From Summer Hire to GM: Chris Spinner Marks a Decade at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort

It’s been a roller coaster of a decade on the mountain. We’ve seen historic wildfires, a massive influx of attention (and tourists), and we’ve all endured a pandemic. Throughout the tumult, Mt. Hood Resort General Manager Chris Spinner has worked tirelessly to distinguish himself and his service at the Mt. Hood landmark.

To some degree, Spinner has lived the American Dream. While he now sits atop the ladder as General Manager, he first began working at the Mt. Hood Resort as a housekeeper. “At the time, I was just looking for seasonal work for the summer,” says Spinner.

That need to earn some cash quickly gave way to a genuine love for the industry. “Hospitality and customer service came very naturally to me. I transferred to the front desk a few months after being hired and found my passion in front desk operations.”

Spinner demonstrated such an aptitude for the work that he was promoted to Front Desk Manager by the end of his first year. “I think I was most proud when I was promoted to my first management position as the Front Desk Manager. It was a sign of my hard work paying off in a big way. That was one of my favorite jobs and I look back at those times very fondly,” says Spinner.

A few years into his time at the Resort, Spinner experienced perhaps the toughest times in his 

professional life when COVID struck and shut down the resort for three full months.

“When we first closed, we announced it to staff and started layoffs. The layoffs were very emotionally difficult. I was one of the few people that stayed on with some select managers and our maintenance team. Everyone who stayed on ended up working double shifts for the most part. I would work many 16–20 hour shifts, answering the phones and managing the desk during the day, and then doing security overnight.

“We had people camp in our parking lots, lots of crime activity, attempted break-ins, and enough ghost activity to keep us on our toes.”

You read that right. Spinner recalls several instances during the pandemic that remain unexplained. “I would be working at the desk at night and hear footsteps upstairs and doors closing in other rooms when I was the only one in the building. One thing I remember vividly: I would have to check the Mallards building and lock it up each night (while being alone on property), and I would turn off this light upstairs in the old office. You can see this light is on from the parking lot through the outside window. I would leave and go back to my other tasks.

“When I would patrol that area again a few hours later, the light would be on again. After turning it off a few times and then seeing it on again, I decided I would stay away from up there at night.”

Though COVID brought its share of troubles, Spinner is thrilled with the way that the Resort has bounced back. “I tell my staff, ‘Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.’ Over the past few years, we have been choosing growth, and I think it has paid off.”

For Spinner, his role as General Manager is about more than ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations. It’s about preserving a legacy. “For over 100 years there has been a campground, hotel, or resort serving guests on this property, offering what we call ‘authentic Oregon hospitality.’ The main thing we offer is a place for people to stay, rest, relax, and recover. The Resort has [also] supplied thousands of jobs over the years and has been a key staple in our local economy. I think it is important for it to continue to do just that.”

As he begins another decade at the helm of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Spinner remains grateful for the experience he’s earned and the team he’s built. “I could not be prouder of my staff than I am right now. I would describe them as resilient, hardworking, dedicated, caring, community-oriented, and hospitable. I think we are set up well to face any challenges that come our way.”

Speaking with Spinner, it’s abundantly clear that he cares deeply about his position and its place on the mountain. He’s approaching his next decade with hope, an eye on the horizon, and an abiding appreciation of what came before.

“I look forward to seeing this Resort continue to grow into something special,” Spinner concludes. “It will change over time and I can't say what it will look like, but I know our focus on growth will continue for the positive and I am thankful to be a part of that history.”