The Final Push for First Flush — Built by the Heron Community!

This bathhouse has been a long time coming…

It’s been eight years of dreaming, planning, sketching, waiting, saving, and adjusting. Through it all, you’ve been here too — camping through rainstorms, dancing under the stars, raising kids who now bring their own kids back to The Heron. Porta-potty lines? Met with good humor, because what mattered most was feeling at home.

And now — here we are. Standing in the middle of winter, watching the bathhouse take shape, and excited to invite you into the final stretch through our Community Bathhouse Fundraiser – a Matching Campaign to help us finish the project and bring it fully to life.

We are close. Really close. And we’re inviting you to help us bring it home! Our goal is to have the bathhouse ready by late spring, in time for Heron May Day and the Great Blue Heron Music Festival 2026. Flush toilets for the Happiest Heron yet!

Thanks to a generous contribution from a Heron Community member, right now every community contribution is being doubled dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000 — meaning:

$1,000 becomes $2,000
$100 becomes $200
$10 becomes $20

Every contribution matters, and any amount that feels comfortable and meaningful to you is truly valued. This is one of those moments where small acts, added together, become something big — exactly the spirit of The Heron: thousands of hearts showing up over 33 years, through love, connection, and generations of friends, families, and volunteers coming together to make magic happen.

What’s been happening up on the hill

  • Siding Installation: Since just before Christmas, a local Amish crew has been steadily installing white pine siding from a nearby Amish sawmill — piece by piece, even through snowstorms and freezing temperatures. Their focus and care keep the project moving forward.

  • Windows & Doors: Installed by Mark Bricker of Bricker Builders (he and his crew framed the new bathhouse in June 2025) using windows and doors from Chautauqua Brick in Bemus Point. This project comes together neighbor by neighbor, friend by friend, with care in every detail.

  • Electrical & Heating: Electrical systems roughed in and inspected. Radiant floor heat is in place (yes, warm toes are coming!).

  • Plumbing: Plumber returns in February to install supply lines for sinks and toilets.

  • HVAC Planning: Mark & Drew of Johnson-Whitmeyer of Jamestown walked the space to plan airflow and moisture control — important for lots of happy, freshly showered humans!

  • Road Support: Steve has been plowing the road day after day so the crew can safely make it up the hill, keeping the work moving even in heavy snow.

 

What’s still ahead

Next up:

  • Finish plumbing and close the ceiling
  • Tile walls six feet high, including all showers (March)
  • Install sinks, mirrors, partitions, and hand dryers
  • Build a proper outdoor washing station for hands, dishes, and campground needs
  • Complete landscaping and thoughtfully place personalized bricks

We’re taking our time thinking about how to thoughtfully incorporate all the personalized bricks that have been purchased over the years. Those bricks tell the story of this place. They are proof that The Heron lives not just on the land, but in the people who love it. Reading through those messages — words about love, home, music, family, belonging — has been incredibly moving.

To our brick donors: THANK YOU! Your faith, patience, and generosity helped carry this project to this moment, and it means more than we can say.
LAST CALL TO ORDER PERSONALIZED BRICKS, Get your order in by May 24, 2026!

The honest part, We still need funds to finish the bathhouse!

Steve and I chose not to hire a general contractor. We’re doing it ourselves to save money and stay aligned with our values. That means moving slower sometimes, but we stay grounded, careful, and connected every step.

We are paying for this project largely out of pocket, with some community donations along the way. We do not yet have all the funds needed to finish, but we are moving forward because it feels right for the land and for the people who love this place. And yes — we are also trusting. Trusting the magic of this community. Trusting YOU! 

We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t believe — deeply — that this community shows up for what it loves. And history tells us that you do.

Every dollar matters. Every contribution helps. This is a shared dream — and you’re part of it.

Why this matters

For decades, The Heron has been a place where people come together — to connect, create, celebrate, and recharge.

This bathhouse, with flush toilets and warm showers, is about caring for the people who make that magic possible. It’s about making everyday moments easier, more joyful, and more comfortable for everyone who walks these fields and forests.

Your contribution helps make The Heron stronger and more welcoming — now, and for the next generation of campers, dancers, musicians, and friends.

This is a rare moment where you can feel the finish line — and be part of bringing it home.

Help us cross the finish line

We are so close now. You can feel it.

If this place has ever felt like home to you…
If you’ve danced here, camped here, raised your kids here, or found peace here…
If you believe in what we’re building together…

We’re asking — with open hearts — for your support.

  • Every contribution, whatever amount feels right to you, brings us closer to finishing this long-awaited space.
  • Your contribution helps us cross the finish line together.

Please consider making a cash contribution to help us finish the Heron Bathhouse.

How to contribute:

Your contribution — at any amount that feels meaningful to you — helps us cross the finish line together.

With so much love and gratitude,
Julie & Steve

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