Remnants of the historic Paradise Camp Lodge building lie buried beneath this site. Built in 1918, the lodge mirrored the Paradise Inn’s rustic design, with a steeply pitched roof for shedding snow and shingle siding with log facade. It overlooked Paradise Valley and the Tatoosh Range and provided a commanding view of Mount Rainier.
Services offered here were an economical alternative to meals and accommodations at the nearby Paradise Inn. The lodge was demolished in the mid-1950’s to make way for additional parking.
In 2006, prior to construction of the visitor center, archeologists explored this site for remains of the lodge. Along with sections of the original building’s foundation they found flooring and structural basement components, plus articles left behind by early visitors and employees including ski pole baskets, dinnerware, a partially full whiskey bottle, and other personal items.
For audio description of the exhibit panel in this location, refer to Historic Paradise Camp Lodge Exhibit Panel.
Mount Rainier National Park
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service