The Historic Hotel Condon; Small World Connection (Pictures and a video too)

When you get off the beaten path, and take a road less traveled, things just happen.

We stopped off in Condon to stay the night at an old historic hotel. The Historic Hotel Condon was built in 1920. At one time it had 42 guest rooms, shared baths, an elegant dining room at a bar.

In 1990 the place shut down. In 1999 a group of 30 local business people formed an LLC and dumped more than a million dollars worth of renovation work into the hotel. Now there are only 18 rooms with full baths and they are amazing.

This is a beautiful place to stay. It’s elegant, quiet and decorated to make you feel like you live in a forgotten time.

On arrival there is a wine/beer/cheese and cracker reception in the lobby. The dining room recently shut down so the Country Flowers Deli across the street whipped up a dinner for us that we could reheat later in the hotel.

There’s not a lot to do in Condon and that’s what makes it so charming. Kathy and I walked the streets, checked out the public swimming pool (closes at 7pm) and had a wonderful evening just admiring small town Oregon. Everything here closes by 7pm, even the grocery store so you have to plan a bit.

While sipping a beer in the lobby, and chatting with the manager, one of those “I can’t believe it” moments happened.

When the LLC disbanded a few years ago, a guy named Rick Stanley and his wife Marlene bought the Historic Hotel Condon. As the hotel manager and I kept talking I realized “Rick and Marlene Stanley” and I went to school together. I used to wait on him at Copeland Lumber when I was in college. Marlene’s Brother was married to my sister’s best friend in high school. In Fact, my sister was the birthing coach for the Stanley’s nephew.

But wait there is more. While sipping wine a woman who works at the deli across the street strolled into the lobby looking for a paper. She recognized us and to make a long story short we’d met years ago at the Emergency Animal Clinic in Springfield. Our dog had been stung on the nose by a bee and her’s had eaten an entire bag of dog food. We remembered the story because it was so odd. Now, she is joining us on our Face Book Page. It truly is a small world.

Life is full of surprises, twists and turns. Most of us live (I used to) trying to avoid as many of those uncontrolled moments as possible. But when you step off the beaten path you find things, people and stories you just don’t find in the regular, comfortable places.

So, step out, get off the track a bit, explore and ask plenty of questions along the way. You never know whom you’ll run into.

Oh, by the way, this is a great place to stay.

For more information check out their website at

www.HotelCondon.com

2 Comments

• 
  Taylor Pawley July 30, 2010 at 8:30 am

  Thanks Rick! It was great to meet you guys and I think I enjoyed your stay as much as you did! : ) Hope to see you back soon.

  -Taylor Pawley
  Manager
  Hotel Condon
• 
  Taylor Pawley July 30, 2010 at 10:30 am

  Thanks Rick! It was great to meet you guys and I think I enjoyed your stay as much as you did! : ) Hope to see you back soon.

  -Taylor Pawley
  
  Manager
  
  Hotel Condon