Sou’wester Lodge & Vintage Travel Trailer Resort

Super charming and staff was very helpful. We stayed in the 1950s Old Spartan. Comfy queen bed though there was no shower, which was fine for us just staying one night (and staff showed us where to find some on the property if needed). We spent a sweet night in drinking a bottle of wine from their small store, listening to records and playing cards. Hot coffee in the main lodge in the morning was icing on the cake.

Our favorite summer haunt. This is no 5 star and its rustic, but that’s the exciting part. Our kids love it. There is so much to do and it’s within walking distance to the ocean. Free bikes to borrow. And a small amount of food and things to buy in the lodge. Communal spaces are open and friendly and the people around are always good company. Already pre-​booked for next summer.

We had a great time here. It’s early in the week and we had our choice of almost any of the vintage trailers, which the friendly desk person gave us a tour of. I can see that the vintage trailer experience would not be for everyone. These are restored, period correct trailers, more akin to a somewhat rustic cabin than a modern accommodation. Very reasonably priced. Our trailer has a large living room, a kitchen, shower bath, and small bedroom. The bed is small enough that she opted to sleep on the couch, and my 6’3″ frame hung over the end of the bed. It’s quiet here. There’s The New Yorker and local literary magazines to read, a record player with records (Otis Redding on the turntable). The wifi works well. It’s an easy walk into town or to the beach. It’s cold and foggy, the heat works, coffee and breakfast on the stove, lights on. It’s cozy and charming and relaxing as all heck. We’ll definitely be back.
I would say that the bed situation in our trailer left something to be desired. The mattress in the bedroom was small and worn out. The pull out sofa was scary and uncomfortable.

Awesome place for the budget traveler! You stay in awesome renovated classic RVs. They’re by no means luxury inside, but you get the camping experience while still having running water, shower, refrigerator, and heat.
The bed was extremely uncomfortable and the staff was nonexistent. When we arrived we wandered the grounds for a while looking for someone who could give us info on how to check in. There was another group arriving doing the same.

I loved this place! Having moved back to Portland from Southern California, I was looking for something as kitschy and fun as the Ace Hotel Palm Springs and The Joshua Tree Inn. For my boyfriend’s birthday this past November, I decided to give the Sou’Wester a try. We stayed for three nights and I could have stayed longer!
We stayed in the Zelmar and I could not get enough of it. Yes, it had a slightly «retro» smell when we first entered, and there are some elements of age to the trailers — one of our windows didn’t completely close, for example. But those were minor details in an otherwise amazing experience. I loved the mid-​century furnishings, and wow did the heaters ever work! I also used the cookware to make breakfast on the stove one morning, and the highlight of my entire trip was taking a tiny-​sized shower! It took some figuring out, but once the hot water was running it didn’t falter. Plus, wi-​fi that allowed us to work remotely and watch movies.
Seaview, WA doesn’t have much going on during the winter months, but we enjoyed hanging out in the trailer, the lodge, walking to the beach and, although we didn’t get around to it, could have utilized the beautiful sauna on the property. The property itself IS an actual trailer park, so it does have that «vibe» to it, but that didn’t bother me. I loved the look of the wraparound sun porch that doubles as the lodge’s «Honor Store.» We got chocolate bars, drinks, souvenirs and a treasure map from the vintage cigarette machine. The owners and employees are super nice and one even went out of her way to have her boyfriend bring home floss for us late one night. How can you beat that service?
Plus, the Sou’Wester is pet friendly and we were allowed to bring our cat. I will definitely be staying here again. I thought the pricing was reasonable — right around $ 100 a weeknight for what basically amounts to a small house, with the charm of being in a vintage trailer! This was an experience I won’t soon forget. Sou’Wester, you have new guests for life!

If I’d been more prepared for a camping experience, I think I would have enjoyed myself here more. I was disappointed with the ambiance and layout of the park. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was actually in a trailer park, I thought there would be a more thoughtful design.
The staff was very friendly but they were difficult to find as there was no clear signage for the office upon check in nor did anyone come forward immediately amongst the people milling around as a front desk person.
We were there over the Thanksgiving holiday and very much enjoyed the potluck dinner. It was nice to only have to worry about making a side dish and let them deal with the turkey.
The location can’t be beat — we were a five minute walk from the beach! There are a few bars and restaurants within walking distance and it is a short drive into Astoria.
Our cabin was lovely, but cold! It got down to 30° while we were there and the two space heaters we had were not cutting it. Also, it would have been nice to know that even though there were functional showers in the cabins that they were only large enough for little people to comfortably fit in them. There were showers available in a couple of the permanent buildings on site, but knowing ahead of time about that would have been awesome just so we’d have had more reasonable expectations. If we’d known all that beforehand we wouldn’t have splurged on a larger cabin, we’d have gone with a smaller one and saved our money for dining out.
I would return if I stayed in the area again but I’d definitely explore other options based on these experiences.

Wonderful unique place to stay! Can’t wait until the next time.

I loved the Sou’wester so much. I’m already plotting my return visit so we can take advantage of more of the amenities like borrowing the bikes.
We stayed in the Zelmar Cruiser which I would get again. It was too cute and plenty roomy for two. Sitting in the little booth, drinking some French press Stumptown and not having to do anything was like a gift. We stayed here to get some relaxation in after a work trip and it was perfect.
I was charmed by the relaxed vibe and various sundries and thrift store camper on the honor system. I’m coming from a place with a weekly round-​up of the weekend’s shootings and a tracker of traffic deaths. This is much better.
The bed was comfy, the proprietors were nice, everything was cute, and I was very relaxed. I can’t think of anything I didn’t love about this place.

This great is a great spot for family and friends. Many vintage trailers and rooms in the lodge to choose from. This spot feels frozen in time. If you love old vintage hotels — you will love this spot. Nothing is new here but everything is clean and comfortable. The rooms in the lodge are huge — with kitchens and bathrooms.

This is a very special place.
Warm artistic vibes and kitschy fun ambiance. I only wish we had come with friends. This place was meant to be shared.
Don’t expect frills here. Expect a simple, carefree experience to feed your inner hipster.
We stayed in the Spartan Manor. We borrowed vinyl. We saw live music. We borrowed beach cruisers, we rode the Discovery Trail. We had a great time!
We’ll be back 4 sho!

I booked a stay here over Memorial Day weekend as a last-​minute birthday trip for my boyfriend, so the Sou’wester was one of few affordable Long Beach options still available. The short version: while I wouldn’t go back and wouldn’t recommend our room to others, you may have a better experience if you a) adjust your comfort expectations to camping levels, and b) avoid the Red Room.
The long version: I wasn’t able to get one of the trailers and was told by a friend that the lodge rooms were nicer, so I booked the cheapest one, the Red Room (about $ 100/​weekend night, minimum 2 night stay). During our stay, some of the other rooms were standing open in the daytime and I got to peek in – all of the other rooms I saw were much larger, brighter, and more attractive than ours. It’s absolutely worth the few extra bucks to avoid the Red Room!
The Red Room is a small suite for 1 – 2 people. When we walked in, we were hit by a strong musty/​chemical odor that didn’t go away. It feels kind of dark and oppressive due to the combination of dark wood paneling and small single-​bulb ceiling lights. There was a vintage-​style fridge and small range in the kitchen area, and the drawers were stocked with silverware, glasses, and basic tools like a corkscrew (yay). But after touching several unpleasantly sticky spots on the dark wood furnishings, I didn’t trust it to be clean enough for food prep. Likewise, the floor is not one that you’d want to walk on barefoot.
The bathroom was quite small, just big enough for a stall shower, toilet, and sink. The shower floor and sink were stained and chipped, and the linoleum floor was dingy and just didn’t look clean. There were spiders and mosquitoes in the room and we woke up with bites on our faces, hands, and arms each morning. Ugh.
The bedroom area is lighter and more cheerful, with white walls, a small desk, a chair, and the bed. Although the white blankets were stained and torn and kind of oddly stitched/​patched, the sheets and pillows were clean and warm — which was good, because the room got COLD at night! There was a space heater in the room, which helped. The other major problem is the two large windows in the room, which only have gauzy café curtains covering the bottom half (more for privacy, I think, because the windows look right down onto the trailers). As soon as day breaks, sunlight comes blasting in through those windows and there is no escape! It might have helped if sleep masks and earplugs were available in the gift shop, but I didn’t see any.
Downstairs, there’s a communal room with a fireplace where games, toys, and videos are available. There’s also a gift shop with local food products, wine, a few basic toiletries, and crafty gift items. Outside, a small trailer is set up as a thrift store — it’s pretty tiny, but worth taking a look inside for the novelty. On both weekend nights at 9 pm, they had live music in the main room. Up in our second-​floor room, we could hear the music and vocals like we had front-​row seats. The music was over by 10:30 or 11 pm, but if you have kids or prefer an early bedtime, be warned.
I get that you can’t expect a ton for the price, especially in Long Beach, but at minimum I’d like my hotel room to feel clean, be free of bugs, and not be smelly. If you’re a hardier soul than me and you enjoy roughing it on vacations, the Sou’wester may be more your cup of tea.

A story in the newspaper a few years ago describes Sou’wester Lodge as «a spiritual convergence zone,» and though ownership has changed since then, the sentiment has not. It’s actually the perfect description for this funky, fun little hippie-​like colony plucked straight out of the 1950s.
I mean that in the best way possible.
This past weekend we spent two nights in the Zelmar Cruiser, one of the standard-​sized vintage travel trailers. The proprietor was very friendly, taking the time to show us around the lodge and informing us we were free to play the piano, put on records, or take VHS movies back to our trailer any time we wanted. There was a guitar as well, and — of course — a tambourine. All that was missing were bongos. (That’s bongOs, not bongs, though they wouldn’t have felt out of place, either). Afterwards she led us to our trailer. Talk about stepping into a time capsule! It was clean and nicely appointed, with polished wood throughout, and included a sleeping area with a cozy bed, a tiny bathroom complete with shower, a kitchen/​dining area, and a front room with a surprisingly comfortable, low-​slung couch. We also had a stove, toaster oven, and 13″ TV/​VCR combo for all those movies (definitely take advantage!). It rained periodically throughout our stay, so we weren’t able to take advantage of the fire pit, charcoal grill, or hammock — but the sound of raindrops pelting the roof during the night more than made up for the inconvenience. We were warm and dry — the baseboard heaters really do a good job — and able to cook a nice dinner one night. The beach is within walking distance, as are a number of restaurants. We stopped by the local dive bar, Rod’s Lamplighter (separate review), and spent a fun few hours shooting pool and listening to karaōke.
One caveat: signs forbid alcohol in public, so if you’re going to sit around the campfire, make sure ghost stories are the only «spirits» you bring along. Unless, of course, you’re subtle about it…
All in all, this is a GREAT place to stay, if you’re into vintage retro kitsch. My wife and I are, so we loved it. Long Beach is right next door, and Astoria is a 15-​minute drive away, making this place the perfect getaway-that-isn’t-too-far-away. We’ll definitely be back!

This place is straight out of a time capsule, with a beautiful spooky old lodge, funky cabins, and a cluster of Airstream trailers of various sizes and vintages. They have an artist’s special available – a person receives a special discounted rate if s/​he is staying here for a few days to work on a creative project. Free bikes to ride on the beach, too! You can check out free videos in the lodge and watch them in your trailer or cabin, and wow, what a selection! There’s nothing quite like chilling in a lonely trailer on the beach while the rain falls all around you, drinking beer (not necessarily Pabst Blue Ribbon) while watching Blue Velvet. This place rocks! Bring the whole family, or stay alone – I’ve done both.

It’s not for everybody, but for me, I can’t say enough good things about this place.
I’ll just leave it at this: it was like sleeping in a Wes Anderson movie.

One of my favorite places. The new owners are great. This place has a rich, authentic 30’s lodge feeling. Loads of music events here. Walk to the beach or surprisingly spectacular restaurants like «The Depot». I’ve just learned they have loaner bikes, and a croquet set that can be borrowed (it wasn’t obvious to me on my visits). I’ve stayed here twice in my vintage trailer. I have not yet stayed in the lodge. For a unique experience, rent a vintage trailer as lodging at the Sou’Wester.

Great article about the Sou’wester Lodge!

If you decorate from thrift stores and love drinking beer in the moonlight, this is the place for you! It’s adorable and homey and not too fancy. The Sou’wester feels its age, but in a charming, obviously well-​loved way.
The weekend we were there, they had live music up in the lodge, and the place was pretty packed. The lodge also had an «honor store» in case you needed any organic produce, weird records, or handmade pottery while there wasn’t a cashier on duty.
Our cabin was totally adorable and spotlessly clean. It definitely had a record player and a collection of fun albums, along with a full kitchen (including dishes and pots and a coffeemaker), big soft bed, and a cozy living room. We couldn’t have been more comfortable. The only complaint that our cabin (#8) didn’t get wifi. If that’s going to be a problem for you, double check when you make your reservation that you get a cabin that’s closer to the source.
My lady friend and I liked the Sou’wester so much that we’re planning to revisit it with a group of friends in a few months. There are so many cabins and so many trailers and is so chill that it’ll be great for a group of eight who like each other enough to vacation together, but not quite enough to share a big house!

We stayed in the Spartan Manor vintage trailer. It was the real deal. Seriously, gorgeous. Like walking back in time. It was clean, quaint, had a working record player (with a wide selection of records in the main lodge that you could exchange for the ones already in your trailer). The beach is right down the road (make sure you read the sign that says cars on the beach to the left and no cars to the right).
The new owners were super nice and laid back. We took a couple of their bikes out on the trail, it was wonderful. Then laid in the hammock for awhile staring up into the sky. Time did not exist while we were there. I loved everything about this place.

We own the home next door to the Sou’Wester and I couldn’t be more excited about all of subtle improvements I see. The energetic new owners are in love with this unique property and it shows. The place is very clean and tidy. The cabins and trailers are being cleaned, painted, repaired and decorated but the the fun and funky Sou’Wester ambiance that everyone loves remains.
The Souwester is located on the Seaview beach approach. The Seaview beach has a fraction of the tourist traffic that Long Beach has but it is just 1 mile south of town. You can walk south on the beach to Beard’s Hollow where there are very interesting tide pools.
This is a great destination for a couple, family or group whether you want to stay in the main lodge, cabin, vintage trailer, RV park or a combination. We are excited to see this property being restored to it’s early and mid century grandeur and will be recommending it to all of our friends!
When looking at the reviews keep in mind that the Sou’Wester was just purchased a few months ago. Problems mentioned in the older reviews no longer apply!

One of my favorite places — hands down.
The Sou’wester was purchased recently by two super sweet and talented Portland ladies and it is better than ever. They redid all of the cabins and have done a ton of other updates and improvements without losing the charm and specialness that is the Sou’wester. We stayed in one of the cabins that had just been remodeled and it was great — very comfortable bed with a feather top and a down comforter, wood floors that had just been refinished, cool magazines… The kitchen was well-​equipped (complete with cute mismatched dishes) and the shower was strong and hot with fluffy towels. Everything was spic n’ span which is definitely part of the new ownership thing! Also amazing art on the walls and a great red leather couch that folded out into a bed that our friend stayed on.
They have bikes you can use for free and we went on a ride through the dunes — it was total paradise. Warm sun, beautiful clouds, ocean, trees… wow. They also have a vintage fridge on the front porch where you can buy Fort George beers for $ 2 and a few other locally made things like soaps, honey, walnuts, hazelnuts etc.
I love buying seasonal sea food (crabs, oysters etc) and taking it back to the Sou’wester to cook. Glasses of wine, night time walks on the beach (the beach is only a 5 minute walk from the front door), random musical guests at the lodge… so great.