Longview Fibre Company to Explore Strategic Alternatives

Longview, Washington, USA, 19 July 2006 -– Longview Fibre Company (NYSE: LFB) today announced that its board of directors has decided to explore a range of strategic alternatives to further enhance shareholder value. These strategic alternatives may include, but are not limited to, continued execution of the company's operating plan, a sale or merger of the company or other strategic transaction, and a sale of certain company assets.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC, the company's financial advisors, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Perkins Coie LLP, the company's legal advisors, will assist in this effort.

"Our board of directors and management are committed to enhancing value for our shareholders," said Richard H. Wollenberg, Longview Fibre's president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board. "Over the last several years, we have taken decisive actions to improve operations, restructure our company, and accelerate the delivery of value to shareholders, including our conversion to a REIT and implementation of our operating plan. With this strong foundation, we believe that now is the right time to explore our strategic alternatives to enable our board of directors to determine the best course for enhancing shareholder value."

As part of the exploration of strategic alternatives process, Longview Fibre would anticipate sharing nonpublic information with interested parties, including Obsidian Finance Group, LLC and The Campbell Group, LLC (Obsidian/Campbell), subject to their entering into appropriate confidentiality agreements.

The company noted that there can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any agreements or transactions. The company does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless and until the board has made a final decision.

In light of the decision to explore strategic alternatives, the board also announced the postponement of the special meeting of shareholders that it had voluntarily scheduled for 12 September 2006 to consider various nonbinding, advisory resolutions advocated by Obsidian/Campbell. Obsidian/Campbell has also delivered a shareholder demand for a shareholder meeting relating to their resolutions. Unless the demand is withdrawn, the company would expect to have a special meeting of shareholders in the fall.

"We have postponed the special meeting of shareholders that we called because we believe it is important that we direct our efforts and attention to exploring all strategic alternatives and executing on our operating plan without the distraction of a special meeting of shareholders," said Wollenberg.

About Longview Fibre Company

Longview Fibre Company is a diversified timberlands owner and manager, and a specialty paper and container manufacturer. Using sustainable forestry methods, the company manages approximately 587,000 acres of softwood timberlands predominantly located in western Washington and Oregon, primarily for the sale of logs to the U.S. and Japanese markets. Longview Fibre's manufacturing facilities include a pulp-paper mill at Longview, Washington; a network of converting plants; and a sawmill in central Washington. The company's products include: logs; corrugated and solid-fiber containers; commodity and specialty kraft paper; paperboard; and dimension and specialty lumber. Longview Fibre press releases, SEC filings, and annual reports are available at no charge through the company's Web site at www.longviewfibre.com.

Certain Information Regarding Participants

Longview Fibre Company's directors and certain of its executive officers, as well as Longview Fibre Company, may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of Longview Fibre Company's shareholders in opposition to any solicitation conducted by Obsidian Finance Group, LLC and/or The Campbell Group, LLC or any of their affiliates for proxies to vote at a special meeting of Longview Fibre Company shareholders. Shareholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations, and interests of such individuals in Longview Fibre Company's proxy statement for the company's 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on 27 February 2006, on Schedule 14A. A copy of that proxy statement may be obtained free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, through the link to Longview Fibre Company's SEC filings on the company's Web site at http://www.longviewfibre.com, or by directing a request to L. J. McLaughlin, 300 Fibre Way, Longview, Washington 98632, (360) 425-1550.

Important Information

In connection with any special meeting of Longview Fibre Company shareholders, Longview Fibre Company expects to file a proxy statement and/or other soliciting materials and other relevant documents with the SEC. Shareholders should read any such proxy statement, other soliciting materials or other relevant documents when and if they become available, because they will contain important information. Shareholders may obtain copies of such documents (when and if they become available) free of charge on the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, through the link to Longview Fibre Company's SEC filings on the company's Web site at http://www.longviewfibre.com, or by directing a request to L. J. McLaughlin, 300 Fibre Way, Longview, Washington 98632, (360) 425-1550.