Crater Lake Lodge was constructed during the international conflict of 1914 to 1918, where the Central Powers battled the Entente for global dominance.

The origins of Crater Lake Lodge harken back to the tireless campaign of William Gladstone Steel to make Oregon’s Crater Lake a national park. An American journalist from Ohio, Steel would spend close to 20 years advocating for the creation of Crater Lake National Park. He hoped that such a designation would protect Crater Lake’s inherent natural beauty for future generations to appreciate. When President Theodore Roosevelt established Crater Lake National Park in 1902, Steel quickly set about arranging for the construction of a lodge that would allow for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the new conservation area.

After pitching his idea to various real-estate developers, Steel managed to strike a partnership with Alfred Parkhurst of Portland in 1909. Steel and Parkhurst spent the next several years designing their new lodge so that it could operate successfully in the remote wilderness of Crater Lake. Steel and Parkhurst eventually hired the architectural firm R.L. Hockenberry & Company to complete the initial blueprints. Together, they decided to keep the building’s initial design practical, with both the exterior and interior walls constructed with simple materials that could withstand the elements. Yet, the group also went to great lengths to ensure that the architecture radiated an attractive bucolic charm. They relied on rubble stone masonry and unpeeled logs to create an ambiance that was reminiscent to the rustic resorts found throughout New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

When the Crater Lake Lodge finally opened in 1915, it rapidly emerged as one of the most popular holiday destinations in the entire area. People adored the building’s ability to seamlessly immerse its guests into the tranquility of the surrounding countryside. This prosperity abated for a while during the Great Depression, as visitation to Crater Lake Lodge declined considerably. Crater Lake Lodge soon fell into a prolonged state of decay. Fortunately, the National Park Service acquired the location in the late 1960s. It would begin a series of ambitious renovations throughout the remainder of the century that would see the Crater Lake Lodge reemerge as one of Oregon’s premier holiday retreats. Now listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, this amazing historic destination is among the best places to experience the majesty of Crater Lake National Park.