Property Watch: Inn for Sale in the Columbia River Gorge near Portland

If you’ve ever wondered about swapping the city for a small town but weren’t sure what to do once you got there, here’s an idea: a turnkey boutique inn right on the White Salmon River on the outskirts of the town of White Salmon, Washington (population: 2,583). It’s just a one-hour drive from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge, but feels much farther when you’re sitting on the front porch with a glass of wine and listening to the river rush by.

The RubyJune Inn, formerly the Husum Riverside Bed & Breakfast, is the brainchild of Chris and Gretchen Wiggins. In 2019, the couple relocated from Bainbridge Island, where they ran a wine bar, in order to bring their love of good food and wine to the inn business in the Gorge. They immediately remodeled the property, adding a commercial kitchen, converting an 1890s icehouse into a lounge and bar, and outfitting the six guest suites with a collection of vintage furniture, cool textiles, and local artwork. Now the whole thing is for sale for $1,650,000.

The property consists of three buildings of various ages, totaling 3,656 square feet—on the smaller side, sure, when it comes to inns, but perhaps a good fit for newbies and seasoned hoteliers alike. The newest structure is the two-story guest building, complete with four suites, one ADA compliant.

The oldest is the early-era brick icehouse, historically used for storing ice (just as the name implies), but now cozied up with pillows and vinyl records for guests to browse. The main house from 1925 was added onto in 2006, and holds the other two guest suites, office, laundry and linen rooms, and owner’s quarters. With two bedrooms and a bathroom, kitchen, and living room with fireplace flanked by built-in shelves, these quarters are as well appointed as the rest.

The trio of buildings are connected by winding brick paths and patios, overflowing gardens, and wisteria-draped trellises, just the background for wedding photo shoots and private events, both of which make up a significant portion of the inn’s business. In 2024, the couple initiated a series of Chef Collective dinners, wherein for a few nights every month, a new and noteworthy PNW chef whips up a five-course meal for a small group of 25–30 ticketholders. It’s a popular event, garnering attention in publications like Sunset and The Wall Street Journal, and often sells out in advance. The dinners come with wine pairings, Spotify playlists, and local community—now that’s what we call an amenity.

• Address: 866 Highway 141, White Salmon, WA 98672
• Size: 3,656 square feet, 6 guest rooms, bar, and owner’s quarters
• List Date: 3/27/2025
• List Price: $1,650,000
• Listing Agent: Renee McAllister, Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].