Joan Austin Plans Major Oregon Wine Resort

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

NOVEMBER 29, 2006. Devotees of Oregon's burgeoning wine region, will soon pop the cork on the creation of the area's first luxury hotel, spa, restaurant, shops and housing, thanks to local entrepreneur and philanthropist Joan Austin.

Mrs. Austin said today that she will oversee development of the largest tract of land in the Newberg urban growth boundary, which lies between Portland and the Yamhill Valley wine-growing region, famed for its pinot noir grapes. Mrs. Austin said Newberg is the family's hometown and a love of the area inspired her to take on development of a community that will attract guests to the hotel and spa and new homeowners, create jobs and bring overall vitality to the area.

"We have had many offers over the years from developers who wanted to purchase our property," Mrs. Austin said. "We could have sold and lost control of the quality of the way it will look and feel."

She has selected a team of planners, engineers, designers, hotel and hospitality consultants and an advertising/PR firm to manage development and marketing of what is now called Springbrook.

The 433-acre development lies northeast of Newberg (20 miles southwest of downtown Portland) and is adjacent to A-dec, which is co-owned by Mrs. Austin and her husband, Ken. A-dec is the largest manufacturer of dental chairs and equipment in the world and employs nearly 1,000 in the Newberg area.

The new development has already drawn praise from local vintners. Susan Sokol Blosser, president of Sokol Blosser Winery, said, "The site the Austin family has chosen emphasizes that a hotel in a beautiful location, in or near existing developed areas strengthens our local economy."

Groundbreaking for the luxury inn is expected to begin in the spring of 2007, with the restaurant and spa following closely thereafter. The opening is planned for 2009. The development's master plan calls for 50 acres of greenspaces, multi-use trails for pedestrians and bicyclists, open space areas and community parks.

"Overall, we want to revive Springbrook as a community gathering place -- one that we will be proud of and Newberg will be proud of too," Mrs. Austin said.