Kim Lamb Photography

What a wonderful summer season at Anderson Lodge!  We have heard from many of our happy bridal couples and they are all so pleased about their events.  We've been getting some great photos.... like the one above!  If you have a picture you are willing to share, from this season or any time, please send them our way. 

Not everyone can say this, but we can.  We love our job.  The Lodge is our life and our love.  Arvid has built most of it himself and we have owned and operated it since 1985.  Think about it, we get to welcome families, ready to reconnect and have some fun.  School groups roll in and have campfires, day trips and smores!  Church members often stay the weekend with mens groups, womens fellowships, families or choirs all have amazing experiences at our lodge.  And then the weddings.  They celebrate from the moment they arrive until the last car pulls out heading for home.  All these happy people!  We are in the happiness business!

You may think that our season is over and it is to a certain extent.  But we still have the weekend guests to attend to and several weekday groups too.  Every day of the week we are open for tours providing we have no guests at the lodge.  Sunday afternoons still remain the best time for tours.  The exciting part of fall tours are the visits we have from the 4- legged residents.  Sometimes it's a herd of elk!

Enjoy the fall.  We will here at Anderson Lodge!  Give us a call if you want a tour, are thinking of an event to celebrate or just want a cabin for a getaway.  We are here!

Whew!  This summer has been a busy one for sure.  We have had over 50 wedding thus far in 2011 and more are in the future.  This year more than ever I have noticed how different one wedding is from another.  Now consider that we have several large groups spaces for our weddings:  the outdoor patios, the outdoor wedding sites, the carpeted conference room and the reception pavilion.  A bridal couple gets to decide where they want their ceremony and where they want their reception. 

No longer can we think of our outdoor wedding sites as the only place for the ceremony.  One couple got married on the outdoor patio surrounded by the forest and ferns at the Main Lodge and then had all our round tables and chairs set up out in the wedding terrace.  With all the white table linens and the outdoor lights strung around the perimeter, it was just plain magical.  The Hilltop House seems to have this same versatility.  People are utilizing the view site for the ceremony, but having their receptions in the orchard as well as the patios.  We have added much more outdoor lighting to both facilities.  Summer receptions are amazing.

We have quite a few family reunions that returned this year; one that has been with us for 26 years!  It is so wonderful to talk to them and see what all they have planned.  One family is extremely organized and has a unique way of collecting funds for their reunions.  The families send in a certain amount at tax time in April to the reunion leader.  They continue to "bank" the money for 2 years.  The amount they collect is quite a hefty sum and they are able to pay for the next reunion for everyone that contributed.  They are even able to provide air plane tickets and travel expenses to the families that need them.  I was quite impressed with their schedule of events at Anderson Lodge as well.  Golfing, fishing, boating, square dancing, wine and cheese tasting, BBQ, field trip to the waterfalls in the area and Mt. St. Helens were some of their ideas.  Now that is a commited family!

Now is the time for all our interested couples to take their tours.  The 2012 dates are going quickly.  We are participating in the wedding show in October and have a catering tasting planned for November.  Where did the year go!

Happy Labor Day everyone! 

Vicki and Arvid Anderson

The Yale Valley Arts Festival was very successful and we are already planning for next year's event.  Be sure to check back to see the details for this quality Arts Celebration in July of 2012.  The Family Arts Day, Dance and Art Classes, Meet the Composer Night, and the Concert and Dinner (plus more) are still planned for next year as well.  Big "Thank You" to Julia Stoll-Smith for her passion and her hard work to put on this festival!

Our weddings have all been extremely happy with their celebrations.  We have heard over and over how wonderful they were from brides, parents and guests.  They all say, "We are going to recommend Anderson Lodge to all our friends!"  There is something about having the facility for the day and night that makes a truly unique event.  There is so much time to set up, to see your relatives and friends and of course everyone feels more a part of the whole celebration. As you sit gazing on the natural beauty of our Pacific Northwest during the ceremony it seems like a dream.  So beautiful.  It's when the sun goes down that you really see the magic of an Anderson Lodge.  The tiny lights in the trees and the outdoor lights on the patios create an ambiance like no other.  Guests wander from the outdoor patios, or sit on various park benches or indoors to the pavilion for dancing.  Amazing.

Guests rise the next morning and are greeted by gentle sounds of birds and usually the scent of coffee!  Breakfast and goodbyes are bittersweet of course.  It's like every successful vacation; you really don't want to leave.  But as you do, the memory of the whole glorious event is on everyone's mind.  You have so much to tell your friends once you are back home. 

Our family reunions are most commonly scheduled on week days rather than weekends leaving those prime days for our weddings.  But it is really to their benefit.  The lakes and attractions in the area are less crowded and you don't want to miss all what our Yale Valley has to offer!  Most reunions are happy to stay at either the Hilltop House or the Main Lodge with their families.  There is so much to do on site and guests can stay in the guest rooms or cabins or they can bring an RV or even tent camp.  It's true, facility has it all!  But 2 of our reunions have rented both facilities!  Both stayed 5 or more days and have had a glorious time!  I can't think of a better way to connect with family than at a reunion. 

Sometimes our reunions are quite creative and organize fabulous events during their stays.  One family arranged for a Square Dance instructor to come and teach their families some dances.  Another had a wine tasting from a local winery.  Others have had guided tours of the Ape Caves or hiking expeditions.  Field trips many times include the Cedar Creek Grist Mill or the many waterfalls in the area.  Golf enthusiasts always find time for the Lewis River Golf Course which is just 10 miles down the road.  Fishing is another activity that captures the attention of many.  There are 10 miles of lakes in the Yale Valley that have boat launches, picnic sites and swimming areas.  The list goes on and on.

Arvid and I are committed to making Anderson Lodge the best that it can be for our weddings and our reunions.  We have had held many of our own events here and are constantly improving it to make it perfect for our guests.  We have had our daughter’s wedding and our niece's wedding at the Main Lodge.  We have had our own anniversary celebration at the Hilltop House.  Of course, we have hosted many reunions as well.  We can honestly say that no matter which facility it is, the event we held was extremely successful.  The memories we make when we reach out to others are the memories that last a lifetime.

Long blog entry but I am feeling especially happy about our summer season.  Hope our guests have enjoyed it as well!

The wedding season is in full swing!  The weather has been unseasonably cool and we have even seen some rain.  But the weddings have all gone off without a hitch.  We really believe we have made the right decision on putting our time and effort into building structures that allow for indoor festivities.

Arvid first built covered picnic areas at both our Lodges.  They were spectacular, with the forest all around and plenty of space for dancing and celebrating.  The only problem was that they were only usable 3 months out of the year.  So we purchased several of those tall outdoor heaters to put in the areas to try to extend the usability.  Finally, we gave up.  Arvid decided to enclose the covered areas, put laminate flooring down and create our present day Reception Pavilions. 

We had quite a time finding a woodstove for the pavilions.  We knew we wanted something very unique but practical.  The pavilions are LARGE rooms!  We went all over Portland.  We went up to see our daughter at UW and looked in Seattle and stopped in cities on the way back in search of that Perfect woodstove.  We were very frustrated.  Vicki was driving our son to the doctor one day at our home clinic and saw a stove and spa store that had enamel woodstoves in the window.  Some were parlor style and soooooo beautiful.  We both went back and sure enough, these unique stoves were exactly what we were dreaming about.  The stoves are brown enamel with gold fittings.  PERFECT!

It's times like these when I see the rain coming down that I really appreciate our decision to build the pavilions.  They are so beautiful!

Explore the beauty of the Yale Valley forest through art. The Yale Valley Arts Festival is held every summer in the beautiful Yale Valley. The public is invited to attend visual arts workshops and a variety of evening programs. Sunday, July 17, a Contemporary Classical Concert and dinner is being held at Anderson Lodge.  After a delicious dinner buffet, join cellist Hamilton Cheifetz and pianists Janet Goodman Guggenheim and Tomas Svoboda for a night of exceptional music. It is a spectacular concert in a magical venue.  Refer to the website www.yalevalleyartsfestival.com for tickets and details.

Contemporary Classical Concert & Dinner
Sunday July 17, 4:30 pm at Anderson Lodge Hilltop House
Reservations: $38 (includes dinner)

On March 20, 2011 Seasons Catering and Anderson Lodge held their very first Catering Tasting for the Wedding Grand Buffet.  It was so successful!  The food was amazing and it was so well attended.  It was held at the Hilltop House.  It not only gave a chance for our couples to taste the delectable items from the buffet but share ideas with other brides and grooms.  It was nice for us to see the happy, excited couples and answer oodles of questions.  I think everyone took the time to also explore the Main Lodge and the Hilltop House grounds to solidify their plans.  Even Mother Nature cooperated and allowed for a rain-free event.

I loved the buffet offerings that Seasons Catering chose.  My personal favorites were the salmon with tomatillo salsa, Susan's Specialty Salad, gorgonzola stuffed mushrooms, baked brie in puffed pastry with mushrooms, and the chicken with Panko breading and hollandaise sauce.  The various sauces with the salmon were amazing.  She used farm raised salmon for the tasting but uses wild salmon when ever possible.  Salmon is always a great option here in the Northwest, don't you think?  Are you hungry yet? 

As a matter of fact, it was the success of this event that prompted us to schedule another tasting for our winter wedding couples. November 6th is the date for our Winter Tasting Event. For those couples that have already booked a date with Anderson Lodge the price will be $5pp for the bride & groom, and $10pp for extra guests.  For couples that have not yet booked with Anderson Lodge, the price is $10pp.

I love my job!

The January wedding show at the Portland Convention Center was so much fun!  We met so many brides and many of the grooms too.  Brides that have already chosen Anderson Lodge stopped by to discuss their events. What a happy time.  Of course, we had most of our time spent with prospective brides that we HOPE will choose Anderson Lodge.

The wedding show was held on a day where it was raining cats and dogs!  Here in the Pacific Northwest you can get rain any time of the year.  It gave us a perfect opportunity to talk about Anderson Lodge and the 2 conference rooms that comes with every wedding package.  Raining?  Just bring the wedding indoors.  We have you covered, LITERALLY! 

Anderson Lodge is a very unique facility and the wedding show gave Arvid and I a chance to explain exactly what sets us apart from other wedding venues.  When brides look at our prices, they realize that the package includes outdoor wedding sites, 2 conference rooms, our commercial kitchens, guest rooms, cabins, china, flatware, all the tables and chairs and exclusive use of the entire facility.  It is really shocking to them that our prices are so inexpensive.  We even had one family who came back to our booth just to clarify our pricing.  They thought it was too inexpensive for all we have to offer!

We are so grateful that we have the opportunity to spread the word about Anderson Lodge.  We take such pride in our lodge and it is wonderful to have the chance to tell everyone about it. 

We are excited to have our fall season begin at the Lodge.  It is so very beautiful.  The leaves are starting to turn, you can see for miles the beauty of the Yale Valley and everything is so green!  Primarily we are having family get togethers and church retreats right now.  We also had the Japanese School, Choir retreat, Volunteer organization retreat and a couple of weddings!  What fun!

I am compiling questions that we often get and forming a FAQ page.  Please email me if there is a question that you wish to have posted!

Sunday afternoons are popular times for tours.  We are setting up tours 2 - 4pm on Sundays that will run consistently.  Clients are still encouraged to make an appointment for this.  Occasionally, a group renting the lodge stays an extra day, so in that case no tour would be scheduled.  Please call us if you wish to tour.  We will put the coffee on and meet you up there!

That's all folks.  Don't forget how special it is to connect with your family and friends.  Anderson Lodge is the perfect place to make that happen.  We are a family run business and promise to help you create a successful, meaningful event.  You'll get special treatment by us!

As I look back over the summer, I have so many happy memories at the Lodge.  We had some very special events. Not all were weddings either.  It was a exciting season!

The outdoor lighting we installed was absolutely a magical addition.  We now have these cute little pathway lights at the Main Lodge leading to the campfire amphitheatre and some on other paths on the grounds. The second project was new post-lanterns lighting the path to the wedding site.  They are tall and give a glow over the winding path.  The third lighting project illuminates the patios both at the Main Lodge and Hilltop House.  They are white pole lamps, each with 3 globes.  Guests have raved about them saying they added just the right amount of lighting for their night time festivities.

We had some wonderful reunions this summer.  The Higgins Reunion was back for their 25th year!  We have many reunions that return year after year.  It is exciting for them to see all the changes and enhancements at the Lodge.  We hear great stories of yummy BBQ's, fabulous trips to the Ape Caves, Family Olympics, slide shows, Talent Contests, Bunco games and even one that had a Mexican Fiesta! 

We again welcomed the Yale Valley Arts Festival.  There were dance workshops and painting workshops at the Hilltop.  The concert was amazing with a delicious Northwest dinner on the patios.  The weather was amazing and the participants were very engaged.  We are glad it was so successful.  Check it out for next July if you are interested in participating in this special opportunity.

We had a very special BBQ at the Main Lodge in July.  It was a reunion of the students that Arvid taught in Yale Elementary School in the 1970's.  They have had 2 reunions since their school days.  It is 40 years later now, and they all returned with their families for the event.  What fun it was to reconnect with them. 

Arvid and I got married at the Main Lodge 25 years ago.  We celebrated our 25th anniversary at the Hilltop House with over 100 family and friends.  We had our BBQ caterer provide the buffet and we had a bluegrass/folk band provide the music.  It was a magical evening in July and we danced under the stars.  We didn't end it there!  Some of our family and friends spent the night and we enjoyed breakfast on the patios the next morning.  Now that's my idea of a celebration! 

We had over 30 weddings held at Anderson Lodge this summer.  They have all been so successful.  Every year we look at the weddings and try to assess what we can offer the following year to make them even better!  I wonder what we will add for the 2011 summer season?  Oh, one more thing... We have a wedding coming up in November that has such a unique story behind it.  Two people met in Iraq last Veteran's Day, while they were serving in the military.  Not only did they meet, but their relationship developed so that now, they are getting married!  And they chose the Hilltop House for their wedding and reception, this Veteran's Day!  Ah, sweet love.

Well, we have many more events planned for the fall.  I'd best stop writing and get to work making signs for them.  Our custom made signs do their job.  With 2 facilities, it would be a real mix-up without them!

The wedding season is upon us but that doesn't mean that we don't have other events at Anderson Lodge.  Some wonderful reunions, company retreats and even a barmitzvah is on the calendar!  We are looking forward to seeing all the groups that are enjoying our wonderful facility.  We work so hard to make it a extraordinary environment just for you!

The Hilltop House has some new patios that are in use as we speak!  We were able to see a great rehearsal dinner recently and were so happy to see the happy people.  It is very rewarding to us to see our lodge enjoyed by all of you.  These patios are finished in true "Arvid" style with the unique rock work all around. 

The Main Lodge wedding site has been given a new look.  You may remember we lost the grass in the ceremony circle when we had snow this last winter.  Well, Arvid layed over 9,000 pavers and now it is absolutely gorgeous!   He made some curving flower beds along the lattice to finish off the area.  What a magical spot with the towering fir trees all around.

Please give us a call if you want to come and see all the new improvements!  We'd love to show it off.   Enjoy your summer!