Tollgate is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

Umatilla County Umatilla County () is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,075. Hermiston is the largest city in Umatilla County, but Pendleton remains the county seat. Umatilla County is part of ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

, United States. It lies between

Weston Weston may refer to: Places Australia * Weston, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra * Weston, New South Wales * Weston Creek, a residential district of Canberra * Weston Park, Canberra, a park Canada * Weston, Nova Scotia * W ...

and Elgin on Oregon Route 204. The area was first homesteaded by David J. Woodward. After co-forming the Summerville and

Walla Walla Walla Walla can refer to: * Walla Walla people, a Native American tribe after which the county and city of Walla Walla, Washington, are named * Place of many rocks in the Australian Aboriginal Wiradjuri language, the origin of the name of the town ...

Road Co., Woodward purchased land near the headwater of Lookingglass Creek (later dammed in 1922 to create

Langdon Lake Langdon Lake is reservoir located in the Umatilla National Forest of Northeastern Oregon, United States. It is an impoundment of Morning Creek, and the source of Lookingglass Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River. Surrounding the ...

). A road leading east from the city of

Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...

and the city of

Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, where it is the largest city and county seat. It had a population of 34,060 at the 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,927 as of 2021. The population of the city and its two su ...

to the city of Summerville and the Grande Ronde Valley crossed Woodward's property. Woodward installed a

toll gate Toll Gate or Tollgate may refer to: * Toll gate, a barrier across a toll road or toll bridge that is lifted when the toll is paid Entertainment * "Tollgate" (Hale single) * ''The Toll-Gate'', a 1954 novel by Georgette Heyer * ''The Toll Gate'', ...

across this portion of the road and charged travelers a fee for access through the gate. The toll road was frequently used as a means to move farm products from Union County to

and

Walla Walla County Walla Walla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 62,584. The county seat and largest city is Walla Walla. The county was formed on April 25, 1854 and is named after the Walla Wall ...

. In 1915 Umatilla County, working with other local counties, became interested in improving the toll road. These counties formed the Blue Mountain Highway Association. Among the group's goals was to gravel the road and abolish the toll. Woodward resisted abolishing the toll and the committee moved to create a new route which bypassed the Woodwards land. In 1922 this new route was completed and called the Weston-Elgin Highway, which later became Highway 204, which still runs by the Langdon Lake. In 1940 a postoffice was established and would continue serving the community until 1954. Today mail for the Tollgate community is routed through a post office in

. The Spout Springs Ski Area and Andes Prairie, which is the only designated sledding and winter camping area in the Blue Mountains, also are within the community. Langdon Lake has remained a private lake and has limited access to the public.

Notable residents

Gordon Smith Gordon Smith may refer to: In politics *Gordon H. Smith (born 1952), former U.S. Senator from Oregon, and current Area Authority for the LDS Church * Gordon Elsworth Smith (1918–2005), Canadian politician * Gordon Smith (academic) (1927–2009), ...

- Former

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from Oregon

Links

Tollgate Oregon - Realestate links

Langdon lake association and webcam

Webcam near the store

Tollgate trail finders snowmobile club

Jubilee Lake and campground (USFS)

References

Unincorporated communities in Umatilla County, Oregon Unincorporated communities in Oregon {{UmatillaCountyOR-geo-stub