Eagle Point, Oregon: Where Small-Town Charm Meets Big Opportunity

Blending scenic beauty with forward-thinking growth, Eagle Point is embracing the future while preserving its rich history and close-knit community spirit.

Nestled in the heart of Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, Eagle Point is a picturesque town that offers the best of both worlds, tranquil, small-town living with easy access to major economic, academic, and cultural hubs like Medford and Ashland. Surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes, Eagle Point is a gateway to outdoor adventure while also fostering economic expansion, infrastructure investment, and a vision for sustainable growth. As the town continues to evolve, its leadership remains focused on maintaining its welcoming atmosphere, enhancing its historic downtown, and creating opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Small-Town Living with Big Outdoor Appeal

With its quiet neighborhoods, strong sense of community, and stunning natural surroundings, Eagle Point offers an exceptional quality of life for residents seeking both tranquility and adventure.

“We have a great sense of community,” says Aaron Prunty, City Administrator. “Eagle Point is a small town. It’s quiet. It’s safe. We have good schools. We have great neighborhoods. It’s very quiet at night.” This family-friendly atmosphere, combined with a strong school system and low crime rates, makes the town an attractive place to live and raise a family.

Eagle Point’s charm is enhanced by its unique location along Little Butte Creek near the Rogue River, and its thoughtful town planning. “The Rogue Valley benefits from Oregon’s urban growth controls, which results in boundary expansion occurring only as needed and greatly minimizing suburban sprawl,” explains Mike Upston, Community Development Director. “For cities in Oregon, there is a defined boundary beyond which expansion is carefully controlled. That means Eagle Point is surrounded by forest land, farmland, and natural open spaces.” This careful regulation preserves the town’s natural beauty and rural character, offering a scenic and peaceful environment.

Beyond its welcoming neighborhoods, Eagle Point is home to multiple beloved landmarks. The Butte Creek Mill, established in 1872 along the banks of Little Butte Creek, is the only water-powered grist mill still operating west of the Mississippi River. The Mill is a step back in time with sights, sounds, and smells of old-time southern Oregon history. The water turbine churns with the force of the creek which bisects the city and is one of the most prolific fish spawning (Coho, Chinook Salmon, and Steel Head) streams in southern Oregon. Next door is the Eagle Point Museum, originally built as the Long Mountain School in 1925 and now housing a notable collection of artifacts, photographs and heritage materials related to Eagle Point’s history. Just downstream is the historic covered bridge, constructed in 1922 as one of only 50 covered bridges in Oregon originally built to handle vehicles. Both the Mill and the Bridge are included on the National List of Historic Places. And on the town’s border lies the Eagle Point National Cemetery, a resting place for veterans who have served our country and a site of deep historical significance. These, along with the town’s proximity to world-class outdoor attractions, add to its unique appeal.

“We are surrounded by natural beauty,” Upston continues. “Proximity to the Rogue River, world-class river rafting and fishing. Proximity to Crater Lake, a national park, the only national park in Oregon. Proximity to the Oregon Coast and the Redwoods in California.” These outdoor amenities provide endless opportunities for recreation.

Adding to the town’s appeal is The Resort at Eagle Point, a nationally recognized golf destination. “It’s a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course with a resort now as part of it,” says Upston. With lodging, dining, and event spaces, the resort has become a key asset for both residents and visitors alike.

Revitalizing Downtown: Honoring History, Embracing Growth

Eagle Point is taking a thoughtful approach to downtown revitalization, blending historic preservation with modern development. At the heart of these efforts is the Town Center Plan, a long-term vision aimed at enhancing the town’s traditional Main Street while fostering economic and residential growth.

“We have what we call a Town Center Plan,” says Upston. “It’s a long-range master plan for the evolution of our downtown, which is at the core, our traditional American Main Street.” Stretching two blocks, this corridor is home to late 1800s brick buildings with thriving businesses, community parks, and the city’s Civic Center – library, post office, city hall, police station, and community center.

A major step in the plan’s execution is the development of a mixed-use project on a one-acre city-owned parcel. “We are under contract right now with a developer to build a mixed-use building,” Upston explains. “It will have ground floor shops, food, and offices, condominiums and apartments above those, and restaurants and rooftop terraces at the very top.”

By preserving its historic charm while investing in modern infrastructure, Eagle Point is ensuring that its downtown remains both a cultural hub and a thriving center for future growth.

Driving Economic Growth: Business Expansion & Opportunity

Eagle Point is embracing strategic growth, expanding its business landscape while maintaining its small-town feel. Historically known as a bedroom community, the town has seen a gradual transformation as the west side business district emerges as a hub for light industrial and commercial development.

“Eagle Point has a lot of great neighborhoods with a variety of housing types and prices, with walkable access to parks, trails, the downtown, and world class golf, along with medical providers, senior care, and a variety of other neighborhood-serving facilities,” says Upston. “What Eagle Point doesn’t have is business parks or many light industrial uses.” To address this, the city rezoned a portion of land on the west side of the highway opposite the main area of town from large-lot, rural residential to more urban-oriented business park and light industrial, with a long-term vision of diversifying the local economy.

This careful planning has led to gradual but steady growth in the west side business district. “We are seeing the few homes that were out there being replaced by regional-serving retail, banks, food service, and light industrial uses like storage facilities,” Upston notes. “The local trash and recycling operator recently purchased land in that area with plans to relocate from its current site further away.”

“That’s the beauty of zoning,” Upston explains. “Conveniently for Eagle Point, we are able to really separate those areas. The west side of Highway 62 is completely separate physically from the rest of town.” This strategic separation ensures that the commercial and industrial growth remains distinct from Eagle Point’s quiet neighborhoods and scenic downtown, preserving the town’s charm and community feel.

Eagle Point remains committed to fostering a business-friendly environment that encourages sustainable economic growth.

Building for the Future: Strong Infrastructure to Support Growth

With a solid foundation of water, sewer, and roadway capacity, Eagle Point is well-prepared to support its expanding community. Unlike many towns facing infrastructure challenges, Eagle Point has more resources than it currently uses, allowing for sustainable development without overburdening public utilities.

“Eagle Point has a surplus of those facilities,” says Upston. “We have more water available than we are currently using. We have roadway capacity, sewer capacity, and storm drainage is handled.”

“We have master plans that provide a long-range vision for how those facilities will be maintained and expanded in the future,” he adds.

Key investments include upgrades to the water system, storm drainage improvements, and emergency power installations. “We’re always working on water projects,” adds Prunty. “We have some IT projects related to our water system… a large implementation of a new SCADA system.”

Additionally, high-speed fiber internet expansion is underway, ensuring Eagle Point remains an attractive location for both residents and businesses in the digital age.

Strength in Partnerships: A Community Working Together

Eagle Point thrives on collaboration between local organizations, businesses, and regional stakeholders, ensuring that growth benefits the entire community. From education and tourism to business development, the town’s success is built on strong relationships with key partners.

“We work closely with our neighboring cities, the county, and the state,” says Upston. “The school district is an important partner, as is the Chamber of Commerce, the Medford business community, and even the tourism board.” These local partnerships are essential in maintaining the town’s unique charm and vibrant community spirit.

On a broader scale, Eagle Point is part of regional economic and infrastructure initiatives, working closely with SOREDI (Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc.). “They do a great job at developing relationships with companies all over the country that might have an interest in expanding their operations to our area, or relocating here altogether, as well as helping companies that are already here thrive,” Upston explains.

“Eagle Point is part of that regional initiative, benefiting from broader regional growth while maintaining its small-town character.

Locally, Eagle Point supports economic diversity by encouraging home-based businesses, a trend that continues to grow in the digital age. “There are a lot of people choosing to work from home and we have the digital infrastructure for that,” says Upston. This flexibility not only supports entrepreneurial growth but also enhances the community’s appeal as a place to live and work.

Through teamwork and community-driven planning, Eagle Point is ensuring that its future remains both prosperous and deeply connected to its roots.

Looking Ahead: Growth with Community at Heart

As Eagle Point moves into 2025 and beyond, city leaders are committed to thoughtful growth, maintaining neighborhood quality, and enhancing public spaces. Priorities include revitalizing downtown, expanding housing, and improving parks and recreation facilities.

“Our top priorities continue to focus on opportunities for growth in our downtown,” says Upston. “Continue to support residential growth and build quality neighborhoods… and expand on our park system and provide more opportunities for recreation within the community.”

With these goals in mind, Eagle Point is balancing modern development with small-town charm, ensuring that future projects align with the needs of both residents and businesses.

“I’ve lived in Eagle Point for a little over 20 years and I’ve seen significant growth, but I haven’t seen a change in the character,” says Prunty. “Eagle Point is a community and it feels like a community, and that hasn’t changed.” This consistency in character is a testament to the town’s dedication to balancing progress with tradition, ensuring that growth enhances the community rather than altering its essence. Adds Upston, “By investing in infrastructure, fostering economic opportunities, and preserving its unique character, Eagle Point is ensuring a thriving, sustainable future for generations to come.”

At a Glance

Who: The City of Eagle Point
What: A scenic town balancing historic charm with strategic growth in downtown revitalization, housing, economic development, and infrastructure investment.
Where: Eagle Point, Oregon.
Website: www.cityofeaglepoint.org