The Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon are not the only locations of note in Upper Lake. See a few of our nearby hidden gems and how they might further improve your stay!
Logos for each business link to their Facebook pages, if any, though as small town folk they may not be the most active at the moment. This is not, however, an indicator how busy they can be inside!
Established in February 2023, Old Town Iron fulfills the need the North Shore has felt for an accessible, 24-hour fitness location for many years. Featuring multiple types of equipment, free weights, cardio equipment, and two restrooms, this location has swiftly established itself as a staple of Upper Lake and the surrounding towns. The easygoing and friendly owner of the gym has even drawn in locals with other fitness centers closer to home.
As of May, 2024, the Tallman Hotel and Old Town Iron have established a partnership, allowing Hotel Guests access to the gym for the modest fee of $15 per day. Guests can sign the agreement at the Front Desk and pay the first day’s deposit of $15 to receive an access fob to the gym. The fob rental period runs until 12pm the following day, for each day of use, and details are outlined in the signed agreement form.
The facility is under camera surveillance but unstaffed, so if a guest finds something that needs to be brought to the Owner’s attention he has asked that we direct calls or texts to him personally; his phone number can be found at the bottom of the Membership Fees document on the front counter and he will make an effort to repair or restock as soon as he is available.
Open from 6-4 weekdays and 7-4 weekends, this local jewel provides a much-needed service to the North Shore in the form of quality coffee, tasty treats, and more. Since first opening their doors in February of 2021 we have seen countless guests show up to breakfast with a DD’s go cup in hand. Many of our guests are here on business, assigned to locations at or before our breakfast opens, so we are proud to showcase some of the options available to grab and go on their way to work.
For those who partake in the Tallman Hotel / Old Town Iron Gym Access Partnership, Double D’s also makes gym-related beverages such as pre-workout drinks; inquire within to see if they have something along the lines of your usual, or try something new!
Since it opened in November of 2022, the Dragon’s Den has upgraded and improved their retail space and offerings repeatedly. Now sporting a small space in the back for customers and locals to hang out and play games, for scheduled tabletop game sessions, or small tournaments, they are one of the few places with activities for kids of most ages in the area.
Their product lines include a number of items our guests appreciate, and it’s always worth a browse to see if something new has come in as well. They carry mens’ and womens’ swimsuits, shoes, backpacks, purses and clutches, and collectibles not commonly found at other boutiques.
The owners are extremely active on Facebook, with nearly 800 photos in less than two years. Their myriad statues and displays often come from contacts they’ve made in the industry or at trade shows, so if something is out of stock or could be special ordered they are able to process these within limitations. If you happen to catch Aletha at the counter she can regale you with stories of their many Pokémon and other anime-related statues that have found their way to and through inventory, many of which have been impressive in stature or design, or both.
The Owners of the Upper Lake Grocery have been driving upgrades and improvements ever since the first sign was hung. They have fully remodeled and expanded the kitchen and deli in early 2024 while also opening their sister location in Blue Lakes around the same time. If you’re over in Blue Lakes enjoying the refreshingly cold water in the heat of summer, consider dropping in for refreshments!
The Upper Lake Grocery provides far more than cooking ingredients and deli sandwiches, however, and their presence can meet some needs that aren’t immediately recognized by many. Did the TSA confiscate your nail clippers going through Security? Do you need a hair tie because you signed up at the Hotel for access to the gym? You can buy personal grooming supplies along the front wall. Need supplies for the next leg of your trip? You can buy bags of ice, energy drinks, and road snacks; some of which are locally made!
Oliveira’s Antiques is a long-standing piece of local history. Long before Tony Oliveira moved to Lake County this building was the Upper Lake Soda Bottling facility, and before that the Upper Lake Ice House before electricity and refrigerators were commonplace. The families responsible would carve large blocks of ice and store them in the Bartlett Ice Caves, then bring a set of blocks over to the Ice House for storage and dispensation. Locals would pull up in front of the property and a block of ice would be rolled out into the bed of their wagon for transport home to the cellar.
If you can catch him open during your stay, limited to weekends, there is so much history to be found in the multiple interior spaces that you could lose an hour or two just browsing. Strike up a conversation if you want to fill more of your day! This business does not have a Facebook page, but we have linked their cover image to a Google Search result for hours and contact information.