Shaniko Hotel — Hotel in Shaniko

I recently hosted a large photoshoot in Shaniko and booked out majority of the hotel for my models, photographers, and makeup artists. This hotel is an absolute treasure! The rooms are clean, comfortable, and oh so cute! Each one is unique in its own way. The hotel’s bar, even though it’s not currently serving, is so so beautiful and the room serves as a great place to gather and play board and card games (which the hotel has a small table of) or just to hang out and socialize. The bar room also has a coffee bar for guests that consists of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, oatmeal, and some packaged pastries. The rooms, with the exception of the suite, don’t have refrigerators or microwaves. However there is a mini refrigerator upstairs at the top of the staircase along with an ice machine. There is also a larger refrigerator and microwave for guest use down in the bar room.

The manager, Scott, was wonderful and so accommodating for our large group. Allowing us to shoot anywhere and everywhere we wanted as long as we left the space in the same condition we found it. He made sure he provided us with everything we possibly needed and was so flexible with adding and canceling rooms in the days leading up to the photoshoot. He also was able to allow us early check in and late check out which was extremely helpful with having such a large group of people.

Note that there is not many options for food in town if you are going to stay for longer than a day or so. There is a cafe located attached to the hotel with a small menu of sandwiches, hotdogs, biscuits and gravy, and other small bites. They also have a cooler of snacks and microwaveable foods you can purchase. However they are only currently open from 10am-4pm. My group ended up ordering food and saving it to heat up for later in the hotel. Otherwise many just brought their own food for their stay.

Everyone we encountered at the hotel and in town were extremely kind and excited that we were there. It’s really worth stopping and chatting with the locals if you get the chance.

Also if you like ghost stories the locals are abundant in them! The town really embraces their hauntings and its so much fun whether you are a believer or a skeptic. The hotel supposedly has multiple ghosts. A mother/daughter duo, Nettie (room 14) and Amelia (hallways). Nettie you can often smell her perfume and occasionally has been seen in the windows of the hotel, and Amelia can often be heard running down the hallways upstairs or playing with her blue ball which will roll and bounce down the hall. The hotel has also left other toys upstairs for Amelia as well. When I stayed there was a small stuffed animal and a toy riding horse. There is also Jason(?) who is said to be quite aggressive and inappropriate with women. I believe he resides mostly in room 16. Then lastly there is the Mayor. He was shot and murdered in cold blood on the front steps of the hotel and supposedly in the lobby you can sometimes smell smoke similar to a campfire (gun smoke maybe?) I love a good haunted location and ghost story so it was a lot of fun staying here with that knowledge!

Overall my stay at the hotel and in Shaniko was a great time and I definitely recommend staying at this little gem of a hotel or at least stopping through town to do some exploring. It’s a great adventure and a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle...

The Shaniko Hotel, located in the ghost town of Shaniko, Oregon, is an eighteen room historic gem built in 1901. Once serving travelers during the town's boom, it now stands as a testament to Shaniko's rich past, drawing history enthusiasts from far and wide. Currently it’s being painstakingly restored by dedicated steward’s David and Scott, the hotel reflects their dedication to reviving this historic building. With a population of about 30 residents, Shaniko offers a quaint setting where the hotel’s vintage charm and early 20th-century architecture are beginning to shine again. From the moment you step inside, you’re enveloped in history and charm, with rooms that blend vintage elegance and modern comfort, providing a perfect escape from modern life's hustle and bustle. Despite Shaniko's limited support services, the hotel's dedication to guest satisfaction is clear. David, Scott, and Mandy who greeted us and was absolutely delightful checking us in, reflect efforts that extend beyond the hotel to enhance local amenities and preserve the town's history, showcasing their love for the community. One note: dining options in town are limited, so bring snacks or a meal in case the only café is closed during your visit. We dined in Fossil before heading over to Shaniko. The Hotel is more than just a place to stay; it’s currently on a journey of maintenance and restoration into the past, offering a haven of history and hospitality that leaves a...

My wife and I stayed there August 19th, 2023, for one night. It had just reopened 18 days earlier after being closed for I believe, 30yrs. It's a ghost town and we wanted to bring our ghost hunting equipment and see what we could find. The remodel is beautiful, but it still has the cool look of back in the early days. Bridal Suite was big, very clean and had a huge jet tub. Besides that, the greatest thing about this hotel is its staff. As soon as we walked in, it was like we were family. They told us about spirits that still stay at the hotel and all the good stuff to go along with our hunt. We were the only ones staying that night and they let us have full reign of the hotel, except for obvious places we can't go in to. The front doors lock at 9 and then it's just you there. We were thrilled to catch voices on our voice recorders, a bathroom door that closed hard on its own, and the slight sound of an old time piano playing in the Ball room. Finally got to bed about 2am. Comfortable beds, great air conditioning, wonderful pillows and again, extremely clean. We cannot stress enough how much we loved this place, the neat little old places to visit there and of course, the people made it what it was. Little store in town for goodies and a great Cafe right next to the hotel that had great food and even better ice cream. Thanks everyone for showing us a great time. We will...