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John Gray (developer of Sunriver and also known for founding Salishan and parts of Black Butte Ranch) had a very specific vision: to
create accessible, family-oriented resorts that celebrated Oregon’s natural beauty. He was big on sustainability, public access, and
creating communities where people could reconnect with nature — not exclusive, gated luxury.


Donald McCallum, the original planner/architect for the layout of Sunriver (working under Gray’s vision), focused on low-impact
development. Roads follow the land's natural contours, and housing was meant to blend with the forest, not overpower it. Again, the
intent wasn’t to create a private enclave for elites but a community-oriented, recreational haven.


Going private was never the original intention. What you’re seeing now is a branding drift: modern resort operators trying to squeeze
more revenue by mimicking the aesthetics of exclusivity, without the substance to back it up.
This is harming the Sunriver communities
overall economic viability and accessibility for families.
To our knowledge, these changes were done without a comprehensive community
impact study — and the results are starting to show: diminished value for both visitors and homeowners, and a move away from the
welcoming, family-first culture that made Sunriver special.
We encourage growth without outgrowing our roots.


Sunriver’s heart has always been:

Public access

  • Families riding bikes together
  • Canoes on the river
  • Rustic feeling lodges, not valet-driven marble lobbies
  • Family golf


Turning a course like Meadows, Central Oregon’s second oldest public course since 1968, into a “Private” experience leaves many
longtime residents and visitors feeling this shift goes against the spirit of Sunriver’s founding vision. It’s not what Gray or McCallum had in
mind — and we’d bet they’d be cringing at how far it's strayed from that communal vision.

Growth Without Outgrowing Our Roots

A NW family getaway since 1968