From a Cave Junction Pizza Deli to a Southern Oregon Tradition: The Wild River Story

Before Wild River became known for handcrafted beer, fire-oven pizza and gathering places throughout Southern Oregon, it began with one family, one pizza deli and a commitment to making good food.

More than 50 years later, that original spirit remains at the heart of Wild River.

It Started in Cave Junction

The Wild River story began in June 1975, when Jerry and Bertha Miller opened Miller’s Shady Oaks Pizza Deli in Cave Junction, Oregon.

From the beginning, the Millers believed food should be prepared with fresh ingredients, creativity and plenty of personality. The restaurant quickly became a gathering place for residents and visitors traveling through the Illinois Valley.

Its memorable slogan “Blame us if your life goes to pizzas” captured the friendly, slightly playful character that has continued to follow Wild River through the years.

The family expanded to Brookings-Harbor in 1980, bringing its pizza and welcoming atmosphere to the Southern Oregon Coast. But pizza was only the beginning of the Wild River story.

From Pizza to Pints

Jerry and Bertha shared an interest in Old World crafts and wanted to offer beverages that matched the quality and character of the food coming from their kitchens.

That idea led the family into brewing.

In 1990, the company began producing handcrafted beer under the name Steelhead Brewery. This was during the early years of Oregon’s independent brewing movement, long before craft breweries became common throughout the state.

The goal wasn’t simply to add beer to the menu. It was to brew distinctive ales and lagers that belonged alongside fresh pizza and made-from-scratch food.

That original brewing philosophy continues today, with beers inspired by historic European styles, Pacific Northwest ingredients and the landscapes of Southern Oregon.

Becoming Wild River

As the restaurants and brewing operation continued to grow, the family realized the original Pizza Deli name no longer told the whole story.

The business had become more than a pizza restaurant. It was also a brewery, a gathering place and an increasingly recognizable part of Southern Oregon.

In 1994, Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company became the official name.

Surrounded by the Rogue, Illinois and other rivers that shape the region, the name Wild River felt like a natural reflection of home. It connected the brewery and restaurants to the rugged landscapes, outdoor culture and communities of Southern Oregon.

The company continued to grow from there, eventually welcoming guests in Grants Pass and Medford.

Growing Without Losing Our Roots

Each Wild River location has developed its own personality, but the foundation remains the same: handcrafted food, original beer and a place where people can gather comfortably.

At Wild River, making food in-house has never been a passing restaurant trend. It has been part of the company’s identity since 1975. From freshly prepared pizza dough and baked goods to sauces, entrées and desserts, the work happening behind the scenes is an important part of what reaches the table.

The same care goes into Wild River’s brewing program. Since brewing began in 1990, Wild River has produced ales and lagers ranging from light and approachable to bold, hoppy and deeply roasted.

Some recipes reach back into European brewing history. Others are named for the people and places that have shaped Wild River’s Southern Oregon story.

More Than a Restaurant

Over the decades, Wild River has become part of countless family dinners, birthday celebrations, team gatherings, first dates, reunions and community traditions.

Generations of Southern Oregon families have grown up eating Wild River pizza, drinking house-made root beer and eventually discovering their favorite Wild River craft beer.

That history means a great deal to us.

Wild River has changed and grown since the doors of that first Cave Junction pizza deli opened in 1975, but our roots remain firmly planted in Southern Oregon. We are still proud to create food and beer for the communities that helped make Wild River what it is today.

The next time you visit, pull up a chair, order something made in-house and raise a glass to more than 50 years of Wild River history.

Want to know what’s in that glass? Continue the story with our guide to Wild River’s handcrafted Southern Oregon beers.