Bingen, Washington
The Society Hotel Hood River - Bingen
Gorge schoolhouse hideaway
Bingen, Washington
Renovated
2019
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Wellness SocialOutside the door
The house
The Society HotelGorge schoolhouse hideaway
A communal Columbia Gorge basecamp where travelers gather around courtyard fire pits and shoot hoops inside a restored 1930s gymnasium.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A cedar cabin ring encircles the restored schoolhouse under a continuous cantilevered roof around the bathhouse.
Remarkable
Indoor and outdoor saline soaking pools, a cedar sauna, cold plunge, and an earth-sheltered yoga dome.
Notable
A restored school gymnasium with basketball hoops, fire pits in the courtyard, and a lively lobby cafe.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
the old ball field has been transformed into a giant ring of modern-looking cedar cabins…with hammock-strung breezeways overlooking the river, and a full-service spa in the center.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Set in quiet Bingen along the Columbia River Gorge, the hotel sits ten minutes across the bridge from downtown Hood River.
The rooms
Standalone cedar cabins feature private porches and hammocks, while the original schoolhouse holds subject-themed rooms with shared baths and wooden bunks.
The soaking pools
Bring a swimsuit.
A skylit indoor saltwater pool sits at 95°F, and the outdoor hot pool reaches 104°F with views of the Gorge.
The sauna
Slatted stepped benches fill the cedar dry sauna, heated to 195°F with soft red cove lighting along the ceiling.
At the table
The lobby café pours espresso, regional wines, and Pacific Northwest beers beside reclaimed schoolhouse blackboards and vintage library lamps.
How it began
Rebuilt by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, the historic schoolhouse grounds were reimagined with a ring of modern cedar cabins.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.