Posted in Oregon Hotels & Resorts, Winter November 26, 2022 by Catherine Armstrong

There’s A Soaking Pool At This Historic Oregon Hotel And It’s Everything You Need This Winter

As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.

There’s nothing like an Oregon staycation to cure the winter doldrums, but it gets even better when you add a soaking pool where you can relax and soak all your troubles away. There’s a beautiful hotel that has just such a pool – and you don’t even have to be a guest to visit. The Old St. Francis School soaking pool in Bend is well worth the trip to central Oregon. This accommodation is unique in so many ways. Read on to learn more about it – you’ll want to plan a visit right away!

McMenamins Old St. Francis School is a beautifully-restored property that includes a movie theater, pub, schoolhouse that's been converted to a hotel, and a gorgeous soaking pool. If you're looking for a relaxing spot for an Oregon staycation, you just found it.

For the ultimate getaway, check yourself into one of the cozy rooms here for an overnight stay. You'll find 60 guest rooms to choose from, each with its own unique artwork and charming schoolhouse details.

After you've grabbed some food and a drink at the pub, head to the soaking pool and ease into the warm waters. The McMenamins soaking pool in Bend is truly like a little corner of paradise in central Oregon.

The salt-water pool is warm and inviting, tempting you to stay 'til your fingers and toes are completely pruned. Because of its slight salinity, you'll be a bit more buoyant than usual.

This space is absolutely stunning, with its high ceilings, sky lights, and rich, jeweled tones.

The tile mosaics around the pool feature pastoral scenes of st. Francis during the grape harvest. Each tile was hand-painted by artist Justyn Livingston.

Other details include the large, round, stained-glass window handcrafted by artist David Schlicker, the sunburst tile design on the bottom of the pool, the fountain in the middle...

...and the two stately lions who each spout water from their mouths. This space is as much a stunning work of art as it is a place to soak.

While an overnight stay at Old St. Francis School is the best way to take a break from your ordinary life, you don't have to be a guest of the hotel to soak in the pool. The public is welcome daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (minors are allowed until 6 p.m.).

Your visit to the McMenamins Old St. Francis School is something that you’ll never forget. Once you visit this unique property the first time, you’ll want to return to it time and time again. It’s amazing and it’s not like anything you’ve ever done before. Plan a trip to Bend today to give it a try!

Have you soaked in this pool? We’d love to hear about your experience! Tell us about it in the comments!

If you’re looking for another quiet spot for an Oregon staycation, check out this grain bin B&B – it’s the ultimate countryside getaway.

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Address: McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97703, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Old St. Francis School Soaking Pool

December 26, 2022

Christy Articola

Wow! This soaking pool is amazing! Is it the only one in Oregon?

Nope! It's actually one of several that is in an McMenamins property. The McMenamins are a family that are well know throughout Oregon and Washington for their many successful and unique businesses including brewpubs, breweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs. Check out these other soaking pools you can try around the state (including one in Washington, too!). Some are only open to guests of the hotel to which they are attached, but some are open to the general public for a fee:

The Crystal Hotel in Portland, Oregon (Soaking Pool)
The Kennedy School in Portland, Oregon (Soaking Pool)
Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon (Soaking Pool)
Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon (Soaking Pool)
Anderson School in Bothell, Washington (North Shore Lagoon Swimming Pool)

Who are the McMenamins, anyway?

In 1983, brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin opened their first brewpub in Portland. Since then, the brand has grown and grown and today the family owns 62 different businesses in Washington and Oregon. The company often buys historic buildings and restores and revitalizes them; at least nine of their current properties are located in buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Make an effort to try to check out some of the McMenamins' offerings! Their businesses are innovative, popular, and well-rated. Check out some of their hotels around Oregon: