Dryad's Haven: April 2009

Hot Lake Springs, Oregon

I had the delightful opportunity of spending a day at Hot Lake Springs in Oregon. It is an historic site with a trading post dating back to 1812. Built on the shore of a hot spring which reaches temperatures in excess of 200 degrees, the present day building was built in the early 1900's and partially destroyed later. It was allowed to deteriorate for many years before the Manuels decided to tackle it's restoration and rejuvenation. This post and the several that follow contain some of the photos from my few hours there...

There's the old Trading Post:

And the Spring House, where you can pump water from the hot spring and settle into the spa for a warm sulfur bath.

And then there's the chapel, still under construction and situated under God's own cathedral:

Or the old farm equipment still lying around the place:

And then there's that old barn that just leaned a bit too far to one side...

And now for the renovation project of a life time!!! How do you restore a three story building that was so deteriorated when you first saw it that, while standing on the first floor in a rainstorm, you would get soaking wet? That's what they faced when they decided to save this historic building.

In the original building the upper floor was the hospital. These are some of the remaining facilities...

The Doctor's office:

A patient's room...

Some of the original X-Ray equipment, which still needs to be restored.

An old gurney in front of a pictoral recreation of the old surgery.

And some of the other restored areas:

David and Lee Manuel, the Heart and Soul of Hot Lake

Meet the amazing David Manuel and his incredible wife, Lee! Yes, they really are that joyfilled and fun to be with!

David is working on the clay model of an as yet unnamed project.

Lee is working on selling it to the assembled guests!

David and Annette and The Dandy, Chief Looking Glass. He's still in clay, but is coming this fall.

Just a few of David's many exquisite bronzes.

Sometimes they come Large

Sometimes they come small...

HONDO!!!

Too Young To Die...

The Bronze and the painting, both by David Manuel

The Cowboys, three of the most famous rodeo champions of the 1912 Pendleton Round-up! (these two still in clay, the third is at the foundry and not here to be photographed!)

David's themes are historic

And wildlife

And Native American, Nez Perce, mostly.

And even the whimsical and quirky... Yes, that's Sasquatch fighting a Grizzly Bear!

For more on David Manuel and his work, go to: http://www.hotlakesprings.com/

Larry Manuel; It's a Family Tradition!

Working on the newest project, Blue Morning; still in clay at this point in time!

Some of Larry's earlier projects

Ann Yoder, Water Colorist Extraordinaire!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Ann Yoder....

As beautiful as her artwork... and even more delightful!

Okay, I caught her by surprise on this one....

The newest creation is called Life Source...
It reflects the degraded condition of Hot Lake when the Manuel's took it over and the return of life to the building as the restoration project continues!
These are some of my favorite Ann Yoder's: