Vacationers looking for a serene experience with a homey, yet high-end luxury resort feel don’t have to look too far from their own Central Oregon backyard. The House on Metolius resort located in Camp Sherman has served as a private family estate and retreat for over a hundred years. With a rich history, the two-hundred-acre property includes five cabins, a main lodge and one of the few stretches of private land along both sides of the Metolius River. It also has an incredible view of Mount Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack.

“In fact, the view of the meadow toward Mount Jefferson was used by the state board of tourism in the ‘60s,” said Tor Lundgren, whose family owns the property. Lundgren grew up there and currently oversees the resort.

“It is serene and quintessentially Oregon,” said Lundgren. “This place almost goes back in time — it’s a time capsule of Oregon in a way people would want to remember it.”

Lundgren’s great-grandfather, John Zehntbauer, president of the Jantzen Knitting Mills of Portland, visited the area in 1929 as a guest at what was then known as the Heising Resort. He purchased a three-acre parcel from the Heisings along the bank of the Metolius River, where he built a three-story, 12-room summer home. In 1934, Zehntbauer purchased an additional 137 acres that now forms the bulk of the existing property.

The original summer home was destroyed by fire in the 1950s, and was replaced by what is now known as the Main Lodge. Lundgren’s family used the Main Lodge as a private dwelling until several years ago.

“My great-grandfather bought the property in the 1920s because he liked it up here so much. Now it has been in the family almost 100 years,” said Lundgren. “We have always kept running part of the property as a traditional resort, but in the last three years we also converted the main lodge to be available as part of the resort.”

While Lundgren and his family still spend quite a bit of time at House on Metolius and consider it home, they saw an opportunity to update the lodge and share its charm with a wider group of people.

“Since it was originally designed by a commercial architect for use as a lodge, it really didn’t need much renovation,” said Lundgren. “It was built in the late 1950s of very durable construction, including stone and huge, hand-hewn beams. It is the kind of place that was built to last 500 years. The electrical has been improved over the years, all we did was revamp and improve all the furnishings up to a very high standard.”

The goal, said Lundgren, was to create an atmosphere that feels like a luxury hotel.

“It is comfortable and modern, but not too modern,” said Lundgren. “I have found that most luxury resorts are all the same, kind of generic. This place, because of the history that we have kept, has kept its character.”

Family travel memorabilia, items related to family history and even the family library have remained as part of the décor and ambiance in the renovated Main Lodge.

“We still have that ‘home’ feeling but we are aiming to give guests what they would expect from a luxury resort as well,” said Lundgren.

Set on a bluff on the east side of the river, the lodge can accommodate up to 16 guests and features seven rooms plus a suite. All of the guest rooms have king or queen-sized beds, private bathrooms and most have private fireplaces. The suite includes a sitting area and two-person jet spa tub. Overnight guests at the lodge receive a homemade continental breakfast and with advance reservations can enjoy dinner prepared by a private chef.

Guests at the lodge also have access to the Gorge Great Room, dining room and lounge. Outdoor areas include patios and landscaped grounds. The lawns outside of the lodge have proven a popular place for playing croquet.

“It is kind of old school but we have found that people love it,” said Melissa Lorts, assistant manager of the resort. “Plus there are great local hikes, fly fishing, birdwatching … and there are no TV’s, which our guests with children appreciate. Instead of staying glued to the TV, families can actually get outside and spend time together.”

Located on the west side of the river, the five cabins on the property range in size, and each has their own bit of history and character. Eleanor’s Cabin is the largest, and can accommodate six guests. It was originally built in the 1920s and has been carefully remodeled to retain its original charm. Eleanor’s Cabin, like all of the cabins, includes a fully equipped kitchen.

One of the smallest cabins, the Powerhouse Cabin, offers a cozy, intimate retreat for two. The lower floor of the building houses the small hydro-electric turbine that once powered the property; it is no longer in use but is kept in mint condition.

Sisters residents Bill and Wendy Birnbaum recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at House on Metolius. The couple was looking for just the right place for their anniversary trip, and although they had heard about the resort they had never visited.

“I called the resort and Carlos Bragado, the general manager, invited us to come out and take a look,” said Wendy Birnbaum. “He was so gracious, showing us around, telling us about the history and even serving us cookies and coffee. He gave us a key to look at the Powerhouse Cabin across the river and when we saw it we said ‘This is it!’ It is a charming little cabin with a big deck.”

The Birnbaums enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, the wonderful view and listening to the sounds of the river.

“It was like being transported to another world, even though we were just 45 minutes from home,” said Wendy Birnbaum. “There is something special about the tranquility of the place. It was a great place to spend our anniversary.”

While the majority of the resort’s guests come from Portland or Seattle, a fair number are also local residents. Couples celebrate anniversaries and honeymoons at the resort and the venue also offers wedding and event packages. Plenty of fishermen and families also spend time at House on Metolius.

“We even get people who are vacationing at Black Butte who come over for a night or two just for the peacefulness,” said Lorts. “It is just such a different feel here. It is gated, private, quiet and serene. It is like a home away from home and quite intimate and wonderful.”

“If you really want to get away from it all and have a great night’s sleep it is pretty quiet here,” said Lundgren. “There is just the sound of the river and at night you can step out and have a look at the stars.”

The private, serene nature of the resort is something that Lundgren takes great pride in.

“People have never heard of it, even locals. We consider that a positive,” said Lundgren. “The odds are very good that you are not going to see very many other people when you are here. It is very quiet. You might not even notice our signs on the road. You can just reflect and have your own space.”

For the Birnbaums, the experience of staying at the resort so close to home meant that the couple was able to spend time enjoying the surroundings instead of spending time getting there.

“I realized that wow, I didn’t have to stress out to get here,” said Wendy Birnbaum. “We joked that we would have gladly driven six hours to get to this place, but fortunately we already live right here.”

For Lundgren and his family, the House on Metolius continues to evolve as both a family home and a home away from home for guests.

“With a place like this it ceases to be something you own and instead you become a steward, always taking care of it for the next generation,” said Lundgren. “That includes the property, the environment, habitats and the community. It has been that way ever since I was little. This is something that has been a family project for almost 100 years, and will hopefully continue into the future.”