O'Brien
O'Brien is a small, unincorporated community on the Redwood Highway (US-199) south of Cave Junction. It counted 470 residents in the 2020 census. The town and nearby O'Brien Creek are named for John O'Brien, one of the first settlers here.
Travelers use O'Brien as a stop for gas and snacks on the way to or from the coast, before the highway climbs toward the California line. If you want to stay longer, Lone Mountain Resort is on Lone Mountain Road (see Stay), and the Augustino Estate tasting room is here too (see Wine and farms). On the drive down from Cave Junction you pass the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside, covered on Lakes and mountains.
The O'Brien Country Store, its caboose, and the giant fly
The O'Brien Country Store sits on the southbound side of the highway at 33096 Redwood Highway, at the corner of Lone Mountain Road. It's a gas station, grocery, and deli in one, and reviewers mention the take-and-bake pizzas and the homemade cakes.
The store is also a roadside landmark. An old red caboose stands out front, and a giant fly sculpture perches on the roof of the outdoor restrooms. Both were still there in late 2025, when a reviewer wrote about the train out front and the fly on the bathroom, and the caboose shows in current photos of the store. Visitors also point out an old police car on the lot.
- Hours: Google Maps listed the store open until 8 p.m. when we checked in November 2026. Call (541) 596-2555 to confirm.
More stops like this one are on Roadside oddities.
The road south to the coast
From O'Brien, US-199 keeps going south to the California border and on to US-101 near Crescent City. The whole highway, from Grants Pass to Crescent City, is about 80 miles.
In California, the highway passes through the Collier Tunnel, which opened in 1963 so traffic no longer had to climb over the old road across the summit. South of the tunnel, the road follows the Smith River through the Smith River National Recreation Area and down to the coast.
It's a winding mountain highway, and conditions change with the weather. Before you go, check ODOT TripCheck for the Oregon side and Caltrans QuickMap for the California side.
Bolan Lake from O'Brien
O'Brien is also one way up to Bolan Lake. The Forest Service's directions turn east in O'Brien onto county roads that become Forest Road 48, then follow Forest Road 4812 to the lake. The campground there was closed for repairs in spring 2026, so check the Forest Service page before you drive up. More on the lake is on Lakes and mountains.
On the map in O'Brien
- O'Brien Country Store: A highway gas station, grocery, and deli with an old red caboose out front and a giant fly sculpture on the restroom roof.
- Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside: A free BLM stop on US 199 with a flat 0.3-mile trail through serpentine plants to a creek overlook.