Some places are so charming they almost do not feel real.

The first time you pull into Red Cone Lodge, tucked beneath towering pines near Crescent Lake, you may find yourself slowing down just to take it all in. Massive handcrafted logs stretch toward the sky. Forest views surround the property. A welcoming front porch seems to quietly invite you to put away your phone, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

It feels less like checking into a place to sleep and more like stepping into the pages of a storybook.

Located in the heart of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, Red Cone Lodge has become one of those rare destinations where the place you stay is every bit as memorable as the adventures waiting beyond the front door.

While summer travelers often hurry toward Bend, Crater Lake, or the busier stops along the Cascade Lakes Highway, Red Cone Lodge offers something increasingly difficult to find: room to slow down.

Here, mornings begin with a homemade breakfast and coffee among the trees. Afternoons can be spent paddling across a mountain lake, hiking to a waterfall, fishing in clear Cascade waters, or simply relaxing on the deck. Evenings bring family dinners, laughter from the upstairs game room, and long soaks beneath a sky filled with stars.

It is peaceful without being boring, luxurious without feeling pretentious, and wonderfully removed from the noise of everyday life.

Arriving at Red Cone Lodge Feels Like Coming Home

Our family first experienced Red Cone Lodge during a winter getaway, when snow covered the surrounding forest and the lodge looked like something from a Hallmark movie.

Summer reveals an entirely different kind of magic.

Instead of snow-covered hills and bundled-up adventures, the landscape comes alive with sunshine filtering through ponderosa pines, warm afternoons on nearby lakes, and cool mountain evenings that make gathering around the outdoor firepit feel just right.

The sense of welcome, however, remains exactly the same.

Hosts Kim and Andrew Audova have created more than a beautiful place to stay. They have built the kind of home people spend years dreaming about—a warm, handcrafted retreat designed for gathering, resting, celebrating, and reconnecting.

From the moment you step inside, the scale of the lodge is breathtaking.

Massive hand-hewn logs rise toward the soaring ceiling. Huge windows frame the forest beyond. A generous dining table offers enough room for families and friends to sit together without feeling crowded, and comfortable gathering spaces encourage conversations that stretch late into the evening.

Every detail has been considered.

This is not a generic vacation rental filled with mass-produced decorations and furniture chosen simply to occupy space. The lodge feels deeply personal, as though every object, room, and quiet corner has its own story.

A Summer Basecamp Surrounded by Oregon’s Mountain Lakes

One of the greatest advantages of staying at Red Cone Lodge is its location.

Within minutes, visitors can reach Crescent Lake, a beautiful mountain lake surrounded by forest and Cascade scenery. During summer, the water becomes a playground for swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders, anglers, and boaters.

You can launch a kayak in the morning while the lake is still calm, spend an afternoon swimming along the shoreline, or simply find a quiet place to sit and watch the sunlight dance across the water.

Crescent Lake often feels far more relaxed than some of Oregon’s heavily promoted summer destinations. There is room to breathe, explore, and enjoy the scenery without feeling as though you are competing with an entire city for a parking space.

Then there is Odell Lake, another spectacular Cascade destination just a short drive from the lodge.

Odell is one of Oregon’s deepest natural lakes and has long been a favorite among anglers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. Surrounded by mountains and dense forest, it delivers the kind of scenery people imagine when they picture an Oregon wilderness escape.

Visitors can spend the day fishing, paddling quieter sections of shoreline, boating across the deep blue water, or enjoying a picnic with views that seem almost too perfect to be real.

With Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and numerous smaller lakes and recreation areas nearby, Red Cone Lodge makes it easy to build an entire summer vacation around the water.

On warm days, guests can load up the kayaks, paddleboards, life jackets, and even the family dog before heading toward the lake. The clear water and broad mountain views create the kind of summer scene that looks almost tropical at first glance, until the surrounding evergreens and Cascade peaks remind you that you are still in Oregon.

Families can paddle together, find a quiet beach, take the boat out, or simply float beneath an impossibly blue sky.

Waterfalls, Trails and Clear Mountain Water

The lakes are only the beginning.

Salt Creek Falls, one of Oregon’s tallest waterfalls, is a short drive north of the lodge. The waterfall plunges 286 feet into a dramatic canyon surrounded by forest, making it one of the most impressive and accessible natural landmarks in the region.

Even visitors who are not prepared for a long hike can enjoy an unforgettable view of the falls.

Farther into the mountains, Waldo Lake offers another remarkable summer adventure. Known for its exceptionally clear water, the lake has become a favorite destination for kayaking, paddleboarding, camping, and quiet days away from motorized noise.

The surrounding region is also filled with hiking opportunities.

Trails wind through old-growth forests, mountain meadows, volcanic landscapes, lake basins, and viewpoints overlooking the Cascades. Some routes are easy enough for families with children, while others can fill an entire day for experienced hikers looking for a challenge.

The Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend, Crater Lake National Park, and Mt. Bachelor are all within reach for longer day trips.

Red Cone Lodge allows visitors to explore a remarkable section of Oregon without having to pack up and change accommodations every night. You can head in a different direction each morning and still return to the same comfortable bed, familiar dining table, and welcoming home in the woods.

The Kind of Lodge You May Not Want to Leave

Of course, one of the unexpected problems with staying at Red Cone Lodge is that you may not want to go anywhere.

It is easy to imagine an entire weekend unfolding right on the property.

Start the morning with coffee on the deck while the forest wakes up around you. Let the kids disappear upstairs with games and books. Prepare lunch in the spacious kitchen or cook outside on the Blackstone grill.

Later, stretch out with a book, sit beneath the trees, or gather around the dining table for a meal that nobody has to rush through.

When evening arrives, the outdoor gas firepit offers a cozy place to talk as the temperature drops. The large hot tub on the main deck is perfect for relaxing beneath the stars after a long day of hiking, paddling, or exploring.

The lodge also includes inviting baths designed for serious relaxation.

The primary bedroom features a private bathroom with a vintage-style clawfoot tub and modern rain shower, while the upstairs bathroom includes a large soaking tub that practically demands a long bath, a favorite book, and absolutely nowhere else to be.

There are plenty of beautiful places to stay in Oregon.

Very few make you feel this comfortable this quickly.

Breakfast Is Part of the Experience

Red Cone Lodge is not simply a cabin or vacation rental. It operates as a true bed and breakfast and was described by its owners as the first bed and breakfast in Klamath County.

That distinction matters because breakfast here is not an afterthought.

Each morning, guests awaken to the smells of a home-cooked meal prepared by Kim. Bacon, eggs, and other comforting favorites may appear at the table, but the dish guests are especially likely to remember is Kim’s family specialty: Norwegian pancakes.

Thin, warm, and served with butter and strawberry jam, the pancakes feel perfectly suited to a mountain morning.

They are the kind of breakfast that makes people linger at the table, refill their coffee, and temporarily forget whatever itinerary they planned the night before.

That is part of the beauty of Red Cone Lodge.

It gently reminds you that not every moment of a vacation needs to be optimized. Sometimes the best memories come from sitting around a table, eating something made with love, and talking with people you care about.

Upstairs Is Where the Kids Disappear

Red Cone Lodge works beautifully as a romantic retreat, but families may discover that children love it even more than adults do.

A split-pine staircase leads to the lodge’s upstairs gathering areas, where books, board games, vintage toys, and comfortable places to relax can keep younger guests entertained for hours.

Andrew’s game room is a particular highlight.

Filled with video games and other entertainment, it is the sort of space that immediately captures the attention of kids, teenagers, and adults who suddenly remember how much fun they used to have playing games together.

Little ones also have their own cozy den filled with stuffed animals and toys.

Parents can enjoy a quiet conversation downstairs, relax on the deck, or soak in the hot tub while the kids create their own adventures upstairs.

For families accustomed to squeezing into hotel rooms or negotiating over a single television, the amount of space feels like a luxury.

The Story Behind Red Cone Lodge Begins With a Childhood Refuge

The beauty of Red Cone Lodge is easy to see.

The meaning behind it takes a little longer to understand.

For Kim, the lodge grew from deeply personal childhood memories.

As a young girl, she found peace at her grandparents’ small A-frame cabin along the Alsea River. During a difficult childhood, the cabin became a refuge—a place where she could play near the river, catch crawdads, make mud cakes, use her imagination, and dream about a brighter future.

After her grandmother passed away, Kim held onto the hope that the cabin might one day become a place she could share with her own children.

Life took a different direction, and the family cabin was eventually sold.

The feeling it gave her, however, never disappeared.

Years later, Kim and Andrew began imagining a new kind of family sanctuary. Working with a builder, they designed an heirloom log home that could become a gathering place for their family and, eventually, for generations to come.

They did not want to create an ordinary house.

They wanted to create something magical.

They searched for meaningful pieces from different places, choosing items that carried stories and building a sense of wonder into nearly every corner of the lodge.

After two years of overcoming obstacles, Red Cone Lodge was completed in January 2023.

At first, it was intended as a private retreat for friends and family. But Kim and Andrew began to feel the lodge had a greater purpose. A place this special, they believed, was meant to be shared.

They opened their doors to travelers, turning a deeply personal dream into a welcoming mountain bed and breakfast.

A Place Built Around Healing, Connection and Hope

Red Cone Lodge has become more than a destination for vacations.

Kim and Andrew have also envisioned it as a refuge for people dealing with grief, trauma, recovery, and mental-health challenges. That mission is deeply personal to Kim and is woven into the spirit of the property.

The lodge can also serve as a gathering place for families, intimate weddings, retreats, and meaningful celebrations.

There is something powerful about being in a space designed not merely to impress people, but to comfort them.

Every room seems to invite guests to exhale.

Every large table and comfortable sitting area encourages people to come together.

The surrounding forest offers privacy, while the lodge itself offers connection.

The idea that “if you build it, they will come” has become a living reality here. Kim and Andrew built a place shaped by resilience, family memories, hope, and the belief that a safe and beautiful environment can help people reconnect with themselves and one another.

Meet Red Cone Lodge’s Four-Legged Ambassadors

The spirit of sanctuary at Red Cone Lodge also extends to animals.

Guests may have the opportunity to meet Mowgli, a gentle deaf Saint Bernard who has served as one of the lodge’s unofficial greeters.

Mowgli’s size may be impressive, but his calm personality and affectionate nature quickly win people over.

Visitors may also meet Bella, a paraplegic bulldog, and Willow, a sweet amputee. Their resilience and joyful personalities reflect the same values that define Red Cone Lodge: compassion, patience, acceptance, and the belief that every life deserves care.

For animal lovers, meeting these special-needs dogs can become one of the most meaningful parts of the visit.

They are not simply pets living at a bed and breakfast.

They are part of the story.

Save Room for Manley’s Tavern

Kim’s breakfasts may make it difficult to leave the lodge in the morning, but eventually you will need lunch or dinner.

That is when Manley’s Tavern becomes worth a visit.

The longtime local stop has earned a loyal following, especially for its broasted chicken. After a full day of hiking, boating, swimming, or exploring mountain roads, a plate of crispy chicken and classic comfort food can be exactly what you need.

Manley’s has the kind of casual, familiar atmosphere that fits naturally into a trip through Oregon’s mountain country.

It does not feel manufactured for tourists.

It feels like the sort of place people have been returning to for years.

Summer at Red Cone Lodge Is About More Than a Getaway

As memorable as the surrounding lakes, waterfalls, trails, and mountain scenery may be, the true magic of Red Cone Lodge is difficult to measure.

It is found in the smell of breakfast drifting through the cabin.

It is in the sound of children laughing upstairs.

It is in coffee on the deck, a quiet conversation beside the firepit, and the moment the stars begin appearing above the trees while you are soaking in the hot tub.

It is in the warmth Kim and Andrew have built into the lodge and the feeling that guests are not simply occupying a room.

They are being welcomed into a story.

Red Cone Lodge is a reminder that the best Oregon destinations are not always the loudest or most famous. Sometimes they are hidden beneath the pines, down a quiet road, waiting for travelers willing to slow down long enough to discover them.

Whether your ideal summer vacation includes kayaking across Crescent Lake, fishing at Odell, visiting waterfalls, hiking through the Cascades, or doing absolutely nothing for an entire afternoon, this remarkable lodge offers a home base that may become the highlight of the trip.

You may arrive looking for a place to stay.

You may leave feeling as though you have discovered a second home.

Plan Your Stay at Red Cone Lodge

Red Cone Lodge Bed & Breakfast

Location: Crescent, Oregon

Phone: 503-437-3526

Website: redconelodge.com

You can also follow Red Cone Lodge on Facebook and Instagram for availability, seasonal updates, photographs, and information about planning a stay.

Because availability and local conditions can change, visitors should confirm current rates, booking details, lake access, trail conditions, and seasonal operations directly before traveling.

For anyone searching for a summer getaway filled with mountain lakes, homemade breakfasts, outdoor adventure, incredible hospitality, and a place built with genuine heart, Red Cone Lodge may be exactly what you have been hoping to find.

Plan Your Stay

Red Cone Lodge Bed & Breakfast

Address: Crescent, Oregon

Phone: 503-437-3526

Website: https://www.redconelodge.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redconelodge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redconelodge

Before booking, check the lodge's website and social media pages for availability, seasonal specials, and the latest updates.

If you're searching for a summer getaway that combines mountain adventure, beautiful lakes, incredible hospitality, and a truly unforgettable place to stay, Red Cone Lodge may be exactly what you've been looking for.