November 25, 2025

69-Room Boutique Hotel (re)opens in Hood River

Photos by Blaine Franger and Shelsi Lindquist [enlarge]

The now 69-room Lightwell reopened in September.

In the charming red-brick downtown of Hood River, Oregon, looking north to the Columbia River, the first portion of the then 27-room Waucoma Hotel was constructed in 1904 at 201 Cascade Ave. A subsequent addition created a four-story lightwell within the expanded 100-room structure, on the corner of Second Street.

A decade ago, apparently vacant over its retail level, the building then went on the market. It ended up in the hands of Columbia Gorge Capital. Working with GB Pacific Construction and manager VIP Hospitality Group, the now 69-room hotel reopened in September as the Lightwell.

The Lightwell is an all-local effort. Columbia Gorge is led by Lach Litwer and Cal Blake. VIP is run by the Lee family. And the builders are Gabe Genauer and Carrington “Ceb” Barrs. The renovations took about two years to complete for the 36,000-square-foot structure, and include rooftop solar panels and other green features. Local media value the job at $1 million. The previously unreinforced old masonry brick has been repainted, and there's been a seismic retrofit, too.

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The renovations took about two years to complete.

An unnamed new Mediterranean-themed restaurant is expected to open next year.

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Now in service is a rooftop bar, serving oysters and drinks.

Now in service is a rooftop bar, serving oysters and drinks, and Basecamp Cafe & Provisions in the lobby. The hotel naturally includes a spa, set to open in the basement next month. That'll have a 20-person soaking pool and 10-person sauna, plus massage rooms.

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The previously unreinforced old masonry brick has new paint and a seismic retrofit.

Hood River has long been a popular destination for outdoors-minded visitors, with biking, hiking, river rafting, windsurfing and skiing all nearby. And it's in the Oregon wine country, with lots of breweries and restaurants in the area.

The hotel is a city landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lightwell's website says the building operated as the Hotel Oregon after 1909, then went vacant circa 1973.

Columbia Gorge News reports that the longtime owner of River City Saloon, Bob Carnahan, bought the empty building in 2000 and leased the remaining ground-floor space to Naked Winery and other local businesses. The building sold to current ownership circa 2023, about the same time Carnahan died.