Carson Hot Springs Resort

I had my mind set on Carson Hot Springs Resort pretty much since I left Seattle. Soaking my road-weary buns in hot springs just sounded good. I could have ridden farther today but along the way I became obsessed in my own mind with seeing what a hot springs resort along the Columbia River is like. From the online pictures I expected a cross between a Motel 6 and the Bates Motel.

You find Carson Hot Springs Resort the first moment you hit town coming in two miles from Highway 14 heading West. The sign from Hot Springs Road (what else?) is classy looking, more than I expected really. You drop down a short grade and see in front of you a large paved parking lot and two boxy brown, modern-ish looking buildings. Nowhere is anything that looks like a guest check-in to be seen. After circling the buildings I pulled up to the only thing that looked remotely promising, and kind of haunted, a vintage 1800s white wooden building nestled between two buildings with the words "Hotel St. Martin " painted across its forehead. But wait, I thought this was Carson Hot Springs Resort! Turns out Hotel St. Martin changed hands and nobody bothered either to remove the old name or put up a new one. Something about historic yadda yadda. There's supposed to be a ghost here, and from the looks of the dilapidated cabins complete with dingy lace curtains around the back of the old hotel, I'd guess there's more than one.

Paranormality aside, the resort is spookily tranquil, boasting exactly one TV in the common rec room in the old hotel. The modern buildings come furnished with tables, chairs and a bed and nightstand and bureau. Nothing electronic except a clock. That's it. Good thing. If I had the 6:00 news blasting I wouldn't have heard the bullfrogs start croaking in unison or the crickets merrily chirping in the surrounding woods this evening. You can hear the Wind River, about 200 yards away and accessible by a hidden and very overgrown trail, rushing below. Watch the sun set against the Cascades then go tuck yourself in. Good night, crickets.