Local deer frolic after a fresh winter snowfall blanketed the fields at the Ranch.

A Note from Jim

Dear friends,
We are doing anything but hibernating this winter at the Ranch. Building continues to progress for several landholders,we hosted our first Harvest Moon Party and Film Festival, and we have been honored with two significant awards.

I wake up each day inspired by the unique opportunity to live,work and write about this special place, and I am honored to help preserve and share this pristine environment with you.

- Jim Gardner, partner

News from the Ranch

 Our 1,700-acre preservation ranch has been nationally applauded by Mountain Living magazine for its respect for natural resources and history. The publication named us “Best Green Development” in its annual Best of the High Country awards issue.

Second, the Masonry and Ceramic Tile Institute of Oregon recognized us with a unique award of Craftsmanship for Excellence in Design and Use of Masonry in its annual Hammurabi Architectural award ceremony. The group created a special award for Ranch at the Canyons for its creative use of stone and building materials.They added,“The site walls are strong and beautiful.The craftsmanship sets them apart from all of the other entries.”

On another note,we were thrilled with the turnout for our first-annual Harvest Moon Party and Film Festival. Landholders and friends were invited to get acquainted with each other at the headquarters, while learning about the natural and geologic history of Central Oregon and the Smith Rock area.We then hosted a moonrise dinner at the Tuscan Stables and showed “The Indian Fighter,” a movie filmed here in 1955, starring Kirk Douglas.

Landholders enjoying the first-annual Harvest Moon Party and Film Festival at the Ranch.

Home on the Ranch

The third villa at the Ranch,The Orchards, is expected to be completed any day now, with the landholders set to move in immediately.They are also planning a family wedding for April! This lovely new home reflects the Tuscan/Napa style architecture prominently featured at the Ranch. Meantime, sales of new landholdings continued to be strong through last fall, and we look forward to an active spring and summer.