WALLOWA LAKE – Following completion of a month-long construction project, Matterhorn Swiss Village has opened Mountain Pines Adventure Golf, an 18-hole, theme park-styled miniature golf course.

Mark Thornberg, co-owner of Matterhorn Swiss Village with his wife, Gwen Thornberg, said the project’s total cost topped $300,000. Handling general contracting duties was Mesa, Ariz., specialty firm Castle Golf. The project broke ground June 26, and the new course opened for play on Aug. 4.

Thornberg said the construction project temporarily employed four local people and used local suppliers, including Moffit Brothers for rock and Greg Bales for concrete. Jake Hobbs and Eastern Oregon Landscaping provided building construction and landscaping services, respectively.

Other suppliers included Joseph Electric, Joseph Hardware, 1917 Lumber and Bronson Lumber, among others.

The Village’s staffing level increased by two employees with the new course’s opening, Thornberg said. One position is associated directly with the course, the other with the store “because the ice cream sales are going up.”

He said the course area’s “nice landscaping and relaxing atmosphere” draw non-players, who enjoy sitting with their ice cream and listening to the course’s running water. The setting amongst the trees “is absolutely gorgeous,” he added.

Thornberg said the course, which covers approximately 25,000 square feet, includes two waterfalls and two fountains. The holes are 30 feet long with 12-foot-diameter greens.

At one of the holes, achieving a hole-in-one requires hitting into a stream. Another hole calls for hitting through a realistic log made of concrete.

Since opening, turnout has been “fairly good,” Thornberg said, but he notes that most players have been visitors to the local area. “We haven’t had the locals here yet, to speak of. We’ve had just the tourists. We’d like to get the locals to play here, too.”

The owners are seriously contemplating holding a tournament in September, but those plans aren’t yet set. “Right now we’ve just got it open,” Thornberg said. “It’s just about fun.”

For more information on Mountain Pines Adventure Golf: 541-432-4071.