Facts About Bearfort Lodge
Can I book a room at Bearfort Lodge or just stop by and check it out?
Bearfort Lodge is no longer open to the public. (please see History) Besides, the long switchback gravel drive up the side of the mountain is rather treacherous for anything less than serious four wheel drive and I refuse to be responsible for uninvited persons wrecking their vehicle attempting the climb.
Hiking, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, photography, cooking, hula dancing, camping, skinny dipping, sun bathing or trespassing of any kind on the property is prohibited without prior consent. Its dangerous stuff folks: sunny warm days bring out the timber rattlers to sun and shed; black bears are frequently perusing the woods, meadows and streams; skunks are terribly abundant, and there is a ferocious and extremely territorial saber-toothed rabbit (Lepus smilodon) near the east face drive that has been known to attack.
What style of log construction was used at Bearfort Lodge?
The lodge was built using a butt and pass method of construction.
What kind of logs were used to build Bearfort Lodge?
The lodge is constructed of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) which was devasted by the chestnut blight in the early 1900′s. Click here for more information about American Chestnut. The American Chestnut Foundation is working hard to bring this majestic back.
What finish is used on the interior logs?
Most of the logs inside the lodge as well as the ceiling were almost black when I first purchased the lodge. While cleaning it was discovered that the black was years of built-up soot and grime from almost a century of coal and wood heating. Using a very gentle detergent, a lot of elbow grease and gallons of lemon oil over the course of six months the original shellac finish was revealed providing the warm honey reddish glow of the logs and pecy cypress ceiling and also returned the chinking to its former white.
When was the lodge built?
Somewhere between 1895 and 1900.
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