Crown Point Chalet – An Early Roadhouse Above the Columbia River
Before Vista House crowned Crown Point, there was another structure welcoming automobile tourists to one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the Columbia River Gorge. It was called the Crown Point Chalet. And at the center of its story was Mrs. M. E. Henderson.
In the early 1910s, as construction of the Columbia River Highway began carving its way through the Gorge, a new kind of business opportunity emerged. The age of railroad tourism was giving way to the automobile. Motorists needed places to eat, rest, and take in the scenery. Margaret E. “Bidy” Henderson saw that opportunity.
The Crown Point Chalet
In May of 1915, Henderson opened the Crown Point Chalet near Crown Point, high above the Columbia River. This was three years before Vista House was constructed in 1918.
The Chalet occupied a commanding position above and slightly south of Crown Point. Travelers navigating the newly opened highway naturally stopped at the promontory to admire the sweeping view. Many continued on to Henderson’s establishment for meals and hospitality.
For motorists exploring the early Columbia River Highway, the Crown Point Chalet quickly became one of the premier roadhouses along the route.
The Falls Chalet at Latourell
After her time at Crown Point, Henderson established another venture in the little town of Latourell on a high point overlooking Latourell Falls. She named it the Falls Chalet.
Like Crown Point, Latourell Falls was a natural stopping point for travelers. The dramatic columnar basalt and plunging waterfall made it one of the scenic highlights of the highway.
The Falls Chalet enjoyed early success, but tragedy struck when the building was destroyed by fire not long after opening. Fire was an ever-present risk for early wooden roadhouses along the highway.
Once again, Henderson was forced to regroup.
Chanticleer Inn at Chanticleer Point
Following her ventures at Crown Point and Latourell, Henderson became associated with the Chanticleer Inn at Chanticleer Point near Corbett.
Originally built in 1912 by A. R. Morgan, the Chanticleer Inn had already established itself as a fashionable stop for Portland’s motorists. Under Henderson’s management, it became known for gracious hospitality and excellent meals.
By the mid-1910s, the Columbia River Highway was rapidly becoming one of the most celebrated scenic drives in the country. Roadhouses like Crown Point Chalet, Falls Chalet, and Chanticleer Inn were essential parts of that experience. They were more than restaurants — they were destinations.
The End of an Era
Henderson eventually left the Gorge and moved to Portland, where she operated a small dining room on Alder Street. The onset of the Great Depression dealt a severe blow to many small businesses, including hers.
Her health declined, and in April of 1930, at the age of 58, Mrs. M. E. Henderson passed away.
Today, little physical evidence remains of her enterprises. Vista House dominates Crown Point. Latourell Falls draws visitors who seldom realize a chalet once stood nearby. The Chanticleer Inn survives only in memory and photographs.
But Mrs. Henderson played a meaningful role in early hospitality along the Columbia River Highway. In the formative years of automobile tourism in the Gorge, she helped shape the experience travelers found along the road.
Her story is part of the larger history of the Columbia River Highway — and part of the story of how the Gorge became a destination.
The old lodge fell into disrepair and was demolished sometime in the early 1950’s.
Very interesting article. It’s too bad that things didn’t go well for mrs. Henderson and she couldn’t continue this wonderful inn and that she died so young.
Very interesting !