Historic Resort

Historic Resort. . In the 1880's and 90's miners ventured up-lake searching for gold, silver, copper, and other metals. Wealth eluded them, but the scenic beauty of Lake Chelan and the Stehekin Valley made a fasting impression on all who passed through., By 1900 tourists were coming to Stehekin by steamboat to appreciate the solitude and alpine grandeur of these mountains. A hotel operator advertised it as the “health and pleasure seeker's Mecca.”, Behind you stands the retired “Golden West Lodge,” now a National Park Service information center. From 1927 until 1971, the twenty-room Golden West was Stehekin's largest resort hotel., [Captions (left to right)] , . 312-foot high Rainbow Falls has always been a popular scenic attraction in the valley. , . The sternwheeler Stehekin (1895-1904) was one of several steamers that brought tourists and freight from Chelan. Its elegantly furnished interior included a galley, gentlemen's smoking room, and ladies cabin complete with grand piano. Round-trip fare was about $4.00. , . Stehekin's distinctive Field Hotel was torn down in 1927 when completion of a dam in Chelan raised the lake level. The hotel stood about a mile in front of you on a site now underwater. Parts of the razed structure, including windows, daces, and a staircase, were used in building the Golden West Lodge behind you.