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Committee advances resolution marking Multnomah Falls Lodge centennial after owners, managers and conservation group testify
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Summary
The Senate Rules Committee voted to advance SCR 21, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of Multnomah Falls Lodge. Testimony highlighted the lodge’s history, its management by concessionaire Multnomah Falls Company, and the role of the U.S. Forest Service and local partners in preserving the site.
The Senate Rules Committee voted to send Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 to the Senate floor with a “be adopted” recommendation after testimony from the lodge’s concessionaire, state lawmakers and conservation advocates.
Senator Daniel Bonham, sponsor for SCR 21, described the lodge’s significance in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and said the resolution marks the 100th anniversary of the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge. “Taking into consideration the 2.5 plus million people — Chris might tell you it’s 3 now — this 620‑foot waterfall … will take you all around this beautiful scenic area,” Bonham told the committee.
Why it matters: Multnomah Falls and its historic lodge are among Oregon’s best‑known natural and cultural attractions. The resolution commemorates the lodge’s centennial and acknowledges the federal, state and local agencies and private operators that maintain access, safety and historic integrity for millions of annual visitors.
Testimony from operators and advocates Chris Willis, general manager of Multnomah Falls Company, which operates the lodge’s restaurant and gift shop under concession, told the committee the concessionaire staffs and protects the facility year‑round. Willis recalled the lodge’s survival through mudslides, flooding and the Eagle Creek fire in 2017, and said the U.S. Forest Service — which received ownership of the lodge from the City of Portland in 1939 — “is dedicated … to maintaining the integrity and the historic preservation of the lodge.”
Madison Kenny, a conservation organizer with Friends of the Columbia Gorge, urged the committee to support SCR 21 and noted the lodge’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and the protection provided by the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act of 1986. Kenny told the committee that Multnomah Falls draws as many as 3,000,000 visitors annually and that the lodge now functions as a day‑use interpretive site with dining and a gift shop.
Committee action and logistics The committee voted to move SCR 21 to the Senate floor with a “be adopted” recommendation. Committee members discussed the lodge’s architecture, noting A. E. Doyle as the architect and Simon Benson’s historical role in conserving the Falls property. Lawmakers also mentioned logistical partners, including the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Multnomah County sheriff’s office, for managing visitor access and safety.
Next steps The resolution will be carried to the floor by the committee’s designated carrier. The majority of committee members expressed support and invited the lodge’s managers and community partners to the centennial celebration planned for late September; the precise date was not yet determined.
