Comprehensive site plan and building concept for transforming a natural geothermal hot springs resource into a $5 million health resort community on 120 acres of U.S. Forest Service land alongside Highway 58 in the Cascade mountains east of Oakridge, Oregon.
For a long time, two natural hot springs straddling the snow-fed waters of Salt Creek were not well known. But word spread, and the pools became popular natural roadside attraction. Uncontrolled use congested the roadway with vehicles, dirtied the pool, and polluted the area.
Intent on solving this problem, the Gaslight Corporation sought to develop the land in a way that both improved and preserved the hot springs for the well-being of many over the long-term. Their aim was to generate revenue without compromising the natural integrity and beauty of the site.
Their thesis was "healing with nature" rather than "roadside attraction."
Project success was measured by how well their proposal communicated the sacred and personal qualities of the development to private investors in Japan and Europe. The end result was a very intricate, hand-drawn, and colored site plan proposal.
Top left to down right - the development distributed functional elements linearly along the creek and highway.
Campground
A campground by a natural pool along the river provided a low cost option for visitors. A wooden suspension footbridge connected the camp grounds to the south hot pools and chapel.
Gaslight Inn
A timber-frame main lodge defined the heart of the development. It was surrounded by two roadside hot pools, a restaurant, various small shops, a restored covered bridge, a small theater, and a sports complex.
The main building was called the Gaslight Inn. It had lofty ceilings and lots of windows for an abundance of daylight and axial views up and down the river. Its restaurant and pools provided safe, all-season public access to the river's edge. Its log construction, delicate metalwork, and stained glass were part of the development's Civilian Conservation Corps constuction theme.
Truck parking was visually hidden across the road from the lodge, and a covered bridge connected public-facing facilities with private facilities across the creek.
Lodges and Cabins
Guest lodgings across the creek, with private hot pools, were carefully placed among the existing trees near two common hot pools. Sizes ranged from one-room cabins to multi-room lodges for larger groups.
Chapel
An inter-denominational outdoor chapel with small council ring addressed sanctuary and spiritual retreat needs.
Staff Lodging
Resort staff lodging in the sunny upstream terrace landform to the east congregated around domestic functions like food production, facilities maintenance, and horse stables.
Food Gardens
The on-site culinary gardens and orchards provided fresh food for the resort staff and restaurant.
RV Park
The park on the east end intended to attract the recreational vehicle community through service hookups, laundry facilities, and a large outdoor council ring for socializing.
Maintenance Building
An all-season building and yard for on-site repairs.
Native Plants Nursery
An on-site native plant nursery for on-site improvements and retail sales.
Responsibilities
Project designer and delineator in field study, site analysis, building layout, landscape, and site plan proposal stages.
Role included client meetings and site analysis work. It required 600 hours to complete a 3ft x 12ft illustrated site plan. My 2' x 3' perspective drawing illustrated activities and building details on the main lodge boardwalk.