The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Oasis Tavern in Skamokawa has been a local watering hole since the early 1930’s, but it has new owners who have remodeled and reopened the tavern.

Cathlamet residents Rick and Eileen Tietje purchased the Oasis in March. Prior to moving to Wahkiakum County, the couple had lived in Phoenix and Seattle.

“We wanted to move out of the city because of the traffic,” Rick Tieje said.

Tieje is retired from the construction industry. His wife, Eileen, had formerly been a nurse. When asked why they bought the Oasis, Eileen Tietje commented that, “Rick had wanted his own restaurant/ bar for years.”

The couple has been married for 17 years and are also parents.

The renovations that the Tietjes have made to the tavern can be seen throughout the Oasis. They tried to repurpose many things in the renovations, including the use of Mason jars as unique light fixtures, wood that dates back to 1897 that was used on the wall and even the clever use of a washtub as the women’s bathroom sink. Eileen Tietje designed many of these items which her husband constructed.

The couple is currently serving beer and wine but will eventually carry a full menu of Mexican food and a full bar. The Oasis can also sell beer and wine to be taken off premise and consumed at the same price stores sell. Within the next few weeks they will be able to offer a limited food menu to their customers.

The Oasis opens at noon seven days a week, closing at 11 p.m. on Sundays, midnight Monday through Thursday and 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The tavern offers 50 cents off drinks for Ladies Night on Wednesdays and $2 domestic beer specials on game days for the football season.

The Tietjes offer domestic and microbrews on tap and rotate their microbrews with what is current and popular. Karaoke is offered on Friday and Saturday nights. The Oasis will eventually have broomstick pool leagues and regular pool leagues for both men and women. In time an outdoor beer garden will be opened with picnic tables and horseshoe pits.