Crater Lake Lodge offers the ambiance of an historic national park lodge but with the sparkle and accouterments of a more modern facility. The lodge opened in 1915 but fell into disrepair, leaving the National Park Service to consider its demolition during the 1980s when it closed. Public outcry (especially from Oregonians) resulted in a $15 million federal appropriation that paid for tearing apart and rebuilding the lodge that subsequently reopened in 1995. The five-year rehabilitation

Crater Lake Lodge offers the ambiance of an historic national park lodge but with the sparkle and accouterments of a more modern facility. The lodge opened in 1915 but fell into disrepair, leaving the National Park Service to consider its demolition during the 1980s when it closed. Public outcry (especially from Oregonians) resulted in a $15 million federal appropriation that paid for tearing apart and rebuilding the lodge that subsequently reopened in 1995. The five-year rehabilitation resulted in one of the national park system's most outstanding lodges.

The lodge offers a total of 71 rooms, many with excellent views of Crater Lake, considered by many as our country's most scenic lake. Even guests without a room overlooking the lake can enjoy good views from the large stone patio stretching across the back of the building. The focus of the lodge is the Great Hall and its massive stone fireplace. This large room between the registration lobby and dining room is the place where guests are drawn to converse, play cards or board games, and read. The Great Hall is especially popular in the early evenings just before and following dinner when drinks and appetizers are served.

Rooms at the lodge are grouped into five price classifications depending on view, size, and bedding. The least expensive rooms on the first floor have no good views. During two of our stays, snow banks along the backside of the building covered the windows of several of these rooms. Rooms on higher floors on the backside of the building enjoy views of the lake, while front rooms offer views across the parking lot toward the mountains. Second-floor rooms have the largest windows and offer the best lake views. Like many national park lodges, Crater Lake Lodge has some unique rooms such as one that offers its occupants a lake view from the claw-foot bathtub. Another room allows its guests to lie in bed and look out the window at Crater Lake.

There are several issues to consider if you decide to book a room at Crater Lake Lodge. The park generally accumulates a huge amount of snow that often lingers into summer. This means it is important to obtain information about road conditions because Rim Drive and roads in the northern section of the park often remain closed into July. Also, make dinner reservations at the same time a room is booked. The dining room is small and making a reservation prior to arrival is a necessity unless you are willing to eat very early or very late. A small deli in Rim Village is within walking distance of the lodge. Mazama Village Motor Inn, seven miles south of Crater Lake Lodge, is the only other lodging facility in the park. Mazama offers motel-type rooms that are less expensive, but not in the same league as rooms in Crater Lake Lodge. Mazama also has a nice family-style restaurant.

David L. Scott and Kay W. Scott are the authors of The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges. For more information about national-park lodges, visit their website.