April 14, 2023
I finally made it to the Wolf Creek Inn after years of wanting to stay there. I’d stopped for a meal on another trip, but I’d never had occasion to spend the night.
The Wolf Creek Inn is an impressive lodging and dining establishment, now part of the Oregon State Parks system. Built in 1883, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and restored and reopened in 1979.
I arrived in the early afternoon, a little too soon to check in. I strolled around the grounds, taking advantage of the opportunity to stretch my legs after driving. About this time, a bite to eat was beginning to sound tempting, and I knew the inn’s restaurant was open all day. I headed inside and took a seat in the dining room, where I had an appetizer while jotting down trip notes.
When it finally came time to check in, I was given a delightful accommodation upstairs with antique furnishings and soothing peach colors. This room was reputed to have paranormal activity though I didn’t experience any while I was there. I settled in, welcoming the chance to rest.
I returned to the restaurant later for dinner, figuring on a plain house salad as the safe way to go for a vegetarian meal. But the chef emerged from the kitchen and suggested I let him fix me an upscale grilled five-cheese sandwich along with a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette. It was perfect, and I thanked him for the special attention.
In addition to guest rooms, the upstairs offered a spacious common room with large tables featuring games, books, playing cards and puzzles. A convenient kitchenette sat off to the side, available to guests for coffee or tea anytime. A refrigerator was available for guest use.
Before leaving the area, I drove four miles east to the ghost town of Golden, a 19th century mining town that is now on the National Register of Historic Places. I was there alone, and it did indeed feel like a ghost town, eerily so. I took a few photos, returned to the highway, and moved on to search for a new adventure.
