Oregon Cultural Trust has been a longtime supporter of the lodge restoration. In 2019, the first year of physical work, they funded the installation of an entirely new electric system, This was the first “big ticket” infrastructure project that we were unsure how to fund. They have also funded work on lodge structural repairs and foundation work. The 2024-25 funding of $33,803 will support projects in Phase Two. This phase concentrates on the lodge’s interior, initially focusing on the ground floor. This grant will contribute to projects that will make the ground floor functional. Electric, plumbing, HVAC and structural modifications to this level will result in the space becoming a community public lounge. The public gathering space will offer seating and refreshments for relaxation. It will have a gift shop and ADA compliant entrances and restrooms. The atmosphere will be rustic with a museum-like feel, yet comfortable and inviting. The decor will highlight the history of Oregon, the Santiam Pass, the geology and geography of the area, the lodge’s CCC builders, operators and visitors. SO… once again, we are so grateful to OCT for their generosity! Please visit the OCT web page and learn about the Oregon tax credit you can receive by donating to the lodge restoration and OCT.
Trust Management Services has joined the team of generous funders of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge! They have awarded $15,000 toward the transformation of the lodge ground floor dorms area into a community public lounge, needed repairs in the foyer and utility room and an equipment purchase. The main area of work will take place in the space originally used as dormitories. Since the restored lodge will no longer offer overnight accommodations, this section will be converted into one room by removing the walls that separate two dorms. The result will be one large 30’x40’ lounge called “the Dorms.” The funding will also pay for a Supermax Combo Brush. This one-of-a-kind machine will clean the wood paneling without removing the original rustic texture. Unlike a planer or sander, which smooths the wood, the brush on this machine removes very little material leaving the surface rustic, clean, and ready for sealer. This grant is a great help not only for the ground floor work, the Combo Brush will be used for hundeds of pieces of paneling on the main floor walls and ceilings. Thanks so much Trust Management Services!
The west side dorm door is typical of the condition of the doors in the lodge needing restoration.
Oregon Parks and Recreation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has for the fourth time awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a $20,000 grant for restoration work on the lodge. This grant will be applied to repairs and restoration of the lodge’s exterior 12 doors. Many of the original CCC-built doors are still in the lodge and will be restored. Others are missing and will be replicated from pictures and the blueprints. In true CCC fashion, the doors are large and thick! They were made from thick planks milled on site. Wood from some of the removed siding will be repurposed in the restored/replicated doors to match the original construction. Large strap hinges will give the doors a distinctive look and an easy swing. We are so pleased with the contribution SHPO has been to the project. Their commitment to historic preservation has had a significant effect on the progress of the lodge’s restoration. THANK YOU!
We are so thankful to the Kinsman Foundation, who for the sixth year in a row has generously funded work projects on the lodge. This year they helped to fund crucial repairs on the Dining Hall. The lodge’s Dining Hall was built in 1941, one year after the completion of the main lodge. As one of the later CCC projects, the construction is different than the rest of the lodge, lacking the large hand-hewn timbers. It is nevertheless a very important part of the complex, providing a wonderful 20’ x 40’ interior space surrounded by 16 large paned windows. In place of the large beams, the Dining Hall roof structure was constructed of 2”x6” rafters. It was built strong, lasting 83 years with winter snows accumulating on the north side often 15 to 20 feet high. However, since the beginning of the restoration project, signs of structural weakening became evident. In 2022 we removed the ceiling to inspect the truss structure. This exposed some troubling issues: bowing, broken and cracked rafters, and a sagging ridge. The building had a 3-inch slant to the north, making the window frames out of square. It was also built with no headers over the doors and windows, which resulted in sagging top plates over every window. We did not want to install the roofing until these problems were addressed. A plan was made to remove the existing roof structure. Once removed, the building was plumbed, and two 40-foot-long 3"x5" steel angle beams were bolted to the north and south top plates. Finally, new trusses and roof sheeting were installed. Now the building is very strong and will last for many years! We cannot say enough about our friends and partners, the Kinsman Foundation! This project would not be nearly as successful without their faithful help.
We are so very pleased to announce that the Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge $45,000 for the completion of the lodge’s siding! The fund was established in 1970 by the late Maybelle Clark Macdonald and her husband Fred Macdonald. For 50 years MCM Fund has been investing in communities throughout Oregon. Their generosity has benefited organizations throughout the state in areas of cultural arts, education, human services, medical and public benefit. We are privledged to have the fund invest in the Santiam Pass Ski Lodge restoration as a public benefit. Their investment helps bring to life a community center that all will enjoy for many years.
The siding completion will bring a huge visible and structural change. Since 1986 the exterior has had no maintainance, and today most of the siding is off, and what remains is cupped, cracked and falling off. The new cedar siding is salvage timber granted to FSPSL by the Willamette National Forest after the Holiday Farm Fire in on the McKenzie River in 2020. The timber was milled in La Pine, OR. The MCM Fund is another very significant local organization involved in this important work.
Thank you Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund!
UPDATE!
Click on the pictures to the right to see the “before and after” incredible changes MCM Funds have made!
We are very thankful that for the second time the Dr. John L. Jr. and Marilyn E Stevenson Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a $5,000 grant for the restoration fo Santiam Lodge. The funding is for general operating support, and will be used to make repairs on the lodge’s Dining Hall. The Dining Hall truss structure has incurred damage from heavy snow and needs to be rebuilt. This has happened since the restoration began. The trusses will be rebuilt and reinforced with added rafters. The Stevenson Fund and OCF, we appreciate you!
Since the fall of 2020 The Roundhouse Foundation in Sisters, OR, has been a faithful supporter of the lodge restoration. Each year they have given $5,000 to the project to be used where needed. These funds have supplemented a number of important projects, making up where needed. In 2021 the Foundation provided funding for three crews from The Heart of Oregon. These youth workers were instrumental in performing tasks like digging, cleaning, painting sealer, and clearing downed trees around the lodge (see pictures below). We are grateful for these wonderful friends!
For the third year in a row the Autzen Foundation has supported the restoration of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge. This year the Foundation has awarded FSPSL $6,750 to be applied toward the restoration of the lodge’s foundation, chimney and firebox. The project is an absolute necessity for the functioning of the lodge. The deterioration of the stone foundation has accelerated in the previous years due to the continual freeze-thaw cycle during the winter months. The foundation work will seal the entire exterior from moisture intrusion. In 2021 the Autzen Foundation helped fund work on dry rot repairs and rebuilding of the hallway connecting the lodge and dining hall. In 2022 grant funds helped to pay for the restoration of the porch and new staircase. We are so fortunate to have the backing of this fine organization!
We are privileged to announce that Oregon Cultural Trust has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a $29,080 grant to address the restoration of the foundation, chimney and firebox at Santiam Pass Ski Lodge. This is the third grant OTC had awarded to FSPSL; this generous grant is desperately needed at this time and will pay for work to protect the lodge for many years to come.
Santiam Pass Ski Lodge is a superb example of "National Park Service rustic architectural design," a style that embraces cohesiveness with the surrounding environment by using materials derived from local sources with a simple or natural finish. True to this design, the stone for the foundation, fireplace and chimney was quarried from Hogg Rock just to the west. Its 7 ft. high uncoursed stone foundation is distinctive for its inward slant, which gives the structure a fortress-like appearance. Unfortunately, this also makes it susceptible to damage from water falling off the eves. There are two vaulted cap stone chimneys. The first is a massive 10 by 35 ft. high chimney on the west side. It has two flues, one that vents the Ground Floor woodstove and the larger venting the Great Room fireplace. The second chimney is in the central interior and vents utilities.
Thanks so much OCT!!
Since the beginning of the restoration of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge the Kinsman Foundation has graciously stood behind the project with vital funding. In year one they funded the asbestos abatement and demolition of late additions. In year two funding paid for serious dry rot repairs. In year three they funded siding installation. This year they were central in funding the porch and staircase installation. In 2023 they have granted $30,000 for the major work that will be performed on the lodge’s foundation, chimney and firebox.
Although the foundation has received little maintenance throughout its history, it is in overall good condition. There are no large cracks, sags or sinking, which has benefited the lodge’s overall condition. That said, as with any masonry, over time mortar loosens from water seepage. This is especially true where freeze-thaw cycles promote deterioration. Loosening mortar has allowed water seepage and larger water leaks through to the interior. The accelerated rate of deterioration in the past two years increases the urgency of addressing these repairs.
It is difficult to adequately put into words our gratitude to this very fine foundation. Thank you to the Kinsman Foundation for taking a central role in this important work of historical restoration!
For the third year Oregon Parks and Recreation and State Historic Preservation Office award Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge $20,000 Preserving Oregon Grant!
Work has already begun on the restoration of the log entry,
We are please to announce that Oregon Parks and Recreation and the State Historic Preservation office have awarded the Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a $20,000 Preserving Oregon Grant. This grant is being used to pay for the restoration of the distinctive log entry. The lodge has several distinctives that add to its unique architecture. One of these it the vertical log porch entrance that sits atop the stone foundation. It is surrounded by 18, 12” diameter vertical logs (Commonly called a “stockade” design). The porch opening was originally accessed via a large log staircase leading to the main floor. The porch has an asymmetrical gable roofline that matches other asymmetrical features of the front façade. As the pictures show, the entrance is iconic to the lodge and stands out as a main feature. It served the lodge well until the 1970s, but by the end of the decade significant rotting had set in. Because operators had determined the original staircase entrance to the main floor was not desirable, in the early 1980s they removed it and built a vestibule over the entrance that funneled traffic to the ground floor. To aid in achieving this goal, a hole was cut through the stone foundation, making a new main entry.
In 2019 the vestibule addition was removed, revealing once again the original porch, but also deterioration and damage incurred during the vestibule installation. These developments have led to the present condition creating four main areas of need: (1) a porch in need of significant repairs, (2) entry doors needing repairs and replication, and (3) replication of the original staircase to the main floor. Work began in early July to restore the entry as well as the iconic staircase. Thanks so much to Oregon Parks and SHPO for their generosity and making this happen!
Click HERE to see the work completed on the front entrance!
The front “stockade” entrance of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge in the winter of 1946.
For the second year The Autzen Foundation has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a restoration grant. This year’s $9,000 grant will be be used for the restoration of the lodge’s distinctive “stockade” entry. The work will make repairs to the surrounding log walls and the large log steps will be replicated to match the original. The original steps suffered deterioration over the years and were removed in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s a vestibule was build on the front of the lodge hiding the stockade entry. This was removed in 2019, and with the help of the Autzen Foundation funding the entry will be brought back to it’s original look. The restoration will also repair or replicate the entry doors according to the original blueprints. Thanks again to the generosity of the Autzen Foundation!
Click HERE to see the work completed on the front entrance!
A group from Bend First Presbyterian Church poses on the lodge steps after a day of woodcutting in the mid-1970s.
Every year since the establishment of Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge and the beginning of restoration work, The Kinsman Foundation has supported the project with grant funding. 2021 is no exception. The Kinsman Foundation has awarded FSPSL with a $30,000 grant to help restore the lodge’s “stockade” style entrance. The entrance is an iconic feature of the front of the lodge. It was obscured behind a vestibule added in the late 1970s, but uncovered during demolition work in 2019. Dry rot and damage to the logs will be repaired; the stone foundation will be repaired, doors installed, and the original large log staircase will be replicated. This work is all part of the goal to restore the exterior of the lodge to it’s original look. We want the restored lodge to looked like it did when it was first built in 1940. This grant will make that happen. The faithful funding from the Kinsman Foundation has been so wonderful; we cannot more highly recommend this fine organization.
Click HERE to see the work completed on the front entrance!
Santiam Pass Ski Lodge in 1960
For the second year the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department with the State Historic Preservation Office has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a $20,000 Preserving Oregon Grant for the restoration of the lodge! This grant will help pay for the installation of new siding. After many years enduring the harsh elements of the Santiam Pass and wood eating insects, the siding has suffered significant deterioration leaving the wood cupped, brittle and cracked. These funds will pay for the labor to install new Cedar siding, wood that was salvaged from the devastating Holliday Farm Fire on the McKenzie River in September 2020. This will result in a very dramatic change to the exterior of the lodge and promises to provide protection of the structure for many years. We are so very thankful for this generous grant!
We are so fortunate to have recently been contacted by the Roundhouse Foundation of Sisters, Oregon. They expressed interest in learning more about the Santiam Pass Ski Lodge restoration. They gave a generous gift of $5,000 and were eager to explore the ways they could help. We are thrilled to announce that the Roundhouse Foundation has committed over $10,000 in support to pay for work that will be performed at the lodge by crews from Heart of Oregon. This partnership is an enormous help! Much like the original CCC builders of the lodge, the Heart of Oregon workers are 16 to 20 year old youths who will take on projects that require intense labor and learning. We are so thankful for both of these wonderful organizations and the benefit they will bring this summer and in the future. Please click the logos to learn more about these fine organizations and the work they do!
Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge has recently received two generous advised fund grants from the Oregon Community Foundation. These funds will be used in their entirety to fund the work to complete Phase One of the lodge restoration. We want to thank the Dr. John L. Jr. and Marilyn E. Stevensen Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation for a $10,000 grant. A second advised fund grant was given in the amount of $20,000 from the Helen E. Austin Pioneer of Oregon Community Foundation. We are so grateful for the generosity of these funders! These monies come at a very critical time, as a significant amount of work is taking place on various projects; these funds will be used where they are needed most. Oregon Community Foundation has supported the restoration of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge since the very first year of work. Thanks so much for your faithful giving!
For the third year in a row, the Kinsman Foundation has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a generous grant for the restoration of the lodge. The $20,000 in grant funds will be specifically applied to the restoration of the lodge’s siding. With little maintenance the siding has endured over 30 years of harsh Santiam Pass weather. Most of it is cupped and cracked, and some is falling off. These funds will pay for the milling and installation of new siding over most of the lodge. The result will be a dramatic change to the exterior appearance. We are so very thankful for the consistent support of the Kinsman Foundation. Since its beginning historic preservation has been Kinsman’s principal funding area. The Foundation has helped us make regular progress on the restoration and for this we are so grateful! Please learn more about the Foundation at: https://kinsmanfoundation.org/
A huge thanks goes out to the Autzen Foundation for awarding Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a grant of $8,300 for the completion of Phase One work on Santiam Pass Ski Lodge. Since 1951, the Autzen Foundation has supported charitable work to make Oregon a better place. True to their mission, the completion of this historic lodge will make Oregon better for all. This is the first grant made from the Foundation to the lodge project, and we appreciate so much the trust they have shown FSPSL. These funds will be spent completing the entire exterior of the lodge, bringing back its 1940 appearance and restoring its structural integrity. We are so pleased to have the Autzen Foundation on board! Find out more about the Foundation at https://www.autzenfoundation.org/.
The Oregon Cultural Trust has awarded Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge a grant of $22,684 to be used to complete Phase One of the restoration of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge. Phase one will restore the exterior of the lodge to bring back its original look and protect it from the elements and animals. The completion of Phase One will involve repair of dry rot, rebuilding of a damaged wall and hallway, and restoration of the “stockade” style entry. Once these repairs are completed, we will repair or replace the siding and window frames, followed by the installation of the already restored sashes. The stone foundation and chimney will be cleaned, repointed, and sealed. The firebox will be repaired along with the chimney flues. Finally, a new cedar roof will be installed.
This is the second year OCT has awarded a grant to the Friends group. Last year’s grant was used to install a new electric system. OCT has been a very significant supporter of the lodge restoration. Please visit the Trust web site to learn more about the Oregon tax credit program. This is a wonderful program that allow a full tax credit for your donations to the Trust—what a deal!
For the second year in a row, thank you Oregon Cultural Trust!
A huge THANKS! goes out to Restore Oregon for a $3,000 grant to help pay for structural engineering costs associated with the restoration. These funds will provide us with the drawings needed for structural work on the lodge. These are mandatory for all plans submitted to the US Forest Service, the Oregon SHPO, and to the Linn County Building Department for building permits. Restore Oregon has been a consistent supporter of the restoration, and has put Santiam Pass Ski Lodge on its list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for three consecutive years. This is a list we are actually trying to get off! But we appreciate being on the list because highlights the need for this beautiful historic lodge’s restoration. THANKS so much Restore Oregon!