Metolius Cabin 5

Cabin 7 has a lovely spot right beside the Metolius River, and we’ve stayed there twice. Its big picture windows look out toward the river and open onto a spacious deck. Inside, it’s a cozy A-frame with a fun sleeping loft, a nice kitchen and bathroom, and beautiful decor. It’s easy to get to the Camp Sherman store from there, and there are simple hikes along the river’s edge to the Wizard Falls fish hatchery.

The cabin itself was beautiful and comfortable on my first visit with my mother, even though quite a few things went wrong. The fridge kept breaking down during our summer stay, guests next door yelled and played instruments, and dogs ran around off leash. We hoped the caretakers had improved things by the time we returned. They hadn’t. This visit, the cabin was dirty and poorly maintained. The cleaning before we arrived was awful: hairs had been left everywhere, with dead flies and cobwebs around the cabin. One caretaker came by after we raised the issue and agreed the place was in poor condition. They promised to remove the cleaning fee, but never refunded it. It felt like a lie. There were plenty of other problems. Sprinklers beside the bedroom window came on at 1:30 a.m. every night and woke me up, even though it rained a lot during our stay. The fridge and the hot water heater under the sink also made loud noises for long stretches, including hours after we’d used any hot water. The remotes had no batteries, the TV didn’t work as instructed, and the toilet ran for ages before backing up and stopping. Since it was late, we had to plunge it ourselves. The stairs are uneven, and some seem likely to cave in, which could become a safety issue. Cabins are close together, not secluded, and people can easily see into the windows from paths and other cabins. That happened often. These used to be very nice cabins, but they’d been neglected over the three years between my visits. I wouldn’t recommend staying here. It doesn’t feel like a true resort, and it isn’t worth $400 a night.

Bring your own groceries, since most of the area’s few stores are closed because of COVID, though there is a restaurant nearby. The cabins are so thoughtfully decorated and put together, nothing feels out of place. It’s a peaceful, magical spot for getting cozy by the fireplace with friends, family, or someone you love. I can’t recommend it enough!

The Metolius river is such a special place, unlike anywhere I’ve been, and the resort was quiet and peaceful. I recently spent a weekend there with a friend in the largest cabin, #11. I’d disagree with the website calling it more secluded than the other cabins, but it felt luxurious and was tastefully decorated. I’ll come back as soon as I can.