There is no doubt this is the best place to stay in Westfir or Oakridge unless you rent an Airbnb that costs over $400. We paid a little over $300 with tax to stay in the Waldo Room in mid October. The lodge is in the most beautiful part of this area--away from the blight you see in parts of Oakridge. It is a spot of great natural beauty, by a covered bridge and in a gorgeous little area right up against the road into the Lake Waldo wilderness.
We were drawn back here because 3 years ago we went to Lake Waldo at this time and thought it was the most beautiful place we had ever been. This time, unfortunately, it was raining all day up there so we could not do the hike we had planned. Sadly the road by the lodge leading up into the pretty stuff was closed due to fires. We were happy to make the best of it anyway and had a magical night where we were the only ones staying at the lodge. It was easy to get in and once there, we realized all the other facilities were locked and we were the only ones on site, we had fun looking around a bit. We never saw a host or a worker or a guest but that was pretty cool and we had a lot of privacy, though it was cold outside in the common areas.
The only things I wish had been a little different: Hosts were kind enough to let us in half an hour early because our hike was rained out. But they also told me it could not be any earlier because they had multiple checkouts that day and only one housekeeper. If we were the only ones staying there and I requested this in the morning. why could they not ask the housekeeper to clean our room first so we could get in earlier given we were the only paying guests that night? In the morning it was raining and we were slow getting up and I asked if we could check out a half hour or hour later than 11 and they said no because they had a full house coming that night. If we were the only guests the night before and they have 4 hours to clean our room, it surprises me they could not spare an extra half hour or hour for their only guests on the property the next morning. We left at 11 Am and no one was anywhere in sight on the property to get ready for the big group. They could have given us more time.
Also, the food in Oakridge is horrible and most good things close at 3. there is no food in Westfir. I thought the little store might be open at the lodge though I knew the restaurant was not, but there was no one on the property at any time offering us anything of any kind to eat or drink. The Waldo room has a microwave and mini-fridge but I believe most of the other rooms have neither. If I had not called ahead to ask and brought food from Bend, we would have been screwed. I was surprised they close everything down at the end of September. Be prepared or be sad at dinner and breakfast time.
In the end I felt we overpaid given the lack of any on site support or food and how cold it was in common areas. Maybe the rates should go down off season if it is so bare bones for guests? I called ahead to make sure the wireless worked for a last minute work meeting I was forced to have and was told many people had worked remotely at the lodge. When my husband and I both tried to join the zoom meeting however it kept dropping the signal on both of us and we had to keep rejoining and finally I had to go out into the cold common room so we could both stay on the call. Not a dealbreaker since no one should expect wireless to work well way out here, but given the lack of a TV in the room or much heat in the common areas, if you come at a non summer time make sure to download something to watch or be prepared to tell stories in your room after dark to entertain yourself.
This place is best for a group of bikers or a wedding party that can rent out the whole place and entertain each other at night. read more