Bonanza Clinic Marks 30 Years of Community Care
Rural residents built the clinic from the ground up to restore access to primary healthcare across a 110-mile corridor
Michael A. Sheets, FNP, primary care provider at the Bonanza Clinic and longtime supporter of rural healthcare access. (Photo courtesy of Bonanza Clinic, Facebook.)
BONANZA, Ore. — The Bonanza Clinic is celebrating 30 years of service this week, marking a milestone rooted in a community-driven effort to restore healthcare access to rural residents in Southern Oregon.
In November 1995, Bonanza’s local physician retired suddenly, leaving primary health services unavailable across a 110-mile corridor stretching from Klamath Falls to Lakeview. In response, local citizens gathered at Bonanza High School and quickly formed a nonprofit organization known as the Clover Leaf Community Action Committee.
Community members immediately began working to create a clinic. Residents donated construction supplies through a registry at Diamond Hardware in Klamath Falls. Within two weeks, the list had been filled. Contributions ranged from lumber and insulation to plumbing materials, with many volunteers donating labor to renovate a former restaurant building.
The Antler’s Den, owned by local resident John Kidd, was opened for the project. Volunteers stripped and rebuilt the structure, with contractors, electricians, and plumbers donating time and materials. Pacific Power employees, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and numerous local businesses contributed to the renovation. A well and pump house were also constructed to support the facility.
The clinic officially opened on April 6, 1996, offering primary care services without appointments, maintaining reasonable charges, and providing consistent access to a single provider. The facility also offered 24-hour accessibility via pager and cell phone.
Over the past three decades, the Bonanza Clinic has provided more than 120,000 patient visits, serving residents in Bonanza, Bly, Beatty, Dairy, Olene, and Sprague River.
Organizers credited the success of the project to the Clover Leaf Community Action Committee and hundreds of volunteers who contributed materials, labor, and support. The release also recognized numerous individuals and organizations that played key roles in constructing and operating the clinic.
A 30th anniversary reception is scheduled for April 6, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bonanza Clinic, located at 31863 Highway 70. Community members are invited to attend and celebrate the milestone.
According to the clinic, the facility was built entirely through community effort, without federal, state, or county funding, with the goal of ensuring continued access to primary healthcare in rural communities.
Cover image: submitted photo
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