Linn County, OR. — The Avery family, whose landholdings in the Santiam Canyon date to 1902, has contributed $35,000 to renovate the picnic shelter at John Neal Memorial County Park near Lyons (Linn County Government).
The shelter, built in 1971 as a tribute to brothers Waldo and Sewell Avery, stands as a symbol of the family’s long‐standing ties to the canyon (NBC16 News). The Avery brothers, midwestern industrialists and timber investors, originally acquired about 25,000 acres in the region (Linn County Government).
Though the family is geographically dispersed today, its commitment to the area remains strong. The donation was made during the Avery family’s annual meeting and property tour on September 19 (Linn County Government). Ellen Ferguson of Seattle described the family’s philosophy: “We are a major land owner, but we make the property accessible to the public … We want to be good partners” (Linn County Government). Pedro McMillan, residing in Colorado, added, “We’ve been here for 120 years … we enjoy gathering here every year” (Linn County Government).
Today, the family oversees roughly 12,500 acres of forest under sustainable management while offering recreational access, including mushroom picking and Christmas tree harvesting (Linn County Government). In addition, about 76 acres of old-growth forest—known as Avery Park—are preserved for future generations, with trees estimated at 300 to 500 years old (Linn County Government). Notably, Avery timberlands escaped damage during the 2020 Labor Day wildfires (NBC16 News).
Linn County Parks and Recreation Director Stacey Whaley noted that John Neal is the county’s first park, opened in 1963, and spans 30 acres along the North Santiam River (Linn County Government). The park includes 36 campsites, ponds, trails, bridges, a boat ramp, playgrounds, and modern restrooms. The shelter renovation will use cedar milled from hazard trees removed from other county parks and may include upgrades such as stainless steel countertops, enclosed sink areas, improved concrete flooring, a new patio, and a wedding arbor (Linn County Government).
The park’s origins trace to a 1962 land donation by Mrs. John Neal, a schoolteacher, in memory of her husband, who once expressed a desire that the land “go to the people around here” (Linn County Government). His wife continued teaching when the park was dedicated in August 1963. The Albany Democrat-Herald later credited Dale Prichard, the Lyons representative on the new county parks commission, for much of the park’s development (NBC16 News).
The Avery family’s gift arrives amid broader park expansion efforts: in late 2024, Linn County secured a grant from Oregon Parks & Recreation for wide-ranging improvements at John Neal Park, including adding a second shelter and updating trails and infrastructure (Linn County Government).
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