Enchanted Valley Chalet, Hotel in den Vereinigten Staaten
The Enchanted Valley Chalet is a two and a half story log structure built from hand-hewn timbers joined with dovetail notches, giving it a rustic appearance. The building has a steeply pitched roof covered in cedar shakes, windows of varying sizes, and a front porch, all situated in a grassy clearing surrounded by tall forest trees.
The chalet was completed in 1931 by the Olympic Recreation Company and initially served as an overnight lodge for park visitors arriving by trail or horse. The National Park Service purchased the building in 1953 and used it as a ranger station and key stop for hikers, while it had previously functioned as an aircraft lookout during World War II.
The chalet takes its name Enchanted Valley, reflecting how early park visitors imagined the remote setting. The rustic log construction shows how builders deliberately shaped the structure to fit into the forest, creating a relationship between the building and its natural surroundings that visitors still notice today.
The chalet lies several hours inland on a hiking trail within Olympic National Park and is only accessible on foot or horseback. Visitors should prepare for changing conditions, as the location near the Quinault River can bring flooding and erosion, especially during heavy rain or seasonal water flow changes.
The building was named one of Washington's most endangered places in 2014 and was then moved about 100 feet away from the river, yet still sits on temporary steel beams rather than a permanent foundation. The Quinault River continues to shift and approach the chalet again, making its long-term survival uncertain.
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