
Both Jack London slept here; photo courtesy of Wolf Creek Inn.
By Jan Jackson –
THE WOLF CREEK TAVERN is REOPENING MARCH 20
FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY (8AM-8PM)
WOLF CREEK, Ore. –Wolf Creek Inn is a sweet Oregon hideaway hidden from the freeway but permanently lodged in the hearts and minds of those who know about it and come back again and again. Built in 1883 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the oldest continuously operated Inn in Oregon.
Famous guests
Its famous guests include Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Ginger Rogers, Orson Wells, Robert Redford and Mr. and Mrs. Zane Grey. You can peer through the cordoned off but open doorway and see the room where Jack London and his wife stayed in 1913 while Jack was completing his novel “The Valley of the Moon.” This homey little piece of history is owned and managed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation.
History
The first Wolf Creek inn, called the Six-Bit House (because room and board was 75-cents a night), was built for folks traveling the Oregon Stagecoach Line between Portland and Sacramento. Four years later, the current and more luxurious 16-room Wolf Creek Tavern was built across the street (tavern meaning lodging with food).
When the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation bought it in 1975, they spent four years and a million and one-half dollars restoring it. It has a new foundation, central heating, air conditioning and private bathrooms expertly done in such a way that didn’t compromise the historical accuracy and ambiance.
Ghosts
And one more thing . . . The Historic Wolf Creek Inn is also one of the most haunted places you’ll ever sleep. You can book nightly three-hour tours, overnight tours or even rent the whole building and get a professional medium as a guide. Paranormal Tours
For more information on staying at Wolf Creek Inn, call 541-866-2474 or visit www.thewolfcreekinn.com
Lead photo by Jan Jackson