Elk Lake Resort, a woodsy camping, dining and recreation playground, has been sold after being on the market for nearly five years.

It was a challenge to find a buyer who planned to own and operate the resort, which is 25 miles from Bend. Pat and Wendy Prieve had owned the resort area since 2013, but wanted to retire, said Brian Fratzke, principal broker of Fratzke Commercial Real Estate Advisors. 

The property was listed for $4.56 million. The resort also hosts weddings and large gatherings. 

The sale price was not available nor the names of the buyers. Jay Lyons, Compass Commercial partner and principal broker, represented the buyers, who are a group of local families, Lyons said in a prepared statement. 

Operating under the name Elk Lake Resort LLC, the group has ties to Central Oregon and and plans to invest in the property, improving facilities and preserving the natural beauty of the lake resort, Lyons said in a statement. 

“We believe Elk Lake Resort is more than  just a getaway it’s a community treasure,” Michael Weeks, general manager and one of the new owners, said in a prepared statement. “Our top priority is reinvesting in the infrastructure to ensure the lake’s health.” 

Some of the projects include updating the sewer system, waste management improvements, cabin upgrades and adding technology and more amenities.

“It was challenging to find a buyer that understood that they were only acquiring the use of the property and not the land,” Fratzke said. “It takes a lot of work to run it.”

The Elk Lake website says that it will reopen on May 24. 

The resort includes 13 buildings, including a main lodge, cabins and a general store. It also offers boat rentals and is open in winter for snowmobiles and backcountry skiing, and summer for fishing, boating and swimming. It is on U. S. Forest Service land, similar to Mt. Bachelor ski area, and operates under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest.

Wendy Prieve did not return calls to The Bulletin.  

“Is summer ever really complete without a trip up to Elk Lake Resort?” said Jeff Knapp, Visit Bend’s CEO. “It is such a storied place and loved by so many, so we’re excited to see what the new owners will do.”