The Mountain Park Environmental Center Restores the Spirit of the WPA

Built by the WPA in 1939, the Horseshoe Lodge has been renovated as an earth-friendly eco-lodge. Book one of the nature-themed rooms, then go out and explore the 17,000 acres of San Isabel National Forest or the Pueblo Mountain Park.

It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together

Wintertime at the Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana is the stuff of Christmas carols. Sleigh rides, dreaming by the fire, feasting with loved ones, and 85km of Nordic ski trails.

Ok, maybe that last one isn't a song. Yet.

Still, there's plenty to celebrate at Lone Mountain. Those who prefer downhill skiing can get their fill at nearby Big Sky and Moonlight Basin resorts.

Snowshoers can enjoy a separate 30km of trails all to themselves. Come on a full moon for a guest favorite snowshoeing tour.

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A Great Base Lodgings Special

The Great Depression may have been one of the most tumultous eras in American history, but its aftermath brought with it a priceless gift for outdoor enthusiasts: the WPA and CCC lodges.

Promising a “New Deal” for the American people, President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt established several organizations intended to put struggling Americans back to work. Two of these groups were the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Both organizations employed millions of unskilled young laborers to carry forth public works projects.

Among the public works projects were a series of lodges and cabins, many of which were built in some of America’s most beautiful public settings. Because of their proximity to so many state and national parks, the WPA and CCC lodges remain great base camps for hiking, biking, paddling, and more.

As part of this special segment on the WPA/CCC great base camps, we will be periodically posting the stories of each lodge, along with information on rooms, rates, and nearby trips.  Follow the links to an individual WPA/CCC lodge for more information on adventuring there. 

Have you visited one of these lodges? Share your story with us here.

• The Timberline Lodge, Oregon: "The Jewel of the Works Progress Administration"
• The Horseshoe Lodge, Colorado: "Restoring the Spirit of the WPA"

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Oh, Grand!

Location	Grand Canyon
Type	Great Base Lodging
Duration	As Long as You Can Afford to Stay
Highlights	Did we mention the Grand Canyon?

Here's something I'm thankful for : the far-sighted visionaries who created our national parks and then had the added wisdom to build splendid lodges in the middle of them. For those of us who want our outdoor experiences mixed with a bit of comfort, these rustic landmarks can be as much of a destination as the parks themselves.