Hotel Condon ~ History

Built in 1920, Hotel Condon was the perfect stop for weary travelers of the dusty roads of Eastern Oregon. As the Gilliam County seat and rail-shipping hub for the area, Condon was a busy place, and Hotel Condon was at the center of the action. With 42 guest rooms and an elegant dining room, the hotel thrived.

Around mid-century, Condon's population and visitors began to decline. The hotel was hit hard by the lack of traffic, and changed owners 14 times from 1947 until 1990. The slowly decaying building hosted apartments, several different lounges, a pizza parlor, and an arcade before closing completely in 1997.

The building sat vacant and forlorn, an ugly reminder of the hard times faced by the community. In 1998, a group of residents decided to renovate the hotel, hoping it would be a catalyst for further economic development. Residents raised funds to launch a three-year renovation project which depended largely on local craftsmen, some of whom donated their services to the project.

After an extraordinary display of community spirit and involvement, the renovation was completed in October 2001. After spending years in disrepair, Hotel Condon is now restored to its original elegance.