Secluded lodge near John Day River. Hike, bike, fishing, views.

Great place. Loved it.

If you are looking for restaurants or shopping, this is not the place for you! But if you want to experience a quiet country setting at the end of a gravel road with time to kick back and enjoy life, this is perfect! There is space to roam either by walking/hiking, biking or using the provided two-seated 4-wheeler to check out the "roads" through the property. It was delightful to wake to the sounds of the Great Horned Owl, the call of the Chinese Pheasant and the song of the nesting House Wren; to watch the deer scarf up the fallen apricots. Jerry told us where to go with the 4-wheeler in the evening if we wanted to see the elk come down to graze. The sunsets and star strewn sky are part of the package. We were a party of 8 adults, 2 early teens and 2 small children on a 5 night stay.

The rifle range was splendid, with targets ranging from 25 yards to 600 yards. Our guys were "wowed" by it and the sporting clay circuit with remotely released "birds" from natural settings. The word fantastic! was heard over and over during our days there.

The lodge is not fancy, but is unique and inviting. The many beautiful taxidermy animals and birds add a special ambiance. We had adequate space to be together or find a quiet corner to spread out if desired. There is basement with pool table and shooting game; a "man cave" with an extra TV; a nice covered deck and a pretty pond a stones throw away. It would have been nice to have an additional half-bathroom, but it worked for us.

The kitchen is well stocked with dishes and cooking ware. There is plenty of room for several "cooks" to work together to make a meal. It is part of the fun! Having two refrigerators gives space for the food needed for a large group for several days. Air conditioning helps make a cool haven during the heat of the day and keep us cool at night.

We did not float the river this time, but hope to do so another time. Yes! By popular opinion we want to go back another time. Some of our party floated in the nearby reservoir. We played table games, Corn Hole, when it was hot, and enjoyed being together with things to do that appealed to many.

Jerry and Kitty were great hosts, answering any questions we had, suggesting things to do, or telling us about the property.