OREGON — After 31 years of operating White Pines Resort, Beth George announced in a Facebook post on May 13 that she is filing for bankruptcy and closing down.

“I want to just tell you that I never thought I would be saying these words,” she said in a sometimes emotional video. “For 31 years I’ve run the resort and put my heart and soul in it.”

But ultimately, with the prolonged closure of the resort due to the COVID-19 pandemic, George said the numbers moving forward just won’t work for her business.

“I am going to be one of the statistics that don’t make it,” she said.

On May 18 through May 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., White Pines will be having a going out of business sale at the gift shop. George asked that people consider stopping by to purchases a memento to help her pay back those who have planned events at the resort.

She said she has been following the directives from the state in order to keep people safe. But when Gov. Pritzker recently announced the phased re-opening plan, she said she knew that was the, nail in the coffin.

She said as a business that relies on large events like weddings and retreats, keeping the numbers to 50 people or less would not be possible. Not being able to fully open would mean the resort could not survive.

“I’ve poured my heart and soul into this place and I’m a mess trying to save it,” she said.

She said she was worried about discussing her concerns because she would be accused of not caring about others and only her bottom line.

“We can’t talk about it publicly because we will be chastised for it,” she said.

George said that she will miss everyone terribly, but she will move on.

“I’m a survivor so I’m going to make it. I’m just not going to make it at White Pines,” she said.