Historic Hood River
Wau Gwin Gwin, Circa 1909
11-29-2017
Notes
This nice colored postcard of the Wau Gwin Gwin hotel was postmarked July 1, 1909. The Wau Gwin Gwin was located at the falls where Phelps Creek plunges to the Columbia River. It was removed to make room for construction of Simon Benson’s Columbia Gorge Hotel in 1920.
L.E.
Be sure to check the tag for Wau Gwin Gwin. There are several other photos with some good history comments.
I wonder if the sign was visible from the River?
nels
The pond must have been a recent addition as that is a huge old oak tree that got drowned, as well as some of it’s smaller sprouts. Business must have been good as the building has been added on to.
Arthur
It looks like they backed up Phelps Creek a bit for scenic value.
I don’t know if the sign was visible from the river, but there is the story the steamer captains would toot their whistle to let the proprietor know how many people needed transport from the steamer landing.
James
Bobby Rand built my home in 1905, The big gold home the bottom of Rand Rd. He was also the builder/owner of Wau Gwin Gwin hotel. He probably lived here as he was building his hotel. Not too far away, went either by horse or an early Ford…..,Then in the early 20"s, Simon Benson bought it, and put in that classy Columbia Gorge Hotel…..
L.E.
From the June 02, 1904 HR Glacier:
Robert Rand has installed a new gas plant in his hotel at Wau-guin-guin, having found it easier to operate and that it gives a softer, better light. Mr. Rand is rapidly getting his fine place in shape to throw it open to the public. There isn’t another such a beautiful natural location in the valley, and when ready to receive his guests every days will be Sunday at Wau-guin-guin.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The old hotel was torn down in 1920 to make wat for the new hotel.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn97071110/1920-09-16/ed-1/seq-3/
Barbara Parsons
Peering over the falls from the Columbia Gorge Hotel and thinking of that story about the riverboat captain tooting his horn to announce the arrival of the visitors, I always have one question, and at last here’s the place to ask it. How did the visitors get from the river up to the hotel? Surely not by stairs or a ladder. And there wasn’t an elevator, at least not that .I ever heard of. A hot-air balloon?
Ralph Brown
One of the civil war veterans who lies in an unmarked gravesite in Stevenson, his obituary said he once owned Guin Guin Falls, Research indicated that the falls was a great meeting place for the Indians spiritual rituals. The article refers to John Dye and his Indian wife, who was once a mistress of Lt Phil Sheridan and bore his child, as claiming the land and living there. It could be that he was a squatter, a similar situation to Charlie Couver of White Salmon.. At any rate John Dye and his wife turned the falls over to a person by the name of W.J. Campbell, who then sold it to Bob Rand who was going to build Rand’s resort, but instead it was called the Wau Guin Guin,
Tamara E.B.
Does anyone know the real story about the little girl who drowned in this trout pond pictured at the Hotel Wau Gwin Gwin? I’ve looked but haven’t been able to find it yet.
Arthur Babitz
Tamara– I haven’t heard that story, and can’t find anything about it in the Hood River Glacier archives.