Wayfinder Beer The Highlands beer garden and food cart pod is open
Wayfinder Beer’s highly anticipated second location The Highlands opens in downtown Troutdale, Oregon.
As exclusively first reported by the New School in April 2023, the new Wayfinder Beer at “The Highlands” is part taproom, part food hall, and part food truck pod and beer garden. Wayfinder Beer is the anchor of the brand new development at 153 S. Buxton Road, Troutdale, OR 97060 and is developing and managing the property which will be home to additional food and drink providers offerring everything from ice cream and pizza, to burritos and sushi.
The Highlands is built on a slight grade with a newly constructed 2,000 sq. ft. beer hall on the upper slope comprising two levels and big east facing windows to the historic downtown Troutdale neighborhood. The lower level of the hall opens up into a grassy beer garden surrounded by 6 food trucks, with plans to introduce more options in the coming weeks and months. Inside the main hall, Wayfinder Beer will pour both cocktails from a full bar, and their award-winning and beloved lagers, IPA’s, and traditional and experimental riffs by brewmaster Natalie Baldwin. Checkerboard Pizza will share the indoors with their signature New York-style slices. Nico’s ice cream was originally set to join Wayfinder in the brick-and-mortar, but after many months of delays have pulled out. Checkerboard is now working on their own ice cream concept which is still TBD.
Wayfinder’s The Highlands is first and foremost a spacious, family-friendly environment for the incredibly underserved Troutdale and Gresham area where craft breweries are few and far away (Migration Brewing Gresham, The Hoppy Brewer, and Level One Beer Garden, and Mad Cow Brewing are the closest options.) With the inviting atmosphere and partially covered and heated patio, large shared tables, smaller more intimate seating arrangements, and comfy chairs around gas fire pits, and food and drink options for everyone, The Highlands has the potential to be a destination in contrast with Wayfinder’s inner southeast industrial flagship location in the gritty heart of old Portland.
Downtown Historic Troutdale is located at the start of old Hwy 30 aka The Gateway to the Gorge - a destination for some of the best hikes, swimming holes, campgrounds, and views the PNW offers. In addition to the scenery, Troutdale is a community of residents and businesses that are underserved with food options. The City's Urban Renewal Agency is seriously investing in the development of the downtown area to realize the true potential of their city.
Wayfinder Beer The Highlands will soft open this Sunday, July 28th, open daily from 12p-9, open until 10p on the weekends with Lulu (Hawaiian-inspired street food), Checkerboard Pizza (NY slice concept from Ken Forkish), Gyro King (shwarma, greek food, multiple carts around metro area) and Happy Sushi (sushi rolls, sushi burritos, poke bowls) open, and burgers, burritos, ice cream and more later this summer. They will also host an open house for the neighborhood and potential new food trucks and vendors on August 3rd as they rev up their full operations and get their feet under them.
The official Wayfinder The Highlands grand opening is scheduled for August 31st
Mark your calendar for an epic day of live music, games, delicious food from all eight vendors, life-affirming beverages from Wayfinder Beer and more.
Wayfinder Beer’s The Highlands
153 S. Buxton Road, Troutdale, OR 97060
Open daily from 12p-9, open until 10p on the weekends