Landowner responds to resort speculation

A new destination resort could be sited on a large parcel of land near Sisters, though owners of the property say such a resort is currently just an idea.

In the spring of 2003 the partnerships controlled by the William Colson family of Salem purchased 27,750 acres near the northeast flank of Black Butte. At that time the Colsons approached the Jefferson County Land Use and Planning Department about the potential for a destination resort on this site.

Since the property is in a forest zone, it is not possible to build a resort under the current county land use regulations. Resorts can only be built in range land zones. The idea has not been pursued further with Jefferson County.

Brad Colson told The Nugget, "We've looked at the idea, but it's not in the immediate plans. We're trying to manage the land in an efficient way and be good stewards."

In their immediate plans for the property, the Colsons are looking to do some thinning and put upwards of 350 head of cattle on the land, according to Brad Colson.

The end result of thinning and a cattle operation would be to create a higher commercial timber yield.

"We've purchased this land with the idea of a long-term timber development. When we first looked at the property we thought wow, this could have a phenomenal timber volume years down the road," said Brad Colson.

"Right now we're looking to reduce brush and fuels with thinning and cattle. We've thinned 400 acres already and this spring we're planning to thin another 400."

The Colsons are acquiring input about how best to manage the land. They've held council with The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (a neighbor of the property), environmental groups such as the Sisters Forest Planning Committee and unnamed timber consultants.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Environmental Quality are both formulating a position toward the prospect of the Colsons building a new destination resort in the area, according to letters sent to a nearby property owner by those agencies.

Bill Colson, patriarch of the family, has attended meetings of a new committee formed by Mary Zemke, Jefferson County Commissioner, and Angela Vanberger of Pacific Power.

The committee's formal title is "Jefferson County Economic Revitalization." Among other issues, the committee addresses the promotion of tourism. Part of the tourism focus for the group is bringing two destination resorts to Jefferson County.

Paul Dewey, head of the Sisters Forest Planning Committee, has toured the property with the Colsons. The possibility of a destination resort was discussed.

"I've expressed my interest in forest protection in regards to a destination resort out there," Dewey said. "Their thinning looks good and I believe that they really don't know what they are going to do yet. I have told them that if there is a resort that I'd like it to be in specific areas (sections 33 and 34 in township 13, range 10) where access would be easiest and environmental impact would be minimal."

At this point, no construction has been done on the property in question, according to Colson.

Colson declined to comment on questions about financing. Two of the Colson family partnerships, Sisters Land Company, LLC and Colson & Colson General Contractors of Salem, have the same registered address as Holiday Retirement Corp., reputed to be largest operator of independent living retirement facilities in North America.

When asked if the Colson family owns Holiday Retirement, Brad Colson replied, "No. That's a separate entity from Colson and Colson Contractors. They may share some of the same board members, but no; Colson and Colson does not own Holiday."

The uses of this property are in the planning stages.

In a November 19 story, The Nugget quoted Arnie Swarens of RE/MAX Town & Country Realty stating that the Colsons hope to build "the most fabulous resort the West has ever known. That is what he (Brad Colson) would like to do."

Brad Colson explained that what he meant was that the destination resort -- if it ever happens -- would be of "first rate quality."