SOAK Site Search Committee: Community Input Request

Help SOAK find a new home!

After many wonderful years at the Justesen Ranch at Tygh Valley, SOAK has outgrown its current home, which is the fourth property it has been hosted at over the past 17 years. (Thank you to former hosts Miller Brothers Ranch, Tidewater Falls, and Prindle Creek!)

With tickets selling out in mere seconds after going on sale, it is clear that in order to successfully practice Radical Inclusion, Precipitation Northwest, SOAK leadership, and the community need to find a new property to expand on over the next several years.

SOAK is an event sanctioned by the Burning Man Project and follows all Ten Principles including Leave No Trace.

We are looking for a new site that includes the following traits, listed below.

Do you know of a place that might be a good fit? Fill out the Google Form below. Our Site Search Committee will review each suggestion and contact requestors as needed. Email sitesearch@precipitationnw.org with any questions you may have.

Must Haves:

  • Average of at least 30 acres in size of usable event space, if not more, to allow growth

  • Area suitable for safely hosting a large bonfire / burnable art, ideally in two separate locations. We will be glad to collaborate with you and your local fire department to evaluate the site and work out the details

  • Relatively flat

  • Appropriately zoned for Outdoor Mass Gatherings, which can include zoning for recreation/special events and resource use (e.g., EFU or Farm and Forest)

  • Access and Exit (ingress and egress) road at least 20 ft. wide and 13.5 ft. tall (per Fire/Emergency Vehicle Access laws OFC 503.2.1)

  • Allows for installation of camp/art materials (ie: allowed to drive stakes into the ground to prevent wind/weight topple)

  • Limited or no visibility from near-by community, road, highway

  • Limited sound/noise exposure to community/neighbors

  • Limited traffic exposure/increase to community/neighbors

  • Appropriately zoned for recreation/special events, fire

  • Area for parking of 1000+ cars with 2-lane egres

  • Access to emergency services (Fire, LE, Medical)

Want:

  • Pre-insured & zoned property for the purpose of recreation

  • Existing stage or pavilion space

  • Arts and/or event-centered ownership/organizational mission - shared ethos with Precipitation Northwest

  • Capability for pro fireworks show

  • Existing permitted and insured events space (County specific ordinances) 

  • A mixture of open field, and shade

  • Oregon/Pacific Northwest "feel"

  • 30-80+ Acres in size 

  • Natural choke point for gate

  • No visible neighbors

  • Neighbors not with in sound radius

  • Electricity and/or water in one or multiple areas on the site (especially Civic areas)

  • Emergency services not too far away or non-existent

  • Interesting natural features

  • Mix of camp space size diversity, (large theme camp, parking field, small camp, RV area)

  • Drier in spring and/or fall

  • Buildings or features that make good Medical and Site Ops locations

  • Within the regular service range of porto, UTVs, firewood, and any other vendors that we might need

  • Contiguous or largely contiguous space so that no area (effigy, parking, etc.) is so remote as to pose logistical issues

  • Within 2.5 hours driving distance of Portland

  • Ability to arrive onsite the weekend before the event for builds and setup (at no/minimal additional charge)