This historic 15.5-acre lakeside retreat in the Deschutes National Forest pairs vintage summer-camp nostalgia with minimalist cabins, a timber lodge, and a waterfront boathouse.
Suttle Lake Resort, rebranded and reimagined as The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, occupies a 15.5-acre parcel of the Deschutes National Forest on the shores of Suttle Lake (historically part of the traditional lands of the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples). While rustic lodges have stood on this lakeside property since the 1920s, many of the original structures succumbed to forest fires over the decades. The current main timber lodge was constructed in 2005, featuring massive, ornately carved wooden entry doors depicting an eagle, a deer, and a tribal figure. In 2015, Robert Sacks and Dave Schrott of Portland's A&R Development purchased the property and partnered with the hospitality group The Mighty Union (founded by veterans of Portland's Ace Hotel) to completely redesign the resort. Reopening in 2016, the property was transformed into a vintage, camp-chic retreat that feels like a real-life Wes Anderson set, complete with Schoolhouse Electric globe pendant lights, a vinyl record library in the lobby, and custom Pendleton blankets.
Accommodations are split between the main lodge and a collection of cabins scattered along the lakefront. The main lodge houses 11 guest rooms, which feature minimalist pine walls, cozy sleeping lofts, and a deliberate lack of televisions or phones to encourage unplugging. Scattered across the wooded grounds are eight rustic, yurt-style camping cabins, which offer electricity but no running water, providing a retro, bare-bones camping experience. For those seeking more comfort, the resort features six deluxe lakeside cabins equipped with full kitchenettes, private porches, Traeger grills, and Yeti coolers. These larger cabins sleep up to eight guests and look directly out onto the 253-acre lake, where the water lapping against the shore serves as the nightly soundtrack.
Dining and drinking at the resort are anchored by two distinct venues that draw both overnight guests and day-trippers. Inside the main lodge, the Skip cocktail bar (originally designed by Portland bartender Sean Hoard) serves craft cocktails like the Douglas fir-infused bourbon aperitif alongside a selection of local beers. Down on the water, the whitewashed Boathouse restaurant serves a casual, Pacific Northwest-inspired menu originally developed by James Beard Award-winning chef Joshua McFadden. Famous for its trout sandwich, cracker-crust pizzas, and soft-serve ice cream, the Boathouse also operates as a marina where guests can rent canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. During the summer, the resort's Big Lawn hosts a popular outdoor concert series and guest-chef dinners on the dock, making it a vibrant cultural hub in the Oregon Cascades.
Rent a canoe from the Boathouse right when it opens to paddle to the far western shore where Link Creek feeds into the lake. Back at the main lodge, grab a cocktail from Skip bar and head to the vinyl library in the lobby, where you can pick out a record to play on the communal turntable.
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