Black Butte Ranch …where is the place?

[J Harrison]

I am very concerned that the BBR Lodge and the Lodge area has lost its
place of prominence and is no longer the heart and hub for activity at
BBR. It is clearly apparent that the Welcome Center has taken away
the focus from those arriving at BBR for the first time. Likewise, the
Glaze Meadow pool area has trumped the importance of the Lodge Pool
area for swimming, services, casual dining and retail. By our own
plans, we have created monster that threatens to take away the synergy
and sense of community that modern vacationers are looking for.

Most of the lodge proposals I have seen so far have been for fairly
passive activities that in reality that do not really attract people
nor provide value added services that help us to competitively market
our resort. We now have the challenge of competing with many more
resorts and activities than we previously never have had to. We
compete with dated facilities and declining resort revenues. Let face
facts, Black Butte Ranch needs to generate more revenue potential or
we will be facing an ever spiraling cost of ownership which in turn
makes all of our investments less desirable to the real estate
marketplace. I fear that the real answers to some of our issues
require a significant investment in infrastructure. Recognizing that
we have probably burned the ecomomic bridge to those financial
resources, I will add some of my thoughts.

I do encourage our board to look at so outside the box concepts which
could maintain the integrity of the BBR vision but at the same time
create some excitement, freshness and increase resort activities. BBR
is a resort by the way!

My Lodge Area suggestions

Boutique Hotel
Remember, Black Butte was started as a result of the efforts of a
corporation…perhaps it is time to explore what benefits a renewed
relationship could bring. Explore development of a Boutique Hotel in
conjunction with an outside entity. It is entirely possible that we
could engage a "Business Partner" to fund some development here. This
could provide for more single room services that enhance day-to-day
occupancy and facilitate more business meeting facilities. Design
could help create a centralized and updated feel to the lodge area and
subsidize remodeling of the lodge pool area to create a modern
facility, which attracts usage. I could envision this Hotel being
built on the current site of the tennis courts, which are highly under
utilized.

Retail Space
Within the existing Lodge, I would suggest that the entry area and
offices on the entry level be converted into retail space which could
accommodate a variety of merchandise from clothing to resort and
vacation collectibles. Vacationers are prime targets for spending
money, the town Sisters is a testament to this as it grew up as a
direct benefit of the vacationers that Black Butte brought into the
area. We BBR homeowners for too long have been kidding ourselves by
expecting that the little "Pool Shop" has any capability to provide
any serious income and now with refocus to the Glaze Meadow Pool
Facility, frankly has become a sad representation of Black Butte's
inability to market itself. I suspect there are thoughts of closing
it, which sadly contributes to the areas additional decline in any
reason to visit this area of the Ranch.

Upscale Pool Parlor and Sports Bar
Create an upscale pool parlor and sport bar in the Lodge catering to
adults. This would give an upscale environment and give allow us to
target activities for adult to enjoy in the evenings. It should have
multiple flatscreen TV’s capable of showing multiple sports events and
create a gathering area for those Saturday afternoon and Sunday fall
football games.

Install Gaming Machines in Bar Area
The loft area of the Lodge Bar is rarely utilized; this could provide
a good area to install Oregon Lottery Machines. This could provide
additional Revenue and be a draw to patrons keeping them in the
facility and purchasing food and beverages.

Create Winter Sports Activity Center at Lodge
Build Winter Ice rink just off the Lodge Deck with Outdoor Fireplace/
pit to create a hub for winter gathering. Utilize outside covered area
for winter concessions Hot Chocolate/ Hot buttered Rum. Run a Nordic
Center with rentals from here. Create Nordic Routes with the starting
and finish at the Lodge. Sponsor and Host Nordic Skiing events that
attract participants from across the country and potential additional
guests. Create a Nordic speed course where partipants throughout the
winter could test their Nordic Skiing ability on a timed route.
Participants could pay a $5 entry fee to record their time and compete
with the best time for the season winning an all expense paid weekend
at BBR.

Grade Down Pool “Burm”
The “Burm” separating the pool from the Lodge area should be graded
down to create a more open feel and create connectivity to the BBR
Lodge and give the feeling of a open resort facility.

Lodge Pool & Lakeside Café
Canvas Cabana’s should be installed (and rented) to accommodate
families who want have a guaranteed space with comfortable lounges and
provisions for shade. These could be serviced out of the Lakeside café
by “Cabana” staff. Poolside wait service should be initiated bring
food and beverage (poolside drinks like Pina Colada’s, Margaritas and
Daiquiris) to the customers at their chairs. Top resorts provide this
service and restaurant management would tell you it increases sales.
Play music around the pool deck to provide festive resort atmosphere.
The Lakeside Cafe from its inception was poorly designed and
functionally obsolete. There is no real feeling of connection to
sources of its audience. The "Lakeside" of the building has no access
or outside dining facility where diners could indeed enjoy sitting
"Lakeside". I would suggest that a deck be built off the dining room
(Lakeside) with doors installed. This would provide better access and
connectivity to the lake and the pool.

Lakeside Outdoor Amphitheater
Create a lakeside stage next to Lakeside Café to accommodate regular
summer concerts. The “Infamous Stringdusters” concert event
demonstrated what a draw such events could have. Summer evenings it
could host outdoor movies

[Jim Claypool]

The redevelopment of the Lodge area into a boutique hotel with all the amenities of high end shopping and pool lounging with margaritas and music sounds just like what I enjoy about a getaway to Mexico, Hawaii or California.   What I don't get when I go to those places is a relaxed summer season of families at play or the off season near wilderness experience of a mountain cabin.  

Thinking outside the box is good, but let's keep the lodge area true to our mission.

Many of the Harrison suggestions deserve further attention:  the under utilized tennis court site is well situated to any adjustments of the lodge and rec barn area, a ready to build platform with prime views.  If we come up with a new lodge area theme which needs additional square feet, then that is the site.  An ice rink in that location underneath something above would help alleviate the solar melt factor and give us a floor up on the views.  

There are activities or events that the lodge area could serve with a few additional rooms, and without compromising the family "resort" atmosphere of the Ranch.  Wedding events are a no-brainer with a proven record, small conferences are a possibility.  Whatever the theme, it needs to be an adjunct to what the Ranch is today, not a displacement.

p.s. And please allow my lodge pool swim to be without the row of recliners blocking the most fabulous view in Oregon!  

Jim Claypool

jac...@comcast.net

[Katie Williams]

Dear Mr. Harrison - I would like to thank you for your well thought
out comments. I know I have said many times in the course of
administering this discussion board that homeowner feedback is
crucial, but the comments that you and others have provided offer a
unique insight into what's important both from a strategic standpoint
and an emotional one. On thing is very clear and that is that people
are passionate about this "special place".
Thanks again for your participation and please encourage others to
join in.

Cheers!

Katie

[Katie Williams]

Dear Jim - Thank you for your comments in counterpoint to Mr.
Harrison's. It is this open communication that will help the task
force make some very difficult decisions. I understand your passion
for the Lodge and it's surrounding complex, which is shared by many
who have participated in the discussion. I hope you will encourage
others to participate in the discussion board. It is an important
topic and one that will need to be looked at from all perspectives.

Sincerely,

Katie

[Marie Andrews]

I really like a lot of J Harrison's ideas.   We need to make the Lodge a place to go to on a regular basis.  We used to do that daily before they removed everything.  I miss the desk and a welcoming face  behind it.  I miss the selling the newspapers there and all the other Ranch information pamplets.  I miss the coffee sitting out to have a cup and going to sit upstairs on the deck in the early mornings and sometimes have breakfast in the restaurant. I hope you can make this beautiful building on a world class setting back to us. --- On Sun, 9/20/09, Jim Claypool <jac...@comcast.net> wrote:

[Katie Williams]

Good morning Marie - Thanks for your comments. I did want to point
out to you that there are a few things coming to the Lodge that may
fulfill your longing to have a cup of coffee and sit around and read
out on the deck. First, we are in the process of building the Lodge
library. We currently have over 1,400 books to stock the library.
These books were donated by our very generous homeowners. We
anticipate that the shelving for the library (which will be located on
the main floor, in the alcove across from the sitting area) will be
installed next week. Secondly the espresso cart from Glaze Meadow Rec
Center is going to be relocated at the Lodge for the winter. These
two changes will hopefully provide the "cozy" spot you are wishing
for. Oh, and one more thing, construction on the lodge fire pit
(located just off the Brooks Room deck) should be completed next week
as well. This will offer an outdoor area for homeowners and guests to
gather and enjoy a hot beverage around the fire.

Marie, your comments have been heard and reflect the passion that
homeowners have for this special place. Thanks and I hope you will
encourage your other BBR friends to participate in the discussion.

Cheers!
Katie
Board Administrator

[Anne]

I think many of the ideas presented by J Harrison merit serious
consideration.
I think that the enhancements that have been made to the Glaze Meadow
Recreation area and to the Welcome Center have had the inadvertent
effect of creating an empty feeling in the most scenic and unique part
of the Ranch, and that is regrettable.
I like the idea of bringing in a boutique hotel as I think the Ranch
could attract more short-stay guests, who might return the next year
for a longer stay.
One idea several owners and I discussed last summer - as we chatted at
the end of the day from our lodge pool chaises turned to face the
mountains - was to use the Lodge Pool for both adult swim and cocktail
hour daily from 4-6. Many of us who are between having children and
grandchildren think it would be really delightful to have the
opportunity to swim laps or participate in Hydro-Fit (which used to be
held at the lodge pool at the end of the day), then to have a drink
while enjoying the view of horses galloping friskily into the meadow
at the end of their workday.
The Ranch also should develop a signature food item that attracts
people who want to experience the tradition. Last summer at the Jordan
Pond House in Acadia National Park my husband and I watched in awe as
order after order of popovers were delivered to tables. Tasty but
hardly divine, they attracted multi-generational families who were
there to share tradition. BBR needs to search its archives and re-
institute or create anew an equivalent.

[Katie Williams]

Thanks Anne for your comments. I agree that many families have been
coming to BBR for years to celebrate their own personal traditions.
This holiday season we are hoping that many of those people will share
their holiday memories with us as we begin our Holiday Essay Contest.
With the last issue of the Ranch Report we invited people to write
about a past holiday memory in 300 words or less ( bonus points for
including pictures). The winner will receive dinner for four at the
Lodge Restaurant. We understand how precious these traditions and
memories are throughout the generations and that is our endeavor to
preserve through the ideas and opinions expressed on this discussion
board and other venues.