a lovely and too brief stay at the Old St. Francis School hotel

I've been wanting to stay at a McMenamins hotel for a long time and finally realized the dream a few weeks ago when we had a much-too-brief overnight stay at the McMenamins Old St. Francis School hotel in Bend, Oregon.

It was as wonderful as my expectations! The rooms are converted from actual classrooms, covered wall to wall [and ceiling!] in wood and log accents, with McMenamins' classic murals, clever celestial accents, and a healthy dose of wit.

[old school drinking fountain outside our room; oh yes, it works!].

We stayed in the Robie Anderson room, complete with a funky portrait of Robie himself. The room was clean, spacious, with tons of thoughtful items like a coat rack and bench right inside the door, plenty of great armoire storage, 2-chair desk and super-comfy reading chair.

[light fixture in our room no. 114].

[our room no. 114].

The bathroom was great and lovely as well. On McMenamins properties, no wall is safe from clever mural painters. not even the bathroom. thank goodness, because they're always fantastic.

[our bathroom room no. 114].

I can't say enough nice things about the staff, who were so friendly and attentive, with that great laid back personality I've come to expect at all McMenamins properties; I felt like I was a treasured guest at the home of a good friend. Even down to little touches like asking what kind of coffee I like, as they have a coffee maker in the room but grind your preferred bean flavor fresh every morning and leave the grounds outside your door for you to brew in your room. 

The crowning touch: the heavenly heated saltwater soaking pool, with about 1/3 of the ceiling open to the sky...must be incredible when it snows down into the pool. I could've stayed there all day!

[to the soaking pool].

[oh so heavenly saltwater soaking pool].

[unbelievably gorgeous murals surround the pool].