Gold Beach is a small town of about 2,255, about 40 miles north of the California border.
According to their website, the Tututni (Tu Tu’ Tunne) inspired the name for Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge. They were known as “the people of the place by the river.” The location of the lodge sits on their traditional lands.
Opened in 1970, Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge sits on the Rogue River and was family-run for nearly four decades. The original lodge has elements of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and additional structures were added. We stayed at Garden House, one of three houses and the original one, going back to the 1930s. This spacious cottage has a bedroom with a king size bed and a full bathroom on the ground floor. We took the upstairs bedroom with a powder room. The porch has a hot tub, barbecue, and comfortable lounging furniture. Additionally there is another patio table facing the lawn, a place to watch the deer that call the property home.
Tucked further away from the Lodge’s main building and other houses, the Garden House gave us quiet and privacy. We spent a couple of days wading in the river, sitting in the hot tub, watching the deer, having great BBQ, playing games, and enjoying each other’s company. I also tried out the GDome Mobile. It houses my phone and lets me take underwater photos, as well as capture split shots. I did learn that when I’m facing the sun, the reflection of my phone is very obvious in the photos and videos.
On the way home, we stopped at a beach for photos. At the time, fires were escalating in both Oregon and California, and we could smell the smoke at the lodge. You can tell from the video that the skies were already smokey. By the time we drove south, the air was thick and the world looked red, alien, and surreal.
20 reasons to Love Gold Beach, Where the Pacific Meets the Rogue – Oregon Live
Gold Beach Visitor Information Center
94080 Shirley Lane, P. O. Box 375
Gold Beach, Oregon
Toll Free: 800-525-2334
Phone 541-247-7526
www.visitgoldbeach.com