A dwarf and cute critters are on display at La Grande's newest gift shop, Flying Cloud Gifts, at 1102 Washington Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

LA GRANDE — Flying Cloud Gifts has made its debut as a retail gift store that sells unique American-made products and offers shipping services to any destination in the world.

The gift store, 1102 Washington Ave., La Grande, held a soft opening earlier this month, and it will host a grand opening and Union County Chamber-sponsored ribbon cutting event Friday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rocky Hunter, sole proprietor, said the store hours currently are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. After Thanksgiving, the store will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“Also, customers may purchase online at www.flyingcloudgifts.com and schedule a pickup seven days a week or arrange for shipment same day,” he said.

Flying Cloud Gifts is a second-generation, family-owned and operated business. It was started in 1993 as an offshoot of the family’s Flying Cloud Christmas Tree Farm on the outskirts of Astoria. Hunter’s parents, Jack and Judy Burgoyne, operated the Flying Cloud Gifts shop out of a quaintly remodeled horse stable on the top of Green Mountain near Astoria. In 2005, they sold the tree farm and relocated the gift shop to Enterprise to be closer to La Grande where Hunter was living.

“In 1999, I was living in La Grande and attending Eastern Oregon University, where I graduated in 2003,” he said.

In spring 2021, the Burgoynes retired, and Hunter purchased the business, operating it initially from his residence in La Grande. He decided to retain the business name for the sake of its interesting maritime history.

“Our business is named after a clipper ship, the Flying Cloud,” Hunter said.

Flying Cloud set the world’s sailing record for the fastest passage between New York and San Francisco, 89 days 8 hours. The ship held this record for over 130 years, from 1854 to 1989. Flying Cloud was the most famous of the clippers built by Donald McKay.

Though not a sailor, Hunter said, “My brother and I worked for the bar pilots in high school as boat boys.”

With this background, Hunter feels connected personally to the Flying Cloud trade name and the enduring legacy his family left him. During the transition of ownership, Hunter’s parents have been offering support with the gift shop’s operation as needed, especially during the busy holiday season.

In October 2021, the Burgoynes purchased the store space at the corner of Washington Avenue and Fourth Street and made significant remodeling changes to the stucco and brick exterior of the building. Inside they remodeled the 500-square-foot space.

Hunter and Amberlee Harder operate the store. Harder waits on customers in the storefront and handles the shipping and packaging side of the business. Hunter works part-time at the gift shop, and he will continue to work at construction and painting jobs through his company, R Cal Construction LLC, which was established in March 2022.

Flying Cloud Gifts offers a line of micro-fiber Denali blankets and throws made in Wisconsin. They also offer Mary Lake Thompson products from California, such as dish towels, aprons, coffee cups and latte cups. Dakota Rugs currently are available on their website only, but Hunter said they plan to stock them in the store.

Flying Cloud Gifts will continue its long tradition of selling decorated Christmas wreaths, ornaments and night-lights, but they will also be bringing in Long Bottom Coffee by the bag among other products.

“Come by and see the latest things we’re adding to the store,” Hunter said. “Honesty, integrity and, most importantly, our commitment to personalized customer service are the Flying Cloud Gifts trademark.”

Flying Cloud Gifts can be found on its website as well as Facebook and Instagram. For more information, call Flying Cloud Gifts at 541-398-1194 during business hours.