After 65 years of alpine soothing and cooling, the Timberline pool has served its useful life. Decommissioning began in the fall of 2022, making way for a new pool and hot tub at the historic Lodge, opening this winter.
While this means that the pool, hot tub, and sauna will be closed until the renovation is complete, we are excited to share this new and improved experience with guests!
After 65 years of alpine soothing and cooling, the Timberline pool has served its useful life. Decommissioning began in the fall of 2022, making way for a new pool and hot tub at the historic Lodge, opening this winter.
A pool was planned in the original 1937 Timberline Lodge design with a $110,000 budget attached. Questions were raised about what type of experience is appropriate for the newly constructed iconic Lodge; a luxury resort affair vs. a wilderness gateway adventure. Regional forester C.J. “Shirley” Buck decided against a pool in 1938. “The presence of a pool denotes a distinct step away from mountain recreation activities and toward urbanized forms.”
In 1958, Timberline’s Area Operator, Richard L. Kohnstamm, moved forward with a pool concept and advertised the new amenity as the highest pool in the Pacific Northwest at an elevation of 6000 feet. The pool served Timberline guests for decades, creating memories, relaxing and splashing in the shadow of Mt. Hood’s summit.
Timberline has been working closely with the United States Forest Service, the Oregon State Historical Preservation Office, Friends of Timberline, Soderstrom Architects and Bremik Construction to create a design becoming to Timberline’s historical landscape while developing a project plan that fits within Mt. Hood’s short summer 2023 construction window. Progress can be followed on Timberline's web cam.
The new heated, year-round pool will be built within the same footprint as its predecessor, accessed by a sky bridge from the west side hotel vestibule. This elevated access design allows for restoration of stone buttresses and building design features that have not been seen since 1958.
Other features include a sloped depth of 3’ – 8’, integrated hot tub with water feature and gravity massage, low level lighting, public restrooms below the skybridge, and a bird friendly 75% glass enclosure preserving the awesome views. The pool will serve hotel guests and be available for group events and special occasions.
Timberline’s current President and Area Operator, Jeff Kohnstamm says, “recreating the Timberline pool experience for our guests while preserving the historic value of the Lodge is what makes Timberline a very special and unique place. I could not be more excited about this new page in Timberline’s story.”
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