Really remote. No signs at the venue to say what is happening in any of the many buildings. Had to just wander until I got in trouble or found what I sought. Nice wooded setting, but no lake view and could have been anywhere within 50 miles. But the wedding was good and the couple was happy, so all is well. read more

Looks like an amazing venue but as far as communication I've been calling and emailing for months with no response

We had some friends get married here recently and despite being a little difficult to find, the place is a pretty good option for a wedding. Granted it's in the middle of nowhere, which is a pretty big ask of the guests who have to get to/from the venue without a lot of lodging nearby (we found a cabin about five miles away), but the beauty from the hilltop is undeniable when the weather is clear. With several different spaces to use on property it really allowed the bride to get creative and spread out. The oddest thing is most definitely the sleeping arrangements, which once seeing in person made me incredibly grateful for the cabin nearby. If you plan on offering the sleeping arrangements to your guests, make sure those guests know each other well. Like, really well. Correction, really, really, REALLY well. It's like going to camp with rooms piled high with bunkbeds and no less than 10 people sharing each bathroom. It's intimate to say the least. So there you have it. As a guest that didn't stay on property, I thought the Hilltop Lodge was pleasant and beautiful, but if I had to stay on the property overnight or longer I'd probably end up sleeping in my rental car in the park by the lake instead. read more

Spent a weekend camping at Hilltop House -- across the road and up a hill from and run by Anderson Lodge -- for a wedding. It was an incredible experience. We had the entire hilltop to ourselves which had an intimate, yet large, complex of buildings. At least one of the buildings is old but they've all been built to look the same -- the classic red barn look. There's a dance hall/party room with an outdoor patio/BBQ area next to bunk house with a commercial kitchen, and lounges and restrooms with showers on both floors. Outside the kitchen of the bunk house building is a very large patio, with a low rock wall around it, and an amazing view. This is where we ate our lunches and dinners on black metal patio furniture which I assume comes with the house but I don't know for sure. There are lots of gardens and paths and areas with picnic benches, volleyball courts, basketball courts and much more to discover. Three or four cabins are a short distance away from the game room, the outdoor pavillion type area for wedding ceremonies on the lawn, and the big main building which features several couches in front of a double fireplace and a grand piano. There are also restrooms, a kitchen and at least six large round tables with chairs. This building has a wrap-around deck with tables and chairs and an unbelievable view down across a valley to mountains and trees on the other side. Beautiful at sunset! There's also a firepit with amphitheater type seating and a small stage. We camped on the lawns near the parking area -- in a hundred+ year old apple orchard. There was a sweet little gazebo and an outdoor "cafe" building out here as well. Really, there was never a dull moment and yet it was so relaxing and peaceful. Absolutely quiet except of the sounds of your party. I don't remember hearing airplanes or trucks, even. The kitchens were clean and nicely organized and there is plenty of signage to tell you where to find things and what condition to leave things in. I think it's an ideal location for a large party, reunion, wedding, etc. and would organize one here in a heartbeat. read more

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I was amazed at all the room we had to roam on the grounds for our family reunion. It's a quiet and peaceful area in the mountains. Our cabin was cozy and comfortable. I loved the outdoor patio swing. The kitchen(s) were fully stocked with supplies for all our cooking needs. We had tons of food for the 4 days and plenty of room to store it all. The only downside was my cousin (our host), being charged extra for ALL the bedding used and we didn't have enough full sized sheets, I had to make my (full) bed w/twin sheets. My bed was a mess for the 4 days. Glad it was the top bunk so no one saw it. Otherwise it was wonderful! read more

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I stayed at this lodge recently for a work related retreat. We stayed on the hilltop and made use of the small cabins and the house with several rooms, as well as the open conference/meeting space in the center of the cabins. The location of the lodge and the views from the deck of the meeting area were absolutely beautiful. There is a lot of open space around the lodge - and had it not been raining while I was there, I would probably be able to tell you about trails in the area, or more about the grounds. The firepit with amphitheater seating was covered and also a nice hang out area. I stayed in one of the rooms with 4 built in bunks. I hadn't slept in this type of arrangement before, and was worried it might feel like a coffin, but it turned out to be open. The mattress wasn't comfortable at all, but I imagine kids wouldn't mind, and would probably enjoy sleeping in something like that. I would personally bring an air mattress next time. Overall the place was clean, bathrooms and kitchens were updated. Wifi was available, but cell service was not available, except for some AT&T users who were able to find a corner that worked for them. The downside of my stay there was the catering, and though I didn't organize the event, I understand there were limited options in choosing said caterer. Everything was taken out of bags or boxes and put on a plate. The food was not good at all, more than half of each meal that was leftover was packaged up and taken away immediately by the caterer (what if someone wanted more? or wanted it later?). Presentation was also poor... not only did it not taste good, it didn't look good. This would be a wonderful place for a wedding or family reunion, especially if people traveling to the event needed a place to stay. I would just be cautious of the food/catering choice or try to work something out with a different provider. read more

Simply excellent. Lovely venue out in the woods with plenty of space to hang out with friends and family. We rented the Main Lodge for a retreat in the winter and were thrilled with all the cozy wood fireplaces and different areas to spread out in. The owners are great to work with; very communicative, helpful, and on top of everything. It's not the cheapest venue, but for us it was more than worth it to work with such professional people who took care of all the details. Now it's time to book my wedding, and of course I'm going with Anderson again (although we're renting Hilltop House this time due to the spectacular views from the wedding site). Really excited to have my family together at that lovely place. read more

My husband and I got married at Anderson Lodge over the weekend, and it was amazing. I can't say enough about this beautiful place. When we first visited Arvid and Vicki's incredible property last year we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. They have everything from a beautiful ceremony space, to a huge fully stocked kitchen, to plenty of lodging options for guests. The kitchen is really amazing, my in-laws threw us a huge rehearsal dinner AND made the wedding cupcakes and were very impressed by how every need they had was met. The kid friendly-ness of the property was also very appreciated by our guests, many of whom had small children and were at first apprehensive about attending an overnight wedding in the woods. They were so excited about the ease of navigating the property, the play structure, and the safety of everything. The kids had a real blast exploring it all. Every interaction we had with the owners Arvid and Vicki was great, they were prompt, professional, and answered all of our questions. They were a dream to work with. Each one of our guests marveled at the Lodge and property, they said it was a "fairtyland". In addition, the caterers, Seasons Catering, who are affiliated with the lodge, were just great. They were also very easy to work with, flexible, and professional. They served an amazing BBQ meal that everyone raved about, both at dinner and then as they were finishing off the leftovers as a midnight snack. I whole-heartedly recommend this venue to anyone looking to throw an outdoor wedding in the PNW, it was a great value and made all of our wedding dreams (some we didn't even know we had!) come true. read more

The owners are rude and selfish. This venue is near my home. Many guests confuse the road that I live on with the access road for the lodge. Many have driven up the road and use different driveways to turn around. Several times people have flung gravel and driven over grassy areas to turn around. I phoned the lodge and spoke with one of the owners about placing a sign along the road that states no lodge access. She was extremely rude and condescending. She told me that she is not allowed to place signs along the road, however ,she said she is willing to break that rule to display wedding signs that clearly show the direction. She also stated that she provides clear directions via email to the parties who book with them. I attempted to ask, as she continued to speak over me, why she doesn't mind that her clients are driving up the wrong road. She laughed and stated that those people aren't her clients. Evidently guests of her clients don't seem to matter. I simply asked if she would help by working with me and the other neighbors to create a sign that would alleviate our frustration and steer her guests in the right direction. She barely let me speak and continued to state that it's not her problem and she doesn't have to do anything. She continued to laugh and tell me about how she's been in business for 30+ years. All I asked for was some help. read more

I've heard awful stories of how the Management treats their staff! Rumors of terrible work related accidents, that were just covered up. Staff members not being allowed medical treatment and threatened to be fired if they said anything. I would never waste my time or money on such a place! read more

My husband and I had our wedding at the Main Lodge in June. We had a mid-week wedding so it was more affordable to rent the lodge for three nights and have an extended wedding experience. The lodge was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a place that was in nature, rustic but well done, authentic, and that had a place for our friends to sleep. We couldn't have been more satisfied. It was perfect. Arvid and Vikki were both great. They were always willing to accomodate us whenever possible. They are down to earth, and the perfect balance of involved/available and laid-back. I didn't want to leave. We were so happy. read more

We stayed at the Main Lodge at Anderson Lodge over New Year's weekend 2018. We had a last minute cancellation at another location and Anderson Lodge was able to accommodate us. We rented the Main Lodge site unseen and were pleasantly surprised at the venue. We had a large group and there was plenty of space with enough separate rooms for some privacy. We rented linens from them and they were very clean and bagged separately for each bed. The kitchen had almost everything we needed for cooking for large groups with a regular stove / oven in the kitchen and then a large commercial-grade stove available. There was a lot of fridge and freezer space with multiple units available and plenty of tables and chairs for seating. There was also a lot of open, community areas for people to gather and kids to play inside in case of rain. There was a volleyball court, tennis court, ping pong and others with everything there that you needed to play. There was also wifi that worked well the entire time that we were there. This was a great place for a wedding or a family reunion! The owners were fabulous to work with and their site supervisor gave us a tour and let us know everything we needed while we were there. We would absolutely stay here again. read more

The view at the hilltop house was beautiful but sadly the lodge itself was not. I cannot begin to describe how disgusted and disappointed I was with my stay. I booked a getaway trip here with my boyfriend and upon arrival it appeared as if nothing had ever been cleaned. The grounds were not kept up and every cabin was infested with mice and bugs. I found a family of dead mice and piles upon piles of mice feces in the mattresses. I brought this issue up with the manager of the lodge and he offered no help but insisted that if I wanted it clean I would have to clean it myself. The staff was not helpful in anyway but were very rude and pushy, charging me almost double what the agreed price was. I would not recommend anyone come to this place, you do not get what you pay for. read more

My daughter got married last weekend at the Hilltop Lodge. The venue site is absolutely magnificent, the views stunning. The wedding site? Not to be believed (overlooking the gorge). It was more like a festival than a wedding due to the fact that the site accomodated over thirty campers and we had over twenty sleeping in the lodge. The accomodations for the sleeper (in a sleepover train cabin type set up) is perfect for young adults and as it proved, adults too. Everyone who stayed with us told us that this was the best wedding they've ever been too. A large part of it was due to the venue and location. There are no frills here and you are on your own to do what you want. We had full respect for the rules in place. We provided breakfast and lunch in the common room. We were having so much fun no one even played fusbal or pool in that designated room. Thank you Anderson Lodge for providing us a stunning location for a truly memorable event. read more

The gentleman on the phone hung up on me TWICE today, was rude, wouldn't even take down my information. I would think guests of wedding's would be treated better here. Not looking forward to this wedding whatsoever now. read more

Words can not explain how amazing it was to have our wedding at Anderson Lodge. We were married in August of 2011 and the Hilltop House was the best location we could imagine that allowed for our families to meet and mingle for the first time and have a place they'd remember forever. The lodge is located on the back road to Mt. St. Helen's, allowing for the beauty of the northwest to really shine. Our wedding overlooked a beautiful valley, and people are still talking about how great the location was. We were there Tuesday afternoon through Friday morning, which gave time for people who had never been to the northwest to explore. Many went up to Mt. St. Helen's back side, which is about an hour/hour and a half drive on curvy roads. They don't regret it! There is also swimming and numerous trails that can be hiked. If you have any doubts, go and look! Make an appointment with Arvid to show you around, you won't be disappointed. Yes, it's a bit far out there, but that's part of the beauty. About Anderson Lodge: It's like camping, but with plumbing, electricity, beds to sleep in and kitchens to cook in. There are two locations, Anderson Lodge, and the Hilltop House. The Lodge is down off the road, and the Hilltop House is... well.. it speaks for itself. We had our wedding at the Hilltop House. -The view is amazing from anywhere on the grounds. -The stonework is amazing and makes for a great backdrop for a wedding or other event and is also located around the patio areas. -So peaceful my parents were sitting on the deck and saw a couple deer wander by. -Great fire pit for hanging around after dark. -Kitchens had pretty good equipment, their ovens were awesome (my friend baked our wedding cupcakes up on site with no problems!). -Beds are camp beds, not great, not awful. -Has room for indoor or outdoor weddings or events, multiple locations too (and I'm talking just at the Hilltop house). -Friendly, reasonably priced and good quality catering available through them. -Pricing is really good. It may seem expensive at first, but look around. For the Portland area, we spent as much there for three nights and four days including catering for the reception as we would have for 6-10 hours in the city just for a location... and here our guests had free lodging. -Well water. Oh so good. -Options to hook up RVs or pitch tents for peoples sleeping preferences (we had people want both). -And did I mention the view was amazing? read more

My husband and I got married here at the Hilltop House. We loved that even though it was farther away, we didn't have to worry about being rushed for time, and we could offer our guests a place to stay or camp. We also loved that the place gave us the freedom to do a lot of things on our own, including flowers, decor, and bartending. For the price of 8 hours in town with everyone paying for hotels, this was a way better deal, and very much more "us". The catering service they recommend is superb (we got MANY compliments on the food), and the location is beautiful. read more

We held our daughter's wedding here. A spacious, rustic facility with all of the necessary comforts. The lodge is well-appointed, clean & excellently maintained. The owner, Arvid, is a congenial person who is a pleasure to work with. Need a caterer? Consider Bubb's Hawaiian Barbeque in Vancouver , WA. read more

We had a 3 day weekend wedding at the Main Lodge. We could not have had a more perfect weekend. The opportunity for family and friends to spend time together, have meals together all with a wedding thrown in the middle. Some said it was like going to a family reunion, others said it brought back memories of summer camp. The Main Lodge is very comfortable. Mother Nature has done a beautiful job decorating the outside areas. We used the Anderson Lodge recommended caterer, Seasons Catering and could not have been more happy with their food and service. I would highly recommend Anderson Lodge and Seasons catering. read more

My partner and I had our wedding ceremony at the Hilltop House in September 2016 and it was simply fantastic! The planning process was relatively easy and the owners were great to work with. The accommodations are modest but comfortable and included everything we needed for approx 30 out of town guests to stay on site. The entertainment areas were easy to decorate and very functional for a group of about 60 guests, outside catering company and mobile dj set up. The views of the valley and surrounding foothills are gorgeous! read more

We are a group of residents from OHSU and we go on an annual retreat together to foster community, connection and fun. Normally, we go somewhere in the gorge but found ourselves scrambling to change venues with the fires this year. We are immensely grateful that we stumbled across Anderson Lodge and that they were so accommodating to us at the very last minute. The space was perfect for our group! We appreciated the kitchen facilities, barbecue, large meeting spaces, comfortable sleeping quarters, beautiful trees surrounding the property and many recreational activities. The owners were very flexible, helpful and friendly. I personally lost a special necklace there and they found it so quickly, responded promptly to my email and were really generous in offering to drop it in Vancouver or mail it to me. I really hope we get to have our retreat here again in the future! read more

My wife and I got married at Hilltop House. Everything about the physical location was great- beautiful views, clean, quiet. Basically perfect. Everyone we worked with from the owner to women who did dishes for us was so kind and helpful and our guests had a great time! read more