Under the Stars at Skamania Lodge

Perched on 175 verdant acres in the Columbia River Gorge, Skamania Lodge (@skamanialodge) has been a top destination for weddings, as well as honeymoons and pre-wedding getaways, since it opened in 1993. Currently, the lodge’s allure is more robust than ever with new additions to its tree house village and a bold new event space, the Moonlight Pavilion.

The luxurious 2,100-square-foot open-air Moonlight Pavilion is nestled among the trees, yet it includes indoor attributes such as stained-cedar ceilings and rich wood beams, along with built-in fire pits and heat lamps to warm guests on chilly nights. Its prime location in the lodge’s Backyard at Skamania offers a chic option for cocktail hour, but guests can also find a wealth of outdoor activities in the Backyard, such as a disc golf course, axe throwing, a nine-hole short golf course and more. As with all venues at Skamania, reception dinners are curated by the lodge’s award-winning executive chef Zac Janssen and include chef-led meals created on the open-air grill, signature handcrafted cocktails, and locally produced beer and wine.

After tying the knot, escape to Skamania’s tree house village for romance among towering Douglas firs. Three new houses featuring five-star amenities have been built, bringing the village’s total to nine, with more slated to open in 2024. Perched 40 feet above the forest floor, the modern-meets-rustic tree houses are both spacious and intimate, with no detail overlooked. The expansive covered decks, with captivating views of the Cascade Mountains, are the perfect spot for curling up on the wicker-back rocking chairs to commune with the squirrels and birds in the fresh mountain air. All the houses feature an indoor-outdoor fireplace, plush king-size beds and private fire pits—perfect for s’mores and starlit talks. The new tree houses also include a cozy queen-size sleeping nook, which is surrounded by windows and framed by draping that mimics an outdoor tent. Cap off the perfect wedding weekend with a stop at the Waterleaf Spa for a lomi lomi massage or an anti-aging facial—highly recommended before the wedding, as it leaves skin radiant!

Photos courtesy of Skamania Lodge.