Anderson Lodge, a retreat center and European style guest hostel offers quality lodging for, families, family reunions, church retreats, school and business getaways, and weddings. This Scandinavian resort, nestled in the forest is near Mt. St. Helens, 1 hour north of Portland and 23 miles east of I-5.

We offer small and large group accommodations in a variety of sleeping arrangements. The Main Lodge is best suited for groups ranging from 20-60 overnight guests. Our spacious conference room, outdoor picnic area and picturesque grounds make this location ideal for large celebrations. The Hilltop House is perfect for overnight groups 15-30 in size. (Group sizes at both facilities tend to increase in the summer with R.V.'s, etc.) This site is also a superb location for large events with the use of the covered picnic area and the grand conference room. The Dalarna Cabin is most often used by a family, guest speaker or as an overflow for the other facilities. It sleeps up to eight people and has its own kitchen. Catering is available at the Main Lodge or the Hilltop House, or groups may prepare their own meals. Our goal is to provide a unique retreat experience that will enable our guests to return to their usual lives refreshed and relaxed.

Anderson Lodge opened as a retreat center in November of 1984. It is the loving creation of Arvid and Vicki Anderson. Arvid built the Lodge with his Swedish background in mind, so it is truly a labor of love. Both his parents were Swedish and thus the love of the Scandinavian culture. It is sometimes hard to believe how our small dream of a Swedish cabin has blossomed into a retreat center welcoming thousands of guests each year.

At the Main Lodge guests are immediately impressed with the open beam log rafters and the quality craftsmanship throughout. Picture all of us painstakingly peeling the bark off those logs in the kitchen and conference room! Hints of the old country are evident in the simple design, rich woodworking, pictures of Sweden and Dalarna horses decorating many a shelf. Family photographs taken in Sweden can be found throughout. Everywhere you look there are wall hangings depicting life in Scandinavia.

The Main Lodge itself has a variety of amenities. A glassed in sunroom sweeps the back of the lodge. The log-framed conference room overlooks a patio where one can enjoy the magnificent forest setting. One can relax in a sauna or enjoy the warmth of that campfire. For more strenuous activity guests can choose from ping pong, pool, volleyball, soccer, badminton, basketball, horseshoes or tennis to name a few. The beautiful reception pavilion and recreation room are great additions to this site! Children appreciate the wood play structure, tetherball and the miles of hiking trails. In the evening visitors love our outdoor amphitheater. Songs and laughter fill the night air! You may even spot a friendly troll or two hiding in the fir trees.

The Hilltop House welcomes groups where there are a smaller number of overnight guests, but still they are eager for a quality retreat experience. It is at the top of a hill overlooking the Yale Valley and is secluded and quiet. This cozy retreat center is complete with Swedish beds, recreational room, covered amphitheater, beautiful reception pavilion, softball diamond, wood play structure, miles of hiking trails (76 acres worth!) and personality plus. Our newest addition of the 2400 sq. ft. conference room with the magnificent rock fireplace and baby grand piano has enhanced many a gathering. My favorite times are watching the elk graze in the apple orchard or hearing children hard at play in the authentic Swedish playhouse.

You must see the Dalarna Cabin! Here you will marvel at the Swedish bunks and benches. We have many relatives in Sweden and our family has traveled there to see them. They take so much pride in their possessions and their homes. Many of our Swedish friends have little cabins or guest cottages. We patterned our Dalarna Cabin after ones we saw in Sweden. Relax in the cabin's private gazebo or bask in the warmth of the fire. The Dalarna Cabin is a favorite spot for a family or a couple seeking a little getaway!

Businesses, clubs, church fellowships, weddings, family reunions, workshops, and a variety of educational related retreats use Anderson Lodge year-round. Anderson Lodge is home to the annual Yale Valley Arts Festival, which is held at the Hilltop House. Anderson Lodge is a fantastic site for choir, band, leadership and environmental study seminars. Imagine a symphonic choir filling the forest with song! Or, visualize a strings quartet focusing on their skills while being accompanied by a grand piano. The natural setting and homey atmosphere will enhance any program choice. No doubt about it, retreats just have a way of raising that level of commitment in a group and help them make stronger connections.

Weddings at Anderson Lodge are truly unique affairs. Our wedding parties usually spend the weekend celebrating the event. Their families are able to stay at the site eliminating the need for hotels. This way everyone is not isolated and forced to enjoy only a small part of the wedding or reception. The facility is well suited for an outdoor wedding but also provides 2 large conference rooms for plan B. (rainy weather) The newly constructed gazebo and coffee house in the apple orchard at the Hilltop House makes an incredible backdrop for a wedding. The raised garden terrace in the forest creates a picturesque site for weddings at the Main Lodge. It's truly a romantic setting for such a blessed event.

Family reunions love Anderson Lodge. We have many returning groups who manage to get together on a regular basis. We often hear about their activities and have even received a few video tapes of talent shows, skits in the amphitheater, or slipper parades. Some have auctions at their reunions, some make quilts and all boast of killer barbecues! Whatever the group, we have a facility comfortable for young and old. The oldest guest was 102 and she played the fiddle. The youngest was my daughter. Okay, technically she wasn't born yet. My labor started in the lodge, and she was born 2 hours later! That's close enough for me!

Our family is still very involved in the operation of the lodge. Arvid's brother, Richard, is our office manager. Two of our children, Karli and Brenden, can be seen helping us clean, gathering firewood or building trolls for the forest. Our older daughter Katie helps out whenever possible as does our son Mark. Both are grown now and we even have grandchildren! Kennon, one of our employees, is almost family. She was in Arvid's classroom for many years when he taught at Yale School.

Now, what do you think? Is it brown, or burnt umber or a brick color? I'm speaking of the color of the exterior for the Main Lodge, Dalarna Cabin, Malung Bunkhouse and Hilltop House. We ordered the specific paint from Sweden called Falun Red. After seeing the beautiful countryside of Sweden dotted with homes and stugas of this shade, we just had to make our lodge the authentic Falun Red. The white trim completes the hint of Scandinavia.

So, that is the story of the lodge's curious paint, the reason for all this Scandinavian hoopla and the history that is behind our retreat center. Hope you can come and visit us sometime. Be sure to sign our two foot guest book or the trolls will never forgive you!

Have fun browsing through our web site. Don't miss our Availability Calendars which allow you to check available dates. You can find our pricing information below:

Standard Pricing
Wedding Pricing