Historic Hood River
Antler Auto Park
Notes
Here’s another one from the in-basket, found in the files of our Chamber of Commerce. Tourist business brought by the Columbia River Highway encouraged several campgrounds and clusters of cabins to pop up at the west end of the city (now West Cascade Avenue). The main building to the Antler Auto Park (barely visible at the right edge of this image) still exists. We saw it in this post. It now serves as the Tropicannibus Club (or you may remember it as Zeman’s Music). Those cabins are where the Power House Gym and Dirty Finger Bicycles are currently housed in an old bottling plant building.
Signage advertises Apple Cider for sale, Red Crown Gasoline, and Restrooms. I like that the sign promises both hot and cold showers. The antlers appear to be plaster replicas, which may be explain the startled look of those creatures.
Based on the automobile I date this to the late 1920s.
Tags: 1920s, Antler Auto Park, auto park, cabin, campground, Columbia River Highway, motel, West Cascade Avenue
Arlen L sheldrake
need some help (probably a lot ), what is the road side advertising appeal of a cold shower?
L.E.
Arlen, maybe a cold shower was free. Maybe after a hot, dusty road trip, a cold shower was worth stopping for. Doesn’t sound inviting to me.
It is an attractive place.
Pat A
Cold water baths are likely a medicinal treatment. I would not pay for a cold shower!
Also looking at the Apple C sign on the right in background. Appears to be a larger structure? Outside the camp.
Love any Red Crown station, wish we could see it.
Arthur Babitz
Pat A, the “Apple C” sign is on the east face of the main building which is in the other post I linked. That’s where you would go to pay your bill or buy a Baby Ruth Bar.
Pat A
Of course you linked it I just didn’t read it correctly..
Thanks and a Gifford to boot!
I believe red crown ended 1930ish, if that helps date it.
I have red crown cowboy made of cardboard and pipe cleaner, early giveaway item.
DAVID
When I riding down the road and looking for a space to park my Winnebago, FREE hot and cold showers would get my attention and $$.