Timberline Lodge Reconstruction Complete

On April 18, the Hoodland community heaved a collective sigh of relief when first responders stopped a potentially ruinous fire from destroying Mt. Hood icon Timberline Lodge. Less than five months later, diligent repair efforts paid off, and officials at the Lodge say repairs have been completed.
For 87 years, historic Timberline Lodge has avoided disaster. In a region of the country that sees heavy rain every year as well as increasing danger from forest fires, that record is no small feat. So it seemed only a matter of time before some unforeseen event befell the historic hotel and ski destination.
That seemingly inevitable moment arrived in mid-April when embers from the Lodge’s chimney ignited the building’s attic space and roof. The odds of such an event occurring were (and remain) small. In a phone interview, John Burton, Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge, explained that the fire was “kind of like a perfect storm. That evening, the winds were blowing 30 to 40 [miles per hour].”
Those high winds conspired to set the roof and attic ablaze. Fortunately, hotel employees spotted the fire quickly and wasted no time calling the Hoodland Fire Department. First responders arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m. At that point, flames were clearly visible from the ground.
Response to the danger was swift and robust. As The Mountain Times reported in May, “In total, 10 fire engines, three ladder trucks, five water trucks (tenders), four Chief Officers, and four additional pieces of equipment responded to the fire. Fire crews from Hoodland, Clackamas, Gresham, Estacada, and Portland fire districts worked on scene.” During the tumult, resort staff calmly escorted guests from the building and arranged for them to stay at nearby hotels. It took just two hours before the fire was declared officially under control and a mere three hours longer before firefighters fully extinguished the blaze. The response was so capable, in fact, that fire and water damage were kept to a bare minimum. As Burton explained, the Lodge was able to return to “full ops basically three days after the fire.”
Burton and the staff at Timberline Lodge were effusive in their praise for the efforts of the firefighters. “Our first responders did a remarkable job,” he said. “We cannot thank them enough.”
In a stroke of luck, water and fire damage was limited to the attic and roof. As a result, guests staying at the Lodge suffered no injuries, nor were any of their possessions damaged. Indeed, it seems the largest inconvenience suffered by Lodge visitors was having to wake up and evacuate past their bedtime.
Burton added, “We got extremely lucky, there’s no doubt about it. Thankfully, it wasn’t a catastrophic fire – [it] never really penetrated the hotel. No hotel rooms were impacted, [and] repairs have not impacted visitation.”
Since 1977, Timberline Lodge has held a coveted position as a National Historic Landmark. During peak season, the mountain resort employs 500 Mt. Hood locals. Nearly 2 million visitors flock to the area every year for its unbeatable vistas, excellent skiing, and world-class hospitality. The hotel is so unique that it served as the exterior for Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of “The Shining.”
The resort’s classification as a National Historic Landmark is a double-edged sword when damage occurs. As Burton explained in an email, “Timberline Lodge requires curated and specific repair and maintenance protocols, making costs very expensive.”
Before the rebuild could begin, the damaged site needed to be prepped. That meant extensive water mitigation. To save the Mt. Hood icon during the fire, firefighters poured gallon after gallon of water onto the Lodge. The building was saved, but damage had been done.
Removing the water and getting the Lodge ready for repair took 72 hours of consistent mitigation. Once the site was prepped, specific considerations needed to be taken into account. To maintain the Lodge’s iconic facade, only specific materials could be used in the rebuild. Burton explains, “It’s not like you can just go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of plywood.”
Burton freely admits there was a challenge in “finding the appropriate cedar shakes and patching up the roof.” This process ate up most of the reconstruction efforts. In addition to restoring the Lodge roof to its former glory, a distinct effort was made to minimize the odds of a similar event occurring. To help reduce the odds of a repeat incident, the Lodge is staying on top of its chimney sweeping schedule and using only clean-burning wood in the fireplace. Burton also explained that the Hoodland Fire Department has been “very involved” with the repair efforts to ensure the odds of another fire remain minute.
In spite of the minor setback, Timberline Lodge hasn’t skipped a beat. They’ve continued to host guests and hold events as planned.
Construction was completed in time for the Lodge to host the annual Daydream fundraiser for OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Live Music, craft beer from Mt. Hood Brewing Company, and family-friendly activities were the order of the day on September 2, as the OHSU facility and Timberline Lodge teamed up to provide care for children in need. In 2023, the event raised more than $200,000.
Long live the iconic Timberline Lodge!