JOSEPH — After five years serving the Joseph community by providing a place to stay and food to eat at the Kokanee Inn, Eric Makela and Missy Britt are retiring and have sold the business to Madeline Lau, manager of the Wallowa Lake Lodge, according to a press release.

Lau, who has been manager of the lodge for over four years, has left that job and is devoting her full efforts to the Kokanee Inn. A new manager has taken her place at the lodge, she said.

Prior to her work at the lodge, she worked as a community events coordinator and naturalist park ranger.

She is welcoming the community at an open house Saturday, March 23 from 3-5 p.m. at the inn.

“We are super excited to pass the torch to Madeline Lau, the new owner of the Kokanee Inn,” Makela and Britt said. “We love Madeline’s passion for the county, her adventurous spirit and focus on excellence. Five years ago, with the help of family and friends we started work to bring this amazing place back to life. It’s been such an honor and so much fun building Kokanee Inn into your base camp for adventure.”

A sixth-generation Oregonian from a small grass seed town in the mid-Willamette Valley, Lau is passionate about Oregon’s history and cultural legacy.

She said she is excited to continue the excellent work that Makela and Britt began with Kokanee Inn and is excited to welcome guests this summer.

Lau stays at the Kokanee Inn, which includes a gourmet hot breakfast, unlimited coffee and tea, complimentary bike rentals and more.

New this year, Lau is adding a pet-friendly feature to two inn rooms (the Strawberry Mountains Suite and Cabin) so folks can more easily travel with their furry friends. The Strawberry Mountains Suite also is a new rental, available for families or larger groups who wish to have access to a kitchen space and a larger private common area.

The inn is located at the corner of Main and Seventh streets in Joseph.