Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel Updates The Classic Overnight Stay In Oregon City

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

For many of us, the hotel is a means to an end — the final stop after a long day on the road. It’s where we check in after sunset, fall asleep 10 minutes later and wake up before grabbing a cup of coffee in the lobby and resuming our travels.

Holly Pfortmiller, general manager at the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel in Oregon City, doesn’t see her property as a stop at the end of the day — but the beginning of a satisfying, thoroughly modern adventure in one of the state’s oldest cities. “It's your home away from home,” she says. “Our whole goal is to make you comfortable like you were at home while you staying with us.” 

Today, the independently owned and operated stakes its claim on checking the boxes for travelers of all stripes. From on-site family fun to a convenient location on the Willamette River, the Rivershore Hotel offers something for everyone. Thanks to a recent remodel, that “something” is nicer, newer and fresher than ever. And if you’re not sure where to start, a veteran employee is happy to provide recommendations and help make the most of your stay.

Here’s more about why you should book a night at the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel on your next trip to Oregon City — along with what to expect during your stay.

The Rivershore Hotel has long been an Oregon City mainstay along the Willamette River, but leadership has taken steps to keep the inn feeling fresh and updated in recent years. Case in point: The Rivershore Hotel recently wrapped up a full, carpet-to-ceiling remodel that began in 2025 and went through early 2026.

According to Pfortmiller, it would be easier to list what wasn’t updated as part of the extensive remodel. Over the course of the renovation, all furniture and carpet was replaced, walls were given a fresh coat of paint, brand-new televisions were installed and new and improved lighting fixtures were added. “Down to the alarm clocks, it’s all new,” Pfortmiller says.

That includes newly rebuilt private balconies that afford Willamette River views from select rooms. Pfortmiller says the Rivershore Hotel is the only lodging nearby that hosts private balconies that look out over the waterway, adding to its charm. 

One thing that hasn’t changed? The hotel staff. Pfortmiller says that one front desk agent has been with the hotel for 26 years. Pfortmiller herself has worked there for about 20 years, and the housekeeping manager has been an employee for more than a dozen years. The front desk manager is a relative newbie with “just” six years of experience.

That consistency, rare in the industry, sets the hotel apart and helps build long-lasting relationships with return guests, Pfortmiller says. “We make sure that we remember you,” she says. “If you stayed two years ago and you come back, my front desk team is going to know who you are. They’re going to know what floor you like to stay on. They remember the little things.”

Above and beyond the service, Pfortmiller says that visitors from all walks of life find something to appreciate about the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel. Kids love the outdoor pool, solo travelers use the hotel’s guest laundry facilities and business travelers take advantage of the on-site electric-vehicle chargers and high-speed internet. And just about everyone finds something they need at the on-site sundry shop, which sells everything from good-to-have items (like sunscreen and Tylenol) to fun trinkets and souvenirs — such as pool floaties and locally made baseball hats. 

Pfortmiller knows you can’t spend your entire time at the hotel — which is why she and her team are eager to show off local events and nearby attractions. That connection to the community, along with a prime location in Oregon City, makes the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel an ideal base camp for making the most of your time in the region.

A table in the lobby is usually stocked with flyers for local performing arts events and nearby museums, and a signboard out front points visitors toward local outfitter eNRG Kayaking — whose kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and tours are available a short walk away. 

Clackamette Park sits adjacent to the hotel, where the Willamette and Clackamas rivers come together, and hosts a skate park, picnic shelter, playground, flat walking path and horseshoe pits. “It's just so peaceful, walking around trees that are older than your great grandparents next to the river,” Pfortmiller says. “There's just something about it that brings you calmness.”

A number of museums reside within a short walk or drive and help tell a local story that’s been unfolding since time immemorial. The Museum of the Oregon Territory celebrates Willamette Falls and looks at how it’s shaped the region, the McLoughlin House pays tribute to John McLoughlin (the so-called “Father of Oregon”) and the End of the Oregon Trail Museum recounts the journey of emigrants on the Oregon Trail. 

After a busy day of paddling or museum-hopping, retire to the Rivershore Bar & Grill, which resides in the hotel and serves burgers, seafood, steaks and more with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible; two stories of patio seating overlook the nearby Willamette River, making the Rivershore a popular choice on sunny afternoons. Pfortmiller is also happy to recommend other restaurants close by — like Watershed Cafe and Bistro (serving coffee alongside breakfast burritos and pastries) and Ranee's on Main (a neighborhood lounge specializing in scratch-made pub grub), both in downtown Oregon City.