Eagle Crest Resort

Eagle Crest Resort is a large destination resort and residential community west of Redmond in Deschutes County, Oregon. The property occupies approximately 1,700 acres on the eastern slopes of Cline Buttes, extending toward the Deschutes River and including a separate development area northwest of the buttes. Its setting combines high-desert terrain, western juniper woodland, Cascade Mountain views, and access to the Deschutes River canyon. The resort is part of Oregon's destination-resort system and operates as both a hospitality business and a substantial master-planned residential development. The first phase of Eagle Crest began in 1985 with the original resort community, including homesites, condominiums, and townhouses near the Resort Course and the river canyon. The Inn at Eagle Crest was built in 1989 and became the central lodging facility. The resort's accommodation inventory has been described as including a 100-room hotel and approximately 80 condominium units connected with the lodging operation. Many rooms and residences have views toward golf fairways, the canyon, Smith Rock, or the Cascade Mountains. Golf is one of Eagle Crest's defining activities. The property has three 18-hole courses: the original Resort Course, the Ridge Course, and the shorter Challenge Course. The Resort Course follows the Deschutes River canyon and nearby residential areas; the Ridge Course moves through native juniper terrain and has hosted the Oregon Open; and the Challenge Course is a shorter par-63 layout intended to provide a quicker and more accessible round. The courses generally operate seasonally, with the Ridge Course capable of remaining open during much of the year when weather permits. Beyond golf and lodging, Eagle Crest offers a conference center, clubhouses, spa and wellness services, sports and fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, paved paths, hiking routes, and river-access trails. The conference center includes Juniper Hall and the Golden Eagle Ballroom, which can be divided into smaller meeting spaces and used for conferences, receptions, lectures, banquets, and other events. Recreation and event facilities allow the resort to serve vacationers, residents, golfers, business groups, and social-event customers. Residential development expanded in stages. The Ridge phase began selling lots in 1996 after completion of the Ridge Course and continued to grow after the Challenge Course was added in 1999. It includes communities such as Forest Greens, Eagle Springs, Forest Ridge, Eagle Creek, and The Falls, the latter designed for residents aged 55 and older. The later West Ridge phase northwest of Cline Butte added standalone homesites, townhouses, smaller-lot neighborhoods, ranch-style homes, mountain-view properties, and the limited Scenic Ridge enclave. Construction in portions of The Ridge continued into the 2020 period, and the development contained more than 1,750 occupied units there according to the cited reference material. Ownership of the resort portion changed several times. Jeld-Wen, a wood-products company that entered the resort sector during the 1980s, sold the resort to Northview Hotel Group in 2010. The transaction was financed by Oaktree Capital Management, and Northview subsequently invested approximately $3 million in facility improvements. Northview sold the property to Florida-based KDG Capital in early 2018, after which operational management shifted to Aimbridge Hospitality. The resort's identity therefore rests on a combination of physical amenities, residential communities, outdoor recreation, and destination-event programming rather than on a packaged consumer product line. Eagle Crest also functions as a named community. The surrounding area was designated as a census-designated place in 2010, recording 1,696 year-round residents at that census and 2,761 residents in 2020. In winter, the resort hosts StarFest, a drive-through light display that uses approximately one mile of the property and supplements the resort's regular accommodation, dining, and recreation offer with seasonal family programming.

Eagle Crest developed from a resort and residential project on the eastern slopes of Cline Buttes in Central Oregon. Initial development began in 1985 and established the original gated residential area, with homesites, condominiums, and townhouses positioned near the Deschutes River canyon and the first golf course. The project was designed as a destination resort rather than simply a housing subdivision, combining vacation accommodation, recreational facilities, and permanent or seasonal residences. The Inn at Eagle Crest opened in 1989 beside the original Resort Course. The hotel became the main hospitality anchor, later described as having 100 rooms, while approximately 80 condominium units were associated with the lodging operation. The resort expanded its recreational footprint with additional golf facilities. The Ridge Course, designed by John Thronson, was completed in the early 1990s and supported the second residential phase, known as The Ridge. Lot sales in that area began in 1996. The Challenge Course was added in 1999, giving the property a shorter par-63 alternative to its two full-length layouts. Residential construction continued across several communities. The Ridge included Forest Greens, Eagle Springs, Forest Ridge, Eagle Creek, and The Falls, an age-restricted community for residents aged 55 and over. A later phase northwest of Cline Butte added West Ridge, Creekside, Highland Park, Desert Sky, Vista Rim, and Scenic Ridge. These neighborhoods varied from townhouses and smaller lots to large standalone homesites with broad mountain views. The resort's built environment consequently grew into a mixed-use community containing lodging, recreation, private residences, and supporting amenities. The resort's commercial facilities expanded alongside its housing stock. The property added a conference center with Juniper Hall and the Golden Eagle Ballroom, sports and fitness centers, pools, spa services, clubhouses, paved walking and cycling paths, and trails along the Deschutes River and around Cline Butte. Its location above the river canyon and within the high-desert landscape became a central part of the brand's appeal, particularly for golf, outdoor recreation, group events, and scenic stays. Corporate ownership changed in the 2010s. Jeld-Wen, which had entered the resort business during the 1980s, sold the resort portion to Northview Hotel Group in 2010. Oaktree Capital Management financed the purchase, and Northview invested approximately $3 million in improvements over the following years. In early 2018, Northview sold Eagle Crest to KDG Capital. Management was then transferred to Aimbridge Hospitality. The cited material does not identify a separate current corporate parent beyond the stated ownership and management arrangements. Eagle Crest also became the name of a census-designated place encompassing the resort and nearby land. The community recorded 1,696 residents in 2010 and 2,761 in 2020. By the 2020 period, housing construction was still continuing in parts of The Ridge, while the resort operated a hotel, convention center, three golf courses, clubhouses, health and fitness facilities, swimming pools, trails, and other amenities. Seasonal programming such as StarFest added a family-oriented winter attraction to the property's golf, lodging, conference, and residential functions.

• 2023

  StarFest seasonal event documented

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  The winter StarFest light display operated along a one-mile route through the resort and included family-oriented activities at the inn.

• 2020

  Residential construction continues in The Ridge

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  New homes were still being constructed in parts of The Ridge, which had more than 1,750 occupied units according to the cited reference.

• 2018

  KDG Capital acquires Eagle Crest

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  Northview sold the resort to KDG Capital, after which Aimbridge Hospitality assumed management responsibilities.

• 2010

  Northview Hotel Group acquires the resort

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  Jeld-Wen sold the resort portion of Eagle Crest to Northview Hotel Group in a transaction financed by Oaktree Capital Management.

• 1999

  Challenge Course added

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  The resort added an 18-hole par-63 course designed for shorter play and broader accessibility.

• 1996

  Ridge residential lot sales begin

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  Eagle Crest began selling lots west of Cline Falls Highway in the area surrounding the Ridge Course.

• 1993

  Ridge Course completed

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  The second 18-hole course was completed, expanding the resort's golf offering and supporting the later Ridge residential phase.

• 1989

  The Inn at Eagle Crest opens

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  The 100-room inn opened beside the original golf course and became the principal lodging facility.

• 1985

  Initial resort and residential development begins

  [1]Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org

  The original Eagle Crest development began with gated homesites, condominiums, townhouses, and resort-oriented infrastructure near the Deschutes River canyon.

A Central Oregon destination resort combining golf, high-desert lodging, conference facilities, wellness and recreation amenities, and an extensive master-planned residential setting.

• Hotel lodging · 1989

  The Inn at Eagle Crest

  The resort's principal hotel opened in 1989 beside the Resort Course. It has been described as a 100-room property, with guest rooms offering views toward golf fairways, the high-desert landscape, Smith Rock, or the Deschutes River canyon. The inn also supports resort dining, seasonal programming, and access to the wider recreation and conference complex.

• Golf · 1985

  Resort Course

  Eagle Crest's original 18-hole course is a par-72 layout of approximately 6,673 yards designed by Gene Mason. It runs through the original residential development and follows sections of the Deschutes River canyon, with several holes positioned near the canyon rim. Its proximity to the inn makes it a core part of the resort's lodging-and-golf proposition.

• Golf · 1993

  Ridge Course

  The Ridge Course is an 18-hole, par-72 layout of approximately 6,927 yards designed by John Thronson. It threads through native juniper terrain and provides views toward the Cascade Mountains. The course has hosted the Oregon Open and is generally the resort's most weather-resilient golf facility, operating outside the principal season when conditions permit.

• Golf · 1999

  Challenge Course

  Added in 1999, the Challenge Course is an 18-hole par-63 layout measuring approximately 4,160 yards. Its shorter routing can generally be played in about three hours, while multiple tee boxes at each hole allow beginners and experienced golfers to use the same course at different levels of difficulty.

• Meetings and events

  Eagle Crest Conference Center

  The conference center is adjacent to the inn and provides approximately 10,000 square feet of event space. Juniper Hall and the Golden Eagle Ballroom can be divided into smaller rooms, allowing the property to accommodate conferences, receptions, lectures, banquets, luncheons, weddings, and several simultaneous smaller gatherings.

• Residential real estate · 1985

  Residential communities

  Eagle Crest includes several generations of residential development, ranging from condominiums and townhouses near the original course to standalone homesites and age-restricted communities in The Ridge and West Ridge phases. Named neighborhoods include Forest Greens, Eagle Creek, The Falls, West Ridge, Creekside, Desert Sky, Vista Rim, and Scenic Ridge. The communities are integrated with the resort's golf, trail, and recreational facilities.

• 2023StarFest

  Central Oregon · United States

  StarFest is a winter nighttime light display arranged along approximately one mile of a drive through the resort. The event complements the resort's regular lodging and recreation offer with seasonal family programming, including hot drinks, cookies, and fireside storytelling at the inn.

  Outcome. The event was presented as a recurring seasonal attraction, with the 2023 edition beginning around Thanksgiving and running through December 21.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale from Northview Hotel Group to KDG CapitalM&A

  Background

  Northview owned the resort after the 2010 transaction and subsequently transferred ownership in early 2018.

  Action taken

  KDG Capital acquired the resort, and management responsibility was transferred to Aimbridge Hospitality.

  Aftermath

  The resort continued operating with its hotel, conference, golf, residential, wellness, and recreation facilities under the new ownership and management arrangement.

  Source

• 2010

  Sale from Jeld-Wen to Northview Hotel GroupM&A

  Background

  Jeld-Wen had entered the resort business during the 1980s before selling the resort portion of Eagle Crest in 2010.

  Action taken

  Northview Hotel Group acquired the resort, with financing from Oaktree Capital Management.

  Aftermath

  Northview invested approximately $3 million in facility upgrades over the following years.

  Facility upgrades. $3 million invested approximately (Following the 2010 acquisition)

  Source

1. 1Eagle Crest Resorten.wikipedia.org