A spiritual retreat founded on a vision sent from an Ashland plastic surgeon's dead son is now up for sale as the government continues the debate over its status as a church.
The 11,000-square-foot retreat and 96-acre property known as the Circle of Teran just outside of Ashland is listed for $6.7 million by Royce Real Estate Services.
The owner of the property, Sulara Young of Sulara LLC, confirmed the property was for sale but said she wouldn't comment on why she wanted to sell it. She is married to Scott Young, a plastic surgeon and shaman.
Sulara said the site for the house was picked based on a vision from her son, but didn't think selling the house and land would conflict with that vision.
"What we've built will always be this beautiful place of love and energy," she said.
Young said she and her husband will continue to pursue an appeal over a decision by Jackson County not to allow the designation of the property as a church.
County ordinances prohibit a church within three miles of an urban-growth boundary. The Circle of Teran is 2.2 linear miles from Ashland's boundary.
County commissioners in March found the Youngs haven't adequately explained why they should get an exception to this rule.
In the past, the retreat also has run into conflicts with county rules about large gatherings and overnight accommodations without adequate permits.
Young said she wouldn't comment on whether she would continue the Circle of Teran spiritual retreat on other acreage she owns in the area.
She said she didn't think the sale of the property was that significant, and asked that her privacy and her husband's be respected.
Also known as Robin James, Young has written numerous spiritual books including her autobiography of the spirit titled "Circle of Teran." The book explains how she and her husband were led to a sacred land.
In documents filed with county officials, Scott Young described how the couple chose the site to build the house that is for sale: "With the use of dowsing rods and a pendulum, we called on the spirits to show us the center of the great room. We put a stake there. That is exactly the center of the great room, and the building fit perfectly, with only one small tree that had to be removed."
The house, built in 2003, has 11 bedrooms, 91/2 baths, a commercial-grade gourmet kitchen, tropical conservatory and other amenities listed by the real estate company on the Internet. Property taxes are $36,299 annually.
The real estate ad doesn't mention that the property is a spiritual retreat, though it is described as a "visionary estate."
The Circle of Teran Web site describes the retreat as a place that is sacred to Native Americans and says "the building is an expression of the divine manifested in the physical."
Ross Day, director of legal affairs for Oregonians in Action, is representing the Youngs in their appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.
Day said it could raise potential issues for his clients if the property sells, possibly making the legal case moot.
"I will advise them of the consequences of putting the property up for sale or even selling it," he said.
However, if the new buyers want to continue using the house and land as a spiritual retreat, Day said the legal arguments could still apply.
Oregonians in Action is a strong supporter of property rights, creating Measure 37, which became law in 2004.
Day said the issue of church versus state is important to Oregonians in Action, which has represented other churches throughout the state that have been blocked by Oregon's land-use laws, which he says are in conflict with federal laws.
In Oregon churches get treated differently than other organizations, said Day. If the Youngs wanted to put a living history center on the property they would have more chance of success than trying to call it a church, he said.
"The problem is, we can't call it a church, and that's what it is," said Day.
Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.
