It’s obvious that the new owners and management of the renovated Suttle Lodge and Boathouse know what they like. The place is part nostalgic summer camp, part relaxed family cabin, part upscale cocktail bar, with extra plaid (they are deep in the National Forest, after all).

Just inside the Lodge’s entrance stands what looks like a hand-drawn map of the remote area, complete with Boy Scout-style reminders about trails and landmarks. Behind the giant map, is a cozy, hipster hang-out — complete with a record player, library, game collection, massive open fireplace and full bar (playfully named Skip).

The Mighty Union — a hospitality company based in Portland — bought the Lodge and began renovating the property. The project included adding new windows, timber beams and wooden floors in the old building. Despite all of the work put into redesigning the interior, the focus was kept on the surrounding outdoors. That decision was made with good reason: Suttle Lake is a pristine mountain lake owned by the National Forest, which makes Suttle Lodge even more unique. A single-night camp and hotel within National Forest property is hard to come by, especially one with this much style.

“We knew this was a precious, rare thing,” said Donald Kenney, part owner of The Mighty Union. “It just needed a steward that would love and protect it.”

Kenney, who is also the general manager of the Ace Hotel in Portland, said that although he is from Oregon, he is still continuously amazed by how many unknown places there are in the state.

“I’ve been working in hotels for 15 years, and I know that visitors want to get out of the city, but they don’t know where to go,” said Kenney. That inspired him, along with others at The Mighty Union, to find a way to give people a place to start.

One of the really special things about the Suttle Lodge and Boathouse is the variety of price-points and options for guests.

“The idiosyncrasies of the property are really appealing,” declared Kenney. There’s a plethora of styles of lodging, from upscale hotel rooms to rustic cabins with shared bathhouses, so every visitor gets to experience Suttle Lodge in their own way and on their own budget, he explained.

The lodge is family and pet-friendly, and there are horseshoe pits and other games, or adirondack chairs on the deck for lounging, as well as, of course, the lake which offers options for swimming, kayaking, fishing and waterskiing.

The property has only one TV, which is in the upstairs den of the Lodge, further giving it the summer camp feeling — for those who want to watch a football game or have a movie night, it is a shared experience.

News of the renovation and reopening of the Suttle Lodge drew interest not just from tourists, but from local Central Oregon residents as well.

“We were intrigued to go because we heard it had been remodeled in a Wes Anderson style,” explained Kate Pentz, of Bend. As fans of the American film director’s visual style, she and her husband, Josh Pentz, knew they needed to experience it for themselves. “It did not disappoint — the original old school totem pole and the rustic cabins are straight out of ‘Moonrise Kingdom,’” Pentz said, referencing Anderson’s 2012 film.

Pentz said that although the Lodge isn’t far from home, it feels like an escape.

“We loved the drink ‘Interpretive Ranger’ and we’ve tried to replicate it at home with little success, I think part of how good the cocktail tastes has to do with how relaxed we felt in the Lodge.”

While some people may not think of driving down a gravel Forest Service road to a frozen lake in winter as relaxing, Kenney said he thinks winter will be particularly special at the Lodge.

He shared a favorite memory from when he and his partners first bought the property and were taking turns keeping an eye on the area. There had just been a heavy snow, and, since the Lodge wasn’t open yet, the road wasn’t plowed, so his car got stuck several times on the way in. Once he finally arrived, Kenney was cold and wet, so he made a big fire inside the Lodge. That night he slept by the fire with his dog and when he woke in the morning, he was in awe.

“It was pristine,” he said. “There was 2 feet of snow, and it was quiet, the lake was frozen. I was blown away by the beauty of it.”

Reflecting on that experience, Kenney reiterated how special the location is, even when it’s buried in snow.

“Of course we’re staying open in winter! I want everyone to experience this, (of course with a plowed road) plus big, steamy mugs of hot cocoa in hand.”

Joshua McFadden, head chef at Suttle Lodge and Boathouse, said he is also looking forward to the winter season.

“In the winter we’ll be doing more soups and stews like vegetable chowders, in which the vegetables will change seasonally. Instead of the fried zucchini we had in the summer and early fall, we’ll have fried delicata squash, always served with our Lodge Sauce. We’re also doing an awesome, relaxed Thanksgiving where we’ll make turkey meatballs with all the classic holiday sides.”

The Boathouse restaurant has also been fully renovated. It closed prior to the change in ownership due to a flood, so the interior had to be gutted and rebuilt. A new dock was also built, to help with the structure’s longevity and prevent any future flooding. This will also allow the restaurant to operate as close to year-round as possible, said Lila Martin, public relations coordinator.

The Boathouse’s menus, Martin said, include breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast, offerings include steamed egg sandwiches, pancakes, granola, a porridge of cracked grains called The Early Morning Fisherman, and coffee and cold brew on tap from Bend’s Backporch Coffee Roasters. At lunch guests will find burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and dishes featuring local fish such as the Fish & Chips Sandwich, Salmon Roll and Chowder. The Boathouse serves local draft beer as well as wine on tap made by Portland’s Cooper’s Hall. The restaurant also has a beer garden off of the back of the building on the lawn, featuring six local beer taps.

Soon, added Martin, The Boathouse will also house a small grocery selling snacks and beer for guests and day trippers, as well as a souvenir shop. The rental window is planned to open by the end of November, in time to rent snowshoes for the winter (and canoes, kayaks and SUP boards next spring and summer), supply local recreation maps, and sell permits and passes for fishing, hunting, skiing and parking in nearby National Forest areas and Sno-Parks.

For anyone who’s looking for a beautiful place to escape to, or a way to get in touch with their inner Boy Scout, the new Suttle Lodge and Boathouse offers an experience reminiscent of childhood summer camp days, but with a handcrafted cocktail in hand.