Special Offer
Streams, ponds, and wetlands at Black Butte Ranch provide important habitat for fish, amphibians, birds, and other wildlife. Management focuses on protecting water quality, maintaining healthy riparian vegetation, reducing erosion, and supporting natural stream function.
Meadows are open grassland areas that support native wildflowers, pollinators, and wildlife while contributing to the Ranch’s scenic character. They also provide important wildlife movement corridors and seasonal grazing opportunities that help maintain ecosystem health. Management emphasizes invasive species control, native plant conservation, sustainable grazing practices, and the preservation of wildlife passage and habitat connectivity.
The forests of Black Butte Ranch are dominated by ponderosa pine and mixed conifer species, with pockets of aspen groves that add ecological diversity and seasonal beauty. These forests provide wildlife habitat, enhance the Ranch’s scenic character, and help maintain the natural environment that defines the Black Butte Ranch experience. Management focuses on forest health, wildfire risk reduction, insect and disease prevention, and aspen stand conservation.
Black Butte Ranch supports a diverse array of native wildlife, including mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, coyotes, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, river otters, redband trout, numerous bird species, pollinators, and other animals that rely on healthy forests, meadows, and waterways. Wildlife management focuses on conserving and enhancing habitat, maintaining movement corridors and habitat connectivity, supporting biodiversity, and minimizing human-wildlife conflicts while fostering opportunities for wildlife observation and appreciation.
Here is our story…
We learned of central Oregon when we were living on Mercer Island in Washington, so we rented a week at Sunriver in 1974. We had a great vacation and were so happy that we booked the next year before we left Sunriver.
Later, two of our friends who did not know each other, independently, suggested we try out BBR, after all it was an hour less driving time which was appealing.
So, we canceled Sunriver and booked BBR, and stayed in 1975 at the Country House Condos(see photo), We never looked back to Sunriver. We have come to BBR yearly since 1975. In 1977, we bought a lot on Glaze Meadow as an “investment”. By 1979 our dream got bigger and we built a vacation home in ‘79- ‘80.
Our sons, Chip, Tom, and Dan have spent many summer and winter days in this paradise; skiing at Bachelor, hiking up South Sisters, Black Crater and BB Mt, biking everywhere, tennis lessons and the junior golf clinics by golf pro, Bunny Mason.
We moved here permanently in 2015 and rebuilt our home. Our 8 grandchildren so enjoy coming here.
300 days of sunshine a year, no mosquitoes, low humidity and 18 miles of paved bike trails are very appealing.
Dick and Faye McCollum
Photo Notes
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Wolverine CAMERA
My memories of Black Butte Ranch began in the early 1970s. No, we didn’t own a home on the Ranch.
Instead, we had a tiny cabin in Tract C Summer Homes in Camp Sherman. I grew up in Portland, and my
family spent many weekends and summer vacations in central Oregon, creating countless memories.
While we had plenty of activities on or near the river (hiking, fishing, inner-tubing), it was quiet. Almost
too quiet for a 11-year-old! I remember looking longingly at Black Butte Ranch with its pools, tennis
courts, horses, and especially its bike trails, which were so smooth compared to the red rock roads at
Camp Sherman. On rare, special occasions, my parents would pack my brother and me in the car to
head to dinner at the Lodge. It was always a fantastic experience – the setting, the views, the food. I’ll
never forget the menus presented on the wooden boards – so cool!
In the mid 1980s, my parents sold our cabin on the Metolius, but soon realized they missed the beauty
of Central Oregon and, in 1988, purchased a home (GH-22) at Black Butte Ranch. Their vision was to
make it their retirement home. “God’s Country” was how my father referred to the area, and I think he
was right!
Since then, our family has held a wedding on the ranch (my brother’s) and celebrated my parents’ 40th
wedding anniversary with a friends and family golf tournament (18 years ago!), but most importantly we
have raised our two boys – now 24 and 22 – to love the ranch and the area as much as my husband I do.
It has been a real treat for them enjoy all the activities that I had dreamed of experiencing. Nearly every
Christmas has been spent at that same home my parents purchased in 1988, and we have established
holiday traditions on the ranch that trump anything that we have at our home in northern California. It’s
not Christmas if we aren’t at BBR!
It was a silly moment when, years ago, I stumbled across an old sign on the burn pile at the dump that
was immediately recognizable to me:
I couldn’t help but grab it! One (wo)man’s junk is another’s treasure, right? Bringing back so many
memories, it now resides at our home, a little piece of BBR history that reminds my family of the early
days when we visited the ranch.
In 1976 our family returned to Oregon after 3 years in the Military in the Philippines.
Friends took us to Black Butte Ranch.
Our kids ages 3, 6 and 9 had their first experience in snow boots crunching around the meadow.
As soon as we could, we bought a lot on Mountain Clover. We built our house there in 1979. We slept on the foundation under the stars as we waited eagerly for the house to be built.
As our family grew from 5 to 17…with 9 grandchildren, we packed in tight for holidays,summers,ski trips in our beloved number 9 on Mountain Clover.
On a bike ride one summer day in May 2015 we saw that one of our favorite houses on the ranch was for sale.
We polled the kids. Are we ready for more bedrooms and more importantly more bathrooms?
Their reluctance turned to enthusiasm as they visited the new Boyd Black Butte gathering spot.
So after 34 years at the ranch with memories too numerous to count, we are still celebrating summer, snow and each other at 206 Glaze Meadow.
Thank you from all 17 Boyds for many years and 3 generations on the “Ranch”
Our first visit together was August 1984 . Geni & I were guests of Mike Clark (Geni’s ) dad.
Our first vacation as a couple together was in Black Butte in July 1987
We first started coming the BBR because of it’s beauty and the recreation . It was easy for us to get to from Portland. We loved to play tennis, bike the paths, golf, fly fish. hikes nearby.
Best memories
family vacations with our kids in the mid 90s
summer vacations with the Johnson family in the late 90s
skiing vacations with the Collins family
buying our house in August 2002. We actually were supposed to close our purchase on the Monday after the Cache Mountain fire touched the edge of the ranch in late July 2002. It was postponed due to the fire for 2 weeks and we closed in mid August.
bringing our dog Henry to the ranch for the first time in January 2005
Our son’s wedding Sept 2 , 2017
what makes BBR special for me is the lake and the scenery while i fly fish. what makes the ranch special to all of us is that we all love to go together as a family. once we start east from Salem, it gives us a sense of relaxtion, calm, knowing we are heading to our special place.
The ranch means family, friends , special memories.
There is a place for our family.
GH 131
We came up & stayed with friends who had one of the first homes on the ranch. We built our first home on Fiddleneck Lot #9. My brothers and most of their friends worked on the ranch in some capacity. Workers could eat at the lodge for 1/2 price!
One of our friends had 2 Condos next to the Lodge. She was a gourmet cook and hosted many wonderful dinners. One of my brothers later married her.
My family bought lots on the Big Meadow Golf Course and built spec homes. They sold them and ended up moving from GH 9 to GH 95 on Bracken Lane.
Every New Years Eve we would have a big Poker Game at our house. The Electricity would go out later in the evening which caused a lot of unhappiness. Eventually the underground power lines were replaced and we no longer had the problem.
My romance with my first husband started at the Ranch. We ended up divorcing and now he is married to a woman with a beautiful home near Glaze Meadow. Our son purchased a home near Glaze Meadow and enjoys time with his family and friends up there.
Black Butte Ranch has many wonderful memories over the last 48 years for our family. It’s a family tradition to go up to the Ranch and hang out. We’re going on with the 4th generation enjoying the Ranch.
Two of my nieces were married at the Lodge. Many Family Celebrations have been held there.
Here’s to another 50 years appreciating and loving Black Butte Ranch!
Thank you for planning the celebration of BBR’s 50 years!
We have been at Black Butte Ranch from before they even broke ground. My uncle Bob Harrison was first President of Brooks Resources with responsibilities for developing the Ranch. I remember sitting in his living room in Bend as he spread out all the potential logo designs as we all weighed in on what we all thought would look the best. I recall them digging a test pond where Phalarope lake now exists. They were not sure that the area would hold water long enough to allow for the lake. I have great memories of working at the golf club house picking up range balls for Bunny Mason. I also spent a couple of summers working for Packy Longfellow as a life guard working all the pools. Every Labor Day there was a big end of the season event with swimming competitions in the lake. Log rolling, distance swim and a variety of field events. I have fond memories of sneaking over from Willamette University with my fraternity brother to ski at Hoo Doo. Several of those fraternity brother have homes at BBR today!
I am now 61, my own children have grown up with their own experiences and memories and still hold BBR. I now am the 3rd generation owner of our cabin and still find that “There is a place!”
Black Butte Ranch, Steeped in Central Oregon History. 2020 marked Black Butte Ranch’s 50th Anniversary.
Take a moment to view our photo gallery and you’ll quickly discover why Black Butte Ranch is such a cherished destination for family vacations, reunions, weddings, group meetings and special events.
Ranch services are open, take a look at our seasonal hours.
Select the perfect package for your group event.
Black Butte Ranch Postal Center is stocked to meet all your postal needs, with packaging, cards, stamps and one-stop delivery.
The Web Cam at Black Butte Ranch looks southwest towards North Sister and Black Crater near the Lodge. Located in the heart of the Central Oregon Cascades.
Year after year, our guests return to share in these annual events. We invite you to join these traditions at Black Butte Ranch.
Black Butte Ranch is a stunning property, and is a popular place to photograph nature, people, horses and night skies. All photo shoots (including still, video, etc.) require a permit in advance.
