Historic Hood River
Midway Inn
3-20-2013
Notes
This real photo postcard tells us all about the Midway Inn on the Mt. Hood Loop Highway. I’ve never heard of it, but we now know it was 24 miles from Hood River, at an elevation of 3168 feet, had a soda fountain, meals and chicken dinners, cigars, homemade ice cream, hot sandwiches, confectionery, rooms, and they can even fix a flat. The ice cream cone cutout would have been enough to get me to pull off the highway.
I’m dating this as circa 1940 based on the single automobile.
charlott
I have heard of this place. Mt. Hood Meadows is approximately 35 miles from Hood River, so this was before Meadows. I can’t remember what the place was at White River, possibly this one, but in my time it was just a one story building. But I think I know exactly who to contact to find out………
charlott
I am thinking this was closer to the area of Sherwood and Robin Hood Camp grounds. Seems I remember there was a place along there. Something jogs in my mind it had something to do with the Hutson family…..Have to think this out further…….
l.e.
Yum….Home Made Ice Cream.
I wonder if they had a Jersey cow out in back and if they cranked the ice cream maker by hand.
db
That looks like the car my dad had during WWII. Black Chevy, with the spare tire hung on the back. In those days tire repair was probably one of their big businesses.
db
What’s that sign beside "CABINS"? Looks like "WE FIX CM". I wonder what "CM" is.
charlott
It is EM……….Probably something to do with fixing tires, as tires going around there could present problems.
There were many of these type places. Others were Blue Bucket and Loop Lunch.
Kated
"Flats, we fix ’em"
Brian
According to Google Earth, 24 miles from Hood River at 3161 ft elevation would be about a mile north of the 44 road.
Judy
Art~ Your lecture was WONDERFUL last night the place was PACKED! The community really appreciates what you and Matt are doing. Keep up the good work.
Lee F
I second Judy. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
My first thought for this was that it was at Little John or thereabouts. I bet the Forest Service could figure it out–might ask my neighbor Susan.
AndrewB
I was so bummed to miss the lecture- work meeting. Did anyone film it?
It would be interesting to scratch around in the forest and see if there are any remnants of this building.
charlott
I figure it was on that long straight stretch there. Seems I remember something there.
l.e.
Like you Andrew, I was bummed that I had to miss Arthur and wondered if anyone filmed his talk.
But then….I decided to quit pouting and count myself lucky that I have been able to view Historical Hood River photos from the first one of the old Livery Barn.
And even though I have not met the regulars who post here, I feel fortunate that I have been able to get to know you.
Jill Stanford
I wish this place was still there — i drive the Loop to Hood River and back to Sisters every summer. It would have been a terrific place! Home made ice cream! And yes – Charlott nailed it with "We fix em"
Congratulations Arthur on what appears from the reviews to have been a wonderful lecture.
Mikey D
I am pretty familiar with the Little John area, and I don’t recall seeing any such remains there. However, one thing to consider is that the modern Highway 35 does not follow the old alignment of the Loop Highway, especially near Parkdale. There, the old Loop Highway is now called the Cooper Spur Road, and travels through Parkdale to the Cooper Spur Inn. I traced as much of the old Loop Highway route as I could, and following it to the Cooper Spur Inn, the distance from Hood River measures 22.97 miles. However, the elevation is 3407. Curiously, there is a benchmark set at bend in the road at an elevation of 3169 situated about 1.4 miles to the north along the Cooper Spur Road, which seems to be a strange spot for a benchmark. The elevation also closely corresponds with that given for the Midway Inn?
l.e.
At this link:
http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=RC1442
is this description:
1/1/1961 by NGS (GOOD)
DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1961 8.2 MI S FROM MT. HOOD. REACHED FROM THE POST OFFICE AT MT. HOOD GO SOUTH ON THE OLD HIGHWAY FOR 8.2 MILES TO A NEW HOME ON THE RIGHT, WEST. THIS IS WHERE THE MIDWAY INN WAS AND IS ABOUT 0.6 MILE NORTH OF THE MT. HOOD BOUNDARY, 70 FEET WEST OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE HIGHWAY, AT THE SOUTH EDGE OF A TRACK ROAD, AND IN TOP OF A BOULDER THAT IS ABOUT 1-FOOT HIGHER THAN THE TRACK ROAD.
Arthur
Great detective work l.e., here is that location on a map. Looks like Mikey D got it right:
http://goo.gl/maps/K9U4L
l.e.
Following the map is interesting.
So….the Cooper Spur Rd used to be the Mt. Hood Loop Rd?
I wonder if the new stretch of Hwy 35 put the Midway Inn out of business? Or if it burned down?
AndrewB
The people in the house that you can see on G-maps may know of some remenants.
charlott
I don’t know about the Midway, but it should have still been on 35 when they put the new portion in, as it was further down from Polallie where the old 35 came down from Cooper Spur. It did not help places such as the Cooper Spur in and Tamarack that is for sure. Possibly by the time the highway was re-constructed through that area it was gone.
Jack
The Midway was on Cooper Spur Rd. It probably was torn down or burned. On the site, in the 70’s and 80’s, I recall the foundation and chimney of what appeared to be a smaller home.
Charlott, the Hutson’s had a food stand and picnic area on Cooper Spur Road, as well- "Hutson’s Loop In Camp". Near the forest boundary sign.
Dennis
Hello, do you have any more Midway Inn photos?
Thanks