CONDON – Walking into the splendid lobby of Hotel Condon, with jazz music wafting through the air, one wouldn’t know this grand hotel, built in 1920, sat vacant and decaying for nearly a decade.

At the turn of the century, an investment group attempted to return the hotel to its grandeur, however, the group’s misfortune became an opportunity for Rick and Marlene Stanley of Fossil.

Standing on the courthouse steps in November, the words of his wife echoed in his head, “Don’t buy it.” However, at a price of $310,000, he couldn’t resist. Rick Stanley is an investor.

Despite the fact her husband didn’t heed her words, Marlene Stanley was excited to be the proud owner of the charming historic building.

“We have always admired the Hotel Condon and knew it had such great potential,” Marlene Stanley said.

After the initial investment, the Stanleys estimate they have poured another $1.5 million in to bring the hotel back to magnificent splendor.

“We wanted to make this a first-class hotel like it deserves to be,” Rick Stanley said as he sat in the lounge surrounded by beautiful mahogany tables. “When my wife and I do anything, we pour ourselves into it.”

Cassandra Flatt moved to Condon in 1980 and always was fascinated by the hotel. Over the past half dozen years or so, she has worked in the insurance business, but her heart longed to get back into the hospitality business.

“I was a tour planner and hostess on motor coach tours across America,” she said.

When approached to become an investor, Flatt jumped at the chance.

“I had dreams of running the hotel and continuing my love of tourism and history,” she said.

Although that didn’t pan out, Flatt was thrilled when the Stanleys offered her a job at the hotel. She has been the assistant manager since the hotel reopened May 2 and is transitioning into the role of hotel manager.

“Marlene has done an incredible job redecorating the hotel,” Flatt said. “Everything from floor to ceiling was redone and it is a sight to see.”

Marlene Stanley worked to bring warmer tones into each of the 18 guest rooms, replacing the drapes, bedding and furnishing. However, the hotel offers more than merely a place to kick off your shoes and lay your head.

The Stanleys refurbished the entire kitchen and added a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.

“The Stanleys like their wine,” Flatt said with a laugh.

Soon, others will have the opportunity to enjoy those same wines, from wineries in Oregon, Washington and California.

“We want people to experience part of Oregon,” Rick Stanley said.

In Stanley’s Steak House, one will find the cuts come from prime beef raised locally at Painted Hills Natural Beef. Rick Stanley touts the quality.

“It’s all high-end choice and a better beef,” he said

The Stanleys have attracted a quality chef and sous chef. Alan Schneider and Santino Monteblanca were lured to the town after working in kitchens from New York to San Francisco.

“It’s a nice place to raise kids,” Monteblanca said.

Schneider had kind words for the sous chef.

“He’s doing just a bang-up job on everything,” Schneider said of Monteblanca. “His baking is great and he’s developing some killer recipes.”

Schneider also wasn’t shy about his own culinary skills.

“We’re going to have the best steak anywhere,” he said.

Rick Stanley admits the prices for a meal will be more than what people in Condon are used to paying, but he said it’s about more than merely eating.

“We want to have quality for people rather than the regular dining experience.”

Sometimes people drive off the beaten path and just happen onto that rare gem that makes the extra time and effort worth it. In the case of Hotel Condon, the Stanleys hope this polished gem will become the reason people venture off Interstate 84 and purposely drive to the small town situated close to fishing, hunting, two golf courses and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.