Gaffney's Lake Wilderness Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gaffney's Lake Wilderness Lodge
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Panoramic view of Lake Wilderness Lodge
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 22500 SE 248th St., Maple Valley, Washington |
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| Area | 1.1 acres (0.45 ha) |
| Built | 1950 |
| Built by | Veale Construction Company |
| Architect | Young, Richardson, Carleton & Detlie |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Pacific Northwest Regional |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000163 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 2003 |
The Gaffney's Lake Wilderness Lodge is a special building located on Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley, Washington. It was built in 1950 and later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States. The lodge was first created to be part of a fun vacation spot by the lake. Today, the City of Maple Valley takes care of it.
Contents
History of the Lodge
In the early 1900s, a person who owned land by Lake Wilderness started renting out a few small cabins. These cabins were popular with people who loved to fish and hunt.
The Gaffney Brothers' Resort
In 1926, two brothers named Tom and Kane Gaffney bought this land. They started to build a bigger and better resort. Later, they bought two more nearby properties. This made their resort huge, with about sixty rental cabins! It offered lots of fun things to do, both inside and outside.
Some of the exciting activities at the resort included:
- Boat rentals for exploring the lake
- A golf course for sports fans
- A bowling alley for friendly games
- A dance hall for parties
- A roller rink for skating fun
- A restaurant for tasty meals
During World War II, the resort was a very popular place for both local people and visitors to enjoy.
Designing the New Lodge
After the war ended, the Gaffney brothers wanted to make their resort even more modern. They hired a famous architecture company called Young, Richardson, Carleton & Detlie to design a brand new lodge. This design was so good that the architects won special awards in 1952!
What the Lodge Looks Like
The lodge is a three-story building made of wood. Its outside walls are covered in white cement stucco, which gives it a smooth look. Many of the walls are made of large glass windows framed with fir wood. The architects designed the lodge so it would look great from both the lake and the main entrance. A long cover at the entrance keeps guests dry when they arrive.
Inside, you'll see a lot of natural fir wood. It's used for the support columns and the beams that hold up the roof. The north part of the lodge has ten guest rooms. Each room has a small balcony and its own bathroom. On the side facing the lake, there's a concrete deck. This deck is held up by two rows of concrete columns and beams.
The Thunderbird Sculpture
One of the most amazing things inside the lodge is a huge, 33-foot tall Thunderbird sculpture. It was carved from a giant cedar log by an artist named Dudley C. Carter. A spiral staircase wraps around this sculpture, making it the main attraction in the middle of the lodge.
Getting to the Resort
The Gaffneys even added a 2,400-foot long airstrip! This was so visitors could take small planes, called air taxis, right to the resort. Back in 1952, an air taxi ride from Bellevue Airfield cost about $10 for one person.
New Ownership
In 1966, King County, Washington bought the lake property. They then rented it out for use as a convention center, a place where groups could hold meetings and events. Later, in 2003, the property was officially given to the City of Maple Valley, which now manages this historic lodge.
