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Just the way you planned It's funny but the bells don't ring It's a quiet thing —Stephen Sondheim Viewpoint Inn owners Geoff Thompson and Angelo Simeone both cited Stephen Sondheim last week after Multnomah County granted them the necessary permits to reopen the historic inn and restaurant. “Oregon is getting back another landmark, a landmark that should never have been taken in the first place,” said Thompson. He and Simeone have been battling the Columbia River Gorge Commission and Multnomah County for more than two years to reach this point. Perched on Larch Mountain Road above the Vista House at Crown Point in the community of Corbett, the inn was constructed in 1925 as a popular stop on the new Columbia River Highway. In its heydey, the Cascadian-style structure with a magnificent view hosted celebrities and dignitaries from Charlie Chaplin to Queen Marie of Romania to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Construction of a river-level highway, followed by the freeway, led to the commercial demise of the inn, which became a private residence. At the time of the creation of the Columbia River Gorge Commission in 1986, the Viewpoint Inn was one of only four structures in the gorge on the national register of historic places. The other three — Crown Point, Multnomah Falls Lodge, and the building at Eagle Creek — were in public ownership. The status of the Viewpoint Inn was overlooked in setting up land use criteria in the national scenic area. Thompson and Simeone bought the property several years ago, with the idea of restoring it to commercial viability, including its operation as a site for weddings and other special events. They were opposed by some of the neighbors in Corbett and by the Friends of the Gorge, an environmental watchdog group. Their cause was taken up by GLUE (Gorge Landowners United in Equity) and hundreds of gorge residents, who signed petitions and made trips to meetings of the gorge commission to voice their views. “We were excited to be able to call Bobbie Miller [of The Dalles] and Rita Swyers [of Hood River] and give them the good news,” said Thompson. “They have been tireless in their support for our case and for property rights in general” The two partners have been frustrated by rulings that they could not take advance bookings for the site in anticipation that permission would be granted. They’ve turned that delay into a minor advantage. “A lot of wedding sites are already booked for 2007,” said Thompson, “and we’re wide open.” He said there will be an open house on the day after Thanksgiving from 1 to 4 p.m. for brides to see the facility and book 2007 date. “A lot of places don’t offer the outside and the inside, and this has both, plus the view,” Thompson said. This is Multnomah County’s miniature Timberline.” That’s more than just a fanciful comparison. Fred Baker, who designed the lights for Timberline, did the Viewpoint Inn’s first There are also huge rock fireplaces both upstairs and downstairs. The owners plan to have the restaurant portion of the property up and running by mid-December. That primarily involves installation of a new stove and range hood and some exit lights. They are currently booking holiday parties, and plan to use the catering services of Portland’s Papa Haydn restaurant until theirs is fully operational. “The City of Gresham is the agency issuing the actual permits,” said Simeone. “They have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They called us in before the approval, readied all the construction permits, talked with the architect, worked everything out. This process could have taken months, and they wanted it to go smoothly and quickly.” Simeone and Thompson said the city’s support was in stark contrast to that of the Multnomah County planning department and county commissioners, who opposed the development, but finally had to grant permission. “We’re weaning ourselves off the fight,” said Simeone. “We’re taking off the armor, putting the horses into the barn.” Thompson continued the metaphor in regards to some of the neighbors who opposed the reopening. “I know in the end once they put down their swords, they will be proud of our contribution here,” he said. “We will definitely work in harmony with the neighborhood.” “Now the fun begins.” |
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