Affordable Adventure Lodging and Spa Services in the Heart of the Columbia River Gorge Right Down the Hill from White Salmon!

The owners of The Society Hotel in Portland are planting their successful modern-meets-historic, hostel-meets-boutique-hotel model into their latest project: The Society Hotel – Bingen, located right down the hill from White Salmon. Renovations of what was originally the White Salmon and Bingen 80-year-old historic schoolhouse began in spring 2018. The retreat-meets-spa property will include a range of hospitality options including European-style hotel rooms, bunkhouses and standalone cabins, as well as saltwater soaking pools and event spaces for conferences and retreats. It is slated to open in summer 2019.

A Community Gathering Place for Adventurous Travelers to Connect with Each Other and Their Surroundings

With the spectacular Columbia River Gorge attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors from around the world, The Society Hotel – Bingen will fill a need for travelers who want to pause and connect with each other, their surroundings, and food and beverage. These adventurous travelers are drawn to the Gorge for its incredible diversity of activities in a stunning setting—from outdoor sports, to wine, beer and cider tasting, to exploring White Salmon, the Hood River County Fruit Loop and nearby Mount Hood and Mount Adams.

Located in downtown Bingen, just five blocks from the Amtrak train station (which is just two stops away from Portland, Oregon), 3 minute drive or a mile walk to downtown White Salmon and right across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon, the hotel will offer affordable rates and old-school concierge-style service, while sparing no detail toward being a community gathering place for adventurous travelers at any stage in life.

Accommodations + A Sense of Community

Cozy private spaces and welcoming gathering areas are a signature of The Society Hotel, and the Bingen location will feature many of these amenities. Like the original Society Hotel in Portland, the White Salmon and Bingen school is being renovated and revitalized to add modern comforts while retaining original architectural and design features.

CABINS

Views of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Gorge
20 modern cabins will encircle a meadow, firepit, and the bathhouse and spa, which includes a cafe of its own
Room for up to 4 people
Include small kitchenettes and dining areas

HOTEL

Two 24-bed bunk-rooms include a few fancy accoutrements like privacy curtains, outlets, storage cubbies and reading lights for each bunk.
10 European-style standard hotel rooms will be small, private rooms, with queen and king beds, storage and shared restrooms.
A bright, airy lobby will feature ample seating and house a curated café/bar with outdoor seating in the summer serving healthy grab-and-go snacks, regional coffees, teas and pastries, as well as cocktails, beer and wine.
The gymnasium will be available as an extension of the bar/cafe. It’s a great place to bring drinks and play shuffle board or corn hole, watch the game on the big screen, or chill on the wide old bleachers with friends while playing board games.
Free Wi-Fi throughout. There are plans to host open-mic nights, screen movies and even have the occasional guest DJ.

THE EXTRAS

THE SANCTUARY

This unique subterranean building can be reserved for retreats or other groups of travelers for personal use, yoga, team-building retreats and wellness. It’s flooded with natural light through a cupola and large, south-facing glass doors.

THE BATHHOUSE AND SPA

Skylights and fold-away glass walls help to bring the outdoors indoors every season of the year.
Massage rooms
Saltwater soaking pool
Large, covered outdoor hot tub
Sauna
Cold plunge
Bar with fresh juice drinks, kombucha, beer
and cocktails, and healthy snacks

THE SCHOOL GYM

The hallowed original gym will be restored and serve as a multipurpose room for everything from shooting hoops to corporate meetings.
The original floor and bleachers will remain intact.

THE ADVENTURER’S PARKING LOT

Includes gear-washing station
4WD cars available for rent and daily shuttle
to train station and Hood River

How About a Little History?

The original schoolhouse was built in 1908 and burned down in 1933.
The new White Salmon & Bingen School complex was designed by Pacific Northwest architect Donald J. Stewart and built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 for unemployed, unmarried men as part of the New Deal.
The 7,500-square-foot schoolhouse served as the school for White Salmon and Bingen, Washington from 1938 until the 1970s.
In 1988 it was converted into a hostel, which offered private rooms and dormitory-style accommodations.