Columbia Gorge Real Estate Blog

I recently saw that the Historic Balch Hotel is operating again. I noticed it last year while showing property in Dufur. It looked mostly empty and like it needed work. I learned that it sold in the summer of 2006 and the new owners have revived it. It is listed on the National Historic Registry.

The Balch Hotel was built in 1907 by Charles P. Balch who was a local rancher and druggist. Mr. Balch owned approximately 1,600 acres adjoining Dufur. The bricks used were made on his ranch. The Balch Hotel opened January 17, 1908 (a 100 year anniversary celebration is planned for next January!). Back then rooms cost $0.50 to $1.25, and even had "hot and cold water in every room, electric lights and steam heat." The 18-inch-thick brick walls keep the building cool during the hot Dufur summers.

Mark the date for the  6th Annual ENVIRO HOUSE TOUR coming October 6, 2007

Sponsored by the  Columbia Gorge Earth Center 

This years tour will have many exciting new green projects, including several inspiring houses, a LEED certified commercial building in Hood River, and the nations largest LEED-certified green and solar development in Mosier.- Mosier Creek Homes. 

Several of these units are currently listed for sale.http://www.rmls.com/   RMLS #'s 761625,7069900,7061628, 7061635, 6101454, 7069872, 6101448, 7061616, 7069877

AUGUST 2007 Families in the Park Concert Series. Celebrating 25 years of family style entertainment in Jackson Park. Here's the schedule each Thursday in Jackson Park. The free concerts begin at 6 pm

AUGUST 2- Johnny Limbo & the Lugnuts (rock) w/hula hoop demonstration

AUGUST 9- The Beatniks (60s, 70s, 80s) w/Andreas Ehrlich

AUGUST 16- Linda Hornbuckle Band (blues, soul) w/children's musical performance

AUGUST 23- Satin Love Orchstra (70s,80s disco) w/Sweet Adelines

AUGUST 30-Five Guys Named Moe (pop/rock) w/Gorge Gymnastics program

Van Gogh Days celebrates the beauty of sunflowers-summer's signature flower which Vincent Van Gogh made famous in his painted works from 1887-89. This Aug 4-5 Van Gogh Days returns to Hood River's Rasumssen Farms. If you are a painter or a photographer you will especially enjoy the fields of bright sunflowers in this scenic location. There will be sixty named varieties of sunflowers blooming at the farm! Individuals, art groups and photography clubs are invited to take advantage of these bright summer flowers. Rasmussen Farms is open seven days a week from 9 am to 6 pm. Located at 3020 Thomsen Rd. just 6 miles South of Hood River off of Hwy. 35 There will be live music, wine tasting and games, a quilt show and art show and sales too!

The event will be held on August 9th from 6:00 -9:00 p.m. at The Gorge White house located at 2265 Highway 35, just 4 miles south of Hood River.

Mid-Columbia Association of Realtors is sponsoring a fundraiser this summer with proceeds to be divided between Mid-Columbia Habitat for Humanity and The Dalles Habitat for Humanity affiliates.   

Admission is $20.00 with tickets available from local realtors. There will be food, music, a speaker from the Oregon Habitat for Humanity. Like last year, there will be both live and silent auctions and a raffle for local art and wine.  

For more information contact: Carol Annala  541-387-6563   Dee Ashley  541-965-0041  Colleen Bergsma 541-980-8416  Ruth Chausse 541-387-6562  Vickie Ellett  541-296-2127   Greg Herman  541-387-6561

COMING SOON- RUN FOR THE ARTS  Saturday Sept 8, 2007 at 10:00 am  This is a one way run across Bonneville Dam with van transport back to the start.

START: Bonneville Fish Hatchery- exit 40 off I-84

FINISH: Fort Cascades Trail Head off of Highway 14, Washington

There will be a water table at the half way point.

Kids Fun Run:
1 mile, starting at Fort Cascades, 10:30am

Fees:
$20 dollars w/o t-shirt, 
$30 w/ t-shirt*
$40 Day of registration
*(T-shirts unavailable after August 24th). 

There will be an awards ceremony after at 12:00 noon,  Stevenson Washington at Tao Park (Waterfront)

Featuring salmon chowder from Big River Grill and Walking man Beer.

I for one am really happy IKEA is now in Portland! I love IKEA!! My husband is a licensed contractor. We have done 5 IKEA kitchens. They have many door styles to choose from, are reasonably priced and an easy system to install. For each kitchen we've done, it required a major all day trip up to Renton pulling a trailer and sometimes two trips. It was worth it but this is going to be so much easier. I can't wait to make a trip to IKEA in Portland.

July residential home sales from the RMLS for Hood River County. Here's the breakdown.

Cascade Locks- 1 homes sold

Hood River- City- $200-$250,000-    3 sales

                         $251-$350,000-   5 sale

                         $351-$450,000-   2 sale

                         $451-$550,000-   3 sales

                         $551-$$650,000-   2 sales

                         $651-$1,000,000-   0

Hood River-Westside- $200-$1,000,000- 1 sale

Hood River-Eastside- 1 sale at $760,000

Odell- $200-$300,000- 2 sales

Parkdale- $300-$400,000-   4 sales

Countywide - 24 total homes sold, this total is only residential homes. unimproved & commercial properties are not included in these statistics.

The Gorge White House is situated 4 miles South of Hood River on Hwy 35 and part of the new Mt. Hood Scenic Byway. The Dutch Colonial house was built in 1910 and has remained in the same family for 60 years. The Gorge White House is an excellent  example of a Dutch Colonial Revival House in a rural setting in the Hood River Valley.  The Colonial Revival Style was popular from 1890 through 1915 and was an effort to establish a uniquely American style based on Colonial architecture of the 1700s. It has recently been nominated for listing on the National Historic Registry.

CLICK HERE FOR 2008 MOVIE SCHEDULE

Here's the Movies in the Park schedule for the month of August at Jackson Park in Hood River. Movies are free and start at dusk. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the show!

July 28- No Movie due to Hood River County Fair

August 4- Spider Man

August 11- Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

August 18- Remember the Titans

August 25- Aladdin