People are returning to the Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill and rediscovering the music galore, the great food and drink and the comfortable atmosphere that has made it a long-standing popular "roadside inn" and "honky tonk" since the 1930s. Under new ownership of Charlie and Jackie Harper, this is the newest place to be.

Located along the Historic Co-lumbia River Highway in Trout-dale, at one time Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill was a landmark and a "must stop" for anyone traveling through the Columbia River Gorge. It was here, with its old wooden sign featuring a Native American in a canoe, one was always made to feel welcome, get a great meal, a drink and listen to some of the best music around.

Situated near the banks of the Sandy River, the building that houses Tippy Canoe was constructed in the 1930s. The "watering hole" has endured the passage of time and adapted to the changes. It always has been a survivor, marking it as a landmark along the old Historic Columbia River Highway.

Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill, ac-cord-ing to one oldtimer, was one of the first places along the Historic Columbia River Highway where you could actually buy hard drinks by the glass. This was in the early 1940s.

Working Just recently, Troutdale resi-dents Charlie and Jackie Harper, "baby boomers" who live just a stone's throw away from the Tippy Canoe, considered purchasing the business. As customers themselves, they realized the potential in reestablishing the ambiance and the other long-standing traditions of the old Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill and decided to purchase the landmark.

"Tippy Canoe is a landmark that is known throughout the United States," explains Charlie. "There are people that you'd bump into, no matter where you go in the country, who'd tell you that they've been there. This place is part of the history of the Old Columbia River Highway and scenic route. The road goes right by our door and the people traveling through like to stop here for a meal or something to drink. &q;

ways served as the "crossroads" that seemed to draw and serve people from different walks of life. According to Harper, comments from people say they "met here," "had a reception here," or "got engaged here."

"We're going back ten years with Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill and then bringing it forward into the new millennium," says Harper. "We're turning it back into a community gathering place, while making it a great stop for tourists just passing through." The atmosphere at Tippy Canoe is Native American and western motif. There is also a pool table. In the very near future, full Lotto, including Keno, will be established.

The old sign for the Tippy Canoe is currently under restoration and will be reestablished to its former spot on the building very soon. By the time of the "Grand Re-Opening," once more this artistic splendor will be accenting the beauty of the Historic Columbia River Highway. The parking lot has been completely redone. There is a spacious and generous parking area available.

Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill also is the place to go for delicious food. Featured is basically an Italian menu with six different pastas. There is also a wide selection of steaks such as rib-eye, T-bones, filet mignon, chicken strips and chicken burgers, sandwiches, hamburgers, soups and more. The grill opens from noon to 4 p.m. every day for lunch. Dinner begins at 4 p.m. and is served Sunday through Thursday until at least 10 p.m., or until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday will be Ladies' Night, sometime in the near future.

Music is scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There is a jam session every Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Featured is country western, blue-grass, country rock and classic rock.

Southern Breakdown is one of the top country-rock bands in the area who perform at the Tippy Canoe. High-energy and dedicated, they are scheduled to perform on July 17-19; July 24-26; Sept. 18-20; and Sept. 25-27.

Ron Reudi and the Hurricanes, who perform classic rock from the '50s, '60s and '70s, is one of the major bands performing at Tippy Canoe. Featuring over 400 selections, they are booked in August and October through January, '99.

A spectacular three-day Grand Re-opening is planned from July 31-Aug. 2. Live music is slated and in addition, there will be a pig roast each day of the festivities.

"Our Grand Re-opening will give people a chance to come in and see what we've done with the place," explains Charlie. "There are so many changes taking place that this will be a good chance to celebrate the accomplishments."

Tippy Canoe Bar & Grill is a national landmark that is part of the tradition of the Old Columbia River Highway. It is located at 28242 E. Historic Columbia River Highway in Troutdale.