Kah-Nee-Ta on track for early summer opening on Warms Springs

A once highly popular family travel destination for Sandy residents is reopening soon on the Warm Springs Reservation in Central Oregon.

Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort hopes to reopen early this summer as construction is wrapping up and the newly remodeled resort, pools and teepees are nearing completion.

The reopening of the resort, which originally closed in 2018, is a joint effort between the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the group behind Mt. Hood Skibowl.

The resort will include a 30-room hotel, 20 teepees, and seven hot springs pools. The new pool area features kids’ areas with spray pads and water buckets, as well as a lazy river and lounge pool, three adult mineral wellness pools and an ice plunge. An RV Park and clubhouse with showers and laundry, as well as a restaurant are set to open as well.

The pool area will also have rentable cabanas, with private riverside soaking tubs. Each of the hot spring pools will range in temperature from 92 to 103 degrees. Three ice-plunge pools will also be part of the resort.

Aside from the pool and lodging area, Kah-Nee-Ta will also have outdoor activities like pickleball, mini golf, volleyball, disc golf and hiking and biking trails.

The resort will also have shuttle transport for floating or kayaking the Warm Springs River near the resort, tribal led fishing excursions, and guided horseback rides.

While most of the resort is open to the public, some areas are reserved for tribal members, like a special clubhouse, salmon bake and ceremony area, and event rental areas.

The new Kah-Nee-Ta Resort is generally located at the site of the original Kah-Nee-Ta Village, built in the early 1960s. The Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge, built in the 1970s, was also closed in 2018. It, however, is not part of the renovated Kah-Nee-Ta and remains closed.

The original announcement of the project from the Tribes estimated the resort would bring 50 full-time jobs during the summer season, and 15 full-time and 20 part-time jobs during the off season. The resort plans to be open year-round. The resort is currently hiring for positions.

The tribal council approved $4.58 million in funding for the project, with other investors contributing to the renovation.

The teepees designed for Kah-Nee-Ta to replace the iconic teepees of Kah-Nee-Ta’s past are being designed by Nomadic Tipi Makers, locally made in Central Oregon.

While no specific date has been set for the opening, the resort says they plan for early summer. Reservations for overnight stays, cabanas and activities are not yet open on the website, but maps of the resort, and sign-ups for updates are available at kahneeta.com.