Ashland Springs Hotel: 100th anniversary!

Lithia Springs Hotel, Ashland Springs Hotel

Ashland Springs Hotel: 100th anniversary!

Doug and Becky Neuman lead a toast at the Ashland Springs Hotel 100th anniversary celebration on September 20, 2025. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Doug and Becky Neuman lead a toast at the Ashland Springs Hotel 100th anniversary celebration on September 20, 2025. (photography by Lahna Marie)

I asked the audience if they were willing to step into a time machine with me. When I heard a loud “Yes,” I began by taking all of us back 100 years. Here we go.

Lithia Springs Hotel grand opening headline, from Ashland Tidings newspaper of September 29, 1925.
Lithia Springs Hotel grand opening headline, from Ashland Tidings newspaper of September 29, 1925.

Here in September, 1925, we have incredible community enthusiasm and support for this newly built hotel. We know it will serve the throngs of people sure to come for the healing Lithia water, white sulphur water and soda water springs of Ashland. No wonder our esteemed hotel operator R.W. Price recently said: “I have every reason to believe that Southern Oregon is sometime, within the very near future, to be the playground of the Pacific Coast.” This hotel was built with local money, because 500 of our local citizens believe in the future of Ashland and they invested in the Lithia Springs Hotel corporation.

I hope you are all as proud as I am of our small town of about 4,500 people. Ten years ago, we brought in famous park designer John McLaren of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to create the master plan for Lithia Park, which has become the jewel of our town. Last year, in 1924, we hired famous architects Tourtellotte and Hummel of Portland, who also designed the Idaho State Capitol. They created for Ashland this magnificent nine-story building, the tallest structure between San Francisco and Portland. Yes, we have a forward-thinking community here.

Oops, this is supposed to be a brief talk and I only have a couple more minutes, so let’s push the fast-forward button. ………. 

In 1927 – Southern Pacific Railroad all but closes its large Ashland railroad station and maintenance yard. The Railroad District of our town goes into a 60-year slump. The hotel suffers.

In 1929 – The Great Depression slams our entire country’s economy. The hotel really suffers.

In 1951 – The hotel was remodeled. That didn’t help.

In 1959 – The hotel was remodeled again. That didn’t help either.

In 1960 — After a contest to come up with a name that would build on the growing popularity of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, it was renamed the Mark Antony Motor Hotel. The new name didn’t boost its fortunes. 

In 1978 – The hotel was remodeled again! Nothing seemed to help. 

This is getting depressing. Let’s fast-forward again. ………

In 1998 — The building was bankrupt and falling apart. Doug and Becky Neuman made a huge commitment to purchase the hotel and bring it back to life. It reopened in December 2000 as the Ashland Springs Hotel, with many of the original 1925 hotel features restored. Locals and visitors alike fell in love with the combination of modern comforts, excellent service and respect for history.

Finally, here we are in September 2025, and the hotel is both surviving and thriving on its 100th anniversary. Thank goodness!

In conclusion, I love the image Becky Neuman used as she told me her early vision for the hotel: “I felt like the lady, a “Grande Dame,” had been asleep a long time and she was ready to wake up and put her party dress on, to be a light for the town.”

Other speakers at the 100th anniversary celebration were Becky and Doug Neuman, owners of the hotel; Katharine Cato of Travel Ashland and Ashland Chamber; and Gina DuQuenne, current City Councilor and former wedding organizer for the hotel.

Ashland Springs Hotel owners Doug and Becky Neuman at the 100th anniversary event. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Ashland Springs Hotel owners Doug and Becky Neuman at the 100th anniversary event. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the 100th anniversary of the Ashland Springs Hotel. Celebrating 100 years; getting ready for the next 100 years. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the 100th anniversary of the Ashland Springs Hotel. Celebrating 100 years; getting ready for the next 100 years. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Lithia Springs Hotel soon after it opened in 1925.
Lithia Springs Hotel soon after it opened in 1925. (photo from Southern Oregon Digital Archives at SOU Hannon Library)
When hotel was named the Mark Antony Motor Hotel, photo probably 1960s.
When hotel was named the Mark Antony Motor Hotel, photo probably 1960s. (photo from Ashland Springs Hotel history wall)
The Ashland Springs Hotel when lit for the holidays.
The Ashland Springs Hotel when lit for the holidays. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2021)
Ashland Springs Hotel lobby, with original 1925 chandelier.
Ashland Springs Hotel lobby, with original 1925 chandelier and terrazzo floor. (photo by Peter Finkle)
Poster honoring the 100th anniversary of Ashland Springs Hotel: 1925 - 2025. (photography by Lahna Marie)
Poster honoring the 100th anniversary of Ashland Springs Hotel: 1925 – 2025. (photography by Lahna Marie)

I wrote a detailed history of the hotel on its 95th anniversary, complete with 34 photos! See link below to read it.

1 Comment
  • Pam Demo
    Posted at 16:20h, 30 September Reply

    A stunning improvement! I remember some of those efforts to rescue the MA. T&H, coming to Boise in the late 1890s, were architects whose projects ranged from the Idaho Capitol bldg, to my modest Boise North End home, to the now-gone graceful Rapid River Bridge in the out-back of the 7-Devils mt range, Clearly, no job was too large, too small or too inconsequential, and their artful architecture remains among us.

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