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As the world gradually begins to reopen (fingers crossed), you may find yourself inundated with out-of-town visitors. If so, unique lodging options abound throughout the Umpqua Valley. Here are three.
Story by Don Gilman Photos by Thomas Boyd
John Rast House
Built almost entirely of Douglas fir, the Rast House reflects the aesthetics of the era of its construction. The home boasts high ceilings, mahogany beat board, a soapstone fireplace and oak flooring.
Exactly when the house was built, however, is something of an open question. Purportedly constructed in 1875 by John and Clara Rast, current owners Cherri and Mike Herriman think it might have been built three years earlier.
“We’re still researching a lot of things out,” Cherri Herriman says.
The Herrimans purchased the historic home on Stephens Street in Roseburg in August 2019, but it took a lot of hard work to get it ready for guests. The Covid-19 pandemic also made business a struggle at first, but the Herrimans have persevered.
The Rast House is an oasis of quiet despite being on one of Roseburg’s busiest streets. The tranquility belies the derelict state the Herrimans found when they took possession.
“This place was terrible,” says Mike, a retired electrical contractor. “It had been vacant for 20 years.”
Graffiti covered the walls, light fixtures had been stripped and trash was everywhere. The restoration took six months and required nearly every available minute.
But the finished product was the fulfillment of the Herrimans’ dream.
“We lived in Grants Pass for 25 years,” Cherri says. “I was ready to start something new. Mike was ready to retire. I still wanted to have a purpose and I’ve always dreamed about having a B&B.”
Find the John Rast House at 236 S.E. Stephens St. and book online at johnrasthouse.com
The South House
Amy Magnus runs The South House Bed & Breakfast in Oakland with her fiancée, Pete Lund, and father, Joe Crudo.
Originally a commercial building, the structure did not impress Magnus initially. Her father had run across it online and suggested she take a look. What she saw was a lot of work, but Dad was insistent.
She had long wanted to run her own business, but the idea for South House wasn’t born until she looked at the property.
“I always wanted something to put my name on,” she says. “The idea for a bed and breakfast popped into my head and I ran with it. I just went with my gut. At that time there was no lodging in Oakland.”
Like everyone else, Magnus and her family felt the sting of the Covid-19 pandemic, but 2020 also brought her an extra serving of misfortune.
“Last March I got laid off from my regular job, got diagnosed with breast cancer and then the whole thing shut down,” she says.
A sudden spate of COVID-related cancellations was a further setback. But slowly business began to pick up. A training session by Airbnb gave her a chance to bring South House up to standards and begin again to accept guest reservations.
While cancer treatments took their toll on Magnus, with the help of family she kept The South House open.
“It was something I had to wake up for every day,” she says. “I still needed South House to thrive. It gave me a reason to get up, take that shower, put on the positive pants and go for it.”
Magnus’ chemotherapy ended last September. Her health is improving and she’s looking forward to the future.
“My health is good, they got all the cancer out. I’m doing great today,” she says.
Find The South House Airbnb at 129 S.E. Maple St., Oakland, and on Facebook.
Terraluna Inn
Sitting above and removed from Main Street a few blocks from downtown Roseburg, Terraluna Inn is a stately colonial-style house built in 1925.
Its interior is a cool oasis of rich, welcoming rooms, modern touches and Zen-like retreats where guests can enjoy a quiet, restful stay. With golden oak flooring downstairs and Douglas fir upstairs, Terraluna is a unique mixture of vintage stylings.
James and Gail Ragsdale bought the home in May 2017 and worked furiously to get the bed and breakfast open for business a few months later.
James, a Marine Corps veteran who played in its famed band, earned a degree in music education after his discharge and taught band and choir in public schools until his retirement in 2009.
Gail earned a degree in nursing from Southern Oregon University and worked as an ICU nurse for 45 years, including 35 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Eugene. She retired in 2017.
Much of Terraluna is still the original design. Unique touches include a Bakelite-faced record player from the 1940s and a mint-condition graduated scale from a butcher shop. What was once the house’s mud room has been converted to a light-filled sun room. The fully renovated kitchen is equipped with a modern gas range and amenities, but retains its vintage feel.
Terraluna’s grounds are a woodsy retreat with flowers and a small organic garden. Gail grows fruit for canning and fresh servings of Asian pear, and guests are always treated to homegrown, fresh- cut flowers.
“My whole life I’ve wanted to own a B&B,” Gail says. “It’s always been part of my plan for retirement.”
While James confesses it wasn’t necessarily part of his retirement plan, he says he found enjoyment maintaining the property and takes pride in ownership.
“Gail does her things and I do my things,” he says. “We’re excellent business partners,” Gail adds.
Find Terraluna Inn at 1367 S.E. Main St. and terralunainn.com
