The North Cascade Mountains serve as sentinels into the Wenatchee valley, standing guard and surrounding the highways that lead to the eponymous town. Revered as the “apple capital of the world,” Wenatchee received its name not from the mountains or its apples but from the rushing waters that confluences with the Columbia River at its crux. Dubbed by the local Wenatchi tribe, the name means “river which comes from canyons.” Aptly so, the city sits at the intersection of the two mighty waterways (Wenatchee and Columbia), providing a unique environment amid flowing water, steep hillsides, basalt rich terrain and a prosperous tree fruit industry.
This sounded all too tempting for Seattle restaurateurs Ludger and Julie Szmania when they were looking for their next hospitality enterprise. The business partners and married couple had recently closed their tenured Seattle namesake restaurant, SZMANIA’S, when they came across the Warm Springs Inn for sale in Wenatchee. They snatched it up in 2015, bringing their city-wise culinary skills with them, now actively put on display by the cool and collected chef Ludger Szmania in the kitchen, daily for a multi-course breakfast and available by reservation for additional meals. Julia Szmania rules the front of the house with grace and good-humored charm, tying together the entire experience with a simpatico nature.
The historic home has been modestly updated over the last century but the rural, brick colonial is true to its roots of its pastoral surroundings. Original hardwoods floor the home, walls and windows are lined with crown molding and the suites are adorned with heirloom furniture and antique furnishings from the bathtubs to the mural-sized mirrors and artwork. The property and its manicured green lawns brushes against the Wenatchee River, where guests can sit at the fringe of the waterway or view the flow from the expansive second-story terrace adjacent to the living spaces and dining room.
The gathering rooms are well-upholstered and embellished with antiques and collectibles, cozy and welcoming to help guests feel at home. The inn is available for single-night stays as well as full home-reservations for larger parties to fully take in the six different rooms — a popular buy-out option for the celebrated wedding venue. This property is just one of many venues in the area that are able to cater to wedding parties, as well as similar types of events. This could be the perfect venue for some people, but others may prefer to hold their party at somewhere similar to these hotels in mayfair instead. And that is fine, it is all about choosing the venue that is right for you.
Under the new ownership, Warm Springs Inn & Winery excels in the aspects of a culinary escape with classically trained Szmania at the helm of the kitchen, plating simple yet flavorsome breakfast dishes from a rich eggs Benedict to vibrantly fresh muesli for breakfast. Dinner options are nil during the summer due to the high volume the inn sees, however, in the fall, the bounty of the season shines in his rotating menu.
The house winery produces a limited line of bottlings from the estate one-acre vineyard at Brender Canyon Farm in nearby Cashmere, narrowed in on Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot, blending with other varieties from Horse Heaven Hills. Exclusively sold on-site, the wines are tasted daily at the miniature bar near the kitchen for guests to frequent throughout the happier hours.
The local force is strong with the Szmanias, who continue to impress in the kitchen, albeit a much smaller one than what they frequented in Seattle.
