This small southern Oregon airport rents out the Oval Office
What does the president of the U.S. have that you don’t have?
Access to the Oval Office, for one.
But you can fix that if you make your way to the airport in the small southern Oregon town of Medford.
Back in 2011, not long after its new terminal building was completed, Oregon's Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) floated a scheme to sell advertising on its control tower.
That proposal was blocked, but another revenue-generating idea sailed through with unanimous support.
With the help of more than two dozen local sponsors and images found on the internet, then-airport director Bern Case transformed an empty rectangular space on the second floor of the terminal into a meeting room patterned after the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Like the real Oval Office, the airport’s Oval Office has long couches facing each other, as well as a fireplace, antique-style furnishings, flags on stands, wood flooring and a rug with a presidential seal.
Realistic wall graphics add “doors” that appear to lead to other White House offices, bookshelves and a trio of three windows offering splendid “views” out to the White House Rose Garden.
There’s even a version of the Resolute desk patterned after the impressive oak desk that sits in the official Oval Office that has been used by every U.S. president since Rutherford B. Hayes (except for former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford). The Resolute desk at the Medford airport came from 15 miles away in Ashland, Oregon, where it was once used in a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Back in 2012, when the airport first unveiled its Oval Office, Case said the airport hoped the attraction would “generate some dollars, add some culture and history to our community and give people something to do.”
Since then, the faux Oval Office has been used for everything from weddings, TV commercial backdrops and film shoots to business meetings, catered dinners and election night parties.
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Anyone, including you or the duly elected U.S. president, can rent the airport’s Oval Office for $165 for a full day, $95 for up to four hours or $25 for a 15-minute photo op.
Current airport director Amber Judd says that while revenue from Oval Office rentals makes up a very small portion of the airport's overall budget, she’s determined to keep the unusual amenity intact through an upcoming terminal expansion.
“It’s a unique thing for the community to enjoy and another reason to come to the airport,” she said. And for anyone interested in booking the airport Oval Office on Nov. 5 for an election day watch party, Judd said, “It’s currently open and available."
If you can’t make it to Medford but are still interested in experiencing what it’s like to sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, you can also check out The People’s House: A White House Experience in D.C. The museum — which is operated by the White House Historical Association and sits across the street from the White House — includes a full-scale replica of the Oval Office. Timed entry passes are free.
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Other cool amenities at MFR
Medford’s airport serves about a million passengers a year and offers direct flights to 12 destinations, depending on the season.
In addition to the Oval Office, MFR has some other amenities popular with locals and area visitors.
There’s an open-air observation deck accessible to the public where passengers and guests can watch planes come and go. They can also enjoy a snack or meal from the adjacent Sky House Bar & Grill. (Judd recommends the turkey bacon avocado sandwich dubbed the Sky House Melt.)
Nearby, there's a historic aircraft, a Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, that the airport also rents out for meetings, events or parties at the same rates as the Oval Office. This plane first went into service in 1952 and flew around the world as part of the 306th Bombardment Wing, the 44th Bombardment Wing and the 44th Refueling Wing. It was converted from a Stratotanker to a KC-97 Stratofreighter and used in troop and cargo transport.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.