Ryan’s Outpost

Tim and Sandy Ryan, Proprietors

Est. 1968

Our business consists of:

RYAN’S OUTPOST HISTORY

Bob and Elma Christean began building here during the 50s. Tony, Virginia, Tim and Sandy Ryan established Ryan’s Outpost when they purchased the property in September, 1968. In the years since, Ryan’s Outpost has provided opportunities to offer many services to our neighbors in Ruch, Oregon and the greater community throughout the beautiful Applegate Valley. When purchased by the Ryans, the business consisted of:

15 Mobile Home Spaces
Mom and Pop Grocery Store and Lunch Counter
Gas Station and Lube Room
Self Service Laundry
4 bedroom residence above the store and lube room

RYAN’S OUTPOST HISTORY

Ryan’s Outpost operating hours were from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm during the summer, closing earlier in the winter. Does anyone remember Kitty Faye at the lunch counter and Pete Millsaps at the laundry—and everywhere else—during that time? And then there were the ever-present Tony and Virginia in the store. Tim ran the lube room and Sandy was the bookkeeper.

RYAN’S OUTPOST HISTORY – TIM AND SANDY LEAVE

Tim started his new job in California and the move was in progress when the store building caught fire. The fire burned the entire roof and caused extensive damage to the apartment. The only thing that saved the building was the efforts of the volunteer firemen…

RYAN’S OUTPOST HISTORY – TIM AND SANDY LEAVE

…Oh yes, the volunteer firemen. Ryan’s Outpost housed and manned volunteers and the first fire truck in Ruch. The truck was provided by Grants Pass Rural Fire Department.

With Tim and Sandy’s departure, Tony and Virginia were left to operate the business themselves. Things had to change. Tony and Virginia decided to manage the mobile home park and laundry, while the remaining buildings were leased to new businesses.

STORE BUILDING HISTORY

2004–2008: A remodel of the store created an Italian dining establishment, Auntie Pasta, and a postal service, Ruch Services.  During this time, the building was divided into NE and SE Units, and Auntie Pasta closed.

2009–2010: After a remodel of the SE unit of the building, Tiffany Ryan created an eating establishment. The eatery featured pizza and also included breakfast, sandwiches and soups.  She added tap beer and camping supplies, tagged it “Beans, Bullets and Beer” and named it the Outpost Adventure.

2010: Another remodel to the SE unit created Café Ruch. The handmade pizza, breakfast, lunch and dinner, tap and boutique beers, and convenience store items continued, but bullet sales were dropped.

STORE BUILDING HISTORY

2007–2014: Cowboy Flowers opened for business in the NE unit of the store building. Cowboy Flowers provided flower arrangements, plants, gift items and local art.

2014 thru today: The NE unit of the building is an antique/collectable store, Tif’s Trading Post, established and managed by Tiffany Ryan.

This 60-plus-year-old building continues a tradition of service to the community. Stay tuned.

SELF SERVICE LAUNDRY /DENTAL OFFICE HISTORY

In 1983, William Christofferson, DDS leased the self-service laundry. He then converted it into a dentist office, Ruch Dental.

In 2000, a complete remodel of the dentist office occurred.  At that time Dr. Christofferson, DDS was still the dentist and remained so until his passing in 2015.

2015 to present: The dental business was purchased and renamed Applegate Valley Dental, continuing local dental services to the valley.

SHOP BUILDING HISTORY

Over the years from 1979 through 2001, the shop building was used for many different businesses. There was a metal shop, a woodworking shop, a sign shop and most notably it served for a time as a shelter for the newly established Applegate Valley Fire District fire truck.

A small trailer that the Outpost Garage used as an office was parked next to the shop building. During the 80s the forest workers organization used the trailer for their office.

In 2001, Tiffany Ryan opened Outpost Farm and Garden, a feed and seed store.

We added new building in 2007. This allowed us to expand the feed and seed (now hardware) store.

In 2015, Tiffany changed the name to Ruch Hardware. She is currently in the process of expanding the services Ruch Hardware supplies.