Meet your hosts
We’re Larry and Brandie McNamee, a ranch-family rooted deep in Antelope, Oregon. Our story is one of generations: Larry’s cattle ranch has been in the valley for five generations, and Brandie works as a Certified Public Accountant remotely. Together with our three children, we’ve built our lives around our community and seek to clean up the heart of our downtown while creating a couple jobs for local residents. Antelope isn’t just a backdrop; it’s home, it’s a community, and we’re invested in growing something meaningful here for the next generation.
Learn more about our story…
When the town’s only Café shuttered in 2017, it felt like the heart of Antelope stopped beating. Folks used to gather there, ranchers chatting over coffee, neighbors sharing stories, it was the social fabric of our community. Seeing it close, we knew we wanted something more than preservation; we wanted revitalization.
After COVID-19 disrupted attempts to reopen the café, we saw an opportunity when a two-acre property with RV Park and Restaurant zoning came available in early 2023. With hard work and the help of fellow ranching families, we bought it and began cleaning up that property by summer. We envisioned lodging cabins, tent & RV camping, and a place where travelers, cyclists, and stargazers could all feel welcome.
Knowing Antelope is on paths like the Oregon Outback Trail and that many international cyclists pass through, we recognized an asset few places have: our dark skies. That’s when we decided to pursue the Dark Sky Community designation (we’re proud to be Oregon’s first), to build our cabins to Dark Sky standards, and to emphasize what makes this place rare—clear night skies, wide open desert, and a rural setting that invites connection.
…And why we love Antelope
Antelope, Oregon is small in population, just 37 in town, around 200 in the broader valley. But its roots run deep. Larry’s family has been ranching here for generations; I come from a family passionate about keeping rural economies alive and strong. Antelope has seen booms and declines: gold-rush routes, remote homesteads, the Rajneesh years. Through it all, this land has endured, the skies have remained, and the community has held on.
We believe that Antelope’s future lies in embracing what we already have: the open desert, the trail-riders, the sky-watchers, the solitude. Our goal isn’t to become something we’re not, but to show the world the value of rural tourism, of rustic lodging cabins, of a Dark Sky Community where visitors can fall asleep under the Milky Way and wake with the sun over cattle and sagebrush. SEE THE TRAVEL OREGON ARTICLE HERE
Oregon’s First certified
dark sky community
Antelope, Oregon is proud to be the first designated Dark Sky Community in the state, protecting one of the rarest treasures left in today’s world. On any clear evening, you can step outside and see the Milky Way stretching overhead, constellations sparkling in every direction, and meteor showers blazing across the desert horizon.
This certification isn’t just a title, it’s a promise. The community has taken intentional steps to reduce light pollution, install dark-sky–friendly lighting, and host public star parties that invite visitors to reconnect with the night. Here, the stars aren’t just something you glance at, they’re an experience in themselves.
At Antelope Basecamp, you’ll find the perfect launchpad for adventure by day and stargazing by night. Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast, a photographer chasing the perfect shot, or simply someone who wants to feel small under the vastness of the universe, Antelope’s skies are waiting for you. READ MORE HERE
Our favorite things
to-do while you’re here
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Our family loves to go down to the old Antelope School House and play on the historic merry-go-round. The playground equipment is ancient, but the kids love it.
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Although the John Day Fossil Beds are a must-see spot for tourist and travelers passing through. The locals like us like to drive down to John Day River and relax in the swimming hole under the Clarno Bridge. It is easily accessible and safe and fun for the kids.
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There is something special about kids bouncing around in the back of a pickup while we bump along an old dirt road. We are very blessed where we live and get to call home. Our favorite pastime is driving dirt roads around the ranch with the kids.
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