Rock Creek Tavern

With roots stretching back to the stage coach days, the Rock Creek Tavern (in its pre-fire days) was a longtime favorite stop off for Washington County residents. Not surprisingly, it was the backdrop for Old West style television commercials.

The rustic tavern stood on the site of a stage stop on the old overland route from Portland to the coast. Following a destructive fire, an adjoining blacksmith shop was moved onto the foundation of the burned-out stage stop.

As the 20th century progressed, the old shop was converted to the Rock Creek Tavern. In the early '70s, the modest tavern was substantially enlarged and furnished with a stone fireplace and turn-of-the-century bar and back bar. The outdoor deck, with its sweeping view (and landing space for a misguided car), was a summer highlight. No matter the season, live music kept the tavern rockin'.

Then there was the disastrous fire that burned the Rock Creek Tavern to the ground. While many a local lamented its passing, leave it to the tenacious McMenamins brothers to authorize a brand new, even more accommodating facsimile: the beautiful, rustic new Rock Creek Tavern that is now flexing its formidable entertainment muscles: with plenty of food, drink, and music to carry on a grand historic tradition on Old Cornelius Pass Road.

Rock Creek Tavern, a community landmark, is back and better than ever, after a fire that reduced the beloved original building to a pile of cinders in September 2002. With an eye to preserving the past, the outside of the new tavern looks nearly identical to its predecessor. To achieve this authenticity, we used timbers from two Hillsboro-area barns (one dating back to the late 1800s). The new tavern includes an elevated outside patio.

Rock Creek Tavern is off of the beaten path. But it's a well-advised trip into the Hillsboro, Oregon countryside. Boasting live music, a floating dance floor, pool table, and great food and ales, there's no finer place to while away an evening than this rustic lair. Families are most welcome, too!

The menu features classic pub fare with a Northwest kick! Choices range from sensational salads and wonderfully cheesy pastas to generous burgers made with naturally grown, hormone free beef from Oregon Country Beef.