Pelota Fronton

The Pelota Fronton is a Basque pelota ball court and landmark in Jordan Valley, Oregon, United States. The court was built in 1915 and finished in 1917. It was last used regularly in 1935. This was caused by the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. Jordan Valley had numerous Basque immigrants that came to herd sheep. After the act passed, the court gradually lost usage, and it started falling into disrepair over a span of roughly 4 decades. In 1972, the court was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pelota Fronton
The exterior of the Pelota Fronton in 2015
Locator map
Locator map
Location of Jordan Valley and the Pelota Fronton in Oregon
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Locator map
Pelota Fronton (the United States)
LocationBassett St. (U.S. 95), Jordan Valley, Oregon
Coordinates42°58′28″N 117°03′10″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1915
NRHP reference No.72001084[1]

In 1997, the court underwent a full renovation. Restoration included installation of a covered interpretive sign and a stone representation of the Zazpiak Bat, the coat of arms for the seven Basque provinces. A sign reads: “Jordan Valley Ko Frontoia restored 1997 danok etorri” in recognition of the inauguration of the restored pelota fronton in September 1997.

In Jordan Valley games, the wicker racket, or cesta, is not used. To this day, the court remains a symbol of Basque culture in the region.[2][3]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Jordan Valley". Ontario Chamber of Commerce/Visitor & Convention Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. Engeman, Richard H. (September 1, 2009). The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious, and the Arcane. Timber Press. p. 195. ISBN 9781604691474. Retrieved April 12, 2013.


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