A Work In Progress

 Please be sure to check our current construction and noise updates:

Construction Disruptions

Read our recent blog post for more details about our rebuilding plans.

 

Rebuilding Updates

As we create new, permanent structures, active construction and reforestation may be underway at different times and in different places around Harbin’s property. This continuing building process can necessitate periodic changes in what we offer and ask of our guests. We do our best to inform you in advance about any planned noise or significant changes in our services or policies, (Construction Disruptions). No matter what may be happening around our property, it is always our aim to make each Harbin visit a safe, relaxing, enjoyable, and especially transformative experience for every guest who joins us.

 

The 2015 fire destroyed 95% of our buildings and support infrastructure. Our initial construction work focused on clearing the land of debris, replacing the basic utilities, restoring the pool area (including upgrading to ADA standards), establishing temporary guest structures (reception office, restrooms, dressing areas, health services, events, café, etc.), and opening guest options accommodations, (cottages, caravans and domes). The completion of these projects – while extraordinary – is still just the beginning of our journey.

 

 

Most recently we focused on the construction of two replacement structures at the Domes. The new guest rooms, built on the sites of former Domes 1 and 2, are a significant step. The Domes complex is reopened for the enjoyment of our guests and offers an expanded selection of overnight retreat rooms combined with a soaking alternative to our Mainside pool area.

 

We’re now turning our focus back to the Mainside pool area where we are currently constructing a bathroom adjacent to the Therapy Pool. We will follow with construction of our permanent Dressing Room and Steam Room. This Dressing Room will be tucked into the hillside where Fern used to be and will be a significant enhancement to our pool area. After that, our intention is to begin construction of permanent buildings in our upper Garden, the Gazebo area, and the Meadow, including the Restaurant, Azalea and Walnut hotel rooms and the Meadow Kitchen. You can read more details of our rebuilding plans with an approximate timeline of projects on our blog page.

 

We are thrilled to be further rebuilding and look forward to your being present during our exciting progress.

 

Please note that during construction at the Mainside pools, the upper Domes pool is available only with a scheduled Health Services appointment.

 

 

Land Remediation

 

Our stewardship of this land has long included the commitment to keep it as undeveloped as possible. Our intention is to help keep our area naturally beautiful; to support its wildlife and habitat; to help maintain Lake County’s air as “among the cleanest in the nation” (as it has been repeatedly ranked in the past decade); and to provide large, natural tracts for the safe, quiet, and comfortable enjoyment of our guests.

 

The fire significantly impacted our land, watershed, wildlife and habitat. With an estimated half-million Harbin trees burned, it has been – and will continue to be – a priority for us to protect and ensure the long-term safety and health of Harbin’s land, groundwater, and wildlife. We’ve done major work toward these ends already – and we’ve been successful in garnering remarkable support from public and private sources. But with so much acreage and so much devastation, the work to remove dead biomass, mitigate erosion, and replant forests and shade trees will be ongoing at Harbin for many years.

 

For the foreseeable future, as we continue working to transition from the fire of 2015, change is likely to be one of our surest constants. It’s possible, in fact, that every time you visit Harbin, you may encounter changes from the time before.