Pelican Brewing Buys Yachats Property, Plans Sixth Oregon Coast Taproom

Pelican Brewing Company purchased the former Whale's Tail Diner on U.S. Highway 101 in Yachats and confirmed plans to convert the historic building into its sixth Oregon Coast restaurant and taproom, targeting a second-half 2026 opening that will coincide with the brewery's 30th anniversary.

The property spent roughly 45 years as LeRoy's Blue Whale before briefly operating as the Whale's Tail Diner. It was listed at $980,000 through Martek Real Estate, though no source has confirmed the final sale price. The space is now closed for renovation, and Pelican co-founder Jeff Schons will personally oversee the construction process.

For Schons, the site carries weight beyond square footage. "We are truly excited to locate a Pelican in Yachats, where my mom lived for about 15 years," he said. "LeRoy's was our go-to place for lunch whenever my wife, Mary, and I would visit, and I think mom would be really pleased to know that we will be the new owners and that we'll be remembering her and those great times in that special place."

The Yachats location will not include on-site brewing. Pelican plans to serve its beers alongside its zero-alcohol Sparkle Hops line and craft sodas, with production remaining at existing facilities. Renovations are intended to bring what Pelican calls its "coastal-modern" aesthetic to the building the company described in its release as "the gem of the Oregon coast."

President and co-founder Mary Jones framed the move as a direct extension of what Pelican has been doing since 1996. "We are delighted to expand our footprint and bring the Pelican experience to more of our coastal neighbors," she said. "We look forward to sharing our next chapter with the community in Yachats."

Pelican's existing footprint runs from its Pacific City flagship, the only beachfront brewpub in the Pacific Northwest with views of Haystack Rock and the Cape Kiwanda dunes, north to Cannon Beach and through a brewpub at Siletz Bay, a production facility and taproom in Tillamook, and a taproom in Rockaway Beach. Yachats will join WildCraft & Pantry as one of two beverage makers in the small coastal town.

The brewery produced 34,600 barrels in 2024, ranking it sixth-largest among Oregon craft breweries, and has accumulated more than 450 industry awards including multiple honors at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival. More details on the renovation timeline and opening plans are expected as construction progresses.