Wallowa Lake Lodging

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!

Marcus Berg, owner & professional photographer at Unique Angles Photography, is returning to our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast in early June to update our portfolio of high quality images.  Sure, we can always capture images on our digital camera or our smartphones and they'll look fine on the Facebook page, but it's also important for the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast to have high quality "dense" images for magazines and other print advertising.

We're excited to have Marcus out with us for a few days.  I know it'll be a lot of work.  A good photo shoot involves lots of preparation.  Beautiful flowers, a variety of props to dress up the guestrooms, a varied menu for food photography--and then there are things we can't quite control like great weather for exterior photos.  The last time Marcus was here, he & I were up before the dawn to capture images of the bocce court in the north perennial garden of our Wallowa Lake lodging.  Little did I know that watering the bocce court the night before meant I'd need to quickly spray down the rest of the gravel walkways at 5 am!

If you have a chance, take a look at our website photography and send us suggestions on which photos you think should be updated,  What images should we capture that aren't on the website?  What would best depict our romantic getaway Oregon style?  Send your ideas to info@bronzeantler.com and we'd love to incorporate your ideas.  

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Mount Howard rises up at the southern end of Wallowa Lake in Northeastern Oregon.  From Memorial Day through the end of September each year, the Wallowa Lake Tramway whisks you and your mountain bike up to the top (over 8,000 feet) for the beginning of your ride.

Here's a recently posted YouTube video of a mountain biker with a chest cam taking you on his trip down the back side of Mount Howard.  The video was taken in September 2010 and posted by Gonkolater in April 2012:  

Planning your Joseph Oregon vacation for the summer?  If you have a decent off-road bicycle, this is something worth considering (downhill most of the way, great scenery, not too hot, etc.).  

At the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast we have storage for your mountain bikes or your road bikes.  And we're happy to help you figure out the route for returning to Joseph Oregon from your Mount Howard adventure. 

The Eagle Cap Excursion Train is up and running for the 2012 season.  Lots of changes this year, but one thing that hasn't changed is the Elgin Stampeders Train Robbery!

Where:  Train departs from Elgin, Oregon (North Eastern Oregon) and heads down into the roadless Grande Ronde River canyon.

When: Saturday, June 23, 2012

Why:  This annual train robbery draws attention to the Elgin Stampede PRCA Rodeo July 12-15, 2012.  The robbery unfolds like a movie with plenty of horses, excitement, laughs following their storyline.

How:  Book your reservation today through Alegre Travel at (800) 323-7330 or (541) 963-9000.  Don't delay as this event sells out quickly.

Robbers have done this heist once before--the train travels through remote, roadless area along the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers, making it a perfect location to hold up the train and made a getaway before the sheriff arrives.

Once the robbers have made off with their loot and the train is safely back in the station, continue your Eastern Oregon vacation with a stay near Wallowa Lake at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast in Joseph Oregon.  No train robbers here but we do have our share of excitement.  See you in Eastern Oregon!

The Wallowa Mountains are picture perfect for backcountry skiing. One of the local outfitters running trips is Wallowa Alpine Huts.  I just couldn't resist this video from their "WAH TV" channel on YouTube.  Fantastic conditions, great skiers--you'll notice no one is skiing in anyone else's tracks.  And where are the crowds?  None.

Early Spring is still time for great skiing.  If you need one more dose of a snowy Eastern Oregon vacation, check out Wallowa Alpine Huts, or check our other blog posts for information on skiing (use the search box at the right).

Lodging options?  You're not going to find any Joseph Oregon hotels or Wallowa Lake hotels, but the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast is ready to host you at the beginning or end of your backcountry ski trip.

Bill & I spent St Patrick's Day this year at the Northeast Oregon Bridal Show in LaGrande, Oregon.  What a fun event--it's our second year participating.

Everyone was there.  Vendors with bridal party attire, wedding rings, DJs, wedding cakes, fine chocolates, even turtle doves!  Our booth showcased our romantic getaway Oregon style with two computer screens displaying images of our Joseph Oregon lodging.  Bill wore one of his Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast dress shirts.  I decided to dress up for the event in some sillky PJs, fuzzy slippers, and a stylish Bronze Antler B&B spa robe.  Needless to say I was the envy of the vendors!

We talked with quite a few brides, their friends and relatives.  And some other vendors too.  We love the opportunity to showcase our property.  And bed and breakfast lodging makes great sense for wedding planning.  We've hosted quite a few couples on their wedding night or on their honeymoon, as well as relatives and wedding guests..

If you're planning a NE Oregon wedding we'd love to talk with you about how our bed and breakfast might work into your plans.  We're not a Wallowa Lake hotel or a Joseph Oregon hotel but still have plenty to offer.  

• Dec 3rd Sleigh Ride Saturday
• Dec 10th Sugar Plum Saturday
• Dec 16th & 17th Snowflake Weekend
• Dec 22nd Ho Ho Ho Thursday Men's Night Out
• Dec 24th Twas the Night Before Christmas Saturday

Native American performing artists this year are the top two hand drum contest winners from the 2011 Tamkaliks Celebration. Francis Dionne of Boise, Idaho, and Chris Shorty of Pendleton, Oregon, will entertain dinner guests with drumming and singing.

Wallowa Lake

by Bluesman » Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:22 pm