Discover Oregon’s Mountain Inns
by Myrna Oakley
What is it that draws us to the mountains
when winter comes? Perhaps it's the lure of
frozen lakes sparkling in the sun . . . skiing
or snowmobiling through snow-clad forests
once traversed by pioneer mountain men
. . . hurtling down snowy volcanic peaks on
alpine skis or sleds. Or perhaps it's the lure
of the crackling fire on a stone hearth, con
vivial conversation with fellow mountain
eers, hot brew and the chance to soothe
away city cares for a time.
No matter what the reason or the eleva
tion, there's an Oregon mountain inn ready
to share its special treasures. Varying in size
from small and intimate to large and ramb
ling, they may cater to meeting and conven
as well as families, couples or
tion group
individuals.
Crescent Lake Lodge, located nine miles
east of Willamette Pass Ski Area and two
miles south of Highway 58, has new
owners. Larry and Fran Souza left the
ocean community of Newport, took a de
tour through California, Arizona and Mon
tana before settling in the southern Cas
cades. "We decided we really love Oregon,"
explained Fran Souza. "Right now we have
two inches of snow on the ground and it's
snowing — we're looking forward to a great
winter season."
The Souzas maintain 17 comfortable
cabins, a ski rental shop and a small res
taurant in the main lodge. "We plan to have
the restaurant open all year," says Souza.
They will serve hearty woodsman's sand
wiches and homemade soups weekdays,
with a house special on Friday nights and
prime rib on Saturday nights.
Most of the cabins have kitchens and fire
places. Wine, beer, groceries and a roaring
fire are available in the main lodge. For
snowmobilers, a network of snowmobile
trailers is maintained between Crescent
Lake and Diamond Lake, about 30 miles to
the south. The trail to Fawn Lake is re
served for cross country skiers. For infor
mation and reservations, contact the
Souzas at Crescent Lake Lodge, Box 73,
Crescent Lake, OR 97425, tel. (503)
433-2505.
Lying high on the crest of the southern
Cascades and just off Highway 58 near
Willamette Pass, Odell Lake Lodge sits
comfortably at the east end of Odell Lake
and has a clear view across the water to
snow-clad Maiden Peak. First opening in
1915 as a summer lodge for fishing enthu
siasts, Odell Lake Lodge began remaining
open for the winter season in the early
seventies.
In the central lodge, which has a number
of guest rooms, a stone fireplace spreads
warmth in the well-used knotty pine com
mon room. All cabins include bedding,
towels, kitchens, heat and firewood for
those with Franklin stoves.
"Midweek is a good time to come up to
the lodge," says owner Jim Venner. 'It’s less
crowded on the cross country ski trails
along with a better selection of cabins and
rooms."
The lodge restaurant serves three meals a
day, with different chef specials each night.
Phone ahead you're going up just for din
ner. For further information and reser
vations, contact Odell Lake Lodge, PO Box
72, Crescent Lake, OR 97425, tel. (503)
433-2540.
Located near the western-style town of
Sisters (take Highway 126 east from Eu
gene), Black Butte Ranch is a condominium
and homeowners resort community situ
ated on 1,800 acres of ponderosa at the base
of Black Butte —a 6,436 foot volcanic cone.
From the late 1800s until around 1969 it was
a working cattle ranch and stopping off
place for herds of sheep coming across the
Cascade mountains.
1 nose seeking solitude, wide open spaces
and an abundance of quiet will find Black
Butte Ranch a peaceful place to park for a
few days. Lodgings include individual guest
rooms, complete condominiums and some
private homes. All the rentals are private
dwellings and reflect the personality, decor
and furnishings of each individual owner.
For nordic ski buffs, the nearby terrain is
well-suited to cross country treks. It's best
to bring your own gear. Special activities
such as trail rides, hikes, hay rides and
sleigh rides are held on a scheduled basis in
season. Or, simply hole up in front of a
friendly fire and have a good snooze.
Also try gliding through the snow-laden
forest on some cold, crisp afternoon bun
dled in winter garb and quilts —seated com
fortably in a horse-drawn sleigh. You may
want to take the camera along because deer
or elk may be spotted along the way. For
information and reservations, contact
Black Butte Ranch, Black Butte Ranch, OR
97559, tel. (503) 595-6211.
Head into central Oregon country
another 40 miles or so to Bend and you’ll
find Inn of the 7th Mountain —located at
the foot of Mount Bachelor, just west of
Bend. According to inn personnel, "We
have the longest ski season in the western
United States and the U.S. Nordic and
Alpine ski teams come here to train." Skiers
flock to Mount Bachelor like migrating
birds to enjoy some of the best powder
snow west of the Continental Divide.
At Inn of the 7th Mountain, a self
contained condominium resort, accommo
dations feature lodge guest rooms, fireside
studios with kitchens, small suites and fami
ly suites with kitchens. Recreation facilities
are suited to couples as well as to families
and they include an ice skating rink, two
swimming pools, three whirlpool baths,
arts and crafts classes and cross country ski
lessons. The inn also offers complete con
vention facilities for groups up to 500.
"We believe in a welcoming attitude —
that family feeling with company manners
is our motto," says amiable inn manager
Warren Klug. For information and reser
vations contact Inn of the Seventh Moun
tain, PO Box 1207, Bend, OR 97709, tel.
(503) 382-8711 or 1-800-452-6810.
One of Oregon's historic treasures, Tim
berline Lodge is located at 6,000 feet on the
south flank of Mount Hood —about three
hours from Eugene via the Portland route.
The massive Cascadian edifice has the look
of the rough-hewn castle of some legendary
mountain king.
The main door of the lodge is five feet
wide, ten feet high, and weighs 1,100
pounds. Four hundred of those pounds are
the massive hand-forged ironware, hinges,
latch and knocker; the remainder of the
door is hand-hewn Ponderosa pine.
Approved in 1935 by President Franklin
Roosevelt as a WPA project during the De
pression, an army of 250 artisans —car
penters, stonemasons, woodcarvers, metal
workers, painters, weavers, furniture
makers — created in two years the magnifi
cent lodge at a cost of less than one million
dollars.
Visiting Timberline Lodge is just as much
fun for today's travelers as it was back in
1938 when it was dedicated in person by
President Roosevelt—and the roads are de
cidedly better.
Most of the guest rooms are one of a
kind, with carved headboards, patchwork
quilts and hooked rugs. Everything was
made by hand; some of the curtains were
made by dyeing old army uniforms and
blankets. The Indian or pioneer as well as
native flower and animal motifs which de
corated many of the rooms back in the
1930s all have been restored and repaired
by The Friends of Timberline.
Oregonians and visitors make unceasing
winter pilgrimages to the lodge-to ski,
swim, play in the snow, climb to the top or
to just curl up with a book and watch the
ever-changing moods of the mountain. For
information and for reservations, contact
Timberline Lodge, Government Camp, OR
97028, tel. (503) 226-7979 or 1-800-452
1335.
How about taking a sleeping bag to a
mountain inn? At the 7,000 foot level,
above Timberline Lodge on a high moraine
below the Palmer icefield, is an historic
structure in the process of being rescued
and restored for use by the hardiest of ski
and mountain lovers.
Silcox Hut, a Cascadian rustic structure
built in 1939 by the Timerbline Lodge
craftsmen as the upper terminus and warm
ing hut for the original chairlift, is being
saved from deterioration. The Friends of
Silcox Hut are raising funds and doing the
work. There will be bunk lodging for 40 and
a small restaurant serving hot beverages
and snacks during the day and family-style
meals during the evening.
The rustic stone and timber structure is
on the national register of historic places
and plans are for Silcox Hut to be open
year-round. From the massive stone steps,
the panoramic view of the Cascade range to
the south is a mountain-top experience, to
say the least. For information concerning
the 1986-87 opening, contact Silcox Hut,
PO Box 536, Welches, OR 97067.
Other mountain lodges and inns awaiting
cross country and alpine skiers, snow
bunnies, snowmobilers and those who
yearn for a crackling fire on the hearth in a
mountain setting include. . .
Diamond Lake Lodge, Diamond Lake,
OR 97731, tel. (503) 793-3333. Located 80
miles east of Roseburg, facilities and acti
vities include: cabins; extensive cross coun
try trail system; ice fishing; snowmobiling;
guided cross country treks to Crater Lake.
Santiam Lodge, Box 20/Highway 20,
Sisters, OR 97759, tel. (Eugene) (503)
342-5540. Near Hoodoo Ski Area on San
tiam Pass (Highway 126 east) and managed
by Hoodoo; for groups of 20 to 60.
Belknap Springs Lodge, Box 1, McKenzie
Bridge, OR 97413, tel. (503) 822-3512.
Located a few miles east of McKenzie
Bridge—a good spot to stay overnight and
soak travel weary bones in Jim Nation's
96-degree hot springs swimming pool.
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