Our History

The Hood River Valley in 1949. The Hood River Valley in 2013. You get the picture.

No billboards, no malls, no gated resort communities or suburban sprawl – instead, precious resource land and wild places.

It’s no accident.

This unique valley remains one of the nation’s greatest fruit baskets thanks to our hardworking farmers, Oregon’s unique land use laws which protect resource lands, and citizen groups like Thrive Hood River, who work hard to uphold those laws.

We are one of Oregon’s oldest land-use advocacy groups. Since 1977, Thrive Hood River has had a mission to protect Hood River’s farmland, forests, wild places and the livability of its cities and rural communities.

Some of our Accomplishments since 1977:

Defeated Mt. Hood Meadows’ request for 450-unit destination resort on farmland. (1982)
Sponsored ‘mixed-use’ study of Port waterfront property. (1989)
Successfully supported the Von Lubken family ‘right to farm’ appeal. (1991)
Defeated Mount Hood Meadows planned 500-unit destination resort complex. (1995)
Sponsored forum on the proposed Warm Springs Casino in Hood River. (2000)
Blew the whistle on a 620-acre land exchange by the County to Meadows. (2001)
Co-founded Cooper Spur Wild & Free Coalition. (2002)
Participated in drafting Mt. Hood Wilderness Bill. (2007)
Hosted four public forums on Measure 37 and led legal challenge to Measure 37 with Crag Law Center. (2007)
Worked locally with Measure 49 campaign; measure passes in all eleven Hood River County precincts. (2007)
Help passage of Mt. Hood Wilderness Expansion bill, preventing another resort on Cooper Spur. (2009)
Launched the Hood River Harvest Ride – an organized bike ride to showcase our Valley and success of wise land use planning – our major fundraiser for 5 years running. (2009-13)
Hosted Wind Forum with Columbia Gorge Earth Center on windmills. (2010)
Joined ODOT’s Adopt-A-Hwy program along Hwys 35 and 281. (2011-present)
Worked with local citizens and Friends of the Gorge to successfully oppose a poorly sited cell tower proposed in a west Hood River neighborhood. (2013)
Created a Citizen Advisory Committee to help Hood River County draft a Cell Tower Ordinance. (2014)
Collaborated with Western Rivers Conservancy and coordinated public outreach effort resulting in Hood River County taking ownership of the iconic Punchbowl Falls as a park for the people. (2014)
Served as grantwriter for $170,000 Transportation Growth Management grant for City of Hood River to do an area plan for west side of Hood River. (2015)
Filed a lawsuit against US Forest Service over their 5-year delay and obstruction in completing the Congressionally mandated Land Trade with Mt. Hood Meadows. (2015)
Partnered with Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District to conduct a feasibility study for a much-needed large scale Community Park in Hood River’s growing west side. HRVRC secured planning from PSU’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program resulting in the largest most enthusiastic public outreach effort of any park in Hood River. (2015-16)
Initiated Forestry Subcommittee to do research, education and advocacy on best forestry practices, including considerations of our forests’ role in carbon sequestration, in public and private forest in Hood River county. (2016)
Held public forums on “missing middle housing”, the Westside Area Concept Plan, preserving nature in urban areas, and post-fire recovery for Eagle Creek fire. (2016-17)
Served on working groups to draft Hood River County Energy Plan. (2017)
Spearheaded a host of walkability initiatives in the City of Hood River including walkability audit of the Heights business district with nationally renowned expert Dan Burden, the inaugural Streets Alive HR! an open streets event with pedestrian and bike demonstration projects, and Safe Routes to School planning for May St. Elementary, Westside Elementary and Hood River Middle School. (2018)
Changed name to Thrive Hood River. (2018)
Advocated for strong regulations of Short Term Rentals (vacation rentals) in Hood River County and City. (2015-19)
Launched Annual Kids Bike Giveaway, giving 13 local kids bikes in first year. (2019)
City of Hood River adopted new Climate Emergency Resolution, with strong support from Thrive. (2019)
Received Housing Coalition Grant from Mason Charitable Trust to support our work in housing policy. (2020)
Defeated the proposed construction of the Dee-Tour amphitheater. Throughout the course of an 8-year battle, we prevented development of a large-scale destination concert venue on the banks of the East Fork of the Hood River, which conflicted with the surrounding rural and farmlands. (2016-21)
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District entered a two year option agreement to purchase 20 acres to create the Westside Park where we conducted a feasibility study. (2021)
Hosted a public Land Use 101 webinar. (2021)
Hired first ever, full-time executive director, Nico Salter. (2022)
Hosted candidate forums for elections. (2017-22)
Urban Renewal Advisory Committee recommended Design Alternative #3, which we supported and advocated for with A Better Heights Coalition, which reimagines The Heights as a people-centered district with safe streets for all. (2022)
Missing Middle Housing Code for the City of Hood River was upheld in court allowing for more diverse housing and a win for affordable housing in Hood River. (2022)
Reviewed every land use permit submitted to Hood River County to ensure that no violations of the county code took place. Pulled 55 permits so far this year for further review and potential conversations with the county and applicants. (2023)
Circuit court Judge John Olson ruled that Thrive Hood River’s original challenge of the 2002 land trade between the county and Mt. Hood Meadows was legitimate and should proceed to trial. (2023)
2nd annual Streets Alive! event in the Heights, celebrating the city’s commitment to livability. (2023)
Oregon’s land use court, LUBA, ruled in Thrive Hood River’s favor to prevent a Bed & Breakfast proposed as a commercial lease, not operated by residents, that would have set the stage for real estate investment firms to buy homes on rural lands and turn them into tourist lodging staffed by employees. (2023)
Thrive Hood River supporters PACKED the courtroom as Circuit Court Judge Olson heard Thrive’s arguments to undo the original 2002 land trade. (2023)
Led educational outreach to the citizens of Parkdale, to help them understand the land use system and potential options for the future of Parkdale as the unincorporated boundaries are set. (2023)
Partnered with Oregon Agricultural Trust, Gorge Grown and Friends of the Gorge to lead a partner panel discussion during the Land Trust Alliance Rally, hosted by Kiyokawa Orchards. (2023)
Worked with the County to refine limits on food pairings that support wineries and cideries while keeping exclusive farm use land from being converted to restaurants. (2023)