Century-old Oak Knoll Golf Course, 6 miles west of Salem, has closed after being sold to Wandering In Time Holdings LLC.
The future of the 58-acre property, zoned for public amusement and recreation, is unclear.
Officials with Wandering In Time Holdings did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s inquiries about the property. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, the site features a driving range and a 5,000-square-foot building with a restaurant, bar and commercial kitchen.
The $6.2 million sale also included an adjacent 71 acres zoned for exclusive farm use.
Wandering In Time Holdings has a mailing address in Burley, Washington, listed in Polk County property records, and a Portland mailing address listed in articles of incorporation filed with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office.
The company’s Theresa Nietupski is one of the founders of Wandering In Time Productions, which stages immersive historical fantasy events in both states, including the annual Oregon Renaissance Faire held in Canby.
A barrier with “CLOSED” sign partially blocks the entrance on April 15 at Oak Knoll Golf Course.
The entrance to Oak Knoll was partially blocked April 15 — exactly two weeks after the sale was finalized — with a steel barricade and a “CLOSED” sign.
Another sign posted on the property confirmed the demise of the property as generations have known it: “This property has been sold. Oak Knoll will no longer be a golf course. This property is private property. Please vacate! No trespassing!”
The closure leaves two remaining destinations for golfers in Polk County: Cross Creek Golf Course and Dallas Golf Club.
Oak Knoll Golf Course opened in 1926 with nine holes. A driving range and a second nine holes were added in 1989 and 1990.
Sellers bought the golf course as an investment in 2018
Oak Knoll opened in 1926 on the north side of Highway 22. It is just west of Oak Grove Road NW, where Restlawn Cemetery would be established 30 years later.
The first nine holes were laid out on agricultural land with a granary. E. A. Jones developed the course with fairways running north to south, so golfers would never have to play directly in the sun.
The driving range was added in 1989, and the second nine holes, with water features, were completed the following year, according to the Statesman Journal archives.
The course had a reputation for being an affordable place to play golf and a good course for beginners. It is flat with wide fairways and small greens.
Oak Knoll has had multiple owners over the years, including Karla Hicks since 2018. She purchased it from a bank holding company. Val Barnes had previously been involved in ownership for more than three decades.
“We bought it as an investment property,” Karla Hicks said, referring to her husband, Scott.
As they launch new business ventures and plan to spend time in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where they previously lived, they are thankful for the connections made at Oak Knoll, beyond just golf.
Oak Knoll has been a cross-country venue for high school and college meets, for example, and the new property owners told Hicks they plan to continue those relationships.
Hicks said the golf course relied on volunteers, including retirees who ran the pro shop. Her only paid staff were bartenders.
“It was such a great group because they loved being out here,” she said of the volunteers. “It made them feel youthful, and they became family.”
Hicks said she refunded dues to 47 members after the sale was finalized.
“It was tough telling them,” she said. “Many of them have been with us since Day 1.”
Towering trees line many of the fairways at Oak Knoll Golf Course.
Property offers ‘versatile foundation for a range of projects’
The Oak Knoll property was intermittently on the market for nearly two years. It was advertised as a golfer’s paradise and a unique investment opportunity.
A YouTube video posted a year ago by Keller Williams Realty showcased the course’s beauty with dramatic aerial footage, including fairways lined with 60-foot-tall sequoia trees.
A LoopNet listing can still be found in an online search, promoting the versatility of the property:
“Whether you’re considering an RV park, amusement park, stadium, fairground, music venue, or winery/brewery, this site offers a versatile foundation for a range of projects. The property comes with valuable senior water rights and features a currently operational Golf Course business, or you have the option to start fresh. This unique property is ready for its next visionary project.”
Hicks said three parties showed simultaneous interest at one point during the process. An undisclosed realtor managed the sale, not Keller Williams.
“I love this property; it has a part of my heart,” Hicks said. “I’m happy with who’s getting the property.”
Oregon Renaissance Faire has expanded in recent years
Wandering In Time Productions has over 30 years of experience staging Renaissance faires, music festivals, corporate events, and more, according to its website. It is best known locally for the Oregon Renaissance Faire, set in a fictional Scottish village and featuring jousting, artisan vendors, comedy, and music.
“Our mission is to bring history, fantasy, and community together through immersive events that captivate the senses and ignite the spirit of adventure,” the website says.
The Renaissance Faire has been held since 2016 at the Clackamas County Fair & Event Center in Canby, starting with one weekend in the summer and eventually expanding to every weekend in June.
The 2025 event sold out six of eight days and drew more than 70,000 attendees over the four weekends, according to a report in the Herald Pioneer, Canby’s weekly newspaper.
“Expanding to four weekends was a bold move, and the response from our community proved it was the right one …” an event marketing director said in the article.
The opening weekend of the 2026 Oregon Renaissance Faire is scheduled for June 6-7 at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds.
A fairgrounds representative said they have received recent calls about the future of the event, emphasizing any official word would have to come from Renaissance Faire organizers.
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oak Knoll Golf Course closes near Salem. Oregon