by Christy Solo – Editor
Welcome to Part II of All Things: Quirky/Unique Oregon Hotels. As promised in Part I – this week we’ll explore a couple of deep woods options.
Even though we all live in either a “woodsy” area or at least a “woodsy adjacent” area with limitless access to All the Woods You Could Ever want – there’s still something about staying in a cabin or lodge in the woods that’s…undefinable.
I say this as someone who spent every summer of their life vacationing in a cabin in the woods. Even though that cabin didn’t have an indoor loo until I was 13, I loved it (albeit I loved it more once I no longer had to make that Midnight Walk to the outhouse with my trusty flashlight!)
I’ve stayed in many cabins in the woods and have sharp memories of each of them. My summer day camp had a cabin in the woods and a few campers got to spend one weekend there each summer (after which my family would go to our cabin Union Creek, so double the cabin experience), there were the cabins we stayed in during my sixth grade Outdoor Education week, my friend’s family had a cabin at Tahoe and I got to spend a week there once. I’ve stayed in a friend’s cabin in the absolute middle of nowhere, Colorado and at a cabin resort in Montana, just to name a few. All awesome experiences!
But let me tell you, even though I can drive on up to my family’s cabin in Union Creek almost any time (and did a week ago) for a mere $30 per night – that electricity doesn’t pay for itself – I’d still pay to stay at either of our featured Deep Woods hotels.
We’ll start off with the hotel which has “actually affordable” rates if you plan just right: The Green Springs Inn & Cabins in Ashland.
We’ll start with their description from their website to whet your cabin appetite, “Located along the scenic Highway 66, Green Springs Inn sits on over 100 acres of pristine forest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Our rustic lodge rooms and handcrafted cabins offer a warm, comfortable refuge for adventurers, couples and families.”
Green Springs boasts nine different cabins around the property and a motel-style lodge with eight rooms (you can guess that’s the most affordable option).
We’ll note that all but one of the motel-lodge rooms have only one bed per room, so if you plan to stay there, pick a companion who doesn’t snore or hog the covers. The room with two beds is $163 per night so still sits well in the “affordable” column though it’s the most expensive room.
All rooms at the lodge come with a jacuzzi tub, beyond that it’s a bit of a mix and match as far as amenities go. All but one room allows pets. Some rooms have air conditioning, some don’t. One room has no AC, but does have a fireplace, so plan accordingly.
Every room is charming and the bedding looks like even the Princess from The Princess and the Pea couldn’t find fault with it.
Having looked at so many quirky/unique hotels around the state, you just about cannot beat the lodge nightly prices. It’s pretty amazing. If you book through their website, you will also qualify for 10% off you first stay.
Now, onto the cabins. We admit, we fall out of “affordable” world here, but even staying for a couple of nights at one of these cabins would be worth the effort to save your pennies for a special vacation.
That said, the prices are extremely reasonable for what you get! It’s just not a spur of the moment, “hey let’s go spend a night at the Inn” type pricing. For starters cabins have a two-night minimum.
We won’t delve into the details of every cabin, but we’ll hit sort of he “high/low” highlights (price wise).
The cabin prices range from $219 to $238 per night and for that you get an entire cabin. Staying in one of the cabins has more of an “Air B&B” vibe, you have self-check in and the entire place to yourself.
Cabins range in size from diminutive and very private Boccard Point which sleeps two adults, to Agate Flats which sleeps six. Most cabins sleep six and have two bedrooms and one bath.
Most cabins are dog friendly (for an additional $87 fee) but if you want to bring Fido along be sure to double-check that your choice of cabin is dog-friendly. You can also pay for a pup-grade for your pooch which includes a plush bed, bowls, treats and a take-home souvenir.
Cabins have WiFi, hot tubs or jacuzzi baths, full kitchens, refrigerators, fireplaces etc. Again, as they are each unique, double-check before you book to ensure you have the amenities you want.
If your idea of a vacation includes not cooking – despite the cabin having a kitchen – Green Springs has you covered with an on-site restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There are other experiences you can add on as well such as in-room massage, luxury picnic, birthday experiences, private yoga, romance and more.
We’ll finish out our tour with the (literally) world famous Timberline Lodge in Government Camp, Ore. (~60 miles east of Portland).
The Timberline is our only quirky/unique hotel with its own Wikipedia page. Here’s the Wiki intro, “Timberline Lodge is a mountain lodge on the south side of Mount Hood in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Portland. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 by the Works Progress Administration, it was built and furnished by local artisans during the Great Depression. Timberline Lodge was dedicated September 28, 1937, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
However, if you’re a Stephen King fan, you are currently saying aloud, “Roosevelt, schmoosevelt! Let’s talk about The Shining!” Because no offense to FDR, but it was Stanley Kubrik’s film version of The Shining – filmed at the Timberline – which really brought Big Fame to the lodge.
We’ll pause to note that the novel The Shining was actually inspired by The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Colo. (we also recommend staying there if you ever get the chance).
Still, while The Shining brought the Timberline fame, no one would stay there if it wasn’t a super cool historic lodge in its own right.
We’ll pause again to note the “lodge” in Timberline Lodge. This is not a luxury hotel (despite the prices) it’s true to its rustic roots. The Timberline is alla bout cozy rooms with knotty pine walls. See photos, the rooms are basically all bed. Cozy.
Most of the rooms have bathrooms, but if you need the “lowest of the low” room price, you can stay in a chalet room (separate from the lodge). These rooms put the “Q” in “Quaint” with bunk beds and a “shared private bath” which seems like an oxymoron, but that’s what’s advertised.
Most of the 70 rooms at The Timberline are Queen or Queen Twin rooms. Because the lodge is world famous, those are the rooms most likely to be available as the very high end and very low-end rooms go first. The Timberline advertises an “economy twin” room which they also tout as being cramped and in a bad location – but it comes with free “I slept in the broom closet at Timberline Lodge” coffee mugs. However, those rooms are always booked. Maybe it’s the free mugs, maybe the low price.
Standard price for a Queen is $405 per night. Don’t pay that though (I mean, even if you can), there are deals to be made even at a place as popular as Timberline. Currently The Timberline is offering a “book now and save” deal. If you book by June 30, 2026 (for a stay “whenever”) you get $150 off per night.
The rooms include, original handcrafted furniture, artwork and textiles, the queen rooms feature one queen feather bed. Each room includes a private bath with shower, complimentary toiletries, free Wi-Fi, satellite tv, telephone, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, alarm clock, fan and heater.
If a 2026 stay isn’t in the budget (especially with current gas prices) don’t worry, they’ll have some type of deal going when you are ready for your historic stay.
And that is what makes the drive to Government Camp and paying luxury prices for a rustic hotel experience worth it – the history!
Those who have stayed there say it’s worth the drive and price for the uniqueness of the experience.
There are – of course – also lots of outdoorsy things to do in the area every month of the year. Winter has skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and snow cats. Warmer months offer hiking, biking, shopping, art tours and best of all meeting Heidi and Bruno the lodge’s two St. Bernards. That’s just about worth the price of a night’s stay. Speaking of dogs, many of the rooms at the Timberline are dog friendly.
You’ll need to eat of course, and there are nine different cafes, bars and restaurants at and around the lodge for your dining pleasure.
Oh, there probably are not creepy olde tymey twins waiting to play with you at the end of every hallway – probably.
