Eastern Oregon Steens Mountain Wilderness Resort

Gateway
to Steens Wilderness

Steens
Mountain Wilderness Resort offers a rare investment opportunity in one of the
Pacific Northwest’s most unique scenic landscapes. Located just outside
Frenchglen, Oregon, this immaculately maintained 15.79-acre property serves as
the primary “Gateway to the Steens”. Bordering the Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge and surrounded by vast public lands, the resort is a major hub
for travelers, hunters, and anglers seeking a basecamp for adventure. With a
high level of operational efficiency, the business yields roughly 14.75% return
on investment and benefits from nearly zero advertising fees, relying on a
loyal base of frequent customers who return year in and year out.

This
profitable venture is uniquely structured for a balanced lifestyle, operating
only eight months out of the year. This seasonal schedule provides the owner
with a whopping four-month off-season, offering the perfect opportunity to
snowbird while the property is winterized. Guest accommodations are diverse and
in high demand, featuring 10 total cabins, including seven units equipped with
kitchenettes, air conditioning, and bathrooms . Among these is ‘The Homestead,’
a premium 924-square-foot, two-bedroom residence featuring private laundry, a
heat pump, and a covered porch overlooking the refuge.

For RV
travelers, the park provides 32 full-hookup sites, including both 30 and 50-amp
options, along with 12 additional tent sites. Every site is cleanly numbered
and most are furnished with its own picnic table and fire pit, reflecting the
substantial pride of ownership found throughout the park. Operational
infrastructure is equally robust, including a spacious office building with a
retail store, guest laundry, and showers . A maintenance shop includes storage
for tools and equipment along with pull through garage doors while featuring a
“man cave” with epoxy flooring and AC, providing an organized space
for any project .

Recreational
opportunities just outside the boundary are endless, from exploring the 66-mile
Steens Mountain Loop Road to fly fishing for native Redband trout. Guests enjoy
nearly 15 hours of summer daylight for hiking glacial gorges or spotting wild
horses and bighorn sheep. After dark, the region offers some of the most
spectacular stargazing in the country under true dark skies.

In
addition to the 15.79+/- acre resort, the owners are also willing to part ways
with their 2,996-square-foot custom residence that is a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom
setup situated on its own private 1 acre tax lot.  The home was built in 1998 and would make an
exceptional spot as an Airbnb, house employees, or be continued to be utilized
as a primary residence as it currently is. 
The Sellers are willing to combine the two acreages for $1,800,000 for
any interested buyers.

Steens
Mountain Wilderness Resort represents an exceptional turnkey investment,
offering a consistent +14% return on investment with a loyal, repeat customer
base and a flexible eight-month seasonal schedule that allows for a dedicated
four-month snowbird lifestyle in the heart of Oregon’s most breathtaking
high-desert recreation. This is not just an investment; it is a gateway to an
unforgettable high-desert lifestyle that pairs strong financial performance
with the freedom to explore.

Resort
Improvements

With
substantial pride of ownership the park is extremely clean, from the office
space to the cabins to the campsites. 
The main office is spacious with a large covered front entrance.  The exterior has lap Hardie plank siding,
metal roof, vinyl windows, and features mini splits for the hot summer
days.  The office space is located at the
beginning of the resort with check ins for the guests, bathrooms equipped with
showers, laundry facilities, storage, and a small store with apparel, snacks,
and supplies for the guests. 

Next
to the front office is a maintenance shop, storage containers for parts
throughout the park, and one of the higher demanding units in the resort, ‘The
Homestead’. The two outbuildings match the office space with the same paint
job, siding, roof, and windows.  The
shops mancave features red poly flooring, sheet ceiling, and a range of built
in cabinets and storage before entering the main portion of the building.  The main shop includes pull through doors, a
work bench that spans the entire length of the building, mini split, and ceiling
fans to help circulate the air.  The
space as direct access to the 2 storage containers and organized/labeled
storage throughout.   

Resort
Cabins, RV Sites & Tent Sites

Now
getting into the resort itself, ‘The Homestead’ is regarded as one of the
highest demanding units aside from the cabins. 
The homestead is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom setup with a covered front
porch looking out toward the Malheur Wildlife Refuge.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are either end of
the home, creating their own private space. 
The kitchen, living room, and dinning table are centrally located and
this setup is the only with its own laundry setup.

With a
total of 10 cabins, nearly all are used for the guests.  Of the 10, 7 of which are reserved for
guests, 1 for employees, and 2 for storage. 
Of the 7 nearly all of them had been renovated in recent years during
the winter months, each equipped with their own unique setup with a kitchenette,
AC unit, and a bathroom. 

The
employee unit is not used for housing but for housekeeping and supplies.  While being centrally located within all the
other cabin units, it is equipped with built in cabinets, shelving, own
bathroom, and laundry to clean the units while guests are coming in and out.

For
the RV & hookups side of things, there are 32 full hookups, 6 of them are
50 amp sites, and 26 are 30 amp sites. 
Nearly each space is equipped with a its own picnic table, fireplace,
and some shade from the native trees. 
The spaces are each numbered cleanly and easy to locate for guests no
matter the time of the day.  Along with
the 32 full hookup sites, there are 12 additional tent sites.  All water in the resort are supplied by a
20,000 gallon storage tank and a well that are located at the southern end of
the property.

Recreation
& Surrounding Area

With
the nearest town nearly 60 minutes away, access to hundreds of miles of public
land, and summer days offering over 15 hours of daylight, the area provides
endless opportunities to get away from the city and enjoy a true basecamp for
daily adventure. Whether it’s driving the 66-mile Steens Mountain Loop Road
with breathtaking views, fly fishing for native redband trout on the Donner und
Blitzen River, hunting in Unit 69, or exploring the backcountry by foot or
horseback, each day offers something new. Visitors can experience the wide-open
Alvord Desert, see wildlife ranging from migratory birds at the refuge to wild
horses on the Steens, and even spot bighorn sheep across the landscape.

The
rugged beauty of Steens Mountain appeals to a wide range of visitors. From
hiking and horseback riding to fishing and photography, the area checks many
boxes. Landmarks such as Kiger Gorge, Big Indian Gorge, Little Blitzen Gorge,
and Wildhorse Canyon offer access to multiple trail systems, many of which can
also be reached on horseback. Anglers can enjoy world-class redband trout
fishing in the Donner und Blitzen River, or take a more relaxed approach at
Fish Lake, Mann Lake, Wildhorse Lake, or Krumbo Reservoir, which is known for
largemouth bass.

Located
along the Steens Mountain Loop Road and near the Center Patrol Road (CPR)
through the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, the area offers incredible
opportunities for wildlife viewing. Big game such as mule deer, antelope, and
bighorn sheep can be found throughout the region, along with the well-known
wild horse herds that roam freely. The refuge is also a major draw for
birdwatchers, with over 300 species including sandhill cranes, waterfowl,
ducks, and both golden and bald eagles.

With
Steens Mountain rising dramatically in the background, the 70+ square mile
Alvord Desert stands as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most unique natural
attractions. The 12-by-7-mile playa draws thousands of visitors each year for
recreation, exploration, and its wide-open terrain. Visitors can enjoy land
sailing across the desert floor, soak in the nearby Alvord Hot Springs, or stop
at Fields Station for a “world-famous milkshake,” creating a strong mix of
adventure and relaxation.

One of
the area’s most overlooked features is its dark sky. With little to no light
pollution, the region offers incredible stargazing, with clear views of the
Milky Way and night sky that are hard to find elsewhere. Whether around a
campfire or out on the playa, the night experience is just as memorable as the
day.