Butte Falls, a small town northeast of Medford, is working to reinvent itself after decades as a logging community, with new investments in wildfire resilience and outdoor tourism.

With a population of about 430, the town is shifting away from its industrial past and toward a model focused on local stewardship and economic diversification.

Mayor Trish Callahan, who moved to the area in 2014, said she values the town’s close-knit community and rural setting.

"It’s always a blessing to be able to have nature around you,” Callahan said.

The town’s most ambitious project is a 430-acre community forest, purchased with $1.5 million in state and federal grants.

The project emerged after the 2020 wildfires, which forced multiple evacuations in the area.

Owning the surrounding forestland allows the city to manage fire risk, including reducing undergrowth and improving defensible space, Callahan said.

Beyond fire prevention, the forest also supports education.

The Natural Resource Center offers hands-on, alternative education to about 80 students. Participants learn skills such as building small structures, cultivating mushrooms and raising tilapia, using applied lessons in math and trade work.

Callahan said the program gives students practical experience and allows them to learn new skills.

City leaders are also looking to tourism to support the local economy.

Plans include a new viewing deck at the falls, an archery course and the return of a historic Medco logging engine for excursion train rides. Officials also hope to expand the trail system to nearly 100 miles.

Guest

Trish Callahan, Butte Falls, Oregon

Butte Falls in August 2025.(Photo by JPR Senior Produce Natalie Golay)