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at our core

AT OUR 
VERY CORE

Learn more about Shangri-La's Mission, Vision, and Values.

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Shangri-La is a place for bright minds, kind hearts, learners and leaders. Join our team.

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Two people in front of Salem Fire truck
Man with glasses and wavy, brown hair, in pagoda tank top near waterfall
Smiling woman in wheelchair with communication device
Woman kneeling in garden, holding up two piece signs.
Chef adding sauce to large pot, Pizza & Grill

What's in a name?

In 1963 Shangri-La's founding families selected the name Shangri-La based on the utopian sanctuary described in the 1933 novel by James Hilton, "Lost Horizon". 

 

In the novel, the main character travels to Shangri-La and finds inner peace, love, and a sense of purpose. 

Cover of Lost Horizon novel

Closely aligned with the ideals and environment these families wanted for their children, the founding families set to work creating their own Shangri-La by pooling their private resources and purchasing a 30-acre rural property just east of Salem, Oregon.

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Still today, these ideals influence how services are delivered, and environments are created.

Shangri-La

noun

pronunciation: shang-gruh-lah

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1. an imaginary paradise on earth

2. a faraway haven or hideway of idyllic beauty and tranquility

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