<p>Howard Kem</p>

Howard Kem, owner

Big Creek Lodge

92878 Waterhouse Road

Knappa

Howard Kem bought a former dairy farm in the valley along Big Creek near Knappa and transformed it into a fishing and hunting getaway. The 130-acre property includes part of Big Creek, surrounding fields and a three-bedroom lodge sleeping up to 15 people. Rates run $75 to $55 per person nightly, depending on group size. For more information and for rates, visit www.bigcreekfishing.com or call (503) 458-0990 or emailHoward@bigcreekfishing.com

What do you do?

Were in the hospitality businesses. We service fisherman and hunters that hunt the lower Columbia River and other guided people. We dont guide. We have return customers come back every year for the different fisheries that go up (Big) Creek. And then general weddings and family gatherings. We do a lot of family gatherings, high school graduations.

How did you get started doing this?

I was a professional forester and retired about 40 years old. My college education was hospitality also during the winter. I just enjoy people, and about 10 years ago I bought this place and developed it.

What is the volume of your business?

Thats hard to say. Sometimes one person stays here; sometimes big groups stay here. My slow seasons are usually June and July, but usually Im pretty active year round. Id say catering to the fishermen is the biggest volume, and the seasonal. There are four seasons with the fisheries here, and only one month, Septembers closed. The lodge isnt closed, but thats when we do our weddings and family gatherings and stuff. August, October, January, February and May are our biggest months. A lot of families come and stay. They book yearly. We have a yearly church group that comes in.

How does the economy affect your business?

Last year was about the slowest. But its been growing since we started. The gross amount has grown since we started, because people return a lot, the same return customers year in, year out. December through February is Steelhead season. May is springer season, so those months are booked heavily. August is tule season, or fall chinook run. That month is booked heavily. And October is silver (salmon) run. Then we supplement with weddings and stuff.