Located only 20 miles south of Oregon’s famous Crater Lake, The Aspen Inn in the quaint town of Fort Klamath is the perfect alternative to the very expensive and always full accommodations inside Crater Lake National Park.
The Owner
Heidi McLean purchased The Aspen Inn in June of 2003 and has never looked back. With a background in teaching English as a second language, as well as real estate, it was time for a change. She is originally from Texas, but spent most of her life in Colorado before making her way to Oregon.
The Aspen Inn is a family-run business. You are likely to meet Shannon, Heidi’s partner, on the phone or upon check-in and Heidi’s son Scot can be seen doing construction on the grounds. Obie, their very friendly and calm dog is great with customer relations, as is their rescued cat, Slick. Staying at The Aspen Inn really does feel like you are staying with family.
Scot, Heidi, Shannon and Obie – The Aspen Inn Family
First Impression
We got a good impression of The Aspen Inn even before arriving to Oregon. Upon booking over the phone we felt welcomed and well-informed, as Heidi helped us get our bearings in terms of directions and places to go online to help us plan our trip.
Check-in/lobby
After a very long travel day Heidi and Shannon’s reception made us feel right at home. She gave us a mini-orientation of the location and gave suggestions for things not to miss at Crater Lake and the surrounding areas. We left the lobby knowing how to get to Crater Lake the next morning and even where to find vegan groceries (Jo’s Grocery, which is right around the corner from The Aspen Inn and close enough to walk to).
The Aspen Inn’s playground
Time and time again, Heidi and her staff asked how we were doing and if we needed anything. She is willing to share anything with her guests, even pulling things from her own kitchen to make our stay even more comfortable. The customer service certainly went above and beyond our expectations.
The Rooms
Our A-frame cabin – lucky number 7
We had the opportunity to stay in both the A-frame house as well as the standard room. The A-frame house features a sleeping area perfect for a couple with a TV on the lower level and two twin beds upstairs.
Upstairs space in A-frame cabin
The en suite bathroom was clean and the shower had good water pressure. Air flowed easily throughout the small house, making it never too hot or too cold.
A-frame main bedroom
The standard room is spacious and, like the A-frame, features a small sitting area perfect for writing or enjoying a meal. We were very comfortable in both the A-frame house and the standard room.
Sitting area in the A-frame cabin
Amenities
The Aspen Inn has many amenities to add to our comfort, starting in the morning with complimentary coffee and a wide array of teas (even herbal tea), as well as hot cider. There is ample parking and most rooms, including the A-frame cabins, come with a designated parking spot.
Standard room
All rooms are equipped with a small fridge and a microwave, as well as free wifi. In addition, there are lots of games and puzzles available in the lobby for use and in the late summer they set up a badminton/volleyball net for guests to enjoy. Perhaps the best amenity of all is the artesian well water that comes from the taps – it may have even cured my migraine.
The next time we find ourselves itching to spend some more time at and around Crater Lake, we will gladly stay at The Aspen Inn – we wouldn’t think of staying anywhere else.