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Estancia Serenova's history at a glance
Estancia Serenova's history at a glance
Prior to modern history: The Tsinuk (Chinookan), Cowlitz and Multnomah peoples inhabit what is now Columbia County, Oregon.
1818: The British government establishes the Columbia District with its seat in Fort Saint James.
1824: The Hudson's Bay Company establishes Fort Vancouver.
1830: Chief Comcomly dies.
1843: The United States establishes the Provisional Government of Oregon. Oregon is divided into four counties: Clackamas, Champoeg (present-day Marion), Tuality (present-day Washington), and Yamhill.
1846: The U.S.-British border is established at the 49th parallel north (except for Vancouver Island, which became British), dividing the territory into Oregon and British Columbia. Initially, the British territorial claim extended to the Columbia River. Had Britain prevailed, the Columbia River could have been the Canadian border.
1847: Henry Knighton establishes the town of Plymouth (today's downtown Saint Helens).
1848: Chief Kiesno dies.
August 5-9, 1851: Tansy Point Treaties have been signed between the United States of America and several Lower Columbia Chinookan nations.
1853: Pacific Mail Steamship Company makes Saint Helens its port of call in Oregon. At this point Saint Helens becomes the center of trade and maritime transportation in the region.
1853: Forced removal of the First Nations begins throughout western Oregon.
March 3, 1855: Willamette Valley Treaty (also known as Treaty with Kalapuya, etc.) between the United States of America and Multnomah, Cathlamet, Clackamas, Kalapuya, Atfalati, and others, is ratified
January 1856: Indigenous peoples of this region are deported to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation.
1857: Columbia County is established, splitting from Washington County.
February 14, 1859: The State of Oregon becomes the 33rd state of the United States of America.
1883: The Northern Pacific Railroad opens. (The track is now owned by Portland & Western Railroad.)
Late 19th century: The Tarbell family settles in what is now Yankton (originally called Maineville or Yankeetown).
1887: The Yankton School (now Saint Helens-Yankton Arthur Academy) opens at the corner of Pittsburg Road and Brinn Road.
August 12, 1893: First Baptist Church of Maineville (now Yankton Community Fellowship, a Church Venture Northwest congregation) opens.
1894: The Yankton, Oregon post office is established.
1914: The cities of Saint Helens and Houlton (present-day uptown business district along Columbia Boulevard) merge. The city grows as the center of pulp trade.
1915: Saint Helens Public Library is established.
1929: The ranch is built at this present location.
1940s-1950s: Much of Columbia County has been logged by timber companies. The region's prosperity begins to wane as old-growth forests disappear.
1950s-1970s: Fred Luttrell owns and operates one of the largest strawberry farms in the U.S. Many local youths were bussed in on summer days from throughout Columbia County to Yankton to work on the fields. Luttrell passes away in 2018.
"Strawberry fields forever." Columbia County Historical Society and Museum Association.
Nobe, A (2010). "Hot days, red-stained dollar bills & strawberry flats." The St. Helens Chronicle, June 1, 2010.
Newton, RY (2018). "Strawberry fields forever: community shares memories of Luttrell farm." The St. Helens Chronicle, July 6, 2018.
1980-1985: Dr. Dory Mosescu Walrod has an independent medical practice as a general practitioner. At the time, she owned 140 acres of the forestland. The mailing address of this ranch is "Rural Route 1, Box 1250," as rural street delivery is not yet implemented, and house numbers generally do not exist outside townsites. Dr. Walrod's brother, Don Coin Walrod, is a farmer in Deer Island and is the founder of the Columbia County Small Woodland Owners' Association.
Kuttler, H. (2014). "Across the ocean, a poignant end to an Israeli's search." Jewish Telegraph Agency, March 2, 2014.
May 21, 1986: Dr. Dory Mosescu Walrod establishes the Columbia County Humane Society, Inc. (now known as Columbia Humane Society) at this location.
Circa 1999-2010: Musician John Nyberg and his wife Donna Nyberg operate the Owl Tree Ranch and the Owl Tree Press at this location.
October 6-November 12, 2011: Occupy Portland encampment in downtown Portland takes place. A group from the engineering committee at the encampment becomes the impetus for an innovation center/makerspace focused on food security.
November 13, 2012: Ingenuity Innovation Center, LLC (IIC) is formed by entrepreneur Kate Wildrick and inventor Aaron Ihoff, opening at the former Owl Tree Ranch in Yankton/Happy Hollow, at 32180 Pittsburg Road.
Autumn of 2012: A major fire incident destroys the historic red barn (later replaced with a wood frame/metal wall warehouse, which becomes the Alice Tarbell Cultural Space).
Winter or 2012-13: IIC begins monthly open houses, and forms the Advisory Group. IIC focuses on the development of aquaponic manufacturing and education.
January 2, 2014: IIC becomes one of Oregon's first Benefit Corporations (not to be confused with B Labs certifications of B Corporations) under the new law that took effect that day. From 2014 through 2016, IIC grew in collaboration with Australian aquaponic expert, Murray Hallam. During this period, the place receives some press coverage as dignitaries such as Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and then-Secretary of State (later Governor) Kate Brown visit IIC. The Aquaponic Coalition is organized as a collaborative venture with other aquaponic enthusiasts internationally.
Von Kroug, D. (2015). "A look at St. Helens' aquaponic hub." The Portland Business Journal, July 27, 2015.
June 5, 2015: Lisa Marie Neff acquires the land from Vernonia, Oregon-based timberland owner Northwest Land Services, LLC (Matthew Chesley). Purchase price $360,000.
May 23, 2016: serenovaretreat.com domain name is registered. The first version of its website and various social media presences followed soon thereafter. The "twin flames" emblem and first iteration of the Estancia Serenova brand document are rolled out.
August 15, 2016: Estancia Serenova Retreat Center, Inc. is incorporated in the State of Oregon.
August 27-28, 2016: Estancia Serenova holds its first public open house event on site. The event also honored the Columbia Humane Society.
2016-2018: Significant capital improvement projects, including the renovation of the Owltree house's interior and an expansion of the Elalah house. Three off-grid cottages named Nyberg, Walrod, and Sleeth, two of which are pre-manufactured, are installed as guest accommodations.
May 31, 2017: The initial thought that a retreat center and an aquaponic center could co-exist quickly came to the realization that it was unworkable. IIC relocates to a new location. Greenhouses are dismantled.
September 1-4, 2017: The first Red Tent Convergence, a women's retreat event, takes place. The weekend included licensed film screening, an art show, live music performances, and more.
November 25, 2017: Estancia Serenova participates in the Columbia County Shop Small Business Expo at the Meriweather Place in uptown Saint Helens.
February 3, 2018: The Floy Preslar Gallery (later renamed Preslar Art Initiatives) opens at the Alice Tarbell Cultural Space. The gallery holds monthly art exhibits and First Saturday events featuring local emerging visual artists through the summer of 2019.
March 10, 2018: Estancia Serenova participates in the Columbia County Bridal Expo at the Merriweather Place.
April 2018: The "walnut branch" emblem and the second version of the brand document replace the first one.
Spring and summer of 2018: Weddings at Estancia Serenova begin. Independent travelers are welcomed through booking sites such as HipCamp and Airbnb. Guests hail from as far as Israel.
May 2018: A brush fire approximately one mile southeast of Estancia Serenova closed the only road connecting to the world for about five hours as fire crews contained the fire.
August 3-5, 2018: A weekend of art events featuring Danell Ellingson from Edmonds, Washington.
August 2018: The Elalah renovation is complete.
November 18, 2018: Estancia Serenova exhibits at the Portland Bridal Expo at the Portland Expo Center.
March 22-24, 2019: The second Red Tent Convergence Women's Festival of the Pacific Northwest is held.
May 2019: Estancia Serenova considers closure and sale of the facility due to insurance problems.
May 23, 2019: L.M. Neef & Associates, Inc. is formed.
Summer of 2019: a few weddings and events are held.
March 2020: COVID-19 indefinitely suspends all events and retreat center activities for the next year and a half. During this period some of the buildings were repurposed to house wildfire evacuees from California.
Autumn of 2020: The work on La Fortaleza is resumed and completed.
April 2021: A new greenhouse made of wood frames is being built in the garden. It is not completed as of October 31, 2021.
June 2021: The ranch is once again listed for sale. Prospective buyers arrive daily.
September 2, 2021: Lion's Gate, LLC is formed by a group of buyers/investors that includes entrepreneur John Blomgren (formerly of Back to Eden Bakery and Universal Pantry) and artist Flora Bowley.
September 5, 2021: The sale is finalized. Sale price: $970,000.
September and October 2021: Estancia Serenova holds a weekly series of free farewell community events, including U-pick orchards and the last of the annual (except 2020) apple cider party.
October 31, 2021: Estancia Serenova officially closes, passing the torch to the Lion's Gate crew. The new ownership undertakes an extensive renovation of the buildings and grounds.
2022: Events and retreats resume under Flora Bowley Designs this summer.
February 2024: New applications for conditional use and design review are submitted to the Columbia County Planning Commission. (This was due to a complaint by a neighbor residing almost half a mile away, resulting in the County issuing a cease and desist notice prohibiting any further retreats and public events at this site.)
April 1, 2024: The Columbia County Planning Commission holds a public hearing. The Commission approves the applications, allowing events and retreats to take place legally.
For interesting historical photos and tidbits, visit the "Through the Woods: Items Relating to the History of Yankton, Oregon" Facebook group!
Visit the Columbia County History Museum and/or enjoy a self-guided walking tour when in Saint Helens, Oregon!
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