Black Butte Ranch Turns 40!

To some a fortieth birthday is cause for comments like “over the hill” or “welcome to mid-life”.  Black Butte Ranch is anything but “over the hill” and she has definitely hit her mid-life stride full speed.  What was once just a glimmer in Mike Hollern’s eye is now a place that holds very precious memories for a lot of folks.  There is a multitude of  kids who spent their summers at the Ranch, lighthearted and free to explore, and parents who didn’t have to worry about the safety of their kids. Jean Nave, from the Sisters Historical Society, put it so well in her brief biography of Mike, she said he is “a man

of vision, yet grounded in simple values of family, community and concern for others. Mike Hollern is a special part of Central Oregon History.”

At one time Black Butte Ranch was an operating ranch with cattle and horses beginning in the early 1880′s.  The first structure built on the Ranch was a small log cabin with a split-rail fence built by Tillman Glaze.  Some people confuse the  log cabin remnants found on the Glaze Meadow golf course with the Tillman Glaze cabin.  Those are the remains of the Graham homestead cabin.

It is also well known that Brooks Resources (Mike Hollern’s employer at the time) also encouraged commercial development in the little town of Sisters, so that Black Butte Ranch could maintain limited commercial activity on the ranch. Brooks Resources even offered Sisters merchants  up to $5000 and free architectural help to create the “western” look to the town.

If you are at the Ranch be sure to take time to go to the Lodge and view the series of mint-condition marketing posters displayed by the dining podium.  These are the original marketing pieces sent to a select demographic to advertise the development of Black Butte Ranch, and the opportunity to purchase a lot in a very unique place.  The posters were graciously donated by Joe Erceg, the graphic artist who designed them.  When we first began our search for Ranch memorabilia, I remembered reading in Peggy Lucas’ book There is a Place about Joe.   So I “googled” him and found  a listing for Joe Erceg Design in Portland.  I called the phone number listed, and a gentleman answered the phone.  I introduced myself and said, “Is Joe Erceg available?”  He said, “this is Joe.”   I was so surprised to be speaking with the marketing genius himself that I replied, “the Joe?”  Our conversation was very lively and fun and then he told me about the mint-condition posters he had. He then said that he would be happy to donate them to our archive.

I hope you’ll come and visit us during this fortieth year and see what is so unique and special about this place.

See ya around the Ranch!

Katie

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