McCloud Millworks (often stylized as such, and likely what you meant by "McLeod Millworks" due to similar pronunciation/spelling variants) is a redevelopment project on the historic site of the former McCloud River Lumber Company mill in McCloud, California.
It is not a traditional operating "millworks" (like a lumber or woodworking facility) today but a diversified industrial/commercial site managed for sustainable economic development, storage, light manufacturing, events, and tenant operations.
Location and Site Overview
- Location: McCloud, Siskiyou County, Northern California, at the base of Mount Shasta. The site is on Highway 89, about 9 miles from Interstate 5 (a major north-south corridor), with proximity to rail spurs, an airstrip, and scenic amenities like the McCloud River, McCloud Reservoir, and hiking/biking trails.
- Size: 278 acres, zoned MH (heavy industrial). It includes ~300,000 square feet of industrial space across dozens of structures, including California’s largest wood building (~106,000 sq ft). There are multiple level parcels, paved roads, gates, power infrastructure (Pacific Power substation onsite, major transmission lines), and significant water resources (rights to 3.5 billion gallons/year from glacier-fed springs, non-chlorinated municipal spring water).
- Access: Easy interstate access, private gravel road options bypassing town, rail potential, and sunny areas suitable for solar.
The town of McCloud itself is a former company lumber town with a National Register Historic District downtown, known for its charm, outdoor recreation, and four-season appeal.
Historical Background
The site has deep roots in California’s lumber industry:
- Early Days (1890s): In 1892, pioneer A.F. “Friday” George built the first sawmill in the area (Squaw Valley), but it struggled with transport. In 1895–1896, George W. Scott and William VanArsdale (McCloud River Railroad Company) acquired it and other mills, establishing the McCloud River Lumber Company and the town (initially Vandale, renamed McCloud). The railroad enabled viable lumber shipping.
- Peak Operations: The mill became one of California’s largest, producing over 500,000 board feet daily at times. It operated as a classic company town ("Mother McCloud"), providing housing, utilities, medical care, etc., for workers. Extensive timber holdings (hundreds of thousands of acres), logging camps, and railroads supported it. Ownership evolved through entities like U.S. Plywood (1963) and Champion International.
- Decline and Later Uses: The big lumber era ended around 1979 (Champion closure). P&M Cedar Products (later Cal Cedar) reopened parts for pencil stock and premium lumber until ~2002–2003. Nestlé Waters bought the site for a massive bottled water plant (one of the world’s largest proposed), but abandoned it after intense local/environmental opposition (2003–2009) over water rights, river impacts, plastic waste, and truck traffic.
McCloud Partners (a group of investors with strong local/California ties) purchased the site from Nestlé around 2009–2014 and launched McCloud Millworks in 2014 as a subsidiary focused on redevelopment.
Current Operations and Mission
Mission: Attract sustainable, environmentally sound, and profitable activity to McCloud. Emphasis on balancing economic innovation, historic preservation, environmental stewardship, and community benefit. The site serves as a showcase for responsible redevelopment.
- Key Activities:
- Storage: Secure, indoor, gated storage with affordable rates and easy access.
- Tenants/Operations: Light manufacturing, sustainable farming/construction, automotive fabrication/engineering, service businesses, and more. Notable tenants have included PG&E and Mountain Medics. The site supports breweries, distilleries, boutique water, aquaculture, tiny homes, nonprofits, and educational uses.
- Events: Outdoor hosting with Mount Shasta views.
- Development: Leasing, business support, and expansion opportunities in industrial zones.
- Leadership/Team (McCloud Partners): Co-founders include Bruce Berlinger (COO, real estate background) and Linda Berlinger (CEO). Other board members: Sol Ameen, Mike Blum, David Lundgren. The group has deep McCloud ties and experience across industries.
By some reports (e.g., post-Nestlé era), the operation has grown revenue significantly through new tenants and deals aimed at jobs and economic impact.
Significance and Context
McCloud Millworks represents a post-industrial success story: transitioning a historic lumber site (and a near-miss water bottling controversy) into a diversified hub that respects the environment and leverages the area’s natural assets (water, power, location, scenery). It aligns with broader Siskiyou County economic development efforts.
The surrounding region offers outdoor recreation (fishing, skiing, hiking), historic charm, and a small-town quality of life, which supports attracting businesses and visitors.
Note on Spelling: Searches consistently point to "McCloud" (the town and site). "McLeod" refers to earlier explorer Alexander Roderick McLeod (after whom the river was originally associated), but modern usage is McCloud.
For the latest details, contact them directly (e.g., Bruce Berlinger at 530-355-7600) or visit mccloudmillworks.com. The site also ties into local resources like the McCloud Chamber of Commerce.
This redevelopment preserves history while fostering new opportunities in a beautiful, resource-rich area.
