The deadline is approaching to run for the SROA Board of Directors Page 7
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News ............. 4 Calendar ................ 13
Public Safety........... 24 Classified Ads ......... 31
Sunriver’s fire crews hone their skills during ice rescue training exercises Page 25
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
MARCH 2024
VOLUME XLVII • NUMBER 3
Beat the summer rush and renew your recreation access cards
Member Preference Program For Sunriver owners, the Member Preference Program (MPP) card offers unlimited access to SROAowned amenities such as SHARC, tennis/pickleball court reservations, boat ramp and Member Pool. It also provides other benefits and discounts. View the full benefit list at www.sunriverowners.org/benefits. MPP cards are available to the owners of record for a property (meaning their names are on the deed filed with Deschutes County). A spouse/partner and children living in the home between the ages of 4 and 23 are also eligible for MPP cards. With at least one MPP card purchase, a property also receives 20 SROA Member Guest Passes to share with other family and friends. These single-use passes provide access to SHARC aquatics, tennis/pickleball courts and disc golf. A pass also T A,
The passing of Aquila: A Golden Legacy The staff of the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory mourn the loss of long-time resident Aquila the golden eagle, who passed at the age of 40 on Jan. 26. Aquila first came to the nature center in 1984 as the victim of a car strike. The accident left her with only a fraction of
her eyesight and unable to survive in the wild. Aquila traveled to classrooms, nature festivals and into communities throughout Central Oregon and the western United States – allowing hundreds of thousands of people the opportunity to meet and learn about golden eagles.
Aquila left an indelible legacy to anyone who had the opportunity to meet her. Hopefully, the messages that she helped convey, such as slowing down around roadkill, or the damaging effects of lead poisoning, will help wild populations of eagles across the country. More on Aquila’s life story on page 10.
Resort changes to semi-private, membership-based golf program By Tom O’Shea, Sunriver Resort Managing Director In 2021, Sunriver Resort set out to conduct a comprehensive review of our brand standards and how they could be improved and further enforce our mission to be the destination of choice for our guests, associates, members, and owners. This process included a comprehensive review of our guestroom offerings, vacation rentals, dining establishments, convention business, recreation, golf, Sage Springs Club & Spa, and real estate. During this time, the Resort invested over $40 million to enhance and expand its offerings. This effort has included upgrading guest rooms at the River Lodge
To hear Tom O’Shea speak about their changes in golf programming during the SROA board meeting, visit www.youtube.com/@ sunriverownersassociation574/ streams and Lodge Village, unveiling the indooroutdoor Cove Aquatic Center, reimagining Lodge Kitchen and Owl’s Nest, improving our golf courses, including bunker renovations to Crosswater, and transforming our tennis courts into one of the largest indoor-outdoor pickleball
complexes in the Pacific Northwest. We are also proud to introduce and continually expand the Sunriver Resort Club and its available memberships, and soon, we will announce details about the upcoming enhancements at Sage Springs Club & Spa. While these efforts continue, they’ve already positively impacted the brand. Sunriver Resort has been recognized as Travel + Leisure’s No. 3 Best Resort in the West, ranked among the Top 5 Resorts in the Pacific Northwest by Condé Nast Traveler, honored with Good Housekeeping 2023 and 2024 Family Travel Awards, and Crosswater T G, SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLVII • NUMBER 3 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
SROA NEWS – Don’t wait until summer gets here to update your Member Preference and/or Recreation Plus program cards. SROA encourages owners to purchase their recreation access cards early as these funds are an integral part of SROA’s overall annual budget to provide owners, their guests and visitors quality recreational amenities and programs throughout the year. For those who rent their homes, this is a friendly reminder to also renew or purchase your Recreation Plus cards as soon as possible to avoid inconveniencing your guests. The 2024 Member Preference or Recreation Plus cards remain valid through Jan. 31, 2025.
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213