Press Room | Brookside Inn

Visitor's Guide | Summer 2008
Visitor’s Guide to Yamhill & Polk Counties: The Brookside Inn is Magical
Visitors stopping at the Brookside Inn just north of Lafayette, could use the words “beautiful” and “serene” to describe the 22 shaded acres, but stay a few days and that description might change to “magical”. Watch the mist rise above the pond, listen to the call of the coyote, or wander along trails line with moss-covered trees and you may feel like you’re in an enchanted forest. When Bruce and Susan Bandstra decided it was time to change gears and leave the hectic pace of Chicago and Seattle behind and return to their rural roots, they began looking for property in the Willamette Valley where their daughter attended college. Their search led them to a tranquil retreat on Abbey Road, which they purchased last May. “It seems like a natural fit for us.” Said Bruce, who is the chef, and handles the marketing. Susan is the gardener and accountant. Together they share in the upkeep of the property. Whether spending the night or enjoying the country setting for a wedding, retreat or corporate event, guests will find this inn a place to make treasured memories and new friends.
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Saveur.com | July 2008
American Road Trips: Pinot Noir Pilgrimage
by Sarah Karnasiewicz
Tucked alongside a quiet stream, just minutes from the wineries and restaurants of Carlton, the Brookside Inn makes a fine base for exploring the valley. Spend a peaceful night in one of its airy, elegant rooms, and in the morning sit down for a bountiful home-cooked breakfast prepared by the inn's charming keepers, Bruce and Susan Bandstra. The couple are passionate about Oregon and its cuisine; recently they launched a series of winemaker dinners that pair the talents of the area's chefs and its vintners. It doesn't get any more local than this: on June 15, in collaboration with Lange Vineyards and the acclaimed Oregonian chef Paul Bachand, the Bandstras will hold their first "Catch and Cook" evening, featuring trout hooked in the nearby brook.

Portland Monthly | March 2008
The Insider’s Guide to Oregon Wine Country
Bruce and Susan Bandstra have transformed an old religious retreat in the woods, where alcohol was once strictly forbidden, into a cozy, nine-room wine country escape. One of the newest places to stay in the valley, the inn has clean, modern lines and sparse Craftsman charm. Home-made, fresh-out-of-the-oven scones are served each morning.

The Oregonian | December 16, 2007
Where to eat, drink, be merry during travels around Oregon
For a great place to stay while visiting Oregon's famed wine country, make Brookside Inn on Abbey Road your headquarters…
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Brainstorm NW |November 2007
Wine Country Oregon Style
For a more rural experience, wine country visitors can now stay in Carlton at the Brookside Inn on Abbey Road. This nine-suite bed and breakfast on 22 acres caters to wine and food lovers. Owners Bruce and Susan Bandstra have partnered with award-winning chefs in the Northwest culinary scene to inspire and develop the B&B’s gourmet menu that reflects the diversity and quality of regional ingredients.

PDX Magazine | October 2007
Wine & Dine | Experience the bounty of the Willamette Valley
Just another benefit of living in Portland is that in less than an hour's drive you can escape the confines of the city and find yourself in a completely different world...
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Everyday With Rachel Ray | October 2007
"Bruce and Susan Bandstra left the corporate world to open the Brookside Inn on Abbey Road, a new nine-suite inn, set on 22 woodsy acres; breakfast might include oatmeal with sweet cream and berries or sausage made with local pork."
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Rachel Ray's guide to the best places to eat, play and stay in the Willamette Valley.
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Brookside Inn Press Release

CARLTON, Ore. (July, 2007) – Nestled on 22 forested-acres in Oregon's Wine Country, Brookside Inn on Abbey Road, Willamette Valley's newest treasure, opened its doors to the public on July 1, 2007. The property was formerly known as His Hiding Place, a well-known religious retreat hosting conferences and weddings for ten years.  Quoting co-owner Bruce Bandstra, "We are not hiding anymore!"  

Not your ordinary bed and breakfast, Brookside Inn on Abbey Road caters to the wine and food lovers' soul, specializing in making every guest's stay a culinary experience. Each meal served at the B&B reflects the diversity and quality of ingredients of the Yamhill and Pacific Northwest region.

Owners Bruce and Susan Bandstra have partnered with award-winning chefs in the Northwest culinary scene to inspire and develop the B&B's gourmet menu.

"We created our Inn to be much more than just lodging," says Susan. "Our plans are to have a wonderful Inn, but to go beyond the Bed and Breakfast concept.  We plan to embrace the amazing food and wine the Willamette Valley offers and invite others to enjoy it with us."

Brookside Inn's first guest chef will be Jason Wilson, executive chef at Crush in Seattle. Wilson will be preparing breakfast at the Inn during the International Pinot Noir Celebration, taking place July 27-29, in McMinnville, Oregon.

The Pacific Northwest experience at Brookside Inn on Abbey Road does not end with the food and drink. The unique character of the region influences the nine-suite Inn, which features hand-crafted furniture by Seattle's McKinnon Furniture, a stone fireplace and beautiful views of gardens, streams and hand-built waterfalls. Each suite includes private baths and luxurious Egyptian cotton linens.

Brookside Inn is also available for corporate events and weddings. With 22 park-like acres to work with, no event is too large or too small for The Brookside Inn to host. There are several unique ceremony sites created just for weddings.

For more information:
Susan and Bruce Bandstra
p. 503.852.4433
8243 NE Abbey Road
Carlton, OR 97111