January 17, 2025
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White Pines Lodge under new management

Ortega National Parks announces site will join its host of hospitality locations

By Jeff Helfrich
The lodge at White Pines State Park was built n the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Concessionaire Beth George, who has been leasing the historic lodge and cabins from the state for 3 decades, Thursday talked with Ogle County Newspapers about her decision to file for bankruptcy in the wake of a drastic loss of revenue she said is being caused by the COVID-19 restrictions.

The lodge at White Pines State Park was built n the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

After its concessionaire filed for bankruptcy and closed the doors last year due to COVID-19, the White Pines Lodge may be under new management.

The historic lodge located inside White Pines State Park was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The historic lodge located inside White Pines State Park was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

On April 20, Ortega National Parks announced on its Facebook page that White Pines is joining its “family” coming in 2021.

According to its website, Ortega National Parks is a family-run company with seven generations of hospitality and customer service experience, and nearly 25 years of operating experience as a local and national park concessioner. Its website lists 16 locations in the United States.

Calls to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which owns the park, lodge, and cabins, were not returned by time of publication. Ortega National Parks and White Pines State Park also did not return calls for comment.

White Pines’ voicemail message described the lodge, cabins and restaurant as having a planned partial opening May 28 and would have an active phone number starting May 4.

The restaurant at the White Pines Resort is located in one part of the historic lodge that was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The restaurant at the White Pines Resort is located in one part of the historic lodge that was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Former White Pines concessionaire Beth George ran the operation for 31 years. Before that, other concessionaires ran the lodge, restaurant and cabins after they were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

The lodge operates seasonally and most recently consisted of a restaurant, dinner theater, cabins and a gift shop.

The buildings that house the businesses are owned by the state and have been in operation for more than 80 years.

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