of drivers on the Loops Road on Saturday, anyone is still welcome to participate in the fun drive from Seattle to Goldendale on Friday, visit the observatory on Friday night, attend the wine tasting and catered dinner on Saturday night, or caravan back to Seattle on Sunday. If you would like to join us for any of these activies, please sign up now at MotorsportReg.com.
Questions? Contact Carrie Stewart (event master) via email at stewart.carrie@comcast.net or via phone at 206-930-2262.
Our hotel for this event is the Quality Inn in Goldendale, WA, about 8 miles north of Maryhill Loops Road. We have a block of rooms reserved at a group discount rate. A room with one Queen bed or a room with two Queen beds is $99.99. Reserve your room directly with the hotel at 509-773-5881 by September 13th and indicate you are with Audi Club Northwest to get our group rate. After September 13th our rooms will be released and the discount will no longer be available.
If you are interested in camping instead, there are two state parks near Goldendale:
1. Maryhill State Park
2. Brooks Memorial State Park
Join us for Maryhill and receive a complimentary club membership!
Audi Club North America (ACNA)/Audi Club Northwest (ACNW) membership is not required to participate in this event. Audi Club Northwest is participating in a national program to increase club membership, raise awareness of the Audi brand, and enhance the enjoyment of our cars with fun and instructive events. We have a bunch of sponsored memberships that are available at no cost to owners of Audi cars joining the club for the first time at one of our social events. These are Annual memberships that include full member benefits, the 'quattro quarterly' magazine, vendor discounts, and access to Audi Club North America events nationwide. It's first come first served until they run out, so join us for the Maryhill Loops Road Tour and Wine Tasting event to take advantage of this limited time offer.
