Though the various gardens are perfectly whimsical and wonderfully world class , for me , the must-see of the grounds was the large brood of ducks , of all different colors , playfully hidden in one of the back corners where Phelps Creek runs rather slowly into a softly pooling eddy lined with rocks and boulders . The ducks bob about while willow trees dangle above , blowing softly in the wind , and grasses shoot up from between the rocks in Technicolor shades of green . Little arched bridges and dewy , glowing sunlight contribute to the Monet-esque scenery and again add to the feeling that I have escaped to Europe , somehow , instead of just being a little way down the I-84 east of Gresham .
And yet , something about the hotel distinctly rings with the essence of American history . The original hotel is now 102 years old , having been built in 1921 out of a repurposed lumber mill . The early 1920s were a “ Gilded Age ” in American industrial history , and this time period represented modernday Oregon ’ s first substantial tourism boom . Founder and philanthropist Simon Benson felt that Oregon ’ s tourists needed somewhere to land that was comfortable and charming , if not true to the stark natural beauty that Oregon was , and is , famous for .
People wanted it all : a place to eat , dance , hold conferences , ceremonies of all sorts ( but , of course , mostly weddings ), and stay after traveling long distances to engage with the landscape of Northern Oregon . Since then , major freeways have developed in the area and Portland International Airport is less than an hour ’ s drive away — but what the resort has to offer has not diminished in the slightest . The ballroom is grand and lavish , and conveniently , can be easily converted into banquet spaces for corporate events . There are both casual dining and fine dining options within the hotel that can comfortably fit over 80 guests for a single wedding , which makes the Columbia River Gorge Hotel and Spa unique from its neighbors .
The main lounge and bar is named after silent film actor Rudolph Valentino who made frequent visits to the resort in the 1920s . Today , the concierge at the resort will gladly supply you with a list of celebrities who have visited the hotel since , including YouTube stars and contemporary political figures . The rooms and halls are all gorgeous at first glance , and only start to become puzzling if you look rather closely . Puzzling , I say , because I foolishly walked around the grounds trying to pin down a certain era , or specific moment , of 20th century American art and design that served as inspiration for the decor of the resort . I can gladly report now that even though the features
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