TL;DR

Historic golf course hotel dating back to 1892
McMenamins renovation blending pub, hotel, and golf culture
Ocean views and relaxed, boutique getaway vibe
Casual golf atmosphere, no country-club pretension
Check prices here

Off the west coast of Oregon, in Gearhart, OR, is one of the oldest golf courses west of the Mississippi.

The 1892 Gearhart Golf Links started as a relaxing three-hole game for visitors staying in the nearby Hotel Gearhart. It has since expanded, and the hotel with it.

This is one of the most hotel-y of all the Oregon-based McMenamins locations. They originally purchased the property to install the Sand Trap Pub. Hotel renovations finished roughly four years later.

There’s no need to golf, with the Pacific Ocean in sight. In our opinion, though, it would be a shame to visit and not hit a couple of balls around the famous greens.

If you’re looking for a golf vacations with all the trappings, spas, Izod boutiques and teenage boys to congratulate you after a particularly spectacular bonk of the ball, this probably won’t tick all your boxes.

It’s more the place to putt around the green and have a couple of beers afterward. A boutique getaway with a side of golf.

What are the rooms like?

34 rooms split between original hotel and 2018 Annex
Room types include Kings, Queens, and Bunk Bed doubles
Decor mixes McMenamins’ quirky art with warm wood paneling
Extras like balconies, patios, hideaway beds, and TVs
See each room in detail here

There are two buildings here: the original hotel and the Annex building, finished in 2018. It’s a new piece of architecture, built in the style of the original with cedar shingling.

You’re looking at King Singles, Queen Singles, and super-cute, family vacation ready, Bunk Bed doubles.

They’re decked out in McMenamins’ typical diet-psychedelic painting, funky headboards, and Grandma-standard cozy bedding.

The vibe is slight more sophisticated, however, than some other locations. The rooms are filled floor-to-ceiling with gorgeous wood panelling, paintings are in frames, that kind of thing.

Each room includes a TV and some sort of seating. Extra features include balconies, patios, and hideaway beds.

What are prices like?

Check dates and prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Sand Trap Pub serves classic meals, & drinks, all day
Pot Bunker Bar and Sand Bar offer casual drinks
Live music events and outdoor fire pits
Activities include golf discounts, fitness center, bikes

The original Pub is the Sand Trap, which is still open three meals a day with a nice selection of pub and restaurant classics.

We’re suckers for a good Bloody Mary, but those who prefer to start the day with coffee should not be disappointed.

You can grab a full breakfast there, a filling lunch, or a refreshing dinner after a day of exploring.

There are many live music events to work your schedule around as well.

The Pot Bunker Bar is another little hideaway for a cheeky beer near the patio common area. On the patio you can find an outdoor fire pit, and many outdoor games to enjoy.

Or, grab a wood bundle from the hotel and set up a beach fire. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy a seaside made more for looking than lounging.

You might not be jumping in the water, but this way you’ll stay warm.

And if you get thirsty, there’s the Sand Bar, an easy stroll from the hotel. This cozy little wood-stove-heated bar serves up local beers that you can theoretically take outside, but, once you’re inside, you probably won’t want to.

Other activities include golf, obviously, with discounts on greens fees for McMenamins’ guests. There’s a fitness center in the Annex with a brand-new putting green.

You’ll also have access to cruisers, ready to take you along all the local roads. You can enjoy rides up and down the coast, or just around town, from dawn until dusk.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Seaside setting with ocean views and rural charm
Astoria is 25 minutes away with museums and landmarks
Nearby towns include Seaside with family-friendly attractions
Outdoor options like Ecola Park, Young’s River Falls, Lewis & Clark parks

So, this is not a hotel near an urban center. No, we’re talking long country roads, Pacific winds, beach pines and miles of seacoast. If you’re an ocean fan, look no further.

The closest city-city is Astoria, a 25-minute drive, that includes a gorgeous causeway. Once you’re there, there a host of museums, landmarks, restaurants and bars to check out.

You can stop by Coffee Girl for a riverside cup of joe, hike up to the Astoria Column, spend an afternoon looking for Goonies set pieces or poke around the Columbia River Maritime Museum for an hour or two.

Gearhart also has a little towny-area with a salon or two, a couple restaurants, and a super-sweet small-town attitude, but if you want to barhop or tour cultural offerings, it’s not really the place.

About 10 minutes south is Seaside, which has a little more of a downtown. It’s got a Natural History Park, an aquarium, and a historical society, as well as a handful of other golf courses. Kids can mini-golf at nearby Captain Kid’s.

The route south makes a great bike ride, which could take you all the way to Ecola Park for some great seaside walks.

Astoria’s Lewis and Clark and Young’s River Falls Parks are great places for some woodsy walks.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We liked the location, the restaurant, the coffee service by the elevators in the morning. The bed was very comfortable. Charming ambiance, friendly staff….”

“Everything you need is on site Stafford, very friendly, especially at the check-in desk and the restaurant or tender downstairs quite delightful room, comfy towels, clean plantable….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Not much in the way facilities like swimming pool , theater , or what most of the other property have (although a tv was provided in the room )…”

”No plugs near the head of the bed – I use a CPAP machine, and like to charge my phone next to my bed. I had to pull the bed away from the wall and unplug the lamp to plug my two devices in. We had a hard time heating the room, which was pretty cold when we arrived. Could hear our neighbors loud and clear through the walls. We suspect that was why earplugs are offered in the nightstands?…”

Read all the reviews right here