HOOD RIVER, Oregon — The Lightwell Hotel & Spa recently opened in Hood River, Oregon, transforming a historic downtown building into a 69-room boutique hotel.
Private event space includes the 350-square-foot Waucoma Room and the 700-square-foot Columbia Room. Nearby, The Ruins is a 100-year-old fruit cannery turned modern, industrial event space suited for up to 200 guests. Lightwell also offers curated group experiences, like private Gorge hikes to waterfalls and paddling adventures, to add a little adventure to your corporate event.
A re-created rooftop veranda with its wooden trellis canopy mirrors the original hotel’s design, now home to Hood River’s only rooftop bar. Open year-round, the terrace invites guests and locals to take in panoramic river and mountain views with a fire table and cozy seating.
With 69 guest rooms and suites, the boutique property seamlessly blends historic craftsmanship with contemporary design and sustainability. Set within the restored 1904 Waucoma Hotel, the property is downtown Hood River’s first full-service hotel in over a century, and it features a sunlit atrium, rooftop bar, Pacific Northwest-Mediterranean restaurant and stone-walled subterranean spa.
Lightwell’s name pays homage to its defining architectural feature: a four-story atrium constructed in 1910 to create a central well of natural light flowing in from a glass ceiling to interior windows and the ground floor. Throughout the property, intentional design details tell a story of restoration and renewal, from reclaimed oak floors in the restaurant to solar panels on the roof.
The hotel required three years of restoration and construction, including work to secure the structure and to restore original architectural details. The hotel’s original entrance has been fully restored, welcoming guests into a grand lobby anchored by a stone fireplace, a surrounding lounge, and a historic baby grand piano once owned by Hood River’s first female hotelier, Ola Bell.
A key element of the property is its subterranean spa, anchored by the building’s original basalt-stone foundation, which naturally regulates temperature to create a cool and grounding retreat. The spa features a 20-person soaking pool and a 10-person sauna.
A celebration of Pacific Northwest and Mediterranean inspiration, the property’s on-site dining options offer something for every appetite and occasion. Rooftop at Lightwell pairs panoramic Columbia River views with oysters, sparkling wine and sunset cocktails, and the Lobby Bar at Lightwell features small plates, cocktails and Oregon wines and craft beer, along with live music and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Basecamp Cafe & Provisions highlights local makers through an exclusive coffee partnership with Portland’s Proud Mary Coffee, as well as breakfast and lunch. Charcuterie fixings, including local jams, tinned fish, regional wines and grab-and-go provisions, round out the offerings.
Coming this spring, a signature restaurant will serve as the property’s Mediterranean-inspired primary dining destination, spotlighting regional seafood, locally sourced meats and seasonal produce.
For more information and to book a stay, visit lightwellhotel.com.
