The Minam River Lodge, northeastern Oregon’s premier backcountry retreat for getting “unplugged” is likely to stay as it is for a while.
New owner Barnes C. Ellis of Portland, a partner in Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC, bought the 127-acre property for $605,000 in a sealed bid auction Aug. 13. After the Oct. 1, 2010, death of 81-year-old owner George Peekema, of Vancouver, Peekema’s heirs dropped the asking price from $4.6 million to $2.25 million before accepting Ellis’ bid, which was the highest offered.
Minam Lodge dates to about 1950, and is the last operating wilderness lodge in Eastern Oregon. It’s surrounded by the 560-square-mile Eagle Cap Wilderness, the state’s largest wilderness area.
