Preserving the Soul of Kitson Springs

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FRIENDS OF KITSON SPRINGS

Helping with stewardship of this land, preservation of its natural beauty and habitat, and creation of a community gathering place that fosters health, environmental education, and sustainability.

OUR GROUP

Friends Of Kitson Springs is a group of local people who care deeply about our community and the lands surrounding us. We have been enchanted with Kitson Springs for years, and we've always seen great potential for beautiful things to happen there. When the property came up for sale, we came together, in collaboration with the City of Oakridge, to try to ensure it would pass into conscientious hands.

Our main objectives are conservation of Kitson's natural beauty and habitat, and community involvement with, and access to, this place that is so special to many people in this area. We envision that Kitson could become an inspiring and rejuvenating gathering place that could foster the health of our community through environmental education, wellness programs, connection, and sustainability.

FOKS members collecting water samples from the Springs for testing

THE LAND

Deep in the mossy forests of Oregon, there is a very special place known locally as Kitson Springs. It is a secluded property of nearly 160 acres hidden in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains close to our small town of Oakridge.

This land is comprised of forested hillsides and peaceful meadows, with the lovely Hills Creek running through it. Geothermally-heated water flows out of an old concrete structure, cascading into the emerald pools of the creek below.

Although it is located just a few miles from town, Kitson Springs feels secluded and serene, as it is tucked away in a small valley and bordered by national forest land.

THE HISTORY

Kitson Springs has a fascinating history. Pioneer David Kitson was introduced to the springs by the area's indigenous people, and built a cabin there in the late 1800s. It was subsequently owned by a few different families and developed further.

In its heyday during the early 1900s, it was the site of a thriving hotel resort and bathhouse. Folks from Eugene and beyond made the long, arduous journey over rough roads to come enjoy its tranquil beauty and soak in its hot mineral spring waters.

Now, all that remains from those days is a ruined foundation overlooking a picturesque gorge.

For the last several decades, Kitson has been owned by the Boy Scouts of America and operated as a rustic campground, with the hot springs themselves being largely unused. In 2024 the BSA decided to put the property up for sale.

For a more in-depth glimpse of this chapter of its past, read this charming article, "Another Self Remembers," a memoir of Helen Huntington's childhood at Kitson Springs a century ago, from the Lane County Historian.

AN EXCITING NEW ERA FOR KITSON SPRINGS

In April of 2026, the Kitson property was purchased by a lovely family from Eugene who have dreamed for years of owning a hot springs. They are committed to preserving the land and being involved with the local community, and plan to open the springs for public access at some point in the future.

In the meantime, there will be a lot of intensive work being done on the property to update infrastructure and create a safe and enjoyable space, and there will be many safety hazards throughout this process. The owners ask that the public please respect that it IS private property, and is NOT YET open for general public access.

FOKS is delighted that the new owners share a similar vision to ours, with many of the same conservation and community oriented goals. Our group will be collaborating with them to help with stewardship of the land and facilitating community involvement as they work towards these goals. We at FOKS are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of fulfilling the amazing potential of this spectacular place!

COMMUNITY GATHERING • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION • SUSTAINABILITY • HEALTHY CONNECTIONS • NATURE PRESERVATION •

GETTING INVOLVED

If you'd like to contribute to the exciting developments happening at Kitson, there are two ways to get involved through FOKS:

1. Make a tax-deductible donation to FOKS

We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and rely on fundraising, donations, and volunteer support to cover our expenses. Any financial contributions made are tax-deductible and are much appreciated. Funds received will go toward such expenses as our clerical costs, insurance premiums, and supplies and equipment for our volunteer work parties.

2. Join FOKS to volunteer
Our goal is to hold a weekend work party event at Kitson approximately once a month to help with forest management tasks such as trash cleanup, fuels reduction to mitigate wildfire risk, invasive species removal, trail building, landscaping, etc. There may also be other types of volunteer work needed going forward, such as planning/setting up/hosting volunteer events, admin/clerical duties, PR/outreach, website building, grant writing, occasional caretaking, and potentially other tasks.

Joining our FOKS volunteer team requires paying an annual fee to help cover our nonprofit's expenses, committing to 2-3 hours of volunteer work for each day spent on the property, and signing a liability waiver.

Fee to join FOKS is $50 per person per year

($25 for the remainder of 2026).

Kids 14 years old and younger are free.

All minors (under 18 years old) must be accompanied by a responsible adult FOKS member to attend volunteer events. Each minor joining FOKS must have their own application form and waiver filled out, signed, and submitted by their parents.

Space at events is limited, and RSVP's are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you sign up, keep an eye on your email for event invites.

OUR FOKS BOARD
Jim Flynn- President
Mick Garvin- Vice President
Guen DiGioia- Treasurer
Sierra McComas- Secretary
Elsa Palmer- Volunteer Event Coordinator
James Cleavenger- City of Oakridge Liason