The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Bill Willitts' long-term vision for the growth of Sisters is becoming a reality with the completion of the lodge at FivePine.

The lodge, now open in the center of the FivePine Campus, provides limited lodging for those who appreciate excellence. The unique rooms, suites and cottages give a home-away-from-home feel for guests to the area. These are not the hotel rooms of times gone by. They are elegant, modern and yet completely in keeping with the soul of Sisters.

The entry area of the lodge has a dramatic stone fireplace that rises approximately 30 feet into the open lobby area. Despite the dramatic presence of the huge fireplace, there is still a sense of coziness and warmth that belies its commercial nature. This area is sure to become a gathering place for those who frequent the facility.

The convention center located a short walk away from the lodge can seat 260 people. The center has a full commercial kitchen that allows for the in-house preparation of quality meals, rather than the semi-catered fare that is common to many convention centers.

For a standard convention that does not require sit-down dining, the center can accommodate up to 500 with stadium seating.

The lodge and convention center join the office complex, Sisters Athletic Club, Shibui Spa and Sisters Movie House on the FivePine Campus.

The birthing process of the campus began more than 10 years ago with the purchase of a single piece of property. When the property was originally acquired, Willitts and his wife had a vision of how they wanted this project to grow and they were patient as they waited for some time to begin.

Over the years more land was added until there was enough to allow the start of the campus. Although the campus is an integral part of the City of Sisters, it is difficult to walk to it without braving the traffic of Highway 20. However, that is soon to change with a new series of walking paths.

Paths will connect all areas of the campus and eventually to Sisters so that there will be access by pedestrian-friendly paths. The covered bridge that crosses Whychus Creek in Creekside Park will provide the footpath connection to the rest of Sisters.

From the path there will be loops that allow for short or long walks that will pass through the surrounding forest and wildlife areas. There will be kiosks throughout the campus that provide maps of walks of varying lengths for the casual walker or the dedicated hiker.

Willitts is a believer in developing a sustainable economy and wants to see Sisters grow. However, he does not want to see that special character that attracts visitors and new residents lost in the process.

"We are a branded community. We need to appreciate that and not try to reinvent ourselves as something else," said Willitts.

"Sisters is in an ideal location. We may not have a ski resort, but we are a gateway to nearly unlimited forest wilderness. This community is a gathering place for those who love nature. There is golf and hiking, horse trails, bicycling and fishing. We are unique in many respects. We want to focus on our assets," said Willitts.

There are many things that can be done to improve the local economy according to Willitts. One thing that would be simple is to extend our shoulder season.

"We already have everything in place to extend the shoulder season. It is a question of understanding how to expand our season so that we are not sitting around here waiting for the next tourist season," said Willitts.

The FinePine Campus is far from completion. There is a new restaurant in the works with the name of Pleiades that should be open this fall.

Pleiades will serve lunch and dinner daily offering a wide variety of locally raised and organically grown items. Seasonally fresh items will be featured, and menus will change regularly.

There is more land that will eventually allow for expansion of the FivePine Campus. Currently, this property is outside the urban growth boundary. However, as Sisters grows it will likely be incorporated at some point and allow for further expansion.