The Journey of the Viewpoint Inn
View Point Inn (Photo: Lyn Topinka, 2009)
Overlooking the Columbia River Gorge from a beautiful plateau just east of Portland, Oregon, the storied View Point Inn is entering its next incarnation as a world-class place of healing and wellness. As we look forward to its future, we wish to acknowledge the many stories and people who have shared in making it one of Oregon’s most beautiful and historic sites.
1884
The history of the View Point Inn begins with Lorens Lund, a Danish immigrant who received 120 acres of land overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in 1884 under the Homestead Act. Lorens and his wife Mari named their property “Thor’s Heights,” inspired by the Scandinavian deity known for occupying a home so high that it overlooked the world. Thirty years later, the Lunds donated large portions of their land to Multnomah County and the City of Portland, including the property that would become home to the “Vista House.” After 1917, virtually all of the Lunds’ property was either donated or sold.
1924
The Grace H. Palmer corporation purchased the plot, intending to build a teahouse and resort. Located directly along the Columbia River Highway, it provided an easy stop for tourists visiting the Gorge. Ms. Palmer hired Carl Linde, a respected Portland architect, to design and build her vision. The total construction cost of the “Tudor Arts and Crafts Style” building was $47,000, which equates to over $700,000 in 2021. “The Palmer House” opened its doors on June 4, 1925. The Columbia River Highway had only been completed for a few years at that point, and automobile tourism was not enough to keep the business afloat. After just two years, The Grace H. Palmer corporation filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell the property.
1927
Palmer’s land, along with her newly built teahouse, was purchased by William Moessner, a German chef who renamed the building “The View Point Hotel.” Moessner and his wife Clara operated the business successfully for several decades. The hotel welcomed visitors from all over the world, including several dignitaries and celebrities. The signatures of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin, and other notable Hollywood and European luminaries were recorded in the guestbook.
1962
William Moessner served the Inn’s last meal in 1962. The hotel was forced to close due to financial setbacks associated with the Second World War and the opening of Interstate 84 in the 1950s, which diverted automobile tourism away from the Inn and other restaurants located along the scenic Columbia River Highway. Moessner passed away on September 11, 1979 and the property was inherited by his nephew, Erwin Geoltz.
View Point Inn, 1984 (Image credit: Greg Brody)
1982
Geoltz sold the inn to Douglas and Karen Watson in 1982. The couple placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The Inn thus became the only privately owned property within the National Scenic Area that commands this designation. The Watsons were unable to keep The View Point Inn afloat, and sold the property.
1997
Geoff Thompson, a Multnomah County resident, purchased The View Point Inn in 1997 with the intent of opening an inn. However, due to the restrictions enforced by the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act of 1986, Thompson was unable to realize his vision at first.
2006
Scene from the movie ‘Twilight’
After a period of prolonged legal struggles, Thompson convinced the Gorge Commission to revise its rules related to historic commercial structures. Thompson argued that the building should be able to return to its original purpose in order to fund its preservation. Thompson took full advantage of the Commission’s amendment, reopening the Inn as a restaurant, hotel, and event venue.
2008
The Inn received global attention in 2008 after Twilight, the vampire-themed romance film starring Kristin Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, was released. The infamous prom scene featured at the end of the movie was filmed at the Inn, making it a “must visit” destination for all Twilight fans.
2011
In the summer of 2011, the inn was badly damaged in a fire. Thompson, whose insurance had expired, was unable to afford the restoration and was forced into bankruptcy. The historic building shell sat for years without a roof or windows, slowly deteriorating during years of water damage by rain and harsh winds.
2016
Heiner Fruehauf presenting the project to local residents of Corbett, Oregon.
Heiner and Sheron Fruehauf purchased the dilapidated building in 2016 to fulfill a lifelong dream. It was primarily the building’s history and breathtaking location atop the Columbia River Gorge in their home town of Corbett that originally attracted them to the property. Dr. Fruehauf, a renowned Chinese medicine teacher and practitioner, saw in the ruins an opportunity to transform it into a world class natural medicine wellness and retreat center with medical grade spa facilities. After several years of planning and permit negotiations, the Fruehaufs hope to break ground in the fall of 2021.
View Point Inn: A History in Images
