The Olympic Club was renamed in 1997 when it was purchased by the McMenamins franchise. When it opened in 1908 it was called the Oxford Hotel. The new name likely reflects its proximity to the capital of Washington state: Olympia, or the fact that it’s on the Olympic Peninsula in the Olympic Mountain Range near Olympic National Park which contains Mt. Olympus. Or maybe it’s a coincidence.
Originally this business in Centralia, Washington was called a “gentlemen’s resort,” and yes, it was just what you’re thinking, except that the people referred to as gentlemen may have been rough around the edges. Patrons were the local blue collar working men of the region, and women were not invited (note the sign above the door in the photo above). Well, the working women upstairs were invited, of course. The Oxford advertised soft drinks for sale, but did not advertise its bootleg liquor available during prohibition. It was this refreshment feature that kept it open and solvent when other businesses in the region failed.
I made these reservations four months ago when McMenamin’s was running a special discount, and when the date arrived, it worked out for us. We had been wanting to stay here since a visit last year during a beer festival when the rooms were all booked.
Our room was in honor of one of the richest people in Centralia in the 1920s who was also apparently one of the least active. His name, Rector, is noted as one of the agents in the photo above. He had no social life, remained single, and ate every meal in the Oly Cafe. Still, he made investments and had a good business mind, which saves him from being one of the most boring people in Centralia.
We checked in early and then ordered linner (late lunch/early dinner) which we devoured. Food at McMenamin’s we find to frequently fit this description: Limited menu that is the same at every location, but high quality and well-prepared dishes that always satisfy like burgers, sandwiches and soup, salads, and creative appetizers like tatchos (nachos made out of tater tots), and my favourite ahi tuna poke. After eating, we had time to explore the town a little. The weather was perfect for a stroll, and other tourists were out as well. I mainly looked for wall art and we peeped into store windows, not very motivated to step inside until we came to an interesting museum.
McMenamins movie theatres are the first I ever saw that serve food and drinks to you in your seat while you watch the movie. We didn’t eat because we were still full, but enjoyed beers in the couches and chairs and watched the latest Ghost Busters movie, Frozen Empire, the fifth movie in the series after the very first one that hit theatres in 1984.
So we checked another hotel off the list. We must be getting near the end of them now; I think only a couple left. But there are many many more pubs left that we have not visited. You can trust that you’ll be subjected to additional quirky, silly McMenamin’s posts in the future. Sorry, not sorry. 🙂
Conscious Engagement 
Wonderful Crystal. I am all for linner too as I find dunch not to my liking 😂
A good project to undertake. I would enjoy a movie with dinner and drinks in comfy chairs, and try not to nod off
I had dunch once; it was awful. Stick with linner. I failed at the nodding off part – full of food, a third beer, comfy chair and dark room. I think I missed half the movie. But luckily it’s free for hotel guests, so I didn’t waste any money.
I do hope you didn’t snore 💤
Ha!! me too
Thank you! I loved this post!
I’m glad you liked it Lou. The gorgeous original wood everywhere would probably have kept your interest for hours.
Another splendid notch on there bedpost
An especially appropriate use of that phrase, Derrick! 🙂 Only a few bedposts left before we have filled our ticket.
I did not know McMenamin’s went into Washington. It looks typical of the many of their buildings. How fun to watch a movie with food or drink like that. Got your note. Will probably get time to answer tomorrow.
They have ten locations in Washington now, including three hotels. The franchise keeps expanding too. I think it’s only in the two states, but I wonder if their plans are to spread farther. I hope not. I like it to remain a PNW thing. Thanks for the email, Marlene. Love you. ❤
I’ve been inside here a couple of times for meals, but it’s a treat to see some more of its charm and character!
I hope you saw that bathroom in person. It’s amazing. I should have posted an image Pedro showed me from the men’s bathroom: urinals as tall as he is. They are massive! All original, too.
Very good. When one goes back to that time, only a century away, how much has the world changed hasn’t it?
You are right: so many changes. And still, so many things exactly the same. As an anthropologist, I am intrigued by which things changed and which things did not. The things that don’t change are hard to discover, because they seem so embedded into our lives, but it’s still fun to try to discern them.
You’re an anthropologist? I didn’t know. What’s your area? I’ve always loved anthropology as a personal interest. I even took a full summer course of Maya anthropology in Yucatan when I was doing my MBA. I asked my advisor whether I could apply the credits to my MBA. He laughed. (Knew me well) and said “No. But you’re most welcome to the course as a free auditor”.
I loved every minute of it.
Now change? I always think the people from the middle ages (for instance) are not so different from us, except for the spiritual dimension. The rest? I would say close.
PS. Edward T. Hall is one of my favourite autors…
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I have a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Cultural Anthropology, which required a bunch of archaeology to graduate, of course, as well as super fun stuff like forensic anthropology and linguistic anthropology. I fell absolutely in love with that science, which strives to learn things about humans, but never judge or push humans to do anything in particular. This works well with my personality. I could not feel as good about sociology, I think, because it makes value judgements. I shaped my education around international conflict resolution, and my goal was to work with indigenous governments & country governments. But…it never happened. So now I just hold the education in my heart and it shapes the way I think.
Value judgements in Sociology? Come one! Never! 😉
I agree with you Anthropology is more neutral. I still remember Hall’s concept of linear time (in the West) vs ‘circular time’ in the South and East. Since I live ‘in the South’ I’ve used both in my company. Very useful.
One does not always reach one’s goals, but does it matter? The Tao insists that the goal is not important, the path or the road is.
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Oh my gosh, yes. Thank you. Yes. That is what it feels like. I didn’t get where I was aiming, but along the way I made myself a better person. That is exactly what I am proud of. :o)
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AutHors. Sorry for the typo.
I’m glad you managed to tick another of these quirky hotels off your list, Crystal. They are certainly delightful not just for the quirky decor, but also the stories they tell.
The stories may be the best part, especially since they are local stories. I learn all these extra facets about colourful historic characters and properties. The other best thing in a McMenamin’s is the riddles, but ever since COVID they aren’t used as much. When you visit a McMenamin’s, you can get stamps in a passport book. In the past, one would have to solve a riddle to earn a stamp, by scouring the walls and stairways for clues. Pedro and I had so much fun with that. During the pandemic it was canceled because it didn’t seem safe. The riddles are only slowly coming back.
How strange that the riddles disappeared during Covid. I can imagine that it must make for a lot of fun, so glad to hear they are coming back.