With the Fish House Inn and RV Park, David and Lyndee Billar have created an oasis in the midst of the rocky juniper canyons of the John Day Valley.

It is just nine miles away from the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, providing a charming jumping off point to enjoy all the area has to offer. The inn boasts unique guest rooms and an immaculate RV park.

The well-manicured grounds include grassy areas with picnic tables, yard games, propane grills, and large clean shower house.

Lyndee’s parents, Mike and Denise Smith, started the Fishhouse Inn and RV Park in 1991 to pursue a dream. They moved from Southern California and acquired the property. With Mike’s carpentry talents and Denise’s interior and graphic design background, they set to work transforming the site.

The Fish House is named and decorated around a fish theme because of Denise’s fish item collection. In 2017, Lyndee and her husband, David, took over and have been busy adding to the functionality and charm of the Fish House Inn and RV Park, adding the RV Park, and adding more RV sites.

The Billars’ vision for the Fish House Inn and RV Park has always been to provide a charming and comfortable lodging experience for visitors to the Fossil Beds and all of the surrounding attractions, including the John Day River.

The Fish House Inn itself was built in 1908. The historic craftsman-style main house was originally built for a local mill owner, Walt Greenwell, and was converted into an inn by Lyndee’s parents in 1991. There are now five areas for guests to enjoy—The Cottage, The Attic, The Main House, The RV Park, and Tent Camping. Each area offers a unique experience, from the romantic ambience of the Salmon Suite to the outdoor adventure of the tent camping area.

The Attic has a shared deck, an outside refrigerator, a Keurig coffeemaker, and a microwave. The Main House boasts all of the charm of the original 1908 home with three bedrooms and many added amenities. There is also a camp store with basics such as drinks, snacks, and frozen meals, as well as RV parts and teeshirts. There are also microwaves and barbeque grills available for guests to use.

Going forward, David and Lyndee are focused on keeping up the maintenance of the historic buildings. They are thinking of possibly adding food and beverages and continuing the family reunions and family events held at the Inn. They also are looking forward to carrying on the Fourth of July gathering and the community potluck held every Sunday, with a fire, and welcoming everyone to bring a dish.

Centrally located in Dayville, Oregon, the Fish House Inn and RV Park is not only a welcoming and memorable stop and gateway to the many delights of the John Day Valley, but is a community gathering place, bringing people together from near and far.