‘Got busy really quick:’ A visit to revived Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort after $13.1 million renovation project

(Update: adding comments from resort representative, Miss Warm Springs)

'I really enjoyed seeing the smiles and laughs coming back again.'

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- After many months of critical infrastructure updates and expansive renovations, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort reopened to the public on Thursday, to a warm reception from tribal members and visitors alike.

Originally opened by the Warm Springs Tribes in 1962 and closed in 2018 after a flood amid serious financial challenges, the upgraded mineral hot springs resort features 30 pools, hot springs, mineral wellness pools, cold plunges and soaking tubs overlooking the Warm Springs River.

"To we as Indian people, and a lot of people around the nation, that water is healing," Starla Green, the kitchen manager and public relations representative, said Friday. "The mineral hot springs is healing to your body and to your soul, so that is what we're bringing back."

Green said the resort is named after an indigenous person who passed in 1903. Her name was Kah Nee Ta, and she grew up taking care of the land. 

"Kah Nee Ta means 'root digger,'" she said. "And that's who she was as a person. So a lot of our men and our women are traditional food gathers. Even today, we go out and gather our roots and berries. Our men do our fish and meats, so we're still traditional food gatherers, carrying on our culture in traditional ways."

The resort reopened its doors Thursday and workers, were thrilled to see pools filled with guests once again. 

"It got busy really quick," says Kahmussa Green. "And Every time I go into the restaurant here, I look out the window, and I just see a whole bunch of people out there. I see the kids just laughing, playing around. People are just relaxing and just enjoying it."

Kahmussa is Miss Warm Springs, and says people have traveled from all over the country to see the reopened, revive resort. 

"And it just kind of shows how people are more excited about Kah-Nee-Ta than the own tribe. Which I think its pretty cool, because it shows how much support and love Kah-Nee-Ta has."

If folks are looking to stay overnight, the resort offers 30 hotel rooms, 70 RV spots and 20 teepees to rent for camping. Hotel rooms range from $200-$300, teepees are about $150 and RV spots range from $50-$90.

Green said, "Everybody's living their life, doing crazy things and doing whatever they need to do. But when they get here, everybody comes together."

Kah Nee Ta has just over 100 employees and says 90% are tribal members, many of whom grew up visiting the resort or have family members who have worked at the resort.

"The majority of us are related, one way or another," Green said. "Even if we're not blood-related, we still call each other family. And that's what it was - it was a humungous family. We all came together in this area and were able to enjoy Kah-Nee-Ta."

If folks are looking to just stay for the day, all-day passes give folks access to the pools, mini-golf, bocce ball, disk golf and many more activities.

Kahmussa said, "I really enjoyed seeing the smiles and laughs coming back again. That was like, really nice to see and feel again."

All-day passes are $39 on the weekends and $29 for weekdays. Kah-NeeTa highly encourages making reservations in advance, even for day-use passes.

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Here's the rest of the full announcement by resort operators:

Central Oregon’s beloved Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort offers day-use passes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and overnight guests enjoy extended amenity hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Starting in August, guests can also enjoy horseback riding and river float opportunities.

The historic property now features 30 total pools, including hot springs mineral wellness pools, cold plunges, and soaking tubs,  50 shade structures including six different cabana options,  30 newly remodeled rooms, 20 new Teepees and 70 overnight RV parking spots with restrooms, showers and self-serve laundry.

The redevelopment and renovation of Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort have now reached a total of $13.1 million, with funding support from the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. This significant investment has allowed for updated facilities and a renewed focus on cultural and environmental sustainability.

“Thanks to the commitment and dedication of our partners, project teams and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, we are thrilled to be welcoming guests this summer,” said Jim Souers of the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation. “Our partners, Kirk Hanna and team, which operate Mt. Hood Skibowl, Collins Lake Resort, Lake Simtustus Resort and other recreational related companies really understood our vision for a newly reimagined Kah-Nee-Ta, the property is stunning and we could not be more excited about this achievement.”

Guests will be able to enjoy an abundance of amenities and updates to the property, outlined below in our most recent construction update.

RESORT ENTRANCE:

• The new Kah-Nee-Ta entrance check-in guest services system is ready with a newly automated online check-in to streamline the process for day guests. For overnight guests, a new check-in system that doesn’t require guests to exit their car will be available. Advanced online reservations are necessary to ensure availability.

SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS 

• HOTEL:
  • Ka-Nee-Tah’s 30-rooms are remodeled and range from three bedroom suites that can accommodate up to 12 guests or individual rooms that can accommodate four guests.
• RV PARK:
  • Our RV park has been newly paved, complete with 50 RV sites with full utility hook ups and 20 additional RV parking spots.  The RV Park also includes a new recreational athletic room.
• TEEPEE:
  • Twenty new Teepees have been installed, with two designed specifically for disability access and parking. The Teepees are 30 feet tall and 27 feet in diameter. The Teepee clubhouse area will feature a new common area barbeque.
  • The Teepee area features a large Tribal fire pit for regular Tribal storytelling, to help keep cultural practices alive.

RECREATION: 

RIVER VIEW HOT SPRINGS SOAKING TUB CABANAS:

• The new riverfront hot springs, six  person  soaking tubs and cabanas are completed. There are temperature controls  that allow guests to adjust the temperature of the rich mineral water for private personal soaking tubs.

POOL HOT SPRINGS SOAKING: POOLS:

• Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort now features 30 total pools, including hot springs mineral wellness pools, cold plunges, and soaking tubs.
  • The wellness hot spring pools and soaking tubs featuring 32 minerals have been completed featuring state of the art natural water treatment systems.
  • Pools are all new using PebbleTec Surfaces and state-of-the-art Micro Fusion Nano Bubble technology that reduces the need for chemicals like chlorine. 
  • The pool clubhouse features a concierge area, grab-n-go store and new lockers. 
  • All pools now feature accessibility design and accommodations that are ADA compliant. 
  • The new hot springs wellness leisure pool now offers an accessibility ramp for waterproof wheelchairs and underwater benches around the pool. 
  • Three new  cold plunge tubs for the ultimate wellness experience after a hot springs soak. 
  • New decking around the pools that both heats in the winter and cools in the summer has been designed and built around multiple pools for year-round operations.  Guests will also be able to enjoy unobstructed views of the pools from their lounge chairs and cabanas to see their loved ones enjoying the experience. 

POOL CABANAS:

• Kah-Nee-Ta offers more than 50 different types of shade structures, including retractable canopies and our poolside eight-person VIP cabanas, poolside two-person cabanas and  unique kids cabanas.

FOOD:

• The new Chinook Restaurant and Appaloosa Bar is completed with Tribal flair also our new poolside snack bar, grab and go store and food carts for multiple food options will be available for guests.

SPORTING:

• Sports activities are in final preparations for basketball and  sand volleyball courts, a mini golf course, kids disc  golf and bocci ball courses, cornhole, ping pong tables, walking trails and bike trails.
• Coming in August:  A new and exciting three mile Warm Springs River tube float where you get into the river at the resort then float three miles downriver and are picked by the Kah-Nee-Ta shuttle bus.  

FOREVER CLUB:

• Kah-Nee-Ta “Forever Club” pavers will be featured in the entryway courtyard displaying the names of Kah-Nee-Ta Forever Club Members who’ve joined the experience of a reinvigorated Kah-Nee-Ta.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• All underground utilities, water, sewer, storm, irrigation, electrical and propane have been updated.
• All HVAC systems in all buildings and rooms have been replaced.
• New resort-wide Wi-Fi system installed.
• Sewer Lagoon repairs have been completed.
• Our new $1 million state-of-the-art pool equipment room and all supply lines for pools and sewer and storm drain systems have been completed. 

FOREVER CLUB: We welcome the community  to join in our effort and be forever recognized as a partner of the resort by becoming a  “Kah-Nee-Ta Forever Club Member” and purchasing a “Kah-Nee-Ta Personalized Paver” stone for placement in our courtyard. 

Be the first to receive important updates by signing up for our newsletter at this link or support the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the revitalization of Kah-Nee-Ta by purchasing a personalized paving stone that can be engraved with a personal message up to three lines or 20 characters. Corporate sponsorships in support of Kah-Nee-Ta are also available.  Join the Kah-Nee-Ta Forever Club Membership for advanced opportunities to make overnight accommodations at Oregon’s cultural hot springs tourism destination.  Please contact sponsorship@Kahneeta.com.

About the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon is based in Central Oregon with a membership of more than 5,000 Tribal Members from the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes. The Reservation was created by the Treaty of 1855 between the Indians of Middle Oregon and the United States Government. Learn more at https://warmsprings-nsn.gov/

About the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation

WSEDC is a wholly-owned enterprise of the CTWS with the purpose of creating sources of Long-Term Revenue and Employment opportunities for tribal members through enterprise business developments. For more information contact Jim Souers, CEO Warm Springs Economic Development: jim.souers@wstribes.org