Lake Quinault Lodge

Story

The Lake Quinault Lodge was built in 1926 in Olympic National Forest in Washington, USA. The hotel was designed by Robert Reamer, a Seattle architect, in a rustic style reminiscent of Reamer's work at the Old Faithful Inn in Olympic National Park. It is a notable example of a rustic wilderness lodging, suited to its woodland environment on the southern side of the Olympic Mountains.Design and constructionThe two-story wood frame structure replaced a previous building on the site that was built by Jack Ewell for the Olson family in 1903. The Olsons sold their interest in the first hotel to the Seaman family in 1921. On August 24, 1924, the original hotel burned.Its replacement was funded by lumberman Ralph Emerson of Hoquiam, who bought out the Seamans. The first stage was a plain 1-1/2 story structure which still stands as the annex, restored in 2007. It became so popular that expansion was needed, and a new, more elaborate lodge was planned.Robert Reamer was associated with the contractor, the Metropolitan Building Company, and the company's construction superintendent was Roy Garrison, who had previously worked with Reamer. Reamer had recently completed work on the Hotel Emerson in Hoquiam, and had extensive experience in the design of hotels in natural settings. Work started on June 9, 1926, and was complete fifty-three days later, on August 18, 1926.Emerson sold the lodge in 1939. It closed during World War II. After the war it was operated by the Walker family. In 1988, the hotel was purchased by the Aramark corporation.