HotelChatter

Not So Scary
It turns out there isn't anything spooky about this place at all (other than the fact that I couldn't stop myself from whispering "Hello, Danny" every time we walked down a long, empty hallway.)

Yes, the place is from the 1930s. Yes, it's a solitary complex out in the wilderness (but just at the foot of Mount Hood, not in Colorado). Yes, everything is oversized, wooden, and heavy, exuding an old-fashioned flickering fire-during-apres-ski ambience and deco decor.

And you can clearly see the lodge in the film (although the close-up exteriors and interiors were built on a set in England). There, the similarities end.

Room Reaction
The rooms are small (remember in the 1930s, the public wasn't yet fixated on cavernous bathrooms), but the details are well-thought. Little touches of Nordic, Adirondack, and Wild West are smartly blended together, from the old-fashioned latches on the doors and the nubby woolen blankets, to the soft beds and warm woven curtains.

Everything here is handmade. During the Great Depression, the Federal Works Progress Administration hired local craftsmen to fell trees to build the lodge and create the beautiful, solid furniture, masons to erect the enormous central stone fireplace, smiths to forge the wrought-iron details found in every nook of the lodge, and seamstresses to stitch drapes and bedspreads.

In our room, a documentary about the hotel's construction ran on a continuous loop. We were amazed to see the same desks, chairs, and tables throughout the lodge that the film informed us were made 70 years ago. Perfected by experts, made from natural resources, this place was built to endure.

Food and Drink
The Timberline wasn't quite to capacity while we were there, but it was made for a crowd ready to play and party hard. We found a few bars (one was locked) with at least three boasting staggering views of Mount Hood and beyond; empty rooms just waiting for receptions and parties, a mini museum, a heated outdoor pool, and a very sweet-looking hot tub and steam room.

Here and there, trails lead up the mountainside into the snowy patches. Despite it being early September, one could plainly see Mt. Hood's everlasting glacier. When it rains at the base, it snows at the summit.

Lest we forget the food: We had an extraordinary meal, the service impeccable. My husband had stuffed pheasant with white truffles and lavender. I had beef tips with wild mushrooms and egg noodles, in a sauce so rich and slurpily good I was heartbroken not to be able to take away a doggie bag. The wine and beer were sumptuous, and they served us sorbets in between dishes to clear our palates. Ahhh.

Bottom Line
Through the huge glass panes of The Cascade Room, we watched the sun disappear behind the mountains. Who said anything about all work and no play?

Related Stories:
· Timberline Lodge reviews [TripAdvisor]
· The Oregon Hotel Trail: Park Lane Inn and Suites [HotelChatter]