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Location,
Location, Location
Riverside Inn Resort and Conference Center provides
comfort along the banks of the famed Rogue River
By
Dan Shryock
Oregon.com
A jogger
heads out for an early morning run through nearby All-Sports Park. Two
fishermen look up as they make last-minute preparations before heading
out to seek salmon on the Rogue River.
Later in
the day, activity in the Riverside
Inn Resort and Conference Center parking lot picks up as people arrive
to take the Hellgate Jetboat tour or try out Orange Torpedo's river rafting.
The time-honored
real estate mantra - location, location, location - holds true for the
Riverside Inn.
"I consider
the Riverside Inn the anchor of Grants Pass," says operations director
Charmaine Carnes. "We're right by the river. There's nothing else like
it in town.
"We provide
nice rooms, a place that's constant and pleasant," she says. "And then
you step out on the room balcony and there's the river. You get the water
and that sets us apart. We're the only hotel on the river in Grants Pass."
Like
they say - location, location, location.
A
good night's stay
The Riverside Inn offers 175 rooms split between three units - East, West
and Main. You'll find traditional, reliable hotel rooms. Some have gas-fed
fireplaces for a cozy night's stay.
"Hotels
are about sleep. They're about getting some rest," Carnes says. "We try
to provide the calm our guests want. This is affordable, yet comfortable.
We go above your standard hotel. You can bring your pets and have a great
dinner by the river."
Yes, the
main building is set aside for guests with cats and dogs, Carnes says.
And almost all rooms in all three buildings overlook the Rogue.
Guests may
select one of two Jacuzzi suites for special in-room comfort. Two outdoor
pools and Jacuzzis are open during warmer months.
Rooms
are comfortable, quiet and overlook the river.
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Special accommodations
are available for large families. The Rouge Cottage is a separate house
with three bedrooms - five beds and a pull-out couch - and a kitchen.
There also
are two apartments with kitchenettes. "And we can provide a microwave
or refrigerator for people who need them," Carnes
says.
Dining
and much more
The resort operates Rafters Bar & Grill, serving lunch and dinner year
round. Breakfast is also served from May through October. Continental
breakfast is available in the hotel lobby in the off-season.
The Riverside
complex also features a day spa and salon. Two massage therapists and
two facialists are available to pamper guests. For those looking for a
workout, the Riverside has special discounts available with a local athletic
club, Club Northwest. Resort staff will even shuttle small groups
to the club.
Conference
space aplenty
The Riverside Inn's unique location and facilities make it a popular conference
choice, Carnes says.
The conference
center totals 18,000 square feet suitable for large and small groups and
features dancing floors and wedding space. "We can accommodate up to 400
people with our six meeting rooms," Carnes says.
The Rivertop
Room, for example, has a centered fireplace and looks over the Rogue River.
It accommodates 75 people standing and 60 sitting. "We've had weddings
in here," Carnes says. "It can feel very intimate."
There's also
the Chinook, Otter, River Top, Blue Heron and Rainbow rooms. The 40-person
Eagle's Nest with its chapel ceiling, located in the West building,
is popular as well.
It
still comes back to recreation
"The summer weather here is amazing," Carnes says, "and there's so much
to do."
The options
start with Hellgate
Jetboats, which docks at the resort, and Orange
Torpedo rafting. Both companies' offices are located in the Riverside
complex.
The Riverside
staff also has working relationships with guides and outfitters for fishing,
rock climbing, mountain biking and much more. Activity packages are available.
If you need help, the staff will connect you with
the right people.
Looking
to the future
There's also big plans afoot at the Riverside. Vintage Hotels owner Carl
Johnson is busy preparing for a major renovation of the East building
in 2004-2005. In the end, the East will feel more like the Weasku
Inn, the company's sister property just outside Grants Pass.
Our idea is
to create a new lodge," Johnson says. "If we're going to do it, we might
as well do it up right. We're going to turn it into a mini Weasku. That's
what we enjoy doing."
Johnson
says some outside work will begin as early this summer. The real effort
begins during the winter of 2004-2005 after all city building permits
have been obtained.
We
welcome your comments and suggestions concerning this or any other
content on Oregon.com. Please send your comments to dshryock@oregon.com.
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The
Riverside can accoomodate up to 400 people for conferences and events.
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Hellgate Jetboats launches it popular
rides from the Riverside Resort Inn. |
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