Inn of the White Salmon

As we all look to stretch our travel dollars, it's fun to search out places closer to home, places you can drive to and places that offer a lot of activity nearby, yet a quiet space to relax. Have we got a place for you!

Inn of the White Salmon is located in, of all places, White Salmon, Washington. Built in 1937, it was purchased in June of 2007 by David and Dennice Dierck. They have set about remodeling all the private and communal rooms and are a little over halfway through. "We wanted to honor the style, but update everything as well," says Dennice. "We had stars in our eyes when we took over. We've learned that things take a lot longer, especially in an older building. Where we thought we might be done in a year, it will be more like three. But the enjoyment we expected is here. One of the best things is how the community has supported us. We're new here, but they've come alongside and affirmed our vision. It's been great."

They've simplified rooms and offered nice additions. "Along with big things like retiling bathrooms and adding low-flow toilets, we're putting clock radios in all rooms with an iPod docking station along with flat screen TVs," says David. "We offer free WiFi. As an older building, the rooms were fairly dark. We've lightened them up and added more electrical outlets."

Being eco-friendly is important to them "We don't make a big deal of it, we're just bent that way," explains David. They found carpeting made from recycled Pepsi bottles and have a recycling station in their office. Guests can bring recyclables there or leave them in their rooms to be picked up by staff.

An unusual touch is how they've chosen to decorate rooms. Instead of hanging pictures, they've had local artist John Mayo paint quotes on the walls. They've christened the main hallway the Hallway Gallery and hung paintings and photographs by local artists.

Dennice and David next to a wall quote

"We decided early on that we'd run ideas through four business filters," explains David. "We look at art, wine, landscape and recreation. If an idea fits one category, it's worth talking about. If it hits 3-4 categories, it's a home run. Displaying local artists' work is an example. We also hold gallery shows and artist receptions with live music that are open to guests and the community. We offer wine tastings and tours. In December, we offer a "Nights in White Salmon" event, and an Art and Wine Fusion event in July." They help promote other events like March's "A World of Wine in 40 Miles" that celebrates local wineries.

The co-ed Alpine Hostel portion of the hotel sets them apart from other properties. It's a large room separated into two sections. Both sections hold bunk beds and each bed area has an outlet, a nightlight for reading, privacy curtain and a shelf to store books, reading glasses and other personal items (shown at left). There are lockers for each guest and everyone shares one bathroom. "Probably 70% of the Alpine Hostel guests have been from Europe, Australia and Asia. However, we also had a group of U.S. 62+ year olds who stayed here. They had all traveled and were familiar with the concept." One of their signature items is a queen size bunk bed.

Their two business associates are Flo and Nicole Niemesch. Nicole worked for them in a previous business and went to school with their son. She had traveled to Cologne, Germany to be an au pair. While there, she met Flo and they married. "We asked them to join us for a very specific reason," says David. "We wanted to capture the late 20s/early 30s generation. They taught us the hostel concept. In Europe, travelers want to save money on the hotel so they can spend it on food, drink and adventure."

White Salmon is near Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and plenty of water. They started a BRT program—Bed/Ride/Ticket. A package included a place to sleep, a ride to the mountain and a lift ticket. Over time, they've added other adventures and the "T" started meaning "thrill." They partner with Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys for rafting on the Klickitat, White Salmon and Snake rivers, and Wet Planet for a two-day kayaking class. Then it began to mean "trek" when they got interested in snowshoeing (they may call it "snowshoeing with Dangerous Dave," but they go over safety issues and how to get in and out of snow shoes in the lobby before ever leaving on a trek). Treks include a packed lunch from the Inn. "Afterward, we like to hit the brew pub and then the hot tub!" Flo and Nicole are snow boarders and share their knowledge and enthusiasm.

A wintery look across to Mt. Hood taken from the front of the Inn, March 2009

In the communal family room, people can watch TV, read, work on laptops, hang out and talk with other guests. At the desk, they sell wine by the glass or bottle at very reasonable prices that can be enjoyed in the family or guest rooms.

Communal family room

For a former firefighter (David) and Starbucks store manager (Dennice), they seem to have a knack for innkeeping. They're focused on finishing the rest of the remodel, but are also planning on adding a deck off the breakfast area to use for outdoor breakfasts and a beer garden. "The Gorge is an undiscovered gem," says David. "We love being here for the activities and 300 days a year of sunshine!"

Connie Adams/April 2009