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Dancing on the River:
Lodge on the Clearwater River
offers year-round adventures
Mike Brodwater/ CDA
Press, 8-05
Weekend
Traveler
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- North
Idaho has a new destination for spring white water sports, year-round
fishing and winter sports.
River Dance Lodge has just opened on the Clearwater River east of
Lewiston.
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Twenty-six years ago Peter Grubb and Betsy Bowen founded River
Odysseys West (ROW) a rafting company. Peter is from California and
Betsy from Spokane. Both had river guide experience and based their
start-up company out of Coeur d’Alene.
Over the years they offered raft trips on more and more rivers
throughout the Northwest They now also provide international trips.
They have seen a big upswing this year with clients traveling with
their company to France, Croatia and Greece. They also offer Lewis and
Clark history tour canoe trips on the Missouri River. Their trips and
reputation have given them a large, loyal following of clients. A
resort seemed to be a logical next step for their successful company.
The Lochsa, Selway and Clearwater rivers have been used by them for
rafting and fishing trips for years. They found a restaurant for sale
on the banks of the Clearwater River that had been
built in
1962. It
is 6 miles from the confluence of the
Lochsa and Selway rivers.
The site would be a great base of operations for their float trips in
the area. In 2002, with the vision of developing a destination resort,
they bought the restaurant and property surrounding it. They have
renovated and upgraded the restaurant. Four of the six handcrafted
log cabins are completed. Their resort opened this year on June 20.
The cabins are open year round. They offer two- and three-bedroom
units. The River Dance Lodge Web site (www.riverdancelodge.com)
describes the cabins as having a hot tub on each front deck. The
cabins have a living room with dining table and chairs, a gas
fireplace and sitting area.
There is a small kitchen area and counter with a microwave, dishes,
and under-counter refrigerator. Depending on the season and the day
(Friday and Saturday are the most expensive) the two-bedroom cabin
rate ranges from $135 to $165 per night The Syringa Café offers casual
dining with traditional food, Mediterranean selections, salads and a
variety of wines, and microbrews.
Also, because the resort is near the Lewis and Clark Trail, there is a
special, fun menu featuring Mandan vegetable soup, elk steak, buffalo,
salmon, and a standard item which is a tradition from the previous
owners for the café, huckleberry pie. The cafe is expected to be open
most of the year except from November through mid-April. The River
Dance Resort is owned and operated by a local longtime Kootenai County
couple. Their lodge can be the heart of your next getaway which could
include rafting/canoeing, fishing, Lewis and Clark exploration,
primitive hot springs, cross-country skiing, hiking or just kick back
and relax. This resort is ready for you to check out.
Mike Brodwater of
Coeur d’Alene is a freelance travel writer/photographer.
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If you go_
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CONTACT
Phone 1-800-451-6034
ROW Web Sites:
ROW:
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www.ROWadventures.com
International Travel
www.ROWinternationaLcom
Lewis & Clark Trips:
www.ROWadventures.com/Missouri.htm
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GETTING THERE
River Dance Resort is 180 miles from
Coeur d’Alene. Follow U.S 95 south to
Lewiston and continue on 95 to Highway 12.
Turn east for about 90 miles toward Powell
and Missoula, Mont. The resort will be on
your left (north) in the small town of Syringa.
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