Photos by TERRI WATTS

From L-R: Roger, Ollie, and Shani Hodge are the new owners of the Hines Pine Mill House, a four-bedroom bed and breakfast located at the former office headquarters of the Edward Hines Lumber Company.

The Hines Pine Mill House, a four-bedroom bed and breakfast located at 705 Highway 20 South in Hines, is now under new ownership.

During a visit to the Harney County Fair in 2020, Roger, Shani, and Ollie Hodge realized how much they enjoy Harney County and its people. Over the next two years, they visited the area several times to attend the Harney County Fair as well as the Winter Market, which is held at the Historic Central Hotel.

In the fall of 2021, the Hodges were considering moving from their home in Milwaukie, Ore., and they started looking at residential properties in Harney County. Although it was on their radar, the Hodges didn’t seriously consider purchasing the Hines Pine Mill House until a close friend sent them a link to the listing in January 2022.

In February, Colby Marshall of Jett Blackburn Realty took the Hodges on a tour of the property. Their appreciation for the Hines Pine Mill House’s renovations, history, and existing business (compliments of former owners, Mason and Holly Watson) was immediate, and they enthusiastically decided to pursue acquiring the property and accompanying business.

Operating the Hines Pine Mill House is a natural fit for Shani, as she has extensive experience in the hospitality field. Although she is a native of Western Montana, Shani has worked in Oregon’s wine industry for the past 20 years. She oversaw nine vineyard vacation rental homes as well as harvest intern housing. She also has years of experience planning and executing numerous events.

Roger, a former third-generation resident of Milwaukie, has been employed with Country Financial for 21 years. As a corporate financial specialist, he assists representatives (like our own Debbie Ausmus) with client financial planning. He has always been very active in his community and said he loves interacting with and helping people.

After touring the Hines Pine Mill House in February, the Hodges moved forward with purchasing the property. It took the help of numerous entities to finalize the purchase, but everything worked out, and the Hodges became the official owners on June 16, 2022.

Built in 1930, the Hines Pine Mill House was formerly the office headquarters for the Edward Hines Lumber Company. After serving as office headquarters and then a boys’ academy, it was renovated and reopened as a bed and breakfast in 2020. The inn currently features four guest rooms, all decorated with touches from the 1930s to 1950s. Each room boasts its own personality and offers complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room TV, and homemade breakfast.

In addition to lodging, the Mill House offers a banquet room that can accommodate up to 30 guests. Rental of the banquet room includes the use of tables and chairs, a projector screen (if needed), water service, and help with set-up and break-down. Beverage service and breakfast items can be added, or renters can bring in their own caterers. The space is ideal for meetings and classes as well as small weddings, reunions, and other celebrations.

The banquet room also features a display of items on loan from the Harney County Museum. The Hodges plan to rotate these items periodically, hoping guests and other visitors will enjoy the displays and learn more about Harney County’s history.

Roger said, “Without the help of Jim Withee from the museum and historical society, we would not have been able to accomplish this. Jim has been a great help, and we are thankful that we have been given this opportunity, which we hope is a hit with everyone who comes through our front door.”

The Mill House also features a gift shop, offering numerous one-of-a-kind items and a nice dose of whimsy. The Hodges stress the importance of supporting local artisans, so you’ll find Huber Hollow carvings, many items handmade by members of the family, and treasures by local artists like Marylou Wilhelm and Dana Breshears. Eventually, the Hodges hope to open the gift shop with regular hours. In the mean time, you can shop by appointment or during the public events that the Mill House plans to host.

The outdoor areas of the Mill House offer guests access to picnic tables, a barbecue grill, a seasonal fire pit, bicycles, and an expansive lawn.

The Hodges also plan to use this space for outdoor events like festivals, markets, and musical performances. It can also be rented for larger events like weddings and family reunions.

During the two months that the Hodges have been in Harney County, they’ve been overwhelmed by the support and friendliness of the local community. They said they’re looking forward to working with fellow business owners and neighbors to keep the community a wonderful place to visit, live, and thrive.

If you are interested in exploring the Mill House, give the Hodges a call at 541-295-5650 or email hinespinemillhouse@gmail.com. You can also find more information and book rooms online at hinespinemillhouse.com.