Historic Hood River
Columbia Vista Motor Lodge
10-26-2020
Notes
I don’t think you could find a more classic view of a 1930’s era motor lodge. This one was on the I-84 right-of-way near Moffett Creek.
Our friends at ODOT did a little research into these buildings. Oregon State Highway Department purchased the motel in 1949 to use as a field office for construction workers on the water-level highway. It was torn down by contractors after the highway segment was complete, though there is some suggestion the state may have moved some of these buildings around.
We believe present-day I-84 might pass in front of the cabins, on the south side of the group. Something to think about next time you’re speeding into Portland!
Charlott
I do remember these little cottages on the road to Portland. I don't recall much other than they were not in such good shape as in this photo. There were a lot of those little motel/auto camps up and down the Columbia prior to I-84. I can't tell you now, exactly where they were, but recall them all along on the way to Portland when I was a kid.
L.E.
Seems like there was something like this in the area of Wyeth.
I wonder if it really was this idyllic looking.
Arlen L Sheldrake
I believe motel cabins similar to these still exist, some in tough shape, in eastern Cascade Locks. Will look again when visiting the new Thunder Island brewery…..
Kyle
There is indeed a set of Motor Lodge style cabins in Cascade Locks, on the eastern end of town, not in good shape and not being used that I know of.
kmb
These colorized postcards of the era look “fake” to me, more like an artist's rendering rather than a hand tinted photograph. It would be interesting to see the original B&W photo that these were based on.
OrMtnMaid
One Mile WEST of Bonneville, not East. That would put these near Moffett Creek. From Google Earth view it also lines up with Beacon Rock from Moffett Creek.
Charlott
Yes, L. E. there were cabins similiar to these at Wyeth. In the later years, I remember them just sitting there empty. However, there was a house near/next to them that a man and his wife had a rock shop. I can not remember their names, but as my Dad was a rock hound, he got to know them quite well, as we went there to visit them and took them fruit from the farm. Finally those people moved away and eventually all that was torn down.
Charlott
I agree there are those cabins, similiar, on the east end of Cascade Locks. I think they are of brown shakes. I know they are still there, but don't know if they are in actual use. I will have to look the next time I stop for the world famous ice cream in Cascade Locks. I had cousins that lived across the street and down towards the river, as he worked at Bonneville in the early 1950's and those cabins were still in use. I think they were more like long term rentals than over night cabins.