Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Classic Neon Sign at Weasku Inn

Classic Neon Sign at Weasku Inn

If this place is good enough for Clark Gable, it’s good enough for me. In fact, the Weasku Inn is now a personal favorite of mine. And asking a lodging editor to name their favorite resort is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. Yet, the Weasku Inn truly is special. It’s rustic, yet upscale and it’s charming without being over-the-top cute.

Back to the Clark Gable connection. The Weasku Inn has had several owners in its 84 years of existence. It was under the Gibson family ownership during the “Golden Years” of 1937 that Hollywood Movie Legend Clark Gable discovered the Rogue River fishing lodge. Gable returned to the Weasku Inn over the years, but it was in 1942 after his wife, Carole Lombard, died in an airplane crash, that Gable holed up in room #4 at the top of the stairs. He didn’t emerge in public for three weeks.

Over the years, the Weasku Inn feel on hard times and was left in poor condition. Current owner Carl Johnson fell in love with the Rogue River Valley and took it upon himself to restore the Inn to its current glory.   After five years of extensive restoration, the Weasku Inn opened with little fanfare in 1996. There are 18 rooms on the property, including the house across the street, five rooms in the main lodge and 12 river front cabins. All the cabins have wifi, but better reception is in the main lodge.

Jacuzzi Suite Cabin #41

Jacuzzi Suite Cabin #41

My husband and I were guests of the Inn and we stayed in Cabin #41, a Jacuzzi Suite that looked as if it belonged in an Eddie Bauer photo spread. We didn’t get to spend near enough time on this property because we were leaving for a Hellgate Jetboat ride that afternoon. (More on that highly recommended excursion in another post.)

We drove to the Weasku in Grants Pass from Eugene, Oregon and had to drop our Labrador Retriever at R & R Pet Resort in nearby Phoenix, Oregon. The Weasku Inn is not pet-friendly, but our dog, Stella, had a wonderful time at the brand new kennel.

Our two teenagers stayed in cabin #22 with a queen bed and fold out couch. I don’t know which kid slept on the couch, but neither of them wanted to leave the next day. While we missed the 4:30-7:30 p.m. wine and cheese reception, we all loved the fresh chocolate chip cookies that were offered in the great room at the lodge. The next morning we returned to the lodge for a deluxe continental breakfast served from 7:30 – 11 a.m. My kids liked the mini cinnamon rolls, I liked the noon check out time.

Weasku Inn Lodge

Weasku Inn Lodge

The Weasku Inn is a member of Country House Inns and a Select Registry member. The Jacuzzi Suites rent for $329 from May – September and $255 off season.

Weasku Inn 1 (800) 493-2758 or 1 (541) 471-8000

5560 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527

Photos by Nancy D. Brown

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