Frenchglen Hotel, 1982 (Author/Photographer, Left Front), Frenchglen, Oregon
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus (dhogaza@pacifier.com)
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Frenchglen consists of a small hotel, a store and attached tavern, BLM firecrew quarters, and a couple of private residences.
The name is a concatenation of the last names of Peter French and Dr. Glen, who owned the P Ranch together. The local history of the Donner und Blitzen Valley is fascinating, and writing about it a future web project of mine.
The Frenchglen Hotel has long been a favorite of birders and other visitors. Dating back to the 1800s, the hotel is a cozy two-story wooden frame structure which belongs to the Oregon State Parks Department, and is leased to a fellow named John who runs the place. Family-style dinners are served by reservation only, while breakfast and lunch can be had on a drop-in basis. Prices are reasonable and portions generous. The screened-in front porch is a perfect place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee (twenty-five cents, serve yourself) or an evening brew, and is one of my favorite places to sit and listen to winnowing snipe.
For many years, the small store next to the hotel was run by an obnoxious woman disliked by outsiders and local ranchers alike. With the nearest competition 65 miles north in Burns or 55 miles south in Fields Oasis, she apparently saw no need to be civil to folks forced to buy gas from her at exorbitant prices.
Thankfully, a couple from Bend decided to buy the place in 1995. The new owners, Lance and Missy Litchy, are not only friendly and outgoing, they've cleaned out a century's worth of dirt and grime. A portion of the premises have been transformed into the Buckaroo Room, with good Oregon microbrews available, and a screened-in deck is almost as attractive as the hotel's front porch. Over Memorial Day Weekend in 1995 they held the First Annual Frenchglen Beer and Wine Festival, a smashing success with locals and visitors alike. Where else can you see spotted owl biologists downing a cold one with rednecked cowboys? It has become an annual tradition.
They also offer lunch and dinner, which is very convenient as seating for the hotel's family-style meals is limited and dinner often sells out.
Gas is expensive here, but much cheaper than a tow back to Burns.
The trees around the hotel and adjacent outhouse are often host to a vagrant or two during the spring migration. Various warblers and other passerines hang out here, too, though the trees are far too large to provide good opportunties for photography.
The birding and wildlife attractions really aren't in the small town itself, though, but in the Malheur Refuge just across the street! The road leading east towards Steens Mountain is bordered by a very large marsh, passes by the southern end of the Center Patrol Road at P Ranch, and then the entrance to Page Springs Campground before passing through the gate to the mountain (normally closed until early June).
Just east of highway 205, next to the road to Steens Mountain, is a gate blocking another ungraveled, rutted track. This is one of the few places on the refuge proper where one can freely hike around during the spring and summer nesting seasons. The ruts lead to an old homestead where, of course, great-horned owls nest. While the birding along here is not spectacular, interesting things can be found if you take your time, such as this butterfly.
