The Dalles Oregon has been the center of commerce for more than 10,000 years. For centuries the Native Americans fished for salmon at Celilo Falls and tribes from far and near would bring their goods to trade for the dried fish. The falls were flooded by The Dalles Dam in 1957 but spirit lives in the traditions and religions, indeed in the very soul of Columbia River Indian people. Their record of habitation proves Wy-am to be one of the longest occupied sites on the continent.
“Celilo still reverberates in the heart of every Native American who ever fished or lived by it. They can still see all the characteristics of the waterfall. If they listen, they can still hear its roar. If they inhale, the fragrances of mist and fish and water come back again.” – Ted Strong, Yakama
Chinese immigrants arrived in The Dalles in the 1850s, drawn by its role as a Columbia River transportation hub linking port cities with eastern mining districts. By the 1880s, at least 117 Chinese residents operated up to 13 businesses. After the railroad shifted commerce to Second Street in 1882, the Chinese community concentrated along First Street, forming a one-block Chinatown near the docks, hotels, and rail line.
Looking down on the Columbia River Gorge from high up on Rowena Loop, one sees where the river cuts through the Cascade Mountains. For three years this was the end of the Oregon Trail as an overland route. It was here, just past The Dalles, that the wagons were loaded on rafts or bateaux and floated down to Fort Vancouver and Oregon City.
Guests at the Old Parkdale Inn often ask us how The Dalles got its name. The word dalle French for flagstone or slab, and referred to the flat and columnar basalt rock cut by the turbulent waters of the Columbia River. The Dalles welcomed the hearty travelers of the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800’s. It was here that pioneers loaded their wagons onto barges to continue their journey to Oregon Country in the Willamette Valley.
The Dalles is but 45 minutes from the Old Parkdale Inn and our guests love the day trip itinerary I assist them in creating. Stop in at The Dalles Chamber offices for walking tours and local information.
- The Dalles Murals take your on an educational journey through town. Klindt’s Booksellers is the oldest continuously bookstore in Oregon and the second oldest west of the Mississippi.
- Next door is Breezeway Antique Boutique where about 15 vendors display their wares in designated spaces within the mall.
- On the west side of town is The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum revealing the cataclysmic floods that helped shape the Columbia River Gorge. Here also you’ll experience interactive exhibits of the Lewis and Clark expedition, The Oregon Trail and 10,000 years of Native American life in the Gorge.
- The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center’s Raptor Program is the only place in the Gorge where you can meet and learn about live birds of prey. All of our raptors are non-releasable due to injuries they sustained in the wild. We have given them a forever home where they have become educational ambassadors for their species.
- For a scenic loop one can cross over The Dalles Bridge, drive West back on the Washington side of the Columbia River, cross back into Oregon and The Old Parkdale Inn.
Thank you for trusting us to be your home away from home. We’ve posted our Hospitality and Health Policy on our website. We invite you to read online reviews for the Old Parkdale Inn. And then we encourage you to go directly to our website and Book Direct for all the right reasons.
We’re your home base for exploring and enjoying the Hood River Valley and beyond. After a full day, you’ll love the peace and tranquility of the Old Parkdale Inn. Relax in the gardens, perhaps with your favorite beverage, by the bonfire, roast some s’mores, weather permitting of course.
What’s to do
The Hood River Fruit Loop is located in the beautiful Hood River Valley at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood offering you a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Many outdoor adventures, such as kayaking, windsurfing, skiing, snow boarding, and hiking, await. Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, and Timberline Ski areas are only a short drive away, as is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest where trails and wildlife abound.
Book your stay at the Old Parkdale Inn and take advantage of our partnerships:
Wet Planet Whitewater Adventures – A 10% discount will be applied at checkout when you use the code we provide to book online.
Cascade Canyon Guide – request code for 10% off trips
