Timberline Lodge reopens to guests two days after roof fire

MT. HOOD Ore. (KPTV) - The Timberline Lodge is open again to guests on Sunday after a fire late Thursday evening damaged the roof and attic.

Crews have been working around the clock to get the historic site up and running since the flames caused them to evacuate their 120 guests.

Since then, the sound of dryers has filled their air to dry out the remaining moisture from the roughly 8,000 gallons of water that fire crews used to douse the roof. Almost 100 firefighters fought to save the 87-year-old structure.

John Burton, the Director of Marketing and Public Affairs, said the support from the public has been overwhelming.

“It feels great to have some of that energy back,” Burton said of the reopening. “The outpouring of support that we’ve gotten literally around the globe has reminded us of people’s love and affinity for Timberline.”

The fire was covered by a wide range of publications due to its appearance in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film, “The Shining.”

Tom Davey and his wife Mary paid a visit on Sunday to assess the scene, after years of visiting the lodge. Davey said it would have been a tragedy to lose a building that adds so much to the state’s history.

“It would’ve impacted the state of Oregon,” Davey said. “They do not build lodges or hotels or motels like this anymore. So you’re really seeing craftsmanship that is hard to find.”

It wasn’t just the roof that went up in flames, but wedding plans, for one couple who planned to tie the knot at the lodge on Saturday afternoon.

Chad Ross was a wedding guest who received word from the bride on Saturday about the change in plans.

“We got a text message Saturday morning from her saying, ‘Stay at your hotel in Hood River for now, because the Timberline Lodge is on fire,’” Ross said.

The Timberline Lodge staff helped them move the wedding to Mt. Hood Resort, and the couple was married that same night.

“They wanted it on April 20th because it was the anniversary of when they had met two years earlier,” Ross said. “Ultimately, everything turned out great, Timberline Lodge people were very helpful.”

As the furniture is moved back in place and the skiers return to the slopes, operations are pretty much back to normal - but it will be all hands on deck for at least a few more weeks as staff members work to dry out the space and figure out how much more time and money this will cost.

“This is a national historic landmark, so it needs to be restored and repaired to a certain historical standard,” Burton said. “You don’t just go to Home Depot and buy some plywood, buy some shingles and some stain and do it. It has to be done through a certain process, to a certain historical standard.

“Silver lining is it could’ve been much, much worse, it could’ve gone in a lot of other directions,” he said.

They are still unsure how much repairs will cost, but the nonprofit Friends of Timberline has committed to up to $100,000 of restoration.

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