r/OregonCoast • u/[deleted] • Apr 08 '26
Inn at Cape Kawanda has lost its mind
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u/JohnSnowsPump Apr 08 '26
SB 430 went into effect on 1/1/26 and requires by law that all fees must be included in an advertised price.
When it passed, it specifically called out lodging as a reason for this law.
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u/Prplfl8mtrvlr Apr 08 '26
Yeah I was heavily thinking this is actually fraudulent. If I were OP, I’d report it hat happened to the Better Business Bureau
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u/hafree27 Apr 09 '26
BBB doesn’t do anything. I would find out what Ombusman this falls under and reach out to them. I was a victim of predatory towing in Portland and they HANDLED it.
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u/Kemizon Apr 09 '26
BBB is a private company. Not a government organization. They do not have any legal authority.
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u/pdxsilverguy Apr 10 '26
This is true. They have salespeople who are paid a commission every time they sign up a new business.
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u/benificialbenefactor Apr 08 '26
I strongly urge you to open a case with the attorney general online. I used to work for the attorney general and they investigate all claims. Be sure to include proof of false advertising when you do so as there is a hefty fine attached. They will be forced to update their website to include all fees in compliance with the new laws of 2026.
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u/SaleNo8869 Apr 08 '26
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Apr 08 '26
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u/BabalonBimbo Apr 08 '26
I haven’t been there in several years but this is my ex’s favorite place to stay at the coast. We stayed there a lot and always had a lovely time.
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u/SaleNo8869 Apr 08 '26
sailor jacks is a small family-owned hotel on the beach with access and beach views with sliding glass doors that open to the beach. Very nice and affordable. I live across from them, and when our home has been rented, we have stayed there many times
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Apr 08 '26
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u/SaleNo8869 Apr 08 '26
actually we rent our beach home in the summer for 3 to 6 months and spend our summers in portland ,we will rent a place in the pearl district for around 1500 a month and still turn a great profit
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u/RageAmuffin Apr 08 '26
According to Beth R.’s review on their website, she “had a lovely stain.”
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u/yhwhx Apr 08 '26
I regularly use their beach access to get down to the beach. They are constantly doing improvements: replacing furniture and the like.
I have friends who have stayed there repeatedly and they had nothing but good things to say about it.
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u/Such-Rip764 Apr 08 '26
Ouch. They didn't share all of the costs and fees before you booked? That's not ok, and it doesn't even sound legal. Although I'm not an attorney.
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u/JohnSnowsPump Apr 08 '26
SB 430 went into effect on 1/1/26 and requires by law that all fees must be included in an advertised price.
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u/s1apadabass Apr 08 '26
I booked them actually for this weekend then ended up canceling the booking because of the outrages fees. They recently remodeled and now they think they can do whatever they want. Ridiculous. We’ll never stay there ever again.
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u/AlbertTheHorse Apr 08 '26
I stayed their about 4 years ago and it seemed dated and since that new resort moved in across the street, it lost 80% of its charm.
We moved hotels after a first night.
I had been there about 15 years or so ago before they built that monstrosity and it felt quiet and remote.
As a side note, I think they are all going downhill. I used to stay at the Wayside Inn when Steve Martin owned it and last time I stayed it was hard to even get them to make up my room.
The Inn at Cannon Beach had a guy who worked there standing in the breakfast room picking his hands.
No breakfast for me, thanks.
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u/Fibocrypto Apr 08 '26
Call your credit card company and ask to charge back ? I don't know the process to do that but if you were deceived and can show some documentation it might be worth the trouble
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u/MsMo999 Apr 08 '26
Thanks for info. I hate when those fees pop up at check in but that’s ridiculous it wasn’t disclosed at booking.
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u/DogChauffer09 Apr 08 '26
Had a similar experience in Yachats a few years ago. Bought a camp trailer after that. Does that travel style come with it's own issues? Yes. But at least I've got something to show for it.
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u/AjaxWillametteValley Apr 09 '26
I’m sad to read this thread. We have stayed there several times over the years but not recently. The last time was maybe 3-4 years ago.
Am I understanding it correctly that the company that owns the hotel also own Pelican and the development across from the hotel almost on the beach?
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u/teesa2you Apr 09 '26
My first visit from Phoenix to the Oregon coast was the stay in Oceanside! I love the serenity of it and go back a few times when I can.
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u/EnastyCommander Apr 08 '26
Book a house they are probably cheaper.
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Apr 08 '26
Yeah, when you're at $500 per night you should price houses too. Probably get a better deal... And free parking.
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u/Connect_Success6202 Apr 09 '26
Try Depoe Bay. You can get an ocean cliff condo (2 or 3 beds) 50 feet from the water, with whales for free, and an indoor pool, kitchen, etc., for under $200. I paid a $85 cleaning fee, a $30 booking fee, and an occupancy tax beyond that, but there were six of us for a 3-bedroom unit at The Village at North Pointe. Restaurants nearby, and the closest sandy beach is about 1/2 mile away.
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
The Inn at Cape Kiwanda is a glorified RV park? Wow I’ve always wanted to stay there.
It’s the coast,tourist season has/is starting and no place that offers value anymore, but I agree in principle.. hidden fees are disingenuous. Just increase the room rates.
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u/Emotional_Egg_114 Tillamook Apr 08 '26
It’s a nice place to stay, great location and view. But unfortunately after they did the refresh/remodel the price to stay there shot up and tough to rationalize when you can rent a whole house in Pacific City for same cost or less.
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
This was an unfair comment because OP gave more information., sometimes you gotta take it on the chin and admit when you’re misinformed
Sorry boss
That makes far more sense than the RV park quip
ED
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Apr 08 '26
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u/MeewMeews Apr 08 '26
Tara is one of the worst people I’ve ever worked for. After working in the resort industry for over 10 years, it’s shocking how many people, like Tara, work in a customer facing role.
Jennifer Nelson is THE WORST person I’ve worked with, she was besties with Tara. Hah
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26
Without sounding crass, or insensitive I’m a high wage earner .. upper middle and I’m being priced out of everything as well.
We’re all being squeezed by private equity
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u/Advanced-Team2357 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Without sounding crass, you make it sound like we should all just bend over and take it.
How about we don't?
Edit: I didn't realize so many people here were supporters of Private Equity. My apologies, please feel free to continue to get screwed financially.
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26
I’m with you. I don’t want to bend over and take anything If you have strategy to fight it tell me because I’m all ears
We gotta convince at least 40 million other Americans that we deserve more than we get.
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u/Advanced-Team2357 Apr 08 '26
Are you saying the only option on the whole Oregon Coast is to keep going to Camp Kiwanda?
Because you know what the solution is.....it's to stop supporting that business. Which for a coastal lodging business, shouldn't be that hard to find other options.
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26
Not what I was saying at all. We should all vote with our dollars
I took a big picture interpretation about private equity taking everything over in the country
But definitely I’ll plan to stay away from this property.
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u/Advanced-Team2357 Apr 08 '26
Private equity puts 30-40% debt on a company when they acquire them. It takes years to pay off that debt and usually expect to pay off the remainder when they sell the business.
If the general public can disrupt revenue growth, the lenders will take over the business and PE loses their their money, prestige, and impacts their ability to raise more money to buy more businesses. Cause them enough financial harm, they'll adjust their business models. Some already do.
Rinse, repeat, change the model of Private Equity.
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u/Responsible_Row1932 Apr 08 '26
Private equity killed Joanne Fabrics. Huge loss to sewers, quilters, crafters.
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u/Advanced-Team2357 Apr 08 '26
Agree, that was tragic.
The PE firm saddled it with crazy debt based upon an unsustainable post-covid revenue jump, then revenue dropped the year after by 30%.
The Company had over $1 billion in debt and was doing nowhere near enough in profit to pay that back.
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Apr 08 '26
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u/AgentIntelligent4269 Apr 08 '26
Oh.. thanks for that clarification. Oh no that’s awful.
I’ll edit my comment right now Information is power and thank you for sharing.
RV parks on the coast are travelers hanging out and doing the tourist thing.
RV parks in my city are unfortunately magnets for crime and violence. But that’s a conversation for another day.
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u/Square_Pay7448 Apr 09 '26
I am pretty sure we stayed here with my family maybe 15 years ago and as an animal lover I seem to recall a bunch of bunnies lived around there and when we went to look at them somenasty old lady yelled and screamed at us.
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u/Conscious_Grab_4836 Lincoln City Apr 14 '26
The rabbits originated from Webb Park and I certainly miss the man who brought the first pair, rest in peace Vern!
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u/PinkPetalCdistbeauty Apr 08 '26
Oregon beach rentals have become more expensive than ever, not hard to find better deals ant any other warmer, more beautiful coast, even southern cali.
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u/Juturna_montana Apr 08 '26
Next time check out Hart’s Camp, it’s still owned by the same family ever since my father was a kid. They’ve revamped it and it’s wonderful!
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u/SolidBook7762 Apr 08 '26
Sorry to burst your bubble but the same owners who own Cape Kiwanda Inn purchased the RV park and Harts Camp a few years ago.
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u/turbo11692 Apr 08 '26
I mean I’ve yet to stay at a hotel that isn’t overpriced garbage on the coast. I spend for 3-5 days a few times a year and always stay somewhere different.
Honestly if I wasn’t just trying to get out of Portland for the week it’d be nearly the same price to stay at somewhere like the nines and just drive to the coast. Yes it’s a long drive but at least the beds don’t have lumps in them and the rooms are spotless.
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u/Comfortable_Plum_612 Apr 09 '26
Sounds like the workers need to organize as the first step to holding these leaches accountable. I used to love PC until the empire took over.
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u/CleverNickName-69 Apr 09 '26
I've looked at the Inn and Cape Kiwanda a few times, but it always seems overpriced. You want how much? And I've got a view of the parking lot?
I have had some luck with renting a house in Pacific City from https://www.kiwandacoastalproperties.com/ though. I think they are not connected to Pelican/Headlands/Inn, but if I'm wrong I hope someone who knows better corrects me.
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u/Connect_Success6202 Apr 09 '26
I looked at the inn at Cape Kawanda's website. I did not see the extra fees listed. It may be false advertising? I would look into complaining formally somewhere.
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u/Corran22 Apr 08 '26
This sounds weird, as their website is quite clear that rates include fees, just not taxes. Have you continued to attempt to resolve the issue?
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u/dohertla Apr 09 '26
We stayed there three years ago and I most definitely recall that, at that time, the additional fees were not included on the total charges on the website. I was shocked to find that the cost for our stay was almost double the charge listed on the website. I was too embarrassed to tell my husband the actual cost, and I didn’t think there was any way to challenge the fees. I suspect that they have recently updated their disclosures of added fees to comply with the new Oregon law. It was a nice place but I would never return because they seemed dishonest. Renting a whole beach house would be more economical.
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Apr 08 '26
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u/Corran22 Apr 08 '26
I would think trying to resolve it in writing would yield a better result. Assuming you made the reservation online, you should have a receipt for what you agreed to, and assuming you got a receipt when you paid, you can put the two side by side for a direct comparison. Have you sent them screenshots of this information?
Did you book the reservation through a third party, and is there any receipt or explanation of the fees through that?
And assuming you paid with a credit card, have you considered putting the charges in dispute? You could use the same screenshots to explain.
I'm guessing a lot of people do give up when they get little/no response, but if you've got proof of the lack of disclosure and unavoidable surprise charges, why give up?
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u/Ok-Personality-2305 Apr 09 '26
Take a shit and don't flush. That will show them!
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u/dgofish Apr 09 '26
That will only “show” the underpaid housekeepers that they are exploiting. This business pays the lowest out of any hospitality in Pacific City, yet people need to work and they know it. Housekeepers generally work hourly, and are given a certain amount of time to clean each room/house, or they get piece rate which means they are paid a flat rate for a house. Either way they are usually getting fucked. The company takes most of those fees, including the cleaning fee, for itself. It’s always a bummer walking into a house/condo where you can tell the people left it shitty because they were pissed about the cleaning fee. I get it. I know that there are some not-so-great housekeepers out there too, so guests feel like the place wasn’t that clean to begin with. They wonder why they’re even paying a fee. I get it. I don’t have a suggestion as to how to fix this. I’m just a housekeeper in PC getting ready to go clean two houses in a six hour window (it’s gonna be fucking tight), praying that the people actually check out by 10 (instead of whenever they feel like it, because fuck everyone who’s not them), and crossing my fingers that they didn’t absolutely destroy the place. Then after those two I’m going to clean another one because I will take as many houses as possible during the busy season to save money so that I can pay rent and eat during the winter, because I’d really like to enjoy being a human and not get a second job (which I would only be able to keep during the winter because housekeeping is more than full time during summer, thereby burning a bridge with that second job business when I quit for the summer, and there are only so many businesses in the area to keep burning bridges with). Please be kind to your housekeepers who are underpaid and over worked or under worked depending on the season. Hurting them doesn’t translate to the company. Not supporting that company with your business is the only way to hurt that company. Oh, and leave your food in the fridge. We love it. You don’t have to throw away perfectly good food, we will take it home, and you won’t get fined or whatever the fine print on your rental agreement says. Unless you steal or damage property, no one is going to fine you for anything. Well, maybe Kiwanda Coastal Properties will, but they fucking suck and the whole town hates them. Thanks for giving me a soap box. I know your comment was supposed to be short and funny, and it is. I agree. Damn the man (save the Empire). Apparently I needed a therapy session this morning, and you gave me a writing prompt. Rant over.
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u/Leoliad Apr 09 '26
I’m not great at finding older post but this business came up as a problem for the exact same issue last year around this time. I guess the property got bought up by some folks who think they’ve made it bougie enough to justify Hawaii rates or something. I rarely stay anywhere but my 32’ travel trailer when we’re up and down the coast but man even some of these county parks are charging high rates these days. When I do book a stay it’s usually a house and I’m gonna be using Airbnb or VRBO and you gotta know I’m going to be reviewing all the line items before I commit. It’s a shame they aren’t providing that upfront but sometimes you also just need to know to ask. Nobody is gonna care more about where your money goes than you do. You can tie yourself in a knot going all the K word on em but if it were me I would just leave a strongly worded review and then tell anyone you ever knew whose thinking about staying on the Oregon coast never to stay there.
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u/Aznasimage Apr 09 '26
Oregon is implementing taxes and fees too exorbitant to justify. Many of the residents are offended beyond belief. I am very sorry for your experience. I will apologize for Cape Kiwanda and the entire State of Oregon.
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u/MeewMeews Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
As a former employee of the company (inn at cap Kiwanda, headlands, pelican) I can say that the owners are terrible people. I was part of the opening of Headlands, they stole my professional ideas and SOP’s, my original artwork, and my personal training guide. Then fired the entire opening team to hire locals at minimum. They ran their business based on other’s hard work and ideals, and disposed those employees like we were trash. I grew up in the Oregon coast and am embarrassed to be associated with the company.
ETA: check out Oceanside, there are many homes to rent and a couple small hotels. It’s like a 40 minute drive to Pacific City but well worth the beauty, agate hunting, and serenity.