The Captain Cook Inn (Circa 1963)
With Americas’ love affair for the automobile came construction of Neel’s Autel, which was built by Neel and Olga Reynolds and opened for its first guests in 1948. “Autel” was a cross between auto and hotel before the phrase “Motel” (motor/hotel) was coined sometime in the 50’s.
Because Neel’s Autel was also built directly across Highway 101 from the then swanky Dorchester House Resort Hotel and at the time Lincoln City was mostly scattered with small beach cottages, Neel’s was considered to be the premier motel on the Central Oregon Coast.
In 1972 Captain Ron Cook of the Devils Lake Fire District bought Neel’s Motel and after a trip to Anchorage, Alaska and a stay at the historic Captain Cook Hotel, Ron was inspired to change the name to Captain Cook’s Motel.
In the late 70’s and 80’s came the Recession, El-Nino, and the Spotted Owl. Things were not very prosperous on the Oregon Coast and the Captain Cook Motel fell into severe disrepair. However, with the start of the 90’s, ownership of the Captain Cook Motel changed hands and with that came a fresh start, new hope, and a major renovation process that ended up lasting over ten years. The old Captain also received an updated name, the Captain Cook Inn.
The Captain Cook Inn is now a fully restored and refurbished motor court. Although not too many still exist, motor courts were a style of motel very popular in the 1940’s and 50’s where you park your car directly in front of your room. We like to think of ourselves as a modern throw back in time because many of our rooms still have arched doorways and a fully functional individual thermostat controlled radiator steam heat.
All of our bathrooms and fully stocked kitchens have been remodeled to include all tile floors and bath surrounds and all of our kitchens have all new oak cabinetry. Families are always welcome for we have a variety of rooms to offer.
We have a kitchen suite that sleeps up to six people, several kitchen mini-suites that can sleep up to four persons, and we also offer a variety of deluxe sleeping rooms, which can be set up with several different options because some can adjoin.
Several of our rooms have forest views or you can sit and relax in our courtyard and enjoy our park-like setting.
All of our rooms are non-smoking and we offer in-room coffee service, cable TV, free local phone calls, Wi-Fi and dogs are welcome (with restrictions).
A lot of attention had been paid to returning the Captain Cook Inn to its former glory, making it arguably one of America’s best restored motor courts with the most comfortable rooms on the coast.
We look forward to hearing from you, as we know that you will enjoy your stay here with us at the beach at one of Lincoln City’s best-kept secrets.
Captain Cook Inn Staff
Meet the Managers
Ahoy! Our award-winning staff is here to make your stay pleasurable.
Doug “Captain Wolf” Thompson is the inns manager.
All of us strive to insure smooth sailing for the duration of your stay.
So, “WELCOME ABOARD” and relax at the Captain’s!
We hire the best Supporting Staff in Lincoln City to keep your room clean and fully stocked with all of your toiletry needs. Need a favor?… They are there to grant it.