SUNRIVER MAGAZINE

SUNRIVER

Mt. Bachelor
Photo by Diane M. Reed

Welcome

Map to Sunriver courtesy of YAHOO!

Located in the heart of beautiful Central Oregon, Sunriver is the Pacific Northwest’s finest resort community. At an elevation of approximately 4,200 feet, Sunriver is surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest and is bordered by eight and one-half miles of the Deschutes River on the west.

With 3,300 acres of fun for the entire family and sunshine 270 days of the year, Sunriver has something for everyone. Take a bicycle ride on one of the more than 30 miles of paved bike paths or try one of the 28 outdoor tennis courts. Horseback riding is available as is easy access to fishing, canoeing or rafting.

Within the boundaries of Sunriver you can enjoy the two giant swimming pools, golf on one of the three championship golf courses, or skate on the ice rink.

After a busy day you can spend some quality time at the Sunriver Village Mall. There you will find numerous unique shops and stores offering a wide variety of products.

Within Sunriver, you’ll also find wonderful eateries. Enjoy fine coffees, home made pastries, or an evening of fine dining.

Sunriver is also within a short drive of many premier attractions including 10 wonderful fishing lakes, beautiful parks, the High Desert Museum and Mt. Bachelor, one of the nation’s leading ski areas.

Weather

Sunriver enjoys the dry climate of the high desert. Sunny days, low humidity and cool nights. Most precipitation falls between November and February as snow.

Driving to Sunriver

From Miles
Bend 15
Eugene 143
La Pine 12
Medford 197
Mt. Bachelor 18
Portland 175
Salem 146
Seattle 355

Flying to Sunriver

Horizon Air and United Express service is available from Portland and Seattle. All flights serve the Bend/Redmond Airport (541-388-0019), 45 minutes from Sunriver.

Private aircraft can fly directly into Sunriver’s airport, open year around. Contact the Sunriver Airport at 541-593-4603.

History

Planners for the community of Sunriver stressed the desire to retain as much of the natural, unspoiled beauty as possible. From its inception in 1969, Sunriver was designed as an ecological experiment, to determine if humans and wildlife could coexist in harmony within certain guidelines. Though the idea was scoffed at by many and given two years to survive, it is interesting to note that Sunriver has continued to prosper as well as maintain the rigid rules that protect the flora and fauna.

Artifacts, unearthed from the silt and soil of an ancient lakebed nearby, reveal that native Americans were inhabitants several thousand years ago. Early history indicates beaver trappers found a wealth of game in the area, which they called “Canoe Camp.” French trappers named the river “Riviera Des Chutes” meaning River of the Rapids and, from this origin, it is known today as the Deschutes River. Among historical celebrities known to have traveled through the area were John C. Fremont, and guide Kit Carson, as they journeyed to California during the winter of 1843. Though other explorers, trappers, hunters and fishermen no doubt visited this paradise over the years, the first to take note of the region as a place for civilization was lit. Henry Larcom Abbot, leader of a survey crew for the Pacific Railroad. While investigating the possibility of a rail-route through the area, he established camp near the site known as Sunriver.

Cattlemen drove their herds from the lower desert to the region during summer seasons since the lush meadowlands were found to be excellent for grazing at that time of year. The first of these to homestead a residence in the vicinity was the Vandevert family, pioneers whose ranch was just south of Sunriver. Their children attended classes at the Meadow School, long since removed from its location, approximately one hundred yards southeast of the present site of the lodge, in the late 1800s.

The most noteworthy transaction was the purchase of 5,500 acres (encompassing the site that was to become Sunriver) by the government during World War II. The Army Corps of Engineers built Camp Abbot in 1942 and it opened officially ion September 1943. Though it existed for only a short time, it served as a training camp for army personnel to develop their skills in bridge building and the construction of canals and roads.

Designed to be a self-contained city, complete with water and sewage systems and all facilities deemed necessary to accommodate 10,000, only remnants of this era remain today. The Great Hall, which served as the officer’s club, has withstood the ravages of time and remains as stately as ever. The timbers, hewn for its construction, were cut down from the surrounding property. Though such an act would be prohibited today, forty years have helped heal many of the old scars and wounds suffered by “Mother Nature.” The Great Hall displays the skills of the craftsmen who constructed this mighty structure. The little canal-like stream, which residents whimsically refer to as Sun River, where one can observe Canadian geese enjoying the waters as they take a rest from their flight, is another legacy of the Corps.

During the years between the 1800s and 1960s the land was bought and sold, divided and consolidated numerous times for various purposes; thus, title searches of an exhaustive nature were required to provide clear title for Sunriver Properties, Inc. of Bend, the first principals being John Cray and don McCallum.

Within two years, or less, from the time John Cray, head of Omark Industries and developer of the prestigious complex of Salishan, unveiled plans for Sunriver in April 1969, the project literally exploded. The lodge was constructed, homesites were plotted, pool, airstrip, tennis courts, golf course, bike paths and stables were completed. Interestingly enough, the bike paths were originally designed to accommodate electric golf carts, to serve as an alternate mode of travel for the local populace.

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