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Fossil
Fossil was founded in 1876 by Thomas B. Hoover, an early settler who operated the first post office. The town's name was chosen by Hoover due to the abundance of fossils found in the area. The community was an early center of commerce and today boasts a 100-year-old mercantile and several other historic buildings. Fossil is the Wheeler County seat and the community offers public fossil digging beds behind the high school right in town.
Visit website: www.cityoffossil.org
 Fossil is home to the historic Wheeler County Courthouse, the Fossil Museum with its pioneer and rock artifacts, the one room Pine Creek Schoolhouse Museum, a vintage car museum, the county fairgrounds, two city parks and several downtown businesses.
Mitchell
Mitchell was named in 1873 for John Hipple Mitchell, a former U.S. Senator from Oregon. In 1884  the town of Mitchell suffered a raging flood. Water rushed over the bluff above the community, carrying boulders and mud. The town was rebuilt. The community has an Old West ambiance with part of the town situated on bluffs above the lower part.
Mitchell is known for its spectacular geologic features such as large rock outcrops that tower near town. The town has a community hall heated by a wood stove, a city park adjacent to Bridge Creek, a century-old mercantile, a twisted juniper furniture shop and other downtown businesses. A live bear housed in a large cage in the heart of the downtown attracts many visitors.
Spray
One of those out of the way, "don't blink, you'll miss it" kinda places, Spray is actually a beautiful little hamlet within earshot of the famed John Day River. One of the main features is the popular public boat launch in the middle of town and the Spray Pioneer Museum is also worth a stop for those into local fame and points of interest. Spray is also equally distant from all three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. When in Spray, you'll see a post office, a motel, two stores and cafes, two gas stations, and other small business. There is a K-12 school with less than 100 students, a preschool and a dormitory (boarding house) that usually houses up to 6 exchange students.
Due to the relatively low elevation the area receives about 13.88 inches of rainfall per year and can be quite mild in the winter when higher terrain is buried under snow and colder temperatures. If you're lookng for Spray on the map, it is in eastern Wheeler county along Highway 19/207 which divides the town north to south.
Spray was incorporated in 1958 and the current population is about 160 which has been fairly constant over the past four decades.
Visit website: www.sprayoregon.us
Service Creek
A lazy stretch of the mighty John Day River flows through Service Creek which is well known for the Stagecoach house for which it is famous. It was used in the 1920's as a boarding house, and is situated on a view-packed parcel of land across Service Creek from the old livery barn. Today it has six rooms, four baths, and a lodge area catering to individuals, families, and groups. The down-home hospitality continues at the store, restaurant, and raft rental businesses adjacent to the original Service Creek post office.
Hungry for steak? Relax and dine at the resturaunt for a mouth-watering hand cut New York steak, burgers, locally grown produce and homemade soups and desserts. This is also where you can pit your luck on the wilder stretches of the John Day in a whitewater raft. The rental shop is located conveniently next to the store and the shuttle will transport your vehicle from your put in spot to your take out destination. Guided fishing, rafting, and eco-tour trips are also available.
Highways 19/207 is a scenic route known as The Journey Through Time Scenic Byway offering many places to pull over for camera buffs and wildlife watchers. Perhaps the most popular destination is all three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument along the route.
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