The Oasis Resort & Guide Service

So happy to find a good, inexpensive, family restaurant in this tiny town! Burgers were incredible! And reasonably priced. Shakes are also incredible, but $ 5 each…

This is a review for the café only.
Our guide at High Desert River Outfitters suggested we visit the Oasis. The guides there get a kickback (1 meal for every 5 meals they bring in, according to the waitress) so I was a bit worried, but went with it anyways. He told us they had the best milkshakes in the world, and the best burgers in the city.
We arrived and sat ourselves outside. There was a sign stating that you should order inside, but there was a nice waitress that was taking orders outside. So we gave her our order, which was a vegi burger for me, normal burgers for everybody else, two milkshakes, and waters for the table. I asked for avocados on mine but they didn’t have any.
About half an hour later our burgers arrived. My vegiburger was cold. Like literally, below room temperature. The normal burgers, luckily, had been cooked. Our milkshakes arrived about 5 minutes later. We asked again about water and it finally arrived shortly after that.
The vegi-​burger was very mediocre — besides being cold it was just boring. Not that that’s unexpected — I did appreciate that they actually had a vegi option. I’m told the burgers were decent, if a bit small (and $ 8 or $ 9?). They came with small bags of Lays potato chips. The milkshakes were quite good but very small for $ 5.
Overall, this just was a mediocre experience — sloooww service, cold vegi-​burger, small (but very good) shakes, and just somewhat pricy.

So I have stayed here 3 times now and going for the 4^th next week. I have only stayed during the buy 1 get 1 nights (Winter time), for a few different reasons. 1: The obvious, you get a free night! 2: During this time you almost get the town and river to yourself. 3: There is no one around (similar to #2 but it’s a real seller for me!)
I do have a favorite cabin that I prefer to stay in, but we will leave that to mystery because I don’t want fellow Unilocal’rs to book it (sorry). When I go there is 2 adults and 2 dogs, and we fit very comfortably in the cabin. The heaters work great! Hot water has to run some distance and when it’s in the teens or twenties it can be even longer, but hey that’s no points against them. Cabin is clean, well stocked and there is a building in the center of the cabins which has additional towels, soap, coffee, whatever.
Living in Troutdale, it takes us about 90 minutes to get to Maupin via 84 to 197, so it is super close! Or take 26 up and over the hill. Why Muapin you may ask? Because it’s not Bend, and the Bend snobs. If you like that crowd, well you better head down there, but this town and Oasis is great! Staff is attentive, very friendly, it’s a way to keep a small town going.
When you go, take river road north (with the flow of the river) and just go for a drive down the river road. Last time I was there (a month ago) I saw maybe 4 people all day, and if your into that you would like it here.
Be a good Oregonian and give Oasis a call and get yourself a cabin, bring the kids and dogs because you will love it here.

Food only review. We were tipped off to this local spot known for its milkshakes by our rafting guide. After a long day fishing and rafting, burgers, fries, and a milkshake sounded well-​earned. They even had veggie burgers on the menu, which I appreciated. They had a huge case of a lot of really interesting drinks, too — including kombucha tea, which is kind of unusual for DC but maybe not Oregon. ;) The burgers and fries are nothing special, but the milkshakes do not disappoint. Lots of ice cream and fixings options, just about anything your little heart could desire. Service was really slow, but you’re in the country, so don’t worry — relax and enjoy the view of the river rushing by.

My family and I received a received a recommendation from our river guide that this was a great place to eat after a morning on the river. We were disappointed with the slow service. We did not expect it to take 45 minutes to prepare two burgers and a sandwich and had an appointment to keep. Not only was it slow, but a sandwich and order of onion rings that had been prepared for me were clearly left out for a long period of time before reaching our table, resulting in stale, toasted bread and cold onion rings. I have never sent anything back before, but would have sent the food back and left had it not been for the fact that I was starving. The male members of our party enjoyed their shakes.

If you want to watch someone touch raw meat, then everything else in the place, then eat here. Bonus* find the swastika on the ceiling. I’m serious. There is a swastika right above a stool at the counter, and it’s there intentionally and is not graffiti.

Opted to stay at the Oasis instead of camping when the temp dropped and wind was blowing like crazy. They run an awesome deal in the winter…$ 85/​night with one night free. $ 42.50 a night beats the hell out of camping in freezing temps. They also close their café this time of year, so you’ll have to head to the rainbow tavern or stone bridge. The pizza in town is pretty good as well.
The rooms are small, but they have everything you’ll need. Coffee maker, mini fridge, kitchen table. I’ll be back!

This is only a review for the café:
A day of rafting on the Deschutes followed by a milkshake and french fries from the Oasis pretty much made for perfection. It’s a simple café… small, cheap, friendly. I can’t vouch for much on the menu, but the chocolate malt and french fries definitely rival any others I’ve ever had. A good stop to make if you’re in the area!

If you are planning on rafting or fishing the Deschutes River, this is where you want to stay, whether you need a cabin or a camping spot in their campground.
Mark is a super gracious host and I have been a customer of his for the last five years for the annual VW campout he hosts on Father’s Day Weekend. Never a nicer guy will you meet.
It’s not the Ritz Carlton, and it’s not supposed to be. The charm and character of this place is great and I will always support a family owned business whenever I can. This place is where you would have stayed 50 years ago, and it’s where you should stay now if you are ever in Maupin. The camping is great, the food is good and the milkshakes are not to be missed. You will be treated like family, and as I do, you will go back.

Their are 3 parts to this business
1. Cabin Rentals
2. Food
3. Guide Service
I can speak to 2 of them, # 1 and # 2
I really like that they are always flexible, with check in and out times. The cabins are small but they include running water, fridge, coffee maker, microwave, and usually some teas and coffee.
Luxury it ain’t but clean, pretty affordable, & convenient it is. We’ve been several times now.
Now the food is nothing special, it’ll do in a pinch but it’s all heavily fried with little flavor, American fare if you will. Again it’ll do in a pinch.