PRINEVILLE, OR -- The Prineville Reservoir Resort has officially closed. Gregg Garnett, with the Bureau of Reclamation, says the owners of the Resort had a 50 year concessions contract with the bureau, but have asked to terminate it seven years early. According to Garnett, the owners say it's for financial reasons, "What we're trying to do is try to make it so we can have a win-win in this situation so they can get out of the contract, and we can potentially get someone else to take over their resort, if possible, so we can still have that available for the public, and for recreation." 

If the bureau can't find another concessionaire, the Bureau of Reclamation may partner with the State Parks Department, which manages the adjoining property. "Reclamation is not getting out of the recreation business," Garnett tells KBND News, "Our intention was not to have this resort close. But, in terms of public safety and security and public health, without the staff to be able to manage it in the interim while we try to get someone else there, it has to be closed for public safety." While the length of the closure is unknown, he's hopeful it will be short, "That would be the loss, if there is a long-term closure that we have to deal with. But,  that's not what we're hoping for. We're hoping to get somebody in there so that we can reopen as soon as possible."

The Prineville Reservoir Resort has been open since the early 1960s. It has a small restaurant and convenience store, campground, five-room motel, boat ramp and boat docks.

Photo: Campers at Prineville Reservoir Resort in 2016