Black Bar Lodge

08/09/2025

Ive been somewhat absent since my post from a year ago.
I apologize but losing Mace was extremely dificult for us all.

We have moved forward as we all have to.
I meant to post that we are fortunate as of this year, we have a new on property management team

They are Jason and Dani Duby
They are running day to day operations joined by their 4 young children Colin, Connor,
Cayce, and Taylor.
They have moved their whole clan including dogs to Black Bar for the season.

We are lucky to have them and it is a new experience having children and family at the lodge again .
The last children at BB were when Rheanna our daughter was there and prior to that Zachary and Vanessa the Hull family. Vanessa and I are current owners.

We are hopeful that the Duby Family will be onboard with Black Bar for many many years.

05/04/2024

For those of you that knew and loved our great friend Mace McWilliams his family could use a little help with arrangements.
I am posting a gofundme link. I just did a donation and kindly request even a small donation to help out.
Thanks for considering.
John
https://gofund.me/1abb391chttps://gofund.me/1abb391c
Dont click this hyperlink, click the box below Maces picture.

We are seeking help covering the cost of uncle Mace's cremation and celebration of… Devon Thill needs your support for Contributions for Uncle Mace's Farewell

04/28/2024

Well, with a broken heart I make this post. One of my best friends passed away very unexpectedly a few hours ago.
Mace McWilliams, our best friend and an absolute major rock of a person at Black Bar passed away very unexpectedly today.
He spent his last hours loving his time with his Great nieces and nephews, and spending time with family.
He was such an important part of his family and our River Community.
This has left a giant hole in my heart personally.
As we always said about Mace.... "Wherever he was at the moment, was the greatest place he had ever been.... "
He had that way of living life to the fullest and experiencing all that was presented to him.
We can all learn a lesson from his life well lived...

EDIT: I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and condolences about Mace, please know his Family and ours are seeing all these beautiful thoughts and appreciate them immensely.
Responding to them all would be overwhelming. Just know we see them, and feel the support.

04/05/2024

Hi friends of Black Bar Lodge.
As life goes along one thing is inevitable... we all get older.
Vanessa and I have spent most of my adult life involved in Black Bar and she has spent her entire life with it.

I am posting this thought because I want to start pursuing that next phase of life, and to do that I need to find the right folks looking for an opportunity that is very rare.

I want to put it out there in hopes that some of you familiar with how special these Lower Rogue Lodges are might know of some high quality people seeking an opportunity to learn from us, with the intention of taking over as we retire.

It will take some special people and ideally a couple to run Black Bar.

If anyone is interested in some serious and I do mean SERIOUS conversation.
Please reach out.
The number through our website or email would be great.
Thanks for reading.
John

03/20/2024

The Rogue lost one of our River Guides this past Weekend.
Please help his family if you see fit.
Bobby D left the community far too soon.
RIP and Tightlines Bobby
https://gofund.me/0259d84f

11/13/2023

It is with sad heart I post here that Bryce Whitmore founder of Wilderness Waterways passed away yesterday.
He was in my opinion the man that brought modern commercial rafting trips to the Lower Rogue Canyon.
There were much earlier Lower Rogue Dory/Driftboat guides, but Bryce brought rafting for the masses.
RIP Bryce and condolences to his family.

09/05/2022

Had another beautiful day at Black Bar.
A little smoky early a.m. Cleared up for afternoon.

09/01/2022

Here are some Pictures from Black Bar Lodge last evening around 5:30.
Very slight haze.
This is what we have experienced through most of the fire events I have lived through, FYI, I've had Black Bar for 32 years.
Just talked to my staffer holding down a shift and he says blue skies and beautiful all day today.

08/30/2022

There is a lot of questions about the status of not only the Rogue Community but of course Black Bar Lodge.
The fire originated quite a few miles upstream of us in the East Fork of Rum Cr. This effectively brought the actual fire down to the river at Rainie Falls.
The main RUM CREEK comes into the Rogue across from Whiskey Creek (go figure, Whiskey/Rum) but again, the fire is in the East fork so came to the Rogue at Rainie.
It has NOT CROSSED THE ROGUE down in the canyon, but has up above around Rand.
This is tough country and resources are rolling in everyday.
River is closed and on a day to day basis may open.
For the moment, I am putting a moratorium on any new Fall bookings. It has been a tough couple of years for staffing due to pandemic and bad government money policies, and I just can't take on additional bookings and ensure I can staff adequately to take care of you.
Those I have been in communications with we can still have conversations about this season.

05/04/2022

Wow,
Unusual Spring weather.
Drove into the lodge a few weeks ago relatively easy, typical dozens of trees down but one day deal.
No slides, no snow.
Fast Forward to last Wednesday. Snow over a foot deep and horrible slushy icy stuff that absolutely is slick as heck.
Gave up, went back Friday, made it another mile, still really bad.

Tried Sunday, not any better, went up again Monday, not only had it snowed a few more inches in our tracks, but was cold and snowing at mid day....
Making another attempt tomorrow, taking my tractor with loader. see if we can cut through.
But then what is this weekend planning to give us...
Who knows.
Southern Oregon weather needs to seek some counseling....