Popular Yamhill attraction

becomes Christian camp

     YAMHILL — A popular Yamhill County attraction operating for 35 years as the Flying M Ranch is now under new management as a Christian camp for fatherless children and has been renamed Rugged Cross Camp.
The new role for the 107-acre ranch site began Nov. 4, under the management of Scott and Christy Bradley of Newberg. The Bradleys are owners of Northwest Sleevewear in Portland. Scott, 49, and his 46-year-old wife will now live on the property.
     Originally from Southern California, the Bradleys are 29-year residents of Oregon and have lived in Newberg for 12 years. They are the parents of three grown sons and also the surrogate parents for about 70 other children their family has taken in over the years.
    As reported by the Newberg Graphic and the McMinnville News-Register newspapers, the Bradleys are leasing the property from the John A. Duke Living Trust, which recently assumed ownership of the property from Flying M founders and longtime owners Bryce and Barbara Mitchell. The trust is named for a Medford banker, civic leader and philanthropist who once served as a trustee for George Fox University. The Bradleys have known the Dukes for many years.
    The trust took over the ranch because the Mitchells were unable to keep up with payments on an $1.8 million loan made by the trust in 2003. The loan was made due to financial stresses the Mitchells faced as a result of a devastating 1983 fire at the ranch — which was not insured —that required rebuilding of the facility. The Mitchells survived for many years, but difficult road access to the site prevented the ranch from drawing enough patrons.
    The Mitchells, who live across the road from the ranch, developed an airstrip, lounge, motel, a set of campgrounds and a complex of cabins at the ranch. Across the road, on the adjoining 400 acres where their home is located, they also developed a set of stables offering trail rides. The ranch drew a particularly strong following among small plane pilots and devotees of horseriding.
    The Bradleys plan to remove the airstrip and close the lounge, but will continue operating the restaurant. They plan to use the motel and cabins to house visiting children, but also intend to provide opportunities for public enjoyment of the property.
    The Bradleys, like the Mitchells, are also horse enthusiasts and also want to develop an equestrian center to host rodeo competitions and horse shows and offer pony rides.
    The Mitchells plan to continue their campground and trail-riding operation across the road under the Flying M name. Barbara Mitchell told the McMinnville paper she and her husband are pleased that the lodge and other facilities will be operated on a Christian basis by good people.