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Three Sisters Meadow

The entrance to the Three Sisters Meadow (3SM) on Blue River Drive

Three Sisters Meadow (3SM): The McKenzie River’s Future Wellness & Economic Hub

A Visionary Gift: From Recovery to Regional Vitality!

In 2021, in the wake of the Holiday Farm Fire, Kathy, Becky, and Jody Jones (owners of The Seneca Family of Companies) donated 16 acres of land in Blue River to the community. This gift was a direct response to a unified request from local organizations seeking a community-led foundation for recovery.

Named Three Sisters Meadow (3SM) in honor of the Jones sisters, the land is currently held by the McKenzie River Trust as the interim owner. This partnership ensures the site is preserved while we transition toward a permanent, community-led future as a nationally recognized wellness and innovation hub—a place where outdoor recreation, community health, and economic development converge.

Today, this process is driven by the 3SM Committee, a coalition of 12 nonprofits and special districts that have been active in recovery work since day one, ensuring the Meadow serves the long-term needs of the McKenzie Valley.

While we plan for the future, the Meadow remains an active community asset as Open Space! The site is open dawn to dusk for walking, reflection, and enjoying views of the McKenzie River and Cascade foothills.

Our Mission

To advance year-round economic vitality and resilience by invigorating natural and human assets through a recreation center, business hub, and local enterprises.

We will invigorate the region’s natural, cultural, and human assets through a recreation center, conference and business hub, retail and food enterprises, and lodging—creating jobs, supporting families living upriver, and embedding the principles of the Blue Zones framework into the fabric of daily life.

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Our Vision

To create a thriving destination that anchors wellness in the landscape, attracts mission-aligned businesses, and supports local entrepreneurship and employment pathways.

We envision a thriving, year-round destination that:

Anchors recreation and wellness in the natural landscape.

Attracts conferences, remote workers, and mission-aligned businesses.

Supports retail, food enterprises, and local entrepreneurship.

Supports lodging that encourages visitors to slow down, stay, and return.

Expands infrastructure to promote remote work, telehealth, education, and virtual enterprise.

Strengthen local employment pathways.

Increase families living and working upriver.

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The Power of Partnership

Three Sisters Meadow remains a community-led recovery project, guided by a dedicated group of partners working for the public benefit:

McKenzie School District • McKenzie Community Track & Field • McKenzie River Trust • O’Brien Memorial Library • McKenzie Valley Wellness • Blue River Water District • Blue River Park District • McKenzie River Guides Association • McKenzie Education Foundation • Collaborative EDO • McKenzie River Locals Helping Locals • Upper McKenzie Community Center • McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce • McKenzie Community Partnership

The Path Forward: A Site-Ready Economic Hub

Since October 2023, the Three Sisters Meadow Partners have been accelerating the transition from a passive open space to an active regional economic hub.

As the only parcel in a 50-mile corridor geologically capable of supporting this level of essential infrastructure, Three Sisters Meadow is uniquely positioned to anchor the McKenzie Valley’s long-term economic resilience. We have officially moved past the assessment phase and are now into site-readiness, preparing this strategic asset to serve as the catalyst for our community's future.

More information expected summer of 2026.

To stay informed about progress on 3SM, sign up on our Contact List HERE.

For more information on the Blue River Complete Community Plan visit lanecountyor.gov/BlueRiverCommunityPlan.

To learn more about the free firewood program managed by the McKenzie Watershed Council visit mckenziewc.org/firewood-program.

Early Steps

Thank you for attending & participating in the survey!

February 2024, over 50 people attended the site open house and community listening session! Both events offered an opportunity to learn more about the potential for 3SM with great conversation enjoyed by all throughout.

View the presentation slideshow from the listening session below.

Listening Session 02.15.24

Conceptual Model of Future Uses on Three Sisters Meadow

TBG Architects + Planners utilized the community feedback to create a conceptual diagram of what future uses could be on Three Sisters Meadow in accordance with wastewater limitations and the proposed Lane County zoning code changes.

Future uses and development of the site have yet to be determined before any development or changes in use would potentially occur.

Thank you to:

Rob Woodard from Lane County and Laura Buhl from Transportation & Growth Management (TGM) for speaking on the 15th.

Kelly Hiddleston, Buggy, and Shelly Pruitt for providing chili, cornbread and cookies for the listening session.

Zach Galloway and TBG Architects + Planners for their continued work on this project.

3SM Committee for their dedication to this community benefit project!

Three Sisters Meadow is enrolled in the PURE WATER PARTNERS program.

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