Skamania Lodge general manager Kara Owen describes the facility’s expansion; plus meeting facilities across the state
Skamania Lodge is situated in Stevenson, Wash., but its proximity to the Oregon border and to Portland means the majority of its guests come from the Portland area.
This year the lodge is embarking on a multitiered expansion. Its accommodations include 254 hotel rooms and six treehouses — and it will be adding three more of the latter. The site already includes one outdoor pavilion and is adding a second — which general manager Kara Owen describes as a “moonlight pavilion.” Skamania is adding five “glamping units” that include a sleeping area, bathroom and soaking tub but are situated on a deck near a ravine — “that high-end camping experience that you want, with all the amenities of the resort attached.” Finally, in the fall, Owen says the resort plans to add a villa — that is, a three-bedroom vacation home — and two two-room cabins. And Owen says the goal is to continue to grow and expand.
Oregon Business spoke with Owen about the 2023 expansion and how the site adapted in the wake of COVID-19. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s prompted this forthcoming expansion?
Our owners, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, are very interested in continuing to bring people out into the Gorge. When the original partnership developed 30 years ago, it was all about bringing tourism and people out to experience all the beauty and ruggedness the Columbia Gorge had to offer. Pyramid, our management company, wants to continue to elevate the experience for people coming to the Gorge by providing them different types of accommodations, different types of experiences, and continue to grow what we have available for people.
The last few years have been pretty strange for events and hospitality. What has it been like at Skamania?
We feel very fortunate to be located where we are, just 45 minutes from a major metropolitan area and an airport. Being that we’re on 175 acres and have a lot of the outdoors available to us, we feel like we were able to fare a little bit better than places that may be a little bit more urban, or may have a lot more density around them. It was definitely different coming out of COVID, and following all of the mandates and regulations and trying to provide a safe space for everyone to be in.
Our advantage was, as summer 2021 opened up, people wanted to be outdoors, they wanted to do whatever traveling they could, and we were an ideal spot for that. Because people who come and travel, be in their rooms feel secure, and then get outside and experience hiking and biking, rafting and kayaking and all the things that were available out here.
What are trends you’re seeing in terms of large events?
I think people are getting back to connecting. There is a desire for people to get back together and talk about what they can do in their industry or what they do in their business, and have that connection to other people within their field. And so I think we’ll see that for a little while. I think people who, you know, your work is important to you, and I think people who value that also via the connection that they can get with their peers.
Meeting Facilities
Ranked by total square footage of event space
1. Oregon Convention Center
Total Meeting Space: 375,000
Total trade show space: 255,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 15,000
Meeting rooms: 52
City: Portland
2. Portland Expo Center
Total Meeting Space: 333,000
Total trade show space: 333,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 27,460
Meeting rooms: 10
City: Portland
3. Lane Events Center
Total Meeting Space: 200,000
Total trade show space: 100,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 3,000
Meeting rooms: 18
City: Eugene
4. McMenamins Grand Lodge
Total Meeting Space: 100,000
Total trade show space: 4,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 208
Meeting rooms: 6
City: Forest Grove
Tie 5. Jackson County Expo
Total Meeting Space: 80,000
Total trade show space: 68,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 450
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Central Point
Tie 5. OSU Conference Center
Total Meeting Space: 80,000
Total trade show space: 6,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 500
Meeting rooms: 8
City: Corvallis
7. Hilton Portland Downtown & The Duniway, a Hilton Hotel
Total Meeting Space: 78,000
Total trade show space: 26,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 1,500
Meeting rooms: 34
City: Portland
8. Eastern Oregon University
Total Meeting Space: 66,000
Total trade show space: 3,629
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 200
Meeting rooms: 25
City: La Grande
9. Sunriver Resort
Total Meeting Space: 63,000
Total trade show space: 18,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 900
Meeting rooms: 17
City: Sunriver
10. Westside Commons
Total Meeting Space: 55,418
Total trade show space: 49,475
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 1,264
Meeting rooms: 10
City: Hillsboro
11. Oregon Zoo
Total Meeting Space: 47,744
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 3,645
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Portland
12. Holiday Inn Portland-Columbia Riverfront
Total Meeting Space: 41,298
Total trade show space: 18,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 1,200
Meeting rooms: 20
City: Portland
13. Seaside Civic & Convention Center
Total Meeting Space: 33,500
Total trade show space: 24,600
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 530
Meeting rooms: 16
City: Seaside
14. PAM Venues
Total Meeting Space: 30,000
Total trade show space: 16,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 1,500
Meeting rooms: 8
City: Portland
15. Skamania Lodge
Total Meeting Space: 22,475
Total trade show space: 11,550
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 504
Meeting rooms: 24
City: Stevenson
16. Monarch Hotel
Total Meeting Space: 20,000
Total trade show space: 13,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 575
Meeting rooms: 9
City: Clackamas
17. Wildhorse Resort & Casino
Total Meeting Space: 18,000
Total trade show space: 8,300
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 450
Meeting rooms: 10
City: Pendleton
18. Spirit Mountain Casino and Lodge
Total Meeting Space: 17,500
Total trade show space: 5,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 180
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Grand Ronde
19. Four Rivers Cultural Center
Total Meeting Space: 16,000
Total trade show space: 13,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 1000
Meeting rooms: 8
City: Ontario
20. Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites
Total Meeting Space: 15000
Total trade show space: 10800
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 856
Meeting rooms: 9
City: Ashland
21. Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn
Total Meeting Space: 14,600
Total trade show space: 4,400
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 350
Meeting rooms: 9
City: Hood River
22. McMenamins Edgefield
Total Meeting Space: 13,000
Total trade show space: 8,200
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 225
Meeting rooms: 11
City: Troutdale
23. Tiffany Center
Total Meeting Space: 11,625
Total trade show space: 11,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 750
Meeting rooms: 8
City: Portland
24. McMenamins Crystal Hotel & Ballroom
Total Meeting Space: 9,000
Total trade show space: 9,000
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 500
Meeting rooms: 2
City: Portland
25. Blue Mountain Conference Center
Total Meeting Space: 8,700
Total trade show space: 6,300
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 350
Meeting rooms: 3
City: La Grande
26. Roth’s Event Center
Total Meeting Space: 6,800
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 200
Meeting rooms: 6
City: Salem
27. Surfsand Resort and Haystack Gardens
Total Meeting Space: 6,723
Total trade show space: 2,829
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 180
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Cannon Beach
28. Geiser Grand Hotel
Total Meeting Space: 6,400
Total trade show space: 2,400
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 280
Meeting rooms: 6
City: Baker City
29. McMenamins Gearhart Hotel & Sand Trap Pub
Total Meeting Space: 6,252
Total trade show space: 1,566
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 300
Meeting rooms: 2
City: Gearhart
30. Eastside Exchange Ballroom & Cascade Rooftop
Total Meeting Space: 6,200
Total trade show space: 6,200
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 400
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Portland
31. Agate Beach Inn
Total Meeting Space: 6,040
Total trade show space: 1,040
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 320
Meeting rooms: 5
City: Newport
32. Ashland Springs Hotel
Total Meeting Space: 5,700
Total trade show space: 3,705
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 200
Meeting rooms: 5
City: Ashland
33. Timberline Lodge
Total Meeting Space: 5,200
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 300
Meeting rooms: 6
City: Timberline
34. McMenamins Old Church & Pub
Total Meeting Space: 5,040
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 225
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Wilsonville
35. Oregon Garden Resort
Total Meeting Space: 5,000
Total trade show space: 3,240
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 500
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Silverton
36. Gray Gables Estate
Total Meeting Space: 4,600
Total trade show space: 1,500
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 260
Meeting rooms: 2
City: Portland
37. Portland Spirit Cruises & Events
Total Meeting Space: 4,439
Total trade show space: 4,439
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 340
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Portland
38. Tetherow Resort
Total Meeting Space: 4,393
Total trade show space: 4,393
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 250
Meeting rooms: 7
City: Bend
39. The Aerie at Eagle Landing
Total Meeting Space: 4,063
Total trade show space: 4,063
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 250
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Happy Valley
40. Embarcadero Resort Hotel & Marina
Total Meeting Space: 4,000
Total trade show space: 2,552
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 225
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Newport
41. Inn at Spanish Head
Total Meeting Space: 3,490
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 150
Meeting rooms: 5
City: Lincoln City
42. Hotel deLuxe
Total Meeting Space: 3,372
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 115
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Portland
43. Hotel Lucia
Total Meeting Space: 2,532
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 128
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Portland
44. Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
Total Meeting Space: 2,500
Total trade show space: 1,400
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 80
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Portland
45. The Rogue Regency
Total Meeting Space: 2,421
Total trade show space: 1,760
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 120
Meeting rooms: 4
City: Medford
46. McMenamins Kennedy School
Total Meeting Space: 2,400
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 200
Meeting rooms: 5
City: Portland
47. The Dossier Hotel
Total Meeting Space: 2,060
Total trade show space: 2,060
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 100
Meeting rooms: 3
City: Portland
48. McMenamins Hotel Oregon
Total Meeting Space: 2,050
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 50
Meeting rooms: 2
City: McMinnville
49. Hallmark Resort & Spa Cannon Beach
Total Meeting Space: 1,440
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 60
Meeting rooms: 1
City: Cannon Beach
50. Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa
Total Meeting Space: 1,058
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 60
Meeting rooms: 2
City: Astoria
51. Steamboat Inn
Total Meeting Space: 1,000
Total trade show space: NA
Maximum capacity of banquet facilities: 60
Meeting rooms: 1
City: Idleyld Park