Christmas Valley, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Christmas Valley is an unincorporated
community in Lake County
, Oregon
, United States
. The community was named after nearby dry Christma(n)s Lake, east of the present townsite and the site of the former Lake post office, which ran from 1906 until 1943. Real estate development around a planned community
by M. Penn Phillips
, called Christmas Valley, started after World War II
. Christmas Valley post office was established in 1963 as a rural station of Silver Lake
.
, eighteen miles to the southwest. These names were applied as early as September 29, 1877, when they were referred to by former Oregon Governor John Whiteaker
in a letter to the editor of the Eugene City Guard. Whiteaker himself had an interest in the fossil beds at nearby Fossil Lake, and ranching interests in the area as well.
The name "Christmas" was an early corruption of the name Christman that became entrenched in the vernacular by 1900. The Christman family often spelled their name with a T although some family members would omit it and use the name Chrisman. Several examples of both spellings were found in print, some in government documents. Whiteaker himself referred to the lake as both "Christman Lake" and "Christmas Lake" in his letter to the editor, and unmistakably pinpointed the lake's location.
laid out the townsite, including its fanciful holiday street names (such as Candy Lane, Mistletoe Road, Comet Street, Vixen Street, etc.), the Christmas Valley Airport
, a water system, a golf course, a lodge, rodeo grounds, and an artificial lake originally named Christmas Valley Lake and now called Baert Lake. Phillips aggressively promoted the community in California
to young, would-be farmers and retirees; often providing free bus tours and flights and marketing the potential of the land as green and readily farmed. The company quickly sold out the parcels, though despite Phillips' claims that the community would soon have more than 5,000 residents, few actually moved there. In 1966, in an Oregon Tax Court
decision about tax valuation of Christmas Lake property, Judge Edward Howell opined, “the land, at least in its present condition, is arid, dusty, windy, isolated, [and] subject to temperature extremes.” In the early 1970s, the Phillips company faced lawsuits about misrepresentation of the property and the Phillips era is usually considered a scam.
The community is perhaps best known by off-road all-terrain vehicle
enthusiasts worldwide who ride in the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
.
.
was an over-the-horizon radar
station that was deactivated in 2002.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in Lake County
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The community was named after nearby dry Christma(n)s Lake, east of the present townsite and the site of the former Lake post office, which ran from 1906 until 1943. Real estate development around a planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
by M. Penn Phillips
M. Penn Phillips
M. Penn Phillips, born Marion Phillips, was an American entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer. He founded the M. Penn Phillips Company which, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the Western states from the 1920s through the 1970s...
, called Christmas Valley, started after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Christmas Valley post office was established in 1963 as a rural station of Silver Lake
Silver Lake, Oregon
Silver Lake is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 31. Facilities include a gas station and a small store. It is also the location of North Lake School, "Home of the Cowboys".- History :...
.
History
Christmas Lake, Christmas (Lake) Valley, and nearby Peter's Sink and Peter's Creek were named for pioneer stockman Peter Christman, who grazed his cattle there and had a house at Silver LakeSilver Lake, Oregon
Silver Lake is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 31. Facilities include a gas station and a small store. It is also the location of North Lake School, "Home of the Cowboys".- History :...
, eighteen miles to the southwest. These names were applied as early as September 29, 1877, when they were referred to by former Oregon Governor John Whiteaker
John Whiteaker
John Whiteaker was an American politician, soldier, and judge primarily in Oregon. A native of Indiana, he joined the Army during the Mexican-American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Oregon Territory he served as a judge and member of the legislature...
in a letter to the editor of the Eugene City Guard. Whiteaker himself had an interest in the fossil beds at nearby Fossil Lake, and ranching interests in the area as well.
The name "Christmas" was an early corruption of the name Christman that became entrenched in the vernacular by 1900. The Christman family often spelled their name with a T although some family members would omit it and use the name Chrisman. Several examples of both spellings were found in print, some in government documents. Whiteaker himself referred to the lake as both "Christman Lake" and "Christmas Lake" in his letter to the editor, and unmistakably pinpointed the lake's location.
Penn Phillips era
In 1961, developer M. Penn PhillipsM. Penn Phillips
M. Penn Phillips, born Marion Phillips, was an American entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer. He founded the M. Penn Phillips Company which, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the Western states from the 1920s through the 1970s...
laid out the townsite, including its fanciful holiday street names (such as Candy Lane, Mistletoe Road, Comet Street, Vixen Street, etc.), the Christmas Valley Airport
Christmas Valley Airport
Christmas Valley Airport located 1 m southeast of Christmas Valley, Oregon. The airport consists of a 60' wide runway with a segmented circle marked by white tires and a medium-intensity runway lighting system which allows 25 minutes for landing once an aircraft is on beam and activates the system...
, a water system, a golf course, a lodge, rodeo grounds, and an artificial lake originally named Christmas Valley Lake and now called Baert Lake. Phillips aggressively promoted the community in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to young, would-be farmers and retirees; often providing free bus tours and flights and marketing the potential of the land as green and readily farmed. The company quickly sold out the parcels, though despite Phillips' claims that the community would soon have more than 5,000 residents, few actually moved there. In 1966, in an Oregon Tax Court
Oregon Tax Court
The Oregon Tax Court is a state court in the U.S. state of Oregon, which has jurisdiction in questions of law that regard state tax laws. Examples of matters that would come before this court include income taxes, corporate excise taxes, property taxes, timber taxes, cigarette taxes, local budget...
decision about tax valuation of Christmas Lake property, Judge Edward Howell opined, “the land, at least in its present condition, is arid, dusty, windy, isolated, [and] subject to temperature extremes.” In the early 1970s, the Phillips company faced lawsuits about misrepresentation of the property and the Phillips era is usually considered a scam.
Economy
Christmas Valley is largely a hay farming community today, though a group of small vegetable and poultry farmers and artisans have organized and collaborate through the seasonal Tumbleweed Farmers' and Crafters' Market.The community is perhaps best known by off-road all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
enthusiasts worldwide who ride in the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
Christmas Valley Sand Dunes are a natural sand dune complex covering of public lands east of Christmas Valley in Lake County, Oregon, United States, about southeast of Bend. The area is accessible via the Christmas Valley National Back Country Byway. The dunes are up to high. It is the largest...
.
Education
Christmas Valley students are served by the North Lake School DistrictNorth Lake School District (Oregon)
North Lake School is a public school in Silver Lake, Oregon, United States that serves grades kindergarten through twelfth grade . It is the only school in the North Lake School District.-Academics:...
.
Military facility
The Christmas Valley Air Force StationChristmas Valley Air Force Station
Christmas Valley Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located about 16 miles east of the community of Christmas Valley, Oregon...
was an over-the-horizon radar
Over-the-horizon radar
Over-the-horizon radar, or OTH , is a design concept for radar systems to allow them to detect targets at very long ranges, typically up to thousands of kilometers...
station that was deactivated in 2002.