Still looking for a luxury lodging option during the Joseph Oregon Car Show? The local car show, also known as the Oregon Mountain Cruise, celebrates 25 years of classic cars on June 7 and 8, 2013. And have we got the lodging for you!
The Mirror Lake Suite, our romantic getaway Oregon lodging right here in Joseph, is still available. This room competes against finer regional hotels in terms of style and amenities. And better yet, it's located one block away from downtown Joseph so you can walk back and forth to the car show throughout the Show'n'Shine and to the Saturday night dance at the Joseph Oregon Community Center.
Features include:
Private entrance leading directly to the parking area. And you can see your beauty through the suite's windows framed against the Wallowa Mountains.
Light, airy bedroom with 14.5' vaulted ceiling with plenty of spaciousness.
Private attached bathroom full of spa-style fixtures. Steam shower (with its own chromatherapy lights and radio), combination Japanese-designed Toto Neorest toilet/bidet, and a very sanitary pipeless jetted Sanijet tub to melt away the hours spent strolling the car show in downtown Joseph.
Dedicated air conditioning (need we say more?)
Flat screen TV with attached Blu-ray DVD for watching your favorite movies (bring your own or watch ours).
Wi-Fi access throughout the bed and breakfast.
On top of all that, all the common amenities and services we offer our guests. And, the Oregon Mountain Cruise entrants line up their cars early Saturday morning right in front of our bed and breakfast on South Main Street so you can quickly get into the proper order for the Show'n'Shine parking.
Were you looking for " Joseph Oregon hotels " or " Wallowa Lake hotel " when trying to figure out where to stay? We've got you covered. It's our last available room for the car show weekend. Take advantage quickly before it's gone. AAA members receive 10% off too!
This year the Oregon Mountain Cruise celebrates its 25th anniversary. And here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast we've just confirmed that we still have three rooms open (lucky procrastinators--now's your chance).
If you need any persuading as to why you should choose our Joseph Oregon lodging, here are a few good reasons:
1. Our lodging provides hotel quality accomodations walking distance to the car show (only one block from downtown Joseph Oregon).
2. You can spiffy up your car right here in our parking area on Saturday morning right before you pull into the lineup (which takes place right in front of our bed & breakfast right here on Main Street). Hose provided.
3. As of today, April 21st,, you have your choice of three lovely rooms: the Mirror Lake Suite is our luxurious alternative to a Wallowa Lake hotel or any Joseph Oregon hotels. We've been told it's right up there with the penthouse suite at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. The Chief Joseph Mounntain Room offers a broad view of the mountains to the south. For the budget conscious, the Sawtooth Mountain Room offers superb views of the Wallowa Mountains and the largest bathroom on the second floor. All of our rooms have their own attached private bath (no sharing and no going out in the hall to find the bathroom), plus air conditioning.
4. AAA member? As a AAA-rated three-diamond property, we offer a 10% discount on room rates to card carrying AAA members.
5. Extra bonus: If you stay with us in 2013, then you have first priority for the 2014 car show weekend.
Don't wait to make your reservation for the nights of June 7 & 8, 2013. And if you're coming with a car club, tell your club members so you can all enjoy the convenience of our in town location!
Wall Street Journal writer Tess Weaver recently wrote about ski mountaineering for the Wall Street Journal (published February 27, 2013), noting that skiing uphill is gaining in popularity around the United States and might even make the 2022 Winter Olympics.
You can find plenty of that kind of activity out here near Joseph Oregon. And you won't have to worry about purchasing a lift ticket or competing with downhill resort skiers. The Wallowa Mountains are a tucked away corner of Oregon with no organized ski resort (although the local hill, Ferguson Ridge, does attract a mainly local crowd) and plenty of backcountry skiing conditions.
We recently hosted a group of Portland Oregon skiers who used our Joseph Oregon lodging as their jumping off point for a multi-day ski trip. They arrived late, but got a very good night's rest, a hearty breakfast, and time to shop for some local essentials before heading out to McCully Basin to build their snow cave for the next few nights of lodging. There's nothing like a smoked "flat" chicken from our local grocer, Mt. Joseph Family Foods, at the end of a long day of uphill skiing!
If you do want to take on the rugged Wallowa Mountains, we suggest you spend some time with the Wallowa Avalanche Center's website and study the snow conditions. As one person who commented on Tess Weaver's article said, "In Italy "sci alpinismo" as the sport is called here is widely practiced, but not on crowded downhill slopes! The biggest attraction is the opprtunity to enjoy pristine alpine scenery alone or with a few friends and be able to experience a more challenging deep powder snow descent off groomed trails. Understanding and managing avalanche risk is a key requirement to enjoy the sport safely. Mountaineering training is required and it is not advisable to just buy the equipment and take off no matter how good your athletic ability." Definitely true here in the Wallowas as well.
One thing that separates the bed and breakfast community from many other lodging options (especially hotels) is free wireless internet. There is no additional daily charge at most bed and breakfasts for wireless internet. And certainly not here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast!
Here at our Joseph Oregon lodging we just upgraded our internet service by making some changes to our existing infrastructure. We did this to make our wireless internet service easier to access, faster, and to specifically address an issue raised by a guest in a review on TripAdvisor about our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast. The guest wrote:
[T]he WI-FI is too fussy. The coverage is spotty and the need to log on for each session is annoying. Also, there is insufficient capacity to watch the news or a movie. Since there is no TV at this location, better Internet access would be appreciated.
We originally installed a very secure login process to ensure that neither guests nor innkeepers would get hacked, nor would we be vulnerable to someone pulling up in our parking area, hopping on our wireless, and downloading inappropriate information. But times have changed. In response, we've now changed our security settings so that the guest uses one password one time only to cover all "sessions" here at our Wallowa Lake lodging. The internal changes made to our signal routing have increased our download speed by about a factor of four. And we are reevaluating the position of our router to maximize performance throughout the property (which is already very good inside the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast building).
One thing about living in a very rural location is that internet access isn't the quite same as it is in more populated communities. Could we have DSL? Not currently. Cable modem? Not available. And probably won't be in the foreseeable future. Our internet signal is entirely wireless--including how it is delivered to and leaves the property. We met the criticism head on and look forward to this guest returning (the guest also indicated that it wouldn't be the last visit to the Bronze Antler). We want to demonstrate that we take constructive suggestions seriously.
Never traveled on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway? Here's a really good taste of what you can experience. The Oregon Department of Transportation film crew came through a little while ago and shot a lot of footage to create this comprehensive video about the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. What's nice about this particular video is you'll see the byway in all seasons.
It's a little bit lengthy at 8 minutes, but it really takes that long to see the scenery and some of the sights along the way. I'm thrilled they included a scene from the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts (3:58), our juried fine art show that takes place every first weekend of June here in Joseph Oregon. And there are scenes from Hells Canyon Mule Days (3:04) that takes place every weekend after Labor Day in September in Enterprise Oregon (the weekend after the first Monday of September). You'll even have quick view of one of your Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast innkeepers in the introduction (0:57)--it's amazing what sorts of things I get roped into doing for our area!
You'll find other posts on our Bronze Antler blog about things you can see along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway--just type "Hells Canyon" (without the quotes) in the blog's search box and a whole list of them will appear. This image is of Harle Butte, one of the historic staffed fire lookouts along the rim of Hells Canyon. It's at the end of a dirt road leading from the byway and a fabulous view (recommended for trucks and other higher clearance vehicles).
Just a reminder: the center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Forest Road 39 or the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road) is seasonal--it usually closes in early November and doesn't open again until May or June depending upon snowpack. If you're planning to drive the entire Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, check in with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Office at (541) 426-4978 or 426-5546 or by visiting their website
And be sure to call us to see about your Hells Canyon lodging while you're on your trip. Our phone is (541) 432-0230 or visit our website for more information.
Lately I've been offering ideas about where to hold your wedding at Wallowa Lake or Joseph, Oregon. There are some new venues as well as some established locations that you can read about in previous blog posts on the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast blog. Here's another one I haven't mentioned previously.
The Wallowa Buddhist Temple is located outside of Joseph, OR, on a rural 5-acre property near Hurricane Creek. Set back amidst the pine and aspen trees in the Wallowa Mountain foothills, the temple is a quiet retreat location and suitable for small weddings. The temple follows the Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) tradition of Buddhism.
Reverend Meido Tuttle, assisted by Reverend Clairissa Beattie, are the resident monastics at this small, contemplative Buddhist temple. You can reach Rev. Meido via the temple's website contact page or by calling her directly at (541) 432-6129.
We make it a point to visit the temple each year on New Year's Day to help ring in the new year. Rev. Meido and Rev. Clairissa are happy to have visitors at the temple and are so welcoming of everyone. If you are considerng an intimate wedding in Northeastern Oregon, or are followers of the Buddhist traditions, then perhaps this temple would be a good choice for you.
This morning I took a same-day reservation from a Portland, Oregon-based birder who is coming out today on short notice to see a bird. Apparently a Little Bunting was found here in Joseph Oregon over the past few days. Looking at the ABA Birding News, it appears this Siberian bird has only been seen twice in the continental United States, both times in California. What a great find right here in Eastern Oregon! For a look at this bird, here's a nice photo from the Surfbirds website. For an image of this specific bird, here's a link to Trent Bray's birdlist (with photo) from January 29, 2013.
There is a lot of chatter (twitter, perhaps?) on the ABA website about people wanting to come to Joseph this weekend to look for the Little Bunting, which has been seen about 3 blocks from our Joseph bed and breakfast on neighborhood feeders. Some birds from Montana are even considering a trip.
If you do decide to make the trek to Joseph Oregon, allow us locals to offer a few suggestions:
Check the weather. The forecast through the weekend is looking pretty good with highs in the 30s and lows in the teens. Our favorite website (including webcams) is www.josephoregonweather.com
Check the roads. And be sure to bring a vehicle with traction tires or carry chains! Always a good idea in Northeastern Oregon in the winter. The Oregon Department of Transportation website is www.tripcheck.com
If you plan to fly commercially, the closest airports are Lewiston, Idaho (LWS) about 2 hours away, or Pasco, Washington (PSC) about 3 hours away. Some people have commented that the road south from Lewiston to Joseph is too bad to drive. Many of us here would beg to differ. Just take your time and don't plan to speed. Parts of WA-129 and OR-3 are pretty twisty. Slow down for the curves and you'll eventually get here. Best to do in daylight hours.
If you need a place to stay, we do have some lodging still available here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast. Call us at 541-432-0230 or book online. You'll also find a motel here in town and another bed & breakfast. Otherwise, plan to stay in Enterprise. You can find more lodging options via the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce's website.
Of course, we keep our bird feeders full here outside out dining room window. With any luck, that bird's going to expand its range a little and cross over Main Street to our location!
One of the really great things about owning a bed & breakfast in Joseph Oregon is meeting artists. With so many artistic bronze foundries in the area plus drop dead gorgeous scenery, they like coming to Eastern Oregon to work. And we love it when they choose to stay at our Joseph bed and breakfast
This morning Patrick Blythe was at the breakfast table. Patrick is a glass and (more recently) bronze sculptor, turning out beautiful abstract works from his solar-powered studio in the California desert. What an engaging individual! He enjoyed talking about his work and the other guests enjoyed hearing what he had to say and asking questions about how it's done. I brought out the laptop so we could look at some of his large installations of glass or bronze.
The one shown here is "Harvest", a recently completed installation. To really appreciate this work you need to move around it an enjoy it from all side (easily done at Patrick's website.)
We didn't hear much about what he's working on now (not surprising as artists like to keep that information to themselves until the work is finished). But he did comment about the Joseph Oregon foundry casting his work. He said they're such nice, friendly people to work with over at Valley Bronze and they really know what they're doing. He loves coming up here with his abstracts and they don't give him a hard time because he doesn't do dogs and ducks (not even abstract ones).
Join us here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast over morning coffee. You'll never quite know who you're going to meet!
Winter seems to be the time that many brides are planning their upcoming weddings. We have a new venue available right here in Joseph Oregon: the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture. This building is located right on Main Street at the north end of Joseph (on the way to Enterprise), about a 10 minute drive from Wallowa Lake.
Yes, it has a lot of angles to the roof line, which makes for some interesting spaces inside. Big wedding? Go for the Gold Gallery on the main floor (seats up to 250) with catering kitchen conveniently located nearby. Intimate wedding? Consider the upstairs Loft with space for 20. The Center also features large bathrooms and other rooms suitable for changing clothes, and there's space in the basement for dancing too.
You can learn more about the facility by clicking here or by calling the Center Director, Lyn Craig, at 541-432-0505.
We hope you'll consider this new venue for your Eastern Oregon wedding. And if you're looking for a romantic wedding night location, the Mirror Lake Suite here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast has much of what you might be looking for--private entrance, spa-style bath, king-sized poster bed under a 14' vaulted ceiling and plenty of privacy. Our other three guestrooms are far away from the Mirror Lake Suite, so you could even bring along your friends & family if you're so inclined. Summer wedding weekends are starting to book so call us soon!
Back in March 2010 I wrote a blog post about planning your wedding in Joseph Oregon or at Wallowa Lake (you can read that post in full here. It's amazing how many people have read that post! Nancy's blue barn and the Wallowa Lake Tramway are still very nice locations for a Wallowa Couny Wedding and we've hosted guests who've participated in weddings in these venues..
Here's another great wedding venue that keeps a website with plenty of great photos and information for wedding planning out here in Eastern Oregon. The Mt Joseph Ranch is located south of Joseph but on the west side of the west moraine of Wallowa Lake in an extremely picturesque setting.
From the website:
The Mt. Joseph Ranch provides majestic landscapes for your wedding. Whether you choose to have your wedding in a magnificent forest setting, the outdoor amphitheater, log mess hall, horse barn, in a grassy meadow or atop the moraine overlooking Wallowa Lake, the Ranch will provide the perfect setting for your wedding. The natural, serene setting of the guest ranch will create memories that will last a lifetime.
The website itself can be a little difficult to navigate (be sure to look at each area--the ranch, the barn, the event facilities--in order to get a complete picture.
And another bonus is links to some of the photographers and caterers in the area who would be more than happy to help with your wedding!
Here at our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast we're happy to help steer you toward the resources you might need for your wedding planning. And we can provide lodging for your wedding guests, or perhaps for the bride and groom in our over-the-top Mirror Lake Suite. Please feel free to contact us if we can help.
One thing guests here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast often comment about is the attention to detail found at our Joseph Oregon lodging. When you check in you'll find pretty much everything you'll need from high end toiletries, comfy spa robes and slippers, a blow dryer, magnifying make up mirror, corkscrew and hand-painted wine glasses, to more items we won't mention here (except for the rubber ducky and the bubble bath).
But the one thing you definitely will never find at our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast is a Screaming Meanie. In fact, I'd never even seen one of these obnoxious devices until today when a departing guest pulled one out of his luggage. He works from home and consults with people internationally and therefore sometimes has to wake up at odd hours. This device, he says, ensures he will. And he demonstrated it for me at the 120 dB level--think "smoke detector" and you're right up there with what this little box can do.
My only question was whether or not the thing will tolerate being thrown across the room into the wall. Apparently it does, however, hitting the wall won't lower volume setting. He told me it does have two quieter settings (including one close to the level of typical conversation) so perhaps it does have some redeeming features.
If you haven't seen one of these (or worse yet, heard one), I found an amusing little video displaying the power of the full-strength Screaming Meanie:
Like I said, you won't find one of these nasty little devices in our excellently appointed guestrooms. And if you choose to bring one with you on your Joseph Oregon vacation, please don't set it at full power!
Looking for something to do on New Year's Eve? Here's a great feel good idea. . .
New Year's Eve in Wallowa County, Oregon, just got kicked up a notch. The Alibis will be performing New Year's Eve at the AAUW New Year's Eve fundraiser party! For the 2012-2013 New Year the party's happening at the Elks Club in Enterprise, Oregon--only a 10 minute drive away from the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast.
Details are still unfolding, but there will be food, a cash bar and plenty of great dancing music. The Wallowa Branch of the American Association of University Women uses this annual party to fund its programs, including scholarships offered to women wanting to go to college long after the high school graduate scholarship opportunities are past.
The Alibis Band plays rock and blues plus many original Americana songs. Most songs are written by singer-songwriter Janis Carper or Jerry Smith. You can listen to an MP3 clip of their music here. This band performs in many venues around Eastern Oregon and has quite a local following.
Want to dress up? Dress down? Anything goes in Eastern Oregon in the winter. Just wear your outside shoes from the car to the Elks Club door--probably too much snow & ice for those pretty stilletto shoes.
So, you get a stellar evening and support a good cause too! We still have rooms available at our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast. Hope to hear from you soon!
We're wrapping up the Bronze Blues & Brews Festival 2012 here in Joseph Oregon. Two sets of guests flew themselves & their spouses to Joseph State Airport (also knows as KJSY) in their private aircraft. We were fortunate enough that one guest, Ken, took a short video on his phone of Chris making a picture perfect landing on Saturday morning before the festival started..
Joseph State Airport was renovated within the last couple of years and has new paving on the taxiway and the parking skirt. It's a short distance from Joseph Oregon and we provide complimentary transportation for our pilot bed & breakfast guests and their passengers.
I particularly like the eagle cry in the video right before Chris' plane comes into view.
If you're looking for Eastern Oregon lodging near a remote airport, our bed and breakfast might be a good one for you to consider.
Want to know where to find the best Joseph Oregon weather report? It's the same one we use nearly every day here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast and you'll find it at josephoregonweather.com
Why is it so special? Because you'll not only find the current weather and the five day forecast, but you'll also get two live webcam feeds that give you a view of what's happening to the south (looking toward Wallowa Lake and Chief Joseph Mountain) and to the west (looking farther away at the Wallowa Mountains). The image here is an example of what you'll see in daylight hours in the summer. Since the camera updates regularly even at night, if you're lucky you might even see the stars or the moon over the Wallowas.
And the site has all the really weather-techie stuff too. Plus links to regional weather, river water levels, radar, satellite images, etc., as well as road conditions (important for winter driving).
If I were planning an Eastern Oregon vacation, I'd bookmark this site for conditions in Northeastern Oregon. And if I already had my reservation made at this Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast, I'd consider adding the Joseph Oregon Weather Desktop Gadget to my computer so I can keep track of what's happening out there in the Wallowa Valley--a good excuse for a daydream about an upcoming trip!
Are you looking for two nights of lodging in Joseph Oregon during August 2012? If you're looking for something prior to August 25, we still have two nights available in the Ferguson Ridge Room for August 8 and 9 (Wednesday and Thursday nights). Skip the Joseph Oregon hotels (as there aren't any anyway). Plus the Ferguson Ridge Room is equipped as well or better than many hotel rooms. Included are:
air conditioning
complimentary Wi-Fi
fine linens over a 3" thick latex foam topper (very plush sleep)
private bath with deeper soaking tub
lighted makeup mirror
spa style robes and slippers
Of course lodging in our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast includes full breakfasts every morning plus complimentary artesian bottled water, soft drinks, snacks, etc.
The best reason to stay? Walking distance to all the shops, galleries and restaurants in downtown Joseph. Here's a photo of a wrap and a beer from one of our favorites--Mutiny Brewing Company. There's not much better than parking the car or the motorcycle, then heading down to one of the restaurants with outdoor seating and taking in a view of the Wallowa Mountains.
And if your travel dates are flexible, you'll find we have more rooms open starting August 26, 2012.
Now that it's summer are you thinking about cooler weather? How about taking the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day at Wallowa Lake? Brave souls from Joseph Oregon and surrounding areas--plus anyone else who happens to be in town--are always invited. Here's a quick video from the 2012 Polar Bear Plunge. Enjoy! And if you'll need a really hot shower afterwards, there's always plenty of hot water at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast.
It always amazes me how much people rely on our little Hells Canyon lodging for information about the road between Joseph Oregon and Halfway Oregon. Everytime I look at the Google Analytics for the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast blog, I can see how often blog posts about this subject are searched for and read. Forget the "Joseph Oregon hotels" or the "Wallowa Lake hotel" search--seems like everyone wants to know if the road is open!!!
So, here's what's going on in 2012 for Forest Road 39 (aka Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, aka FR39, aka Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, aka the road from Joseph to Halfway). As of this week, the road is unofficially open--this information from the USDA Forest Service Visitor Center here in Joseph Oregon.
You might have to get out and move a few rocks, perhaps drive around a downed tree from last winter's snow--you drive it "at your own risk" since the Forest Service hasn't been able to maintain the road yet.
But it's a sign of spring! Lots of rain moving through the area and the temperatures are warm enough for snow to melt, so be careful out there. Not much cell service along Forest Road 39 (and definitely no gas stations) so plan accordingly! Let people know where you go if you decide to drive this route
And we'll see ya here on the Joseph Oregon end of the road!
Okay, procrastinators, it's your very lucky day! The Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast in Joseph OR just had a cancellation in the Mirror Lake Suite for Friday & Saturday nights, June 8 and 9, 2012. If you are planning to attend the Joseph Oregon car show 2012 (known as the Oregon Mountain Cruise) and you want lodging that's walking distance to your show car, then this is your lucky break!
This top-of-the-line suite rarely comes available during car show weekend. You'll want to snap it up quickly if you're serious. We also provide a washing area and hose for touching up your car before the Show and Shine.
Call us at (541) 432-0230 or book online via our website today!
Well, I'm not quite sure how you'd get your money back from these buffalo as the viewing is free--but aren't they the best buffalo you've ever seen? Joseph Oregon resident Mark Lacey recently posted this gorgeous photo to his Facebook account and I couldn't help but share. When you visit Wallowa County in Eastern Oregon in the spring you might just see buffalo up on "the North Highway" (aka Oregon Highway 3 north of Enterprise, Oregon).
It's quite a sight to see these buffalo that are part of the Stangel Buffalo Ranch. And it is possible to sometimes get close enough to hear them snort at each other. And yes, those really are the Wallowa Mountains in the background.
Stay here at our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast and we'll send you out on a buffalo excursion. Or maybe for some birdwatching, or wildlife viewing, or who knows what! We're well equipped with binoculars, detailed maps, hiking guides, etc., and advice to help you get the most out of your vacation.
If you're a guy and into wildlife, you might just want the 2012 Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild raffle quilt for your bed or as a blanket on the leather couch in your den. And the raffle's still on until June 9, 2012 so buy your tickets now! $1 per ticket or 6 for $5--and you can order them through the mail too. This year's quilt is a Montana Log Cabin style with black silhouettes of birds, moose, deer, foxes and other wildlife. Very masculine and very striking.
Gee, might even be a good idea to order some tickets and win this beautiful quilt to give as a present to that man who has everything. . .
We're all sold out of lodging here at our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast but we're happy to refer you to other area Oregon bed and breakfasts of the Oregon B&B Guild. Click here for the other inspected and approved OBBG inns. And don't forget your raffle tickets!