Juniper Preserve: A Modern Wellness Retreat In Oregon’s High Desert

Set amid a 1,000-year-old juniper forest on 640 stunning acres of Central Oregon’s sweeping high desert landscape, Juniper Preserve is a destination-worthy retreat with standout spa, fitness, meditation, and wellness offerings. (Not to mention an oversized outdoor pool with a hot tub and barrel sauna with stunning views of a petrified “ghost forest” and the iconic Three Sisters Mountains.)

In addition to ongoing classes and events, the resort also offers curated wellness retreat weekends at least once a season, which are a great mix of fitness and meditation classes, hands-on workshops, and fun outdoor adventures. In summer months, an itinerary might include yoga class, a plant walk and medicine-making workshop, hiking at gorgeous Smith Rock, and a moonlight paddle tour on Cascade Lakes. In winter, guests might participate in sound baths, cacao and kava intention-setting ceremonies in a luxe tipi, and nighttime star-gazing and snowshoeing sessions that end at a roaring bonfire (with plenty of time to soak up the serenity of the property, of course).

While many guests may go to Juniper to feel restored and balanced, there are also lots of other top-notch amenities to enjoy: world-class golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio, pickleball courts, and dining options ranging from casual eats to pack up for hikes to creative tasting menus showcasing Pacific Northwest bounty — for starters.

Also not to be missed are the special events, tours, and classes in the ancient lava cave that was formed by rivers of molten lava eons ago, but remained undiscovered until recent years. The resort offers a wide range of ways to experience the vast cave: everything from kid-friendly flashlight-led tours to concerts and a cappella performances, wine dinners, wedding proposals, and mediation and other wellness classes.

Here’s what else you need to know when considering a stay at Juniper Preserve.

Location

Juniper Preserve resort is located on 640 acres in Bend, Oregon, with views of Mount Bachelor and the Cascades, Three Sisters Wilderness, and Smith Rock. It’s close enough to the restaurants, bars, concert venues, and riverfront of downtown Bend (about 16 miles, or a 30-minute drive), yet isolated enough to feel like a peaceful wilderness retreat.

History

Formerly the Pronghorn, the sprawling resort reopened as the refreshed Juniper Preserve in 2022.

Number of Rooms & Suites

104 guest rooms and suites

The Vibe

Upscale contemporary lodge

Architecture and Decór

While Juniper Lodge features all the beautiful rustic stone and wood elements (plus cozy fireplaces and hot tubs) you want and crave from a mountain lodge, the decór is bright and contemporary.

The lobby and lounge area is open and bright, with live plants, a stone fireplace, contemporary furniture, a wall of bookshelves, family-friendly games like oversized tic-tac-toe, a coffee and wine bar. The space leads out to the pool and patio, which has panoramic views of the ghost forest and neighboring mountains.

The spacious and cozy guest rooms are similarly white-and-bright, with elements of natural stone, wood, sumptuous bedding and upholstery, and contemporary bathrooms.

Highlights

• 640 acres of high desert landscape to explore
• Spa with gemstone facials, CBD massages, and treatments like transcendental breathwork, and Shirodhara — a meditative Ayurvedic hair and scalp treatment
• Pronghorn Golf Club, featuring side-by-side Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and Tom Fazio Championship Golf Course
• Dining options from grab-and-go meals to creative fine dining

Rooms & Suites

There are three classes of rooms designed so guests can soak up the beautiful natural landscapes just outside. Book a standard king or king deluxe to maximize your stay with features like contemporary gas fireplaces and large private terraces.

The resort also offers pet-friendly lodging, a club level, and vacation rental options.

Dining

There are several on-site options for dining and drinks. In the lobby, The Coyote Lounge is the spot for morning coffee and pastries, an afternoon tea, wine, or tapas. Trailhead Grill is the spot for more leisurely breakfasts, or sandwiches and grain bowls at lunch and dinner.

But the seasonal tasting menu experience at KÉYA — an innovative, evolving concept that launched earlier this year — is where the magic is. The ambitious pop-up project’s “tribal omakase” celebrates food before mass production and colonization, showcasing creative, beautifully presented dishes inspired by indigenous products (you won’t find any sugar, beef, chicken, or pork on your beautifully composed plates).

Helmed by Director of Food and Beverage, Jason Ray, Executive Chef Ryan Eisert, and backed by a talented team of pastry chefs, somms, and mixologists, it’s a thoughtful, refined, and delicious dining experience that’s totally unique. And in a ski town known more for its burgers and brews than its wealth of fine dining options, KÉYA is a destination-worthy restaurant for out-of-town visitors and Bend locals alike. (Dinner is served Fridays and Saturdays only, and reservations for the 20-seat restaurant are required.)

Who It’s Best For

• Wellness seekers
• Couples
• Families
• Solo travelers
• Golfers
• Pickleball fanatics
• Outdoor enthusiasts

What’s Nearby

• Downtown Bend’s restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, Deschutes riverfront, and concert venues
• Smith Rock State Park
• Endless options for outdoor adventure year-round, including: hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, white water rafting, and more

For more information, or to book a stay, visit Juniper Preserve.

Written by: Elizabeth Brownfield

Originally published: May 31, 2024
https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethbrownfield/2024/05/31/juniper-preserve-a-modern-wellness-retreat-in-oregons-high-desert/?sh=313c1bcc4e85