Skamania Lodge

We used to live in Portland in the late 90s and frequented Skamania Lodge. We even got married there in 1999. The lodge was a very special place to us. Had not been back since moving to CA in 2000. Decided to spend our 10th anniversary there with 2 young kids and grandparents in tow.
Sadly, we were very shocked and disappointed with how Skamania has gone so downhill under the new ownership. It still looks nice from the outside, but inside it was a whole different story. The front desk staff was not very friendly. The rooms had been redone with very cheap looking furniture.
The biggest disappointment was the restaurant, which used to have incredible cuisine. The quality was mediocre at best (and we ate there several times - hoping it would get better, I guess!)
If you had never been to Skamania the way it used to be, you might be okay with this average hotel. But the old Skamania was a world-class, top quality resort - a very special place with outstanding service, amazing food and luxuriously appointed rooms with solid wood furniture.
When I mentioned the changes to a couple of employees I talked to, they all confided how their pay had been drastically cut under the new ownership. They all cared very much about the hotel. They were long-time employees who were and how dismayed they were over what Skamania had become - just another average, corporate hotel.
Very sad.
I hope another company will purchase the hotel and restore it to its former grandeur. Until then, we won't be back (and will be sure to avoid any properties owned by Destination Hotels & Resorts).

Pros: location

Cons: poor quality food, mediocre rooms, poor management

Posted 09/07/09

My husband and I spent 2 nights, mid week, at Skamania Lodge this summer. It was hard to come home!

We loved the hiking trails, the golf, room service and the spa. It was perfect for a little relaxation and escape from Portland.

We did not care much for the dining room. For the price range, it just did not have the atmosphere that we expected. The food was good, the waiter friendly- but I felt like I was on a college campus in the cafeteria. It just didn't fit. However, the food in the bar was amazing! We sat on the patio and had one of the best lunches we can remember, just eating hamburgers (which were amazing). We also loved room service for lunch, dinner and late night snacks. It was not that spectacular for breakfast.

The spa was an incredible experience! Much too expensive to justify it regularly, but a great way to treat myself. I loved the massage and wrap I got. I found the Spa employees to be incredibly concerned with my comfort, and very kind. The worst part about the spa was having to leave it!

Golf was very fun. Since we were there mid week, it was very quiet and peaceful. We completely forgot we were only an hour away from home!

I think the very best part of Skamania Lodge was the natural beauty. The hiking trails are beautiful, but easy enough for anyone to conquer. Watching the sun rise from the front lawn was absolutely worth getting up for, and the highlight of our summer. Even the drive out to Skamania was beautiful.

Pros: Great golf, spa, and hotel grounds.

Cons: Dining room's poor atmosphere.

Posted 11/07/08

My husband and I love staying at Skamania. It's so beautiful and peaceful, especially in the off-season. Take a walk around the trails of the hotel. They're just marvelous.

Posted 03/30/07

Lets talk about the spa, since it was the worst place I have EVER been to in my life. I am asked to put on a bathrobe and wait in a waiting room full of other couples in bathrobes with tons of people walking by going to the pool area. I am not a modest person but was extremely embarressed sitting in a robe for about 15 minutes waiting for the women to figure out what they were doing. They offer food but nothing to put it in but a napkin and no garbage cans in site. I guess they expect you to put the food in your pocket of your bathrobe. Once I arrived into the room, the woman asked me if I had any open sores or wounds of any kind. I was appalled by this. She then asked me to get under a blanket and proceeded to come back twice and tell me I was under the wrong one. Each time leaving for about 5 minutes while all I had to do was get under the "correct" blanket. She then slapped on Ice cold black herbs and the light was blinding me and the music was up way too loud to be relaxing. She slapped down clothes on me and when I asked why it wasnt wrapped, she said "most people get clausterphobic". What is a wrap PEOPLE? The prices are absurd at $140 for a body wrap. The lady looked like she was a bag lady that did it. I then immediately cancelled my massage to follow and walked past all the people with black herbs all over me and proceeded to get it everywhere I walked. My boyfriend had a horrible experience as well but didnt feel comfortable cancelling the massage. He said the lady that massaged him sounded like a large animal and a heavy smoker and grunted and hissed everytime she put her hands on him. She sounded way to out of shape to be giving a decent massage and also kept circling his feet in an attempt to take a break from massaging. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE AND DEFINTELY DONT SPEND ONE PENNY AT THIS SPA!!!

Cons: Restuarants only serve fast food like items, nothing healthy

Posted 03/26/07

The Sunday brunch is to die for! Every kind of treat is here in abundance and of the best quality. This is a favorite place to bring out of town guests or celebrate birthdays or other events. The price is on the high end, but you will get your money's worth if you come hungry.

Pros: Fantastic Sunday brunch

Cons: A nice drive, but a little far.

Posted 08/26/06

Went for the day to play golf, hike and eat. Tremendous property: old world NW charm w/ logs and rock features, remarkable golf course (border the Columbia River Gorge; views are 5 star!!) and the course is elegantly taken care of. Trails around the hotel offer breath taking views of mountain tops and the restaurant/bars offer huge window views. There is a spa/pool that we used for under $10 so this was a bonus for our tired bones. next time we'll stay the night so that we can take in more of the amenities. For Portland, it's just a 45 minute drive out into another world!!

Pros: Views, Charm, Services

Posted 03/24/05

This is a convention lodge - it is NOT for romantic gateways. For $250/ngt you get a very small room, will hear trains repeatedly througout the night and may be awaken but convention partiers. The dinner was great but it is basically a "dining hall" - loud, big w/ no separation between guests. For a romantic getaway this is so not the place. For the price you could get MUCH, MUCH better.

Pros: overpriced, rooms too small, dining hall restauran

Posted 12/17/04

This has to be one of the most beautiful resorts in the northwest, if not the country! The rooms are comfortable and the view is amazing! The service in the restaurant was beyond anything I have ever experienced before. I'm told the spa is fabulous, and I'm bummed that I didn't get to try it, but I have no doubts it would live up to its reputation.

Pros: Location, Service, Atmosphere

Posted 04/29/04

This was a wonderful getaway. Definantly for people who like nature. If your looking for the snubby hotel with all the foofy staff, this is not the place. Staff was very personable and helpful. My experiecne was one that will bring back to this exquisite utopia.

Pros: location, service, beauty

Posted 01/28/04

We were really surprised to find this place so lacking in warmth. The hard surfaces make it very noisy and cavernous. The dining room - more like a dining hall - is noisy and hard, too, and the food seemed mass produced and banquet-like. Our room was nice for a motel, but not what we had hoped. We'd recommend stopping to see the wonderful fireplace or to take a dip in their pool, but otherwise we didn't find much value here.

Pros: fireplace, Columbia Gorge, pool

Cons: cold, food not great, noisy

Posted 08/03/03

Skamania was a great place to go for a business meeting. The food and service were wonderful. The fitness facilities and indoor pool were excellent. The place, however, was crawling with people attending meetings, and many were raucous. The rooms were OK, but not great--a step above a Holiday Inn. However, I wouldn't want to have been here on my own for rest and relaxation!

Pros: Beautiful Setting, Excellent Health Club, Great food

Cons: Just OK rooms, meeting clientele, can be noisy

Posted 04/23/03

i loved the brunch...lots to choose from and it's always fresh and new. usually it's difficult with brunches that serve so many to keep the best entrees well-stocked but they seem to have no problem doing so. there are specialty tables for fruits, desserts, breads and an easy to navigate island where the entrees are kept. all is well-planned and well-managed. service is great. the view is wonderful and the rooms/service are very nice.

Pros: scenic views, food/restaurants/bar, architecture

Posted 03/30/03

Having just returned from a wonderfully romantic weekend, I will give this lodge highest honors! The restaraunt's weekend buffets and menu items are fabulous.The service is outstanding. Though there are several seating areas by the main floors fireplace, one sheds all awareness of the presence of others. The spa is outstanding& the outdoor hot tub is equally appealing. We lodged in a wonderful room, and retired in front of our own fireplace following a spectacular day. The one draw back is that we heard our neighbors ALL night long one of the nights. I would think with the kind of spending done there by visitors, though obviously in construction, the walls would have more sound proofing. Then the weekend would have been perfect.

Pros: atmosphere, service, amenities

Cons: walls too thin

Posted 11/28/02

Went here for my husbands birthday. We had a wonderful romantic weekend! Hotel provides a secluded atomsphere, and the food in the resturant was excellent!!
Hotel is somewhat secluded from any entertainment, or other dining options though...

Pros: hot tub and pool area, resturant, great value

Cons: entertainment far, selective dining

Posted 10/23/02

This seems to be a good place for people with kids, but we left them at home and came as a couple looking for a quiet getaway. The drive was pretty, the fireplace in the entry is striking, but it is anything but quiet. Kids everywhere. We also didn't feel we had gotten away. There was a conference going on and we felt as if we had attended it by accident. Food was just okay - the dining hall stark and utilitarian. Employees were friendly, though.

Pros: Neat fireplace, lots of parking, nice staff

Cons: too many kids, mediocre food, little atmosphere

Posted 08/15/02

Only an hour away from Portland, Skamania makes a great overnight getaway. The drive is beautiful, and the views from the lodge are spectacular. It's worth it to pay a bit more for the view rooms, or, if you can, splurge for the suite, which has a fireplace and balcony. Be sure to bring a swimsuit, because the outdoor spa is wonderful.

Pros: views, outdoor spa, close to Portland

Posted 07/28/02

My experience at Skamania was amazing. The parking was fabulous we found a spot right away. The kids had a very enjoyable time playing in the pool 24/7. We all loved the restaraunt. The massages were great and the overall staff was very helpful and nice.

Pros: Good Eats and parking, Pool, Spa, Sauna Etc., Great view

Posted 07/13/02

A 'must see' for those who enjoy the big stone and timber feeling of lodge architecture. And -- by the way -- it makes an incredible place to have a hot drink during or after a day on the slopes. Friendly staff (though often quite busy), good drinks and food, comfy and historical lodgy atmosphere. On the skiing front -- if your looking for a good day of solid intermediate runs, you've got the right place. If you're bored unless you're staring down a black diamond, you might look elsewhere.

Pros: beautiful lodge, Good pub, good restaurant

Cons: busy in ski season

Posted 06/09/02