It's projects like this that remind me just how great my job as a photographer really is! Earlier this year, I was asked by Greg Wolf and Donna Merrill to work on a fun project in Prairie City, Oregon. They are the owners of the Historic Hotel Prairie and were looking for some updated photos for their website and images for a brochure featuring their new meeting/event space. Donna and Greg beautifully restored the Historic Hotel Prairie, located in Prairie City, Oregon (about 15 miles east of John Day). Prairie City is a quintessential example of 'small town America' in the foothills of the Strawberry Mountains. In addition to the promotional photos of the hotel, Greg and Donna asked that I do a series of photos capturing the current day Main Street businesses and business owners. The hotel currently displays many vintage black and white photographs documenting the history of Prairie City. To go along with these, Greg and Donna want to highlight the 'modern day' Prairie City along with it's dedicated business owners. I completely fell in love with this wonderful little town and its friendly and welcoming residents. Here are a few images from the project. If you are ever in the John Day area, be sure you stop in Prairie City and stay in the Historic Hotel Prairie!
Chuck and Valeria at Chuck's Little Diner (aka Squeezie V's)
Phil and Carol, Oxbow Restaurant and Saloon
Jimmy (who I consider the 'unofficial mayor' of Prairie City)
Filling up at the Chevron
Historic Hotel Prairie
New meeting/event space at Historic Hotel Prairie
The Strawberry Mountains