Fabled Rogue River resort is for sale. See what you get for $3.4M

The

Galice Resort

, a southern Oregon destination on the

protected Rogue National Wild and Scenic River

section cherished by rafters, anglers and hikers, is for sale at

$3,375,000

.

The Thomason family, who has owned and grown the hospitality business on the 12.8-acre property at

11744 Galice Road in Merlin

since 1983, has readied the furnished,

turn-key resort

for the next owners.

The asking price includes year-round accommodations at the three-story

Galice Lodge

, two-story

Rogue Retreat

house, four-bedroom

Riverview Lodge

as well as “cabin row” with a cottage, guest house, four cabins and bunk house.

From spring through fall, the riverside boathouse store and food cart court with meals and music are also open.

A 2021

fire destroyed the store, bar and deck

, which have been rebuilt. The blaze also burned the restaurant, which has not been rebuilt. But a permit has been approved to construct a new restaurant on the original site along the river’s

Wild and Scenic

section.

The building permit is a rare exception since there are federal and local development restrictions to preserve the natural character of the area, said listing broker

Chris Martin

of Martin Outdoor Property Group.

“The resort really shines,” said Alex Larson, also a broker with Martin Outdoor Property Group. “Plus the food trucks and

live music

make it quite a lively space.”

The property, on 10 tax lots, is also suited for weddings, retreats and other events. “Adding guest services such as gear rentals, shuttles or wellness experiences can further enhance the resort without competing with local guides,” according to the brokers.

Resort history

Galice, a mining settlement during Oregon’s gold rush in the mid-1800s, is named after French doctor Louis Galice, who prospected in the lower Rogue canyons. Historians say in 1851 he discovered gold nuggets in

Galice Creek

.

In 1981, Gil and Mary Lou Thomason bought the Galice store and over time expanded their business from a modest river outpost to offer year-round lodging and a restaurant serving three meals a day to hundreds of customers except when it was closed in the winter.

“It is time for someone to take the oars and row their own boat,” Gil and Mary Lou’s daughter, Debbie Thomason, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “There is much potential for continued growth.”

Debbie Thomason raised her family in the 2,774-square-foot Riverview Lodge. In 2020, she bought her parents’ 2,696-square-foot Rogue Retreat house and converted it into a rental.

The resort property is in Merlin, an unincorporated community northwest of Grants Pass. Merlin has about

1,355 residents

, and, as the gateway to the Wild and Scenic Rogue River, is home base for outfitters and fishing guides. Travel Oregon calls Merlin a “watery heaven” for rafters and kayakers.

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— Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072,


jeastman@oregonian.com


and follow her on X


@janeteastman


.

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