Historic Balch Hotel Announces New Ownership and Open House

Nov 14

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From Historic Balch Hotel:

By Courtney Christenson

Dufur, Ore., November 13, 2025 — A new era is underway at one of Oregon’s most historic landmarks. Set in the foothills of Mt. Hood, fifteen miles south of The Dalles, the Balch Hotel is a National Register–listed property in the town of Dufur, Oregon. Now under the ownership of Christina Engle, the century-old inn begins a new chapter of stewardship and hospitality.

To celebrate the transition, the Balch will host a Community Open House on Saturday, November 22, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Locals, guests, and friends of the hotel are invited to drop in for an evening of live music by Jess Clemons, light hors d’oeuvres, and local wine while exploring the hotel’s historic spaces and learning more about what’s ahead. Admission is free and open to the public.

From Railroad Stop to Historic Landmark

Built in 1907 and opened in 1908, the Balch began as a cornerstone of Dufur’s early economy and a busy stop along the Great Southern Railroad. In its pre-Depression heyday, the hotel’s dining room, still occupying the same footprint today, was a lively social hub for travelers, ranchers, and townsfolk. The late Frank Engels Jr., whose parents purchased the property in 1913, recalled the days when the crowds were so large that a rope had to be strung across the doorway to control the flow of guests.

The prosperity waned during the Great Depression, when collapsing wheat prices, failed orchards, and the end of rail service in 1936 left the hotel largely dormant for decades. Through the mid-20th century, the property cycled through mixed residential and private use until a major restoration in the 1980s by Howard and Patricia Green of Portland brought it back to life as a commercial lodging house.

In 2006, Samantha and Jeff Irwin continued the painstaking restoration, reopening the Balch to travelers and establishing it as a special event venue. Nearly a decade later, Josiah Dean and Claire Sierra expanded its operations, introducing wellness offerings, art exhibits, food and wine events, and a concert series that helped reestablish the Balch as a cultural hub.

Now, with the arrival of Christina Engle, the property begins its next evolution, anchored in history but moving toward a modern vision of rural hospitality.

Continuing the Legacy, Expanding the Vision

Engle, a professional photographer and entrepreneur, describes herself as “a lifelong seeker of beauty in everyday moments.” Married to her high school sweetheart and raising six children, she’s drawn to the Balch’s blend of community, creativity, and connection.

“These days, I’m trading city lights for creaky floors and good wine at the Balch Hotel – continuing my favorite work of gathering people together,” she writes.

Under her ownership, the hotel is poised for several enhancements. Early plans include the addition of a classic cocktail bar, a revitalized wedding program, and a complete reimagining of the in-house spa, with hints at a cold plunge and hot tub under the stars. Renovations to guest spaces, the addition of a fireplace, and ongoing development of Bistro 1907, the hotel’s restaurant helmed by Chef Myron Ochaeta, are also on the horizon.

Offering a first look at Engle’s evolving approach to atmosphere and experience, the Balch will unveil an all-new décor installation this holiday season in collaboration with the professional design team behind Portland’s Pittock Mansion Christmas displays. Launching on Thanksgiving Day, the project will transform the hotel’s main gathering spaces into an immersive, photo-worthy destination through the New Year. Visitors can experience the hotel’s holiday transformation, and the evolving vision behind it, throughout the season. The Balch is open seven days a week, with twenty unique guest rooms available for overnight stays and dinner service five nights a week.