In 2002, several episodes of "Great Lodges of the National Parks" were made by Oregon Public Television. Then, six years later, several more were produced. Not surprisingly, the shows all have to do with parks in the western United States and their great old lodges. This particular episode is about four parks--four that seem to have almost no relation to each other--and two which SHOULD have been in the Pacific Northwest episode.
First is Death Valley, California and its Furnace Creek Inn. Despite the dryness and starkness of the park, the lodge is amazingly big, green and features a huge natural-fed pool! This place was originally built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and they helped push to have the land designated as a national park. And, if you go there today, you can feast on rattlesnake in the inn's restaurant (yum).
Next, the show features Olympic National Park and its Lake Quinalt Lodge. Interestingly, it's on the Quinalt Indian reservation and the surroundings are AMAZINGLY green and lush. This isn't surprising, as they average a whopping twelve feet of rain a year! Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's Volcano House is unusual in style, as it's painted red and is actually near the volcanoes--the only lodge so situated! Originally the place was a grass hut and was replaced by a wooden hut (now devoted to art) and in 1941 a newer and larger lodge.
The Wallowa Lake Lodge is next to Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Eagle Cap Wilderness--so it's technically NOT part of a national park. It's found in the mountains and forest in Oregon. It's a smaller lodge and is privately owned--with a unique tramway which takes you to the top of an 8100 foot peak.
Overall, this episode is more of the same. However, oddly, following this episode is one on lodges of the west--and it has no IMDb listing--apparently the last (and forgotten) episode.
First is Death Valley, California and its Furnace Creek Inn. Despite the dryness and starkness of the park, the lodge is amazingly big, green and features a huge natural-fed pool! This place was originally built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and they helped push to have the land designated as a national park. And, if you go there today, you can feast on rattlesnake in the inn's restaurant (yum).
Next, the show features Olympic National Park and its Lake Quinalt Lodge. Interestingly, it's on the Quinalt Indian reservation and the surroundings are AMAZINGLY green and lush. This isn't surprising, as they average a whopping twelve feet of rain a year! Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's Volcano House is unusual in style, as it's painted red and is actually near the volcanoes--the only lodge so situated! Originally the place was a grass hut and was replaced by a wooden hut (now devoted to art) and in 1941 a newer and larger lodge.
The Wallowa Lake Lodge is next to Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Eagle Cap Wilderness--so it's technically NOT part of a national park. It's found in the mountains and forest in Oregon. It's a smaller lodge and is privately owned--with a unique tramway which takes you to the top of an 8100 foot peak.
Overall, this episode is more of the same. However, oddly, following this episode is one on lodges of the west--and it has no IMDb listing--apparently the last (and forgotten) episode.
