Four Season Resort under new ownership

SPRAGUE – Dave Davisson is enjoying life as the new owner of Four Seasons Campground and Resort on Sprague Lake.

Davisson took over the resort from the former owners about three months ago after closing on the deal a month and a half prior. His business partner, Andy Louie, made the dream possible.

“Andy has a lot of properties in Spokane I help him out with, and in return he is helping me out with my retirement,” Davisson, 52, said. Davisson has always worked in the construction trade, and finds his experience comes in handy taking over the resort. He said he plans on rebuilding the dock over the winter, and rebuilding a wagon he pulls behind the tractor to cart guests around the resort.

“We try to have some fun around here. I’m still just a kid at heart,” Davisson laughs.

Having fun camping and fishing Thursday were the Knowles family, who have been holding a family reunion at the resort the past five years.

“We had seven RVs out here last year,” Diane Knowles said, adding family had come from all around the state. “We gather here most every year.”

“It makes my heart feel good to hear that,” Davisson said. “That’s what I want the resort to be all about — families and kids.”

Chuck Knowles has been coming to the resort for the past 40 years. He and his wife Kay live on the Potholes Reservoir, so have their own fishing right out their door. Still, he frequents Sprague Lake because he “likes the resort and the fishing here.”

“It’s a close place to get away to; just a 90-minute drive for me,” Chuck said.

“It’s very relaxing,” Kay added.

“We like it here because of all the trees. We’re from the coast, so it’s hot here for us,” Diane Knowles said, relaxing in the shade of their campsite. She said and her husband, Mike Knowles, live on 18 acres in Orting, so they are very comfortable in the rural setting.

“We heard it had new owners, so we drove through to check it out,” Diane said. “We found the bathrooms and showers to be cleaner and nicer than they’ve ever been.”

Also camping at the resort was Steve Natucci from Eatonville, bringing his boat with a new fish finder. He said he caught a rainbow trout off the deck the prior evening, and watched as two sisters each pulled out a trout from off the dock in the late afternoon.

“These are well-fed trout. There’s a lot of feed in this lake,” Natucci said.

“We get a lot of record-breaking fish out of this lake,” Davisson said. “We’re pulling 18-24 inch trout out. We had a 9.5-pound bass caught off the point a couple weeks ago, and a 9.5-pound channel catfish. I’ve had people come in from across the country because of that fish.”

Davisson said he has lots of tent space for unexpected guests.

“This is a big area, with a lot of space, so you don’t typically have to reserve ahead of time for a tent spot,” Davisson said. “We’ve got lots of portable fire pits, so I’ve never had an issue with not having enough room.”

His 39 RV spots are booked up for 4th of July weekend, and as of Thursday, he only had a couple spots left for the June 27-28 weekend.

He said some campers stay for weeks on end.

“They just don’t want to leave,” Davisson said, adding, “It’s just too much fun out here, with all the great people you get to meet.”

The resort has boat and motor rentals, and four air-conditioned, heated cabins. An on-site store carries limited supplies of tackle, bait, bottled water, ice and firewood. His worms are purchased locally.

“I have a 10-year-old entrepreneur in Spokane I buy them from,” Davisson said. “I like to support his goals of earning and saving money. I know I could get them cheaper elsewhere, but when I buy him out, he lights up like a Christmas tree.”

Davisson will be lighting up the night July 4 with a professional fireworks display, beginning around 9:30 p.m.

“I wasn’t able to get any food vendors to come, but people are welcome to bring a picnic or have a barbeque,” Davisson said.

A fee of $3 per person or $15 per carload will be charged for the fireworks show.

“I wanted to try and recoup some of the cost, but keep it low enough that everyone can come,” Davisson said.

He is also working with the City of Sprague to make Sprague Days a joint venture between the town and resort.

“That’s what it’s all about — community,” Davisson said.