Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Wolf Creek Inn, Wolf Creek, Oregon
History lives in Wolf Creek, Oregon. Around seventy-five miles from the California border is the Wolf Creek Inn. The inn was built as a stage coach stop for passengers going between Portland and Sacramento, and going on to San Francisco.
Built in 1883, the Wolf Creek Inn was a luxury accommodation for its' day, and has hosted a long list of celebrities.
A previous owner went to great lengths to convince people that it was built in 1857, and hosted Ulysses S. Grant. He went so far as to "fake" the date on all the early signs and photos. There is a photo of Ulysses S. Grant accepting Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox to further reinforce the belief.
The attempts to enhance the Wolf Creek Inn's prestigious guest list were successful, but reality is that
Rutherford B. Hayes was the president who did visit here!
A "longer than your arm" list of famous guests include Clark Gable and Carole Lombard who had a special large suite that can be rented for not much more than a standard room. We plan to!
Mr. Gable used to sneak away from Hollywood's hectic schedule as often as possible, and escape to the Wolf Creek Inn, and end up fishing on his beloved Rogue River.
Jack London and his wife spent an entire summer here while he completed his famous novel, "Valley of the Moon."
Celebrities abounded, and at one time there was an entire Zane Grey library with multiple autographed copies of all of his novels. Unfortunately, these valuable books grew legs and disappeared.
Also, the famous bar that once supported the elbows of the rich and famous, as well as the local miners, loggers and settlers disappeared.
There is a reliable souce that I turned up in Eugene who informed me that the bar disappeared after the Wolf Creek Inn had been purchased by the State of Oregon in 1975, and still remains the property of the State of Oregon. Rumor has it that the bar still exists, and could be ransomed at a figure of around $100,000 from the person who presently is hiding it.
Another source in Salem indicated to me that the government has not pursued the one who stole it, but that if authorities decide to, they can prosecute for a lot less than the ransom amount, as historical items of importance, such as this bar, are coming much more to the forefront than they ever have been before.
It would be nice to have the famous bar that
Orson Welles leaned against as his deep, booming voice regaled patrons with thrilling accounts of his travels.
Wolf Creek Inn is the "oldest continuously operated hotel in the Pacific Northwest." It was said that anyone who was of any social importance in the early years had stayed here on the sixteen day journey from Portland to San Francisco.
Hollywood celebrities rushed to get away to the area, and one can only imagine how travelers felt walking into the dining room, and sitting there were Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
The stage stop started by Henry Smith has now hit another level of national recognition. Long on the National Register of Historic Places, it has just been listed on National Geographics' "Top 200 must see" places.
John and "Dinky Dougal were the owners until 1935, and their daughter Janie was born in this room, number 4, of the inn.
This last year, an elderly lady booked room number 4, and after arriving, told her hosts, Mark and Margaret Quist, that she was Janie Dougal.
While she was slowly touring the dining room, she paused at a framed photo of a little girl on the Wolf Creek Inn's lawn. She said; "I still remember having those feathers in my hair!"
Jamie thrilled the Quists with memories of her life at the inn. Among those memories were the recollections that you did not use the "outhouses" in the evening; the guests used the supplied "chamberpots."
Ms. Dougal explained why no one dared venture out; wolves! "When Mother started preparing the evening meal for their guests, the wolves started gathering on the lawns."
"Wolf Creek Jim" (a lifetime resident and historic figure himself), told Mark Quist the last wolf he had observed near here was when he and his mother were stalked by one in 1956.
This table was originally brought into the Wolf Creek Inn in 1883.
These "miners" picks were handmade by the Chinese miners. While the Chinese were the major laborers who built our railroads, they were not allowed to own land or mining claims. They were able to work the mining claims when deserted by whites. They worked hard and did very well.
This was the "gentlemens parlor." The missing bar used to be in the place of the reception area where Mark Quist is standing.
Ask Mark about this bullet hole in the "ladies parlor" fireplace.
He has a very interesting story behind it.
Wolf Creek Inn is owned by the state of Oregon, but the concession for the inn and restaurant is held by Mark and Margaret Quist, and they are doing a superb job in promoting this treasure.
Mark is an exceptional host, and will enthrall you with his knowledge of the history of the Wolf Creek Inn, and of Southern Oregon. He has made it a point to become an "expert" in Josephine County history, and I highly recommend you visit the Wolf Creek Inn.
Plan to stay the night when you visit, because the food is great, and the portions so large, you will need to rest up before driving.
Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website 
for more information on the Passport To History program.
Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History blogs.
Introduction Caveman Schmidt House
Blind George's Newsstand Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour
Historic District Tour Grants Pass Pharmacy Rogue Theatre
Hugo Community Church Haines Apple Tree Ament Dam
Grants Pass Cemeteries Pottsville Sportsman Park
Griffin Park Lake Selmac Granite Hill Cemetery
Pleasant Valley Cemetery Josephine County Bridges
Grants Pass Fire Department Reinhart Volunteer Park
