Sunriver’s History

A longtime member of the Sunriver Anglers Club, Vakoc said the signs aligned with the club’s “dedication to preservation, education and promotion of responsible angling in the High Desert region of Central Oregon. The informational signs share the names of fish, wildlife, wildflowers, trees and more.

Whether you are interested in learning about “Waging War on Our Noxious Weeds,” “The Lively Residents of Lake Aspen,” “Our Happy Wildflowers Delight the Eye,” or “Become a Savvy Tree Detective,” you are bound to discover information to enhance your appreciation of Sunriver’s tapestry of history, animals, trees and volcanoes.

Here are a few signs you will see along the trail: • The Legendary Lava of Newberry Volcano: Stop here to view the meadows and Paulina Peak in the distance while

learning how the land came to be. • Military Might Among the River: Camp Abbot: Imagine for a moment about the men who trained in Sunriver’s forests, meadows and river to fight in World War II. Most of the men were from the South and Midwest, with one man writing in his diary, “This is absolutely the prettiest country I have ever seen in my life.” • A Few Friendly Facts about “Riviere Des Chutes:” French speaking fur trappers receive the credit for naming the

Deschutes River. In French, “des chutes’’ means “the rapids,” referring to the fierce waters near the Columbia River near the Deschutes’ mouth. True or false: The water originates from an underground source rather than surface runoff. sunriveranglers.org, click on Sunriver Trails

Soldiers in a boat The entrance to Camp Abbot, a combat engineer training facility during WWII Early aerial photo of the Lodge. Photos courtesy of Deschutes Historical Museum

More than 11,500 years ago, the region was inhabited by native tribes who called the forests, meadowlands and lakes home.

Nearly 7,000 years ago,lava flows dammed the Deschutes River at Benham Falls, backing up a lake that covered much of what is now Sunriver. When the river finally broke, a lush meadow surrounded by thick forests was left behind.

During the winter of 1843, explorer John C. Fremont and guide Kit Carson traveled through the Sunriver area.

In 1855, Robert Stockton Williamson and Henry Larcom Abbot surveyed the area for the railroad between California and the Columbia River.

In the late 1880s, cattlemen drove their herds through the area. William and Sadie Vandevert along with their seven children were among the first homesteaders in the area. 1943-44: During World War II, the U.S. government purchased 5,500 acres to become Camp Abbot, a military training base for the Army Corps of Engineers. Constructed in 1942 as a self-contained city, Camp Abbot contained roads, water/sewer facilities and enough housing to sustain up to 10,000 soldiers at a time. During the 14 months of operation, Camp Abbot trained 90,000 troops. It was decommissioned in 1944 and the buildings and infrastructure were torn down. • The Great Hall, formerly known as the Camp Abbot Officer’s

Club, is the only remaining building from historic Camp

Abbot. The building was constructed in three months with native materials, including 511 logs, ten tons of volcanic rock for the fireplace and 150,000 board feet of timber.

Late 1940s to 1960s: The land used by Camp Abbot was returned to the U.S. Forest Service, but 5,500 acres were sold as private landowners. The property changed hands many times. 1965: John Gray and Don McCallum, the original developers, purchase 5,500 acres in “the middle of nowhere” to form Sunriver Properties. 1968: John Gray and Don McCallum finish their “Plan of Sunriver.” Their goal was to create an environmentally sensitive and friendly community. Sunriver is named after the area’s two main features: sunshine and recreational. Lot sales and home construction began this year.

Today: Sunriver welcomes guests throughout the world. There are more than 4,000 homes and condominiums. From its beginning to its present, the area has been a place of wonder, joy and inspiration for all who live and visit here. 2022-23 | SunriverChamber.com 15