When life gets crazy and hectic, step away from it all, into a magical world meant to soothe and inspire you. With 300 days of sunshine, it's a sunny getaway to a simple, elegant, rural space, surrounded by the serenity of nature. Visit an award-winning, historic, 20-room boutique inn, where exceptional hospitality is more than just an idea.
Experience the expanse and simplicity of the country with wide open meadows, big sky and majestic mountain that generate a clarity of mind and heart that settles the soul. Centrally located in the Columbia River Gorge, just 13 miles (21 km) south of The Dalles, Oregon. A quick 1 hour, 40 minutes east of Portland, 3.5 hours from Seattle, and 2 hours from Salem or Bend.
Experience the expanse and simplicity of the country with wide open meadows, big sky and majestic mountain that generate a clarity of mind and heart that settles the soul. Centrally located in the Columbia River Gorge, just 13 miles (21 km) south of The Dalles, Oregon. A quick 1 hour, 40 minutes east of Portland, 3.5 hours from Seattle, and 2 hours from Salem or Bend.
Services
The Balch Hotel was built in 1907 by Charles P. Balch, a local rancher and druggist who owned approximately 1,600 acres adjoining Dufur. The bricks used were made on his ranch. Rooms cost $0.50 to $1.25, touting "hot and cold water in every room, electric lights and steam heat." The 18-inch thick brick walls continue to keep the building cool during the hot Dufur summers.
Each of our rooms is decorated with antique furniture and there are no TVs, telephones or elevators. Choose your experience; pamper yourself in our king suite with whirlpool tub and Mt. Hood views, our "signature" rooms have old-world charm with the convenience of an en-suite bathroom or go for the traditional experience with a shared bath.
We call these rooms "Modern" because they have their own bathroom. Otherwise, each is furnished with unique, period antiques and a comfy pillow-top queen bed. They are on the second and third floors with a view of the garden patio. Some rooms feature a claw-foot tub/shower for soaking (#9 and #23) while others have a standard tub/shower that's easier to get in and out of.
Our most authentic rooms feature period antiques with a queen sized pillow-top mattress bed; some with Mt. Hood views. All have a view of our park-like grounds. These rooms are on the second and third floors and some have a sink in the room. Be sure to read the room descriptions carefully when booking your room to ensure you get exactly what you want.
A special offer for our favorite guests. Enjoy a romance getaway with a sweet room package special. Includes a bottle of local wine, 4 house-made chocolate truffles, romance essential oil blend, and a wine bottle opener plus 10% room discount. SPA AND STAY PACKAGE: Discount on lodging and a 30 minute spa treatment when you reserve a room.
Reviews (26)
Nina Buckley
Dec 27, 2021
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Rebecca France
Dec 13, 2021
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The Balch Hotel is a truly beautiful, magical & healing place. It was the perfect location for my recent solo trip; beautiful fall colors in the gardens, the food in the Bistro is fresh & delicious, the staff was welcoming & always remembered my name, and the spa is the perfect treat. There isn’t too much to explore in Dufur itself but I found many adventures in the surrounding areas. I highly recommend visiting the Balch Hotel if you need a quiet retreat to unwind & recharge. XO
Shana Van Hook
Oct 18, 2021
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Kym
Sep 29, 2021
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A unique place to stay off the beaten path. Nice lobby and library areas plus patio and lawn to have a quiet place to relax in. Shared bathrooms for most of the rooms with a sink in each bedroom. A nice view of Mount Hood from the front of the hotel. No elevator. Disappointed in not having my morning coffee. This place wants to be a destination rather than a place to stay on your way to your destination.
Quinn Read
Sep 14, 2021
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I visited the Balch hotel hoping for a peaceful, serene personal retreat -- and that's exactly what I got! It's a beautiful property with minimal distractions. The staff is lovely and the rooms are very clean and well-appointed. I think it would also be a terrific stopover for folks adventuring in the gorge. I will be back for sure!
Marilyn Estenes
Aug 23, 2021
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Tristan Todd
Aug 20, 2021
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Tranquil, attentive, unique. This is an absolutely beautiful property in one of the prettiest parts of Oregon. There is so much cool history in this part of Oregon. During my recent stay, I loved: amazing cuisine, beautiful garden, comfy room, excellent service, and decent value. Not only is the Balch a good stopping point during a journey, it is also a very cool destination. If you're looking for a super chill place to hide out, you'll enjoy everything that the Balch has to offer. If you are on a motorcycle or bicycle - you MUST visit at least once!
Dyann Carter
Jul 22, 2021
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The Balch is a very unique and beautiful hotel. The surroundings and the atmosphere were very peaceful and relaxing. Not much to see or do in Dufur, but that is the appealing part to me. No busy main streets or tourist shops. Just nature and the sounds of birds chirping and wind in the trees. The staff was friendly and very helpful. The food was excellent. They do not allow children under 12 which made for an even better stay. Highly recommended if you are a solo traveler looking to get some self-reflection or a couple looking to reconnect and unwind. I wish I would have booked a longer stay, but
Brenda McKay
Jun 16, 2021
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We needed a calming and relaxing place to stay, and this was it! We chose the king with the Mountain View and were able to read and relax while viewing Mt. Hood. I love taking baths and they had a huge bathtub with jets. The outdoor lawn with pond was beautiful. The food absolutely top notch. The staff was pleasant and kind. I can’t wait to stay here again.
Claudia K.
Sep 17, 2020
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Went back Christmas 2019 and it was magical. They decorated it so tastefully. I am going to the same Christmas party this year and am definately picking this place to stay again. I hope The Balch will be open?? It has a whole different feel in the winter time and shows the first snowfalls. Went to the Christmas boutique at the church and met some lovely people and bought 20 "scrubbies" from Linda. All my friends love them and I'll have to go back to this small town country boutique when i stay here..
The hotel business is a tough business. This kind of hotel possibly requires
The hotel business is a tough business. This kind of hotel possibly requires
Linda H.
Mar 15, 2020
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This was a bit of a detour for me, but what gratitude I have that I made the effort to visit this place. It was so fun to stay in such an authentically restored historic hotel. My room on the second floor had an unobstructed view of Mt Hood, and the accommodations were VERY comfortable. I truly enjoyed both dinner and breakfast in the Bistro. I can't wait to return with friends.
Stacy J.
Sep 23, 2019
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Mia Z.
Jul 21, 2019
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What a little cute gem in Dufur, OR! Bf came down to Columbia river fishing for the weekend and we stayed at this place and it's just sooo cute! Friendly staff like Debra was able to accommodate us for a late arrival, she got our dinner pre-ordered and ready for us when we checked in. Declines and healthy food menu.
Quaint backyard where you can read and relax and enjoy the day.
I did a reflex feet service with co owner Claire and it was a pleasant experience. Essential oil with feet massage.
Why pay $200 at a chain like bestwestern in town when you could support local business who provide
Quaint backyard where you can read and relax and enjoy the day.
I did a reflex feet service with co owner Claire and it was a pleasant experience. Essential oil with feet massage.
Why pay $200 at a chain like bestwestern in town when you could support local business who provide
Alexa H.
Dec 23, 2018
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Put this hotel on your travel list. Use it as a transit stop for a long trip like I did or just head out there for a couple days to unwind.
Each stay comes with unexpected delights.
Beautiful historic hotel.
If you don't mind a shared bath (not an issue for me), room 15 can't be beat. Third floor at the front of the hotel and a big window. I have stayed twice, one summer, one late fall (also known as the grey) and both times my stay left me feeling more calm and centered.
In true summer, the garden is a beautiful place to lounge in a chair or hammock and read a book.
The tea selection
Each stay comes with unexpected delights.
Beautiful historic hotel.
If you don't mind a shared bath (not an issue for me), room 15 can't be beat. Third floor at the front of the hotel and a big window. I have stayed twice, one summer, one late fall (also known as the grey) and both times my stay left me feeling more calm and centered.
In true summer, the garden is a beautiful place to lounge in a chair or hammock and read a book.
The tea selection
Dave M.
Nov 27, 2018
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Really enjoyed my time leading a workshop, 'Healing for Empaths' at the Balch Hotel, November 2018.
The staff members and owners were extremely accommodating for any and all requests I made [no matter how "Diva" I thought they might be received!] ... ;-)
The food was excellent, the decor magnificent and charming, and the overall energy was so helpful in creating a safe environment for learning!
The staff members and owners were extremely accommodating for any and all requests I made [no matter how "Diva" I thought they might be received!] ... ;-)
The food was excellent, the decor magnificent and charming, and the overall energy was so helpful in creating a safe environment for learning!
House H.
Sep 07, 2018
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Completely different experience than a hotel or Airbnb. It's very special to just sit and hang out with new friends. I met 2 wonderful couples that "adopted" me and I met them later after we all checked out. We went up to Timberline for the Labor Day bluegrass festival. Back to Balch, outstanding breakfast! Worth price of admission alone. I liked the room, but if I had my act together would have taken a room with a bathroom. 1st world choices. Josiah was super nice. The grounds are stellar. It's only 15 min from The Dalles. 35 min from my fav, town of Hood River.
Sue S.
Aug 21, 2018
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We arrived at the Balch without a reservation and after hours, as our RV had broken down while on a long road trip. The whole town was shut down, and we were truly exhausted and feeling almost desperate. The Balch was an Oasis! We found the room and bath to be sparkling clean, charming, and just the peace and quiet we needed. The breakfast was wonderful. My husband loved the eggs and muffins, and the yogurt and granola and fruit were perfect for me. The grounds are lovely. The tranquil peaceful environment was exactly what we needed. And, the view of Mt Hood was absolutely unexpected and quite
Gwen U.
May 16, 2018
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We had a delightful stay! Our stay was part of a family celebration and the staff was so helpful and accommodating to our needs. Our breakfast meal was delish and a nice combination of items to choose from. The facility was so lovely and well kept and the grounds were just as beautiful. We would definitely stay here again. Thank you to the Balch for making our stay a very nice memory.
Bart M.
Sep 25, 2017
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I had employees working in the Dalles when I discovered I didnt have enough rooms for 4 people. With all the rooms in the Dalles booked, I scouted around and found this motel. The staff was pleasant enough on the phone, but my employees were far from impressed. They described the walls as 'paper thin, you could hear the people next door breathing'. I'm not sure how often the staff checks the communal bathrooms, but they reported vomit in the bathtub the following morning.
I was tempted to leave 3 stars, until I found out that they overcharged me the standard rate.
I was tempted to leave 3 stars, until I found out that they overcharged me the standard rate.
Sean A.
Aug 09, 2017
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Historic but they make you feel like royalty. The rooms are cute and decorated nicely. The grounds are very well kept. You can tell they take pride in the environment they have created for their guests. In a somewhat rural area, but the tranquility is priceless. Even accommodated my request for a place to charge my EV (they had a 110v outlet near the parking lot). One drawback was the diesel farm trucks driving by on the main road were a bit noisy during breakfast on the patio.
Missy T.
Jul 16, 2017
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Jenny F.
Jun 22, 2017
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My sister and I came out to explore the ghost towns in Wasco County and stayed the night at the Balch Hotel. The hotel is beautiful, very nicely kept, with homey decor and very cute rooms. The room we stayed in had a shared bathroom, which was very clean, and the bed was super soft and comfortable. No AC, but our room was still plenty cool. Hotel staff provided ear plugs for sleeping (very kind), as the hotel itself is a bit creaky and the walls are thin, but I didn't even need them. Very yummy, if somewhat limited, dinner menu, and delicious complimentary breakfast. Make sure you try
Edward K.
Mar 25, 2017
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I read some of the slightly negative reviews of The Balch and I had to laugh..."honey is an animal by-product and not Vegan". Hilarious! If having honey added to their oatmeal when a guest has chosen to restrict "insect by-products" from their diet is the biggest complaint here, you can guess just how nice this hotel really is.
Well, more of an inn than a hotel, The Balch was built in 1907. So, yes, it's creaky and sounds can be heard throughout, as are all old buildings and hotels. Have you stayed at The Edgefield in Troutdale? Kind of similar here. But, and to
Well, more of an inn than a hotel, The Balch was built in 1907. So, yes, it's creaky and sounds can be heard throughout, as are all old buildings and hotels. Have you stayed at The Edgefield in Troutdale? Kind of similar here. But, and to
Michael B.
Nov 12, 2016
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Kimberly M.
Sep 11, 2015
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Absolutely perfect! It was so quiet and relaxing in the parlor and hiking around the area. The staff is so friendly and generous. We went for our anniversary and they sent us home with a gift. Breakfast was delicious and the coffee was terrific. I commented on how much I loved the muffins and they were so sweet to send us with some for our ride home.
We already booked our next trip for February!
We already booked our next trip for February!
Laura P.
May 09, 2013
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What an amazing place! A restored Historic Hotel in Dufur, Or. The service was amazing and the price was well below the chains and was much nicer.
We first saw the Balch Hotel last year, May 2012 and we were impressed. They were still, although nearly finished, in the midst of the restoration. It was beautiful. Breakfast comes with your stay and there is coffee/tea/malted Hot Cocoa available as self service.
The dining room is large and inviting. The Patio is even better! The rooms have bathrooms or share a hallway bathroom. The rooms on the the North East corner have the most spectacular
We first saw the Balch Hotel last year, May 2012 and we were impressed. They were still, although nearly finished, in the midst of the restoration. It was beautiful. Breakfast comes with your stay and there is coffee/tea/malted Hot Cocoa available as self service.
The dining room is large and inviting. The Patio is even better! The rooms have bathrooms or share a hallway bathroom. The rooms on the the North East corner have the most spectacular
