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| Mt Hood - up close and personal |
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| The magestic Timberline Lodge |
From Mt St Helens, we drove to the small town of Cascade Locks on the beautiful Columbia River and there we stayed two nights at a small KOA campground (where the nightly train whistles reminded us of home.)
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| We're used to being the smallest rig in these private parks |
Mt Hood was our next destination - and the highlight there for us - the Timberline Lodge, which was built at the height of the depression in 1937 and is famous for its "Cascadian Architecture" featuring "natural materials and original old world quality" artistry. To match the grand structure, the interior was decorated by Rachel Griffen, who ensured that the furniture, light fixtures, iron work, drapes, rugs, paintings, doors, railings, and even the newel posts on the stairs, were all hand made by local artisans using natural materials. Many of the artisans she employed had been unemployed, due to the depression, and their appreciation for being chosen to be part of this project is evident throughout the building. Even though the hotel fell to ruin in the early 1950's, it was fully restored in to its former elegance in the 1970's. Now, when stepping into the hotel, it is like slipping back in time to the 30's. It is a living museum.
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| Animal carvings appeared everywhere |
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| It's a grand old hotel - 55,000 sq. ft of history and art |
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| Steps to the main entrance |
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| Window treatments |
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| The perfect place to plan that hike up the mountain! |
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| The interior paintings were all original |
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| Owl newel post - each an original |
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| Eagle newel post |
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| Dining area - hand carved tables and chairs |
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| Fireplace ironwork artistry |
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| A cathedral-like structure |
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| At the base of the mountain |
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| A national landmark - the lodge was built in the 1937 by the WPA |
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| Guest room as it was originally decorated |
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| A hand-carved newel post creature greeted us at each staircase |
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| Light fixture artistry |
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| Even the benches were carved |
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| Front door Native American greeter |
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| Memories of bear-claw and cable ski bindings - remember those? |
We enjoyed a delightful dinner there one evening in the formal dining room.
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| Iceberg salad with hazelnuts - anyone? |
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| Osso-Bucco with grapes for Ernie - Yum! |
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| Mushroom and apple pasta for Nancy - delightful |
Each evening, after exploring, we returned to our wonderfully quiet and peaceful campsite at Still Creek.
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| Our Casita - nestled in the trees |
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| A perfect place to relax and read awhile before dinner |
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| Our own personal not still creek |
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| Trillium Lake - close by - was packed with families enjoying water fun |
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| Sunset on our final evening there |
We now leave the peace and quiet of this lovely retreat and are headed to the Three Sisters area of Central Oregon where we will spend the crazy Labor Day weekend at a KOA in Redmond, then we will retreat again to a quiet and remote campsite on the Crane Prairie Reservoir.
N&E, every post tops the last one....***** again!
ReplyDeleteWe have been wondering, but know you are suppose to be in Sisters with Val & Joe and we know the weather is going to be lovely there so we probably won't hear from you now for a while....that's ok.....keep on having fun....it's ALMOST OVER!
We are sitting on patio, both on computers, puppy sitting naturally. 71º so no complaints from our end.
Have to say your pictures even in this small format are so sharp...You are a blogging pro.
Have fun with the young'ens
D&A &R
We can't wait to see them, since we've missed them so much! Especially the dogs! The scenery here in the three sisters area is spectacular and the weather is turning our to be cool and sunny, which will be perfect for our adventures with them! We can just picture you two there on your patio enjoying the sun and the warmth! Puppy-sitting sounds like fun! We'll do it for you! Give your little one an extra big hug for us! We plan to be home by the 12th so we can babysit little Ava! Love and many hugs all around.
DeleteN and E