THE DALLES — The Dalles is a town shaped by geography, weather, and history. The name traces back to the French word dalles, a term French-Canadian voyageurs used to describe the columnar basalt rock formations and the turbulent, narrow gorges of the Columbia River. The Rayland Hotel sits right in the heart of downtown The Dalles. Storms rolling in from the ocean release their last drops before the landscape shifts into something drier, brighter, and more dramatic. And this is how the Rayland Hotel was named: “ray” for the sunnier days and “land” to mark the unique geographical features.

Rayland is currently the only property of its kind in The Dalles, occupying a site with deep roots dating back to the Hotel Dalles, which was built in 1909. The hotel has evolved through several identities over the decades, more recently as The Dalles Inn. A few years ago, VIP Hospitality Group, started by the Lee family, purchased the property and completely reimagined its design. They updated all the rooms, installed energy-efficient fixtures and a full-building fire alarm system, renovated the elevator, and added a coffee shop and a restaurant. Each room has a desk, A/C, microwave, mini-fridge, and access to the fitness room. For the convenience of modern travelers, all guest rooms now feature additional outlets and USB charging ports. The hotel has an upscale, boutique style with rooms offering views of the Columbia River.