Weasku Inn Historic Lodging Logo.

Legendary Hospitality Along the Rogue River

Book Now
Grants Pass, Oregon is home to this hidden historic Inn

About the Author

Portrait of a smiling man wearing sunglasses and a tan jacket, standing outdoors with a scenic backdrop of red rock formations, lush green trees, and clear blue skies.

Erik Johnson

Owner, Weasku Inn | Hospitality Professional | Southern Oregon Local

Erik Johnson has spent the better part of four decades in the hospitality industry — and the last 25 of those years rooted in Southern Oregon, where he’s built a career around helping guests feel genuinely at home in one of the most beautiful regions in the Pacific Northwest.

Erik has owned Weasku Inn, the beloved historic lodge on the banks of the Rogue River, since 2016. Under his stewardship, the inn has continued its century-old tradition of legendary hospitality, welcoming guests from around the world to a place that once charmed the likes of Clark Gable and Walt Disney. He also co-owns Buttercloud Bakery & Café in Medford — because he believes great hospitality doesn’t stop at the front desk.

Decades of Hands-On Experience

Erik’s hospitality career spans more than 35 years, beginning in 1986. I left to work in law enforcement from 1993 – 2001 and have been back in hospitality through the present day. Over that time, he has managed or co-managed eight different hotels, inns, and lodges — including co-owning Wildlife Inn and CHI Hospitality Group — giving him a depth of operational perspective that few regional innkeepers can match. Earlier in his career, he co-managed the Garden Bistro at the McCully House, one of the Rogue Valley’s most storied dining venues.

That frontline experience informs everything he writes. Erik has trained dozens — likely hundreds — of front desk and line staff on hospitality-focused customer service, and has taught revenue management and guest experience principles locally. He knows the hospitality industry from every angle: ownership, operations, staffing, and the guest’s perspective.

Plugged Into Southern Oregon

Erik isn’t just a business owner in Southern Oregon — he’s embedded in the community. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Travel Southern Oregon, the region’s destination marketing organization. He was also part of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s Southern Oregon Strike Team, working alongside peers on issues that directly affect travelers and tourism businesses in the region.

That civic involvement means Erik’s recommendations and insights come from someone who sits at the table with the region’s tourism leaders — not just someone who Googles things about the area.

A True Local Voice

Erik has lived in Grants Pass since 2001, with brief stints in Medford and Rogue River that only deepened his familiarity with the broader Southern Oregon landscape. He hikes, rafts, and camps throughout the region — much of it alongside Boy Scout troops he has helped lead since 2017 — and has coordinated outdoor activity vendors for hotel guests for years. He co-owns a local bakery and café and has dined at virtually every notable restaurant in the area. When he recommends a restaurant, a trail, or a rafting outfitter, it’s because he’s been there himself.

Why This Blog Exists

The Weasku Inn blog exists to be a genuinely useful resource for anyone visiting Southern Oregon — not a collection of recycled travel tips, but real, firsthand guidance from someone who lives, works, and plays here. Erik writes about what he knows: where to eat, what to do on the Rogue River, how to make the most of a weekend in Grants Pass, and what makes this corner of Oregon worth the trip.

If you have questions about the region — or are ready to book your stay — Erik and the Weasku Inn team are always happy to help.