Hugging the Lower Columbia River, the sleepy town of Skamokawa was once a busy mill town of 500. Steamboat Slough was the main thoroughfare, lined with businesses and boat traffic. In 1911, an entrepreneur built a pier to house a mercantile (Silverman’s Emporium), steamboat landing, offices for lease and a second-floor dance hall to keep the townspeople entertained after hours.
As time passed and hard times hit, most of the town’s structures were abandoned and eventually collapsed. The mercantile building was no exception, but the old-growth Douglas fir timbers and beams tenaciously clung to the old pier without collapsing into the river like the neighboring hotel and mill had done. It stood derelict for decades, exposed to the weather, further deteriorating with each passing year.
In 1968, a visionary risk-taker saw potential in the decaying structure and, through the meticulous care and restoration by two consecutive owners over decades, it finally opened as an inn in 2010.
Today, Viewpoint Landing is on the National Register of Historic Places. New owners acquired it in 2019 with a passion to preserve its history and share the tranquil setting with vacationers who stay in the building’s three modern, fully appointed apartments.
Viewpoint Landing sits in the lap of nature on the Columbia River with a front-row seat for wildlife viewing and watching freighters and cruise ships navigate the shipping lane. Columbia River Kayaking rents kayaks onsite and even conducts guided kayaking excursions. Also, Viewpoint Landing is located near the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer. Viewpoint Landing offers guests information about local activities and events, including cycling maps for touring the county’s rural, scenic routes.
Book a peaceful getaway at viewpointlanding.com. Find activities and eateries in Wahkiakum County at wahkiakum.us/visit.
