About the Friends

2020 Executive Board

• Bernie Thurber – Chairman
• Ron Fox – Vice Chairman
• Kasey Holwerda – Secretary
• Molly Spencer
• Joan Palmer
• Chas Davis
• Scott Robson
• Carolyn Wheatley
• Sue Densmore – Executive Director
• Jeremy Curtis – Superintendent of the Oregon Caves National Monument

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The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau is a non-profit organization cooperating with the National Park Service (NPS), bureau of the United States Department of Interior, in the preservation, stewardship and improvement of cultural and natural resources of the Oregon Caves National Monument. The Oregon Caves and the Chateau are unique assets of national significance that contribute to the identity and economic well-being of the local community. The Oregon Caves Chateau, a national landmark and the primary historic structure in the Oregon Caves National Monument is one of the three publicly owned, historic lodges of Oregon that provide overnight accommodations. The furnishings and setting create a feeling of nostalgia that is unforgettable.

The Oregon Caves and Chateau have not had a Friends Groups since the 1950’s. The Friends will be raising the needed funds to restore the interior and the furnishings and to show local, statewide and national support for a priority in the National Park Service budget for the full structural restoration of the Chateau.

GOALS

• Build the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau into a strong partner organization to provide financial and volunteer assistance for the benefit of the Oregon Caves National Monument.
• Develop Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance Plans for the Chateau, Monterey Furniture, and historic Guide Dormitory
• Educate citizens, historians, businesses, on the importance of restoring the third of three publicly owned historic lodges in Oregon.
• Develop and enhance the financial support for the proper historic conservation and maintenance of the Chateau, Monterey Furniture and Guide Dormitory
• Broaden base of volunteer and community support for the restoration and maintenance of the Chateau as a working, historic lodge.
• Connect the Oregon Caves National Monument, the Caves, and the Chateau to Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Brookings, Crescent City, Medford, Roseburg and neighboring regional communities as well as the important role the Monument plays in travel and tourism for the State of Oregon.

Founding Donors

The Friends would like to extend a special thank you to the following “Founding Members”.  These remarkable individuals and organizations expressed confidence in the Friends by making the first contributions of $1000 or more during the Founding period from  May 2008 to May 2013.

• The Avista Foundation
• The Architecture Foundation of Oregon
• The Carpenter Foundation
• The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund of the National Historic Trust
• The Four Way Foundation
• The Kinsman Foundation
• Meyer Memorial Trust
• The Oregon Community Foundation
• Robertson E. Collins Fund of OCF
• The Oregon Cultural Trust
• Southern Oregon Sanitation
• Donations in Memory of Connie Baker Palmer
• Chapman and Kathy McGrew – Crew of 1968
• Illinois Valley Community Development Organization/Oregon Caves Outfitters
• The Lium Family Sue, Michael and Stephen
• James and Della Lium
• Evergreen Federal
• Menno Kraai and Jennie May Donnell
• Trudy Kraai Monsma
• Harm and Marian Kraai
• Sue Densmore
• George and Molly Spencer in memory of the Bakers and the Palmers
• Kasey Holwerda
• Pete and Trish Varney
• Craig and Cynthia Ackerman
• Mike and Karen Beverly – Crew of 1966-1969
• Jerralynn Ness and Bernie Thurber
• National Environmental Education Foundation
• Scott Nelson and Margaret McGoldrick
• Alan Dennison
• Scott Robson
• Lam Research

Inaugural Board

The Friends thank the Founding Board, partners and staff for their leadership in the development of the VISION of the Friends between May 2008 – May 2011.

Leadership Advisory Board

The Leadership Advisory Board of the Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau is a wonderful group of advisors from across the United States. Their advice and counsel continues to be invaluable as the Friends’ move forward with the restoration and conservation of the National Monument’s Guide Dormitory, Chateau and its historic collection of Monterey Furniture. The Leadership Advisory Board is an “advisory only” group, so we seek input from time to time, and rely on their expertise in strategic planning as well as fundraising. We hold an annual gathering of the Leadership Advisory Board and our advisors are included in special events around the state as well as at the Monument.

We would like to thank and honor Jack Mills, Co-Convener of the Leadership Advisory board, who regrettably passed away in 2011.  Jack’s passion for the Friends will be dearly missed.

Staff