Ashland Springs Hotel

Ashland's best-known and most historic hotel, the nine-story Ashland Springs Hotel, opened in 1925 as the Lithia Springs Hotel. It changed quite a bit throughout the 20th-century, being transformed into the Tudor-themed Mark Antony in 1960. A swimming pool was built at that time (where the walled garden courtyard now stands). It was closed in 1997 and purchased by Doug and Becky Neuman, who also own the nearby Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. After quickly renovating, a new facade and modern comforts like air-conditioning and Wi-Fi were installed. However, many of the original features remain, including glass chandeliers in the ballroom, pedestal sinks in the lobby restroom, and stained-glass windows with the old Lithia Springs Hotel crest.  

One of the taller buildings in quaint central Ashland, the nine-floor Ashland Springs Hotel is a bit of a local landmark and certainly has one of the more elegant facades in town, with large arched stained-glass windows dating back to the property's early days as the Lithia Springs Hotel. Inside is a cozy lobby with granite floors, large area rugs, an ornate iron chandelier, and lots of potted plants and soft chairs around a large fireplace. A mezzanine level overlooks the lobby and has additional chairs and tables. There's also a furnished courtyard patio with an iron-framed open gazebo that hosts weddings in the summer months. The property is popular with tourists in town to see plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and families of students at the nearby Southern Oregon University. Business meetings and various functions are also frequently held here. 

The Ashland Springs Hotel is located right by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival venue in downtown Ashland. It's a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk to Southern Oregon University and less than a 10-minute drive into the center of town. The hot springs at Jackson Wellspring are about a seven-minute drive from the hotel. The closest commercial airport is in Medford, a 25-minute drive away. The California border is about a 30-minute drive south of the hotel, while Crater Lake National Park is about an hour and a half away by car. It's a three-hour drive to Eugene and a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Portland, Oregon. 

The Ashland Springs Hotel offers a variety of King, Queen, and Double Rooms along with a Parlor Suite. Accessible rooms are also available, and many of the units have gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. Rooms are elegant, with subdued gold pastel walls, muted-red and beige patterned bedspreads over goose-down comforters, and framed pressed flowers and plants on the walls. Rooms have small writing desks and some also have seating areas with plush floral-patterned sofas. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with cable, irons, and ironing boards, while mini-fridges and coffeemakers are standard in some rooms, but available on request in others. Bathrooms follow a similar decor pattern with thick floral shower curtains over shower/tub combos, muted walls, and large mirrors. All guests receive a lavender bath sachet as a welcome gift and hairdryers and bathrobes are provided. Children under the age of 12 stay for free and pets are welcome in third-floor rooms for a hefty extra fee. 

The on-site restaurant, Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine, focuses on locally raised and grown produce. The lunch menu is heavy on sandwiches and salads, with gluten-free and vegan options available, while dinner is a bit fancier with options such as seared rockfish and duck leg confit alongside salads and eclectic appetizers. Rich desserts are also available and the wine list is huge and primarily focused on Oregon wines. Martinis, local ciders, and Oregon microbrews are also on offer. A continental breakfast is included in room rates and free cookies and tea are offered every afternoon in the lobby. The hotel also offers five meeting/event spaces for conferences and weddings. There's a Grand Ballroom, a Conservatory with palm trees, an English Garden, and a Crystal Room, many of which contain original period furniture and elegant mirrors on the walls. The hotel also offers free on-site parking, free Wi-Fi throughout, and dry cleaning/laundry services (on weekdays only).