Since buying the iconic Deer Haven Lodge near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, last year, the Wittlief family hasn’t had any time for rest, but their months of hard work paid off when the lodge reopened Thursday afternoon.
Even then they were hustling to corral a “plumbing emergency” that morning, Clint Wittlief told Cowboy State over the phone as he made a plumbing parts run to a hardware store in Worland.
Luckily, Wittlief is a plumber and pipe fitter by trade, and said the emergency wouldn’t postpone the opening.
Bringing Deer Haven Back
Wittlief — along with his wife Amy and their adult sons Eric and Wyatt — took over the lodge last summer after rumors had been buzzing that it was being torn down.
The family is from Minnesota, where they still run a Christmas tree business. And they also have a resort with a hunting and fishing outfitting business in Canada, which they hope to sell.
So, with family members bouncing between Wyoming, Canada and Minnesota, refurbishing the lodge proved to be a massive undertaking. The family hoped to reopen it in January, but is still pleased with the results, Clint said.
“We just wanted to get open as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s just taken us this long to get all the paperwork completed.”
Legendary Destination
Deer Haven has long been a beloved getaway for Wyoming residents and visitors.
It’s thought to have been built around 1917. Clint said county records show that cabins there were built in 1917-1918. The oldest records he could find regarding the main lodge were from the 1940s. But he’s convinced the building is older and was probably build when the cabins were.
In its heyday, Deer Haven was a hub of the area’s draw for snowmobilers from the Midwest. And in fact, Clint stayed there one night in 1996, hoping to rent a snowmobile the next morning. But all the snowmobiles were rented out before he got the chance.
And fittingly, the first big event the Wittliefs will host there is a Saturday meeting of the local snowmobile club.
“We’re expecting about 12-18 people,” Clint said.
For now, the lodge’s main bar and restaurant section are open, as well as its six motel rooms. The rental cabins aren’t quite ready yet, Clint said.
Deer Haven also serves only Wyoming ranch-raised beef, he added.
Lots Of Work
Under the family’s ownership, Deer Haven has gotten a major facelift, Clint said.
The entire front wall and roof were replaced, and there were various repairs and improvements throughout the facility.
The next big project is a storage shed for UTV off-road vehicles, and a laundry room should soon be back online.
As with any major project, there were snags and setbacks, “but we had lots of really good help,” Clint said.
Hectic Schedule
Once everything is on track, Deer Haven will be open for the summer season and will rent side-by-side UTVs. Then business is expected to be brisk during the fall hunting seasons.
The family will keep its Christmas tree business, so Deer Haven will close “probably between Thanksgiving and Christmas” while the family is in Minnesota working that business, Clint said.
After that, the winter season will feature snowmobile rentals, he said.
This year, the lodge will probably close for a while starting sometime in April, simply because of the family’s hectic schedule.
This spring, one of their sons is getting married and their youngest child, a daughter, will graduate from high school.
And some of the family will have to be called away to the resort in Canada.
“That’s still up for sale. I really hope we can get it sold this summer,” Clint said.
Happy To Be Here
After the wedding and graduation celebrations, and once the resort in Canada is sold, the family looks forward to settling into Wyoming, Clint said.
Meanwhile, they’re enjoying their new home state as much as they can, with so many irons still in the fire.
“It’s just a total relief being in Wyoming. We’ve visited a few churches in the area, so we’ve met quite a few people,” Clint said. “Just everything about Wyoming so far, our family has loved.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at: Mark@CowboyStateDaily.com
The iconic Deer Haven Lodge near Ten Sleep may have new owners, but the feel inside is the same as people remember. (Deer Haven Lodge via Facebook) 
The iconic Deer Haven Lodge near Ten Sleep may have new owners, but the feel inside is the same as people remember. (Deer Haven Lodge via Facebook) 
The Deer Haven Lodge near Ten Sleep, Wyoming. (Deer Haven Lodge via Facebook) 
The Deer Haven Lodge reopened Thursday, but there's still plenty to do. (Deer Haven Lodge via Facebook)
