Geiser Grand Hotel

We left the Geiser after a frustrating wait and went to a lovely Mexican restaurant down the street. We’d come to the bar for a quiet dinner when it was nearly empty. Our beers arrived right away, but 20 minutes passed before the server brought silverware, and we assumed food would be next. Another 25 minutes went by with our beers long gone, and he never checked on us. We could see him chatting with two people at the bar. We finally left a $20 on the bar and told him and the woman behind it how long we’d waited and how poor the service was. He literally ran out of the room, leaving her to hear our complaint. Do yourself a favor and skip the Geiser.

We’ve made several short getaway trips here and always enjoy this lovely historic place, with its nice restaurant and great bar. On our last visit, Erica made the weekend especially relaxing. She was everywhere, looking after us and handling several roles, including serving us and cooking. She made us a delicious dinner, then fabulous breakfast omelettes filled with morel mushrooms and sour cream. Her service was exceptional.

We’d passed Baker City, OR several times without stopping, but last September we needed a place to break up a trip. The Geiser Grand Hotel came up while I was looking for somewhere to stay, and a quick look at its website convinced me it was unique, so I booked for my wife and me. We also walked around town, which was easy to get around on foot. The local merchants we met were friendly and welcoming, and we heard about a house built by a Scotsman to look like a castle and remind him of home. We got the location and saw it as we drove out of town. At the hotel, the lobby’s charm made it clear we were in for a treat. We were greeted quickly with a friendly smile, and our quaint, lovely room suited the hotel’s vibe. As we left, I said we’d see them again in November. Now it’s November, and we’ve booked again for the trip home.

I’d been looking forward for years to finally staying at the Geiser Grand. It’s a beautiful, thoughtfully restored historic hotel, with lovely character and history, even if it wasn’t quite as over-the-top as some other grand old hotels we’ve visited. I’d still say it’s worth a visit if you appreciate elegant places with a past. The location is great, close to everything, and the staff were warm and courteous. The building is stunning, with gorgeous woodwork, chandeliers throughout, and a stained-glass ceiling that took my breath away. Breakfast was delicious. It’s a bit pricey, but that’s expected for a finer dining experience, and the quality shows. The elevator broke during our stay, which was inconvenient with my bad knee. More concerning, I saw a sweet elderly man in a wheelchair being helped down three flights of stairs by his family. Since the accessible rooms are on the third floor, I’d strongly suggest the hotel consider a stairwell rescue wheelchair. We were encouraged to pay for an upgrade because our original room wasn’t ready, and I’ve since read this happens fairly often. The upgraded king suite was very nice and felt worth the $25. It was beautifully decorated, clean, and comfortable, with a good bed and shower. The chairs and couch had worn cushions, though, so they weren’t comfortable for more than short use. Our hotel tour was canceled, the second time that’s happened to us. We don’t live too far away, so we’ll keep trying. I’d like to learn more about the hotel’s history because it clearly has plenty to tell. I’d still encourage anyone who loves historic hotels to visit; with better accessibility and more consistent tours, it could shine even more.