Great location for a family vacation.
I was truly amazed at how OFF-BASE some of these reviews are. Our family has spent at least part of August at this resort for the past 39 straight years - YES - 39 straight years. This resort was initially built in the 1920's as a fishing lodge and has grown over the years to a year-round destination for fishing, hiking, snow skiing, snowmobiling and just old fashioned relaxing. If you're looking for the closet Hilton Hotel, keep on driving to Eugene or Portland. But if you're looking for someplace that EVERY family can enjoy, you just found your newest get-away. The dinner house in the lodge serves great-tasting food that you won't find in some Oregon cities. The coffee shop downstairs has all of the usual favorites. Pizza and broasted chicken are only 3 miles down the road at the south end of the lake.
Rent a boat and go fishing - rent a snowmobile and take in the scenery - rent a bike and cruise around the entire lake (11 miles) - or simply sit on the beach and go swimming and then warm up around a wood burning stove in the cabins. Watch the chipmunks beg for peanuts during the day and the raccoons scrounge for any food at night.
There's a wide variety of room types - motel rooms, cabins that sleep 6 and even a double size cabin with flat screen TV's that will sleep most any large family. Didn't bring much food with you - no problem - there's a small store that has most necessities. Want a more basic vacation? Bring your tent or camper and stay in the nearby USFS campground.
As for old fashioned hospitality, the Koch family has operated this resort for 50+ years and you won't find nicer people anywhere. Through good times and times not so good, Steve, Peggy and their entire family always have a smile on their face and are genuinely glad to welcome new visitors and well-known friends. I look forward to joining my other family members for year number 40 during the summer of 2009. If you stay here once, you'll be back the following year(s).
As someone who moved from Oregon 25 years ago and who now lives in Southern California, I can choose where I spend my vacation. At 830 miles from my house, Diamond Lake is not exactly close by for me. But it's worth the trip and I wouldn't trade my 2-3 weeks at this resort for any other place.