Swim Resort Near Government Camp – Mount Hood History

A Resort Along the Mount Hood Loop Highway

In the 1920s, development around Mount Hood was on the rise. The construction of the Mount Hood Loop Highway opened the southern side of the mountain to auto tourism, making it possible to visit Government Camp year-round – at least in theory.

The area just east of Government Camp, near what is now Still Creek Campground, became a popular place for swimmers, winter and summer. A place called Swim – a short-lived mountain resort that featured a swimming pool, cabins, a ski jump, and its own post office.

Early Mineral Springs Development (1920–1925)

The earliest known reference to the property appeared in 1920, when it was advertised for sale as a warm mineral springs site. The listing mentioned a bathhouse, cottage, and a large swimming pond located 1¼ miles east of Government Camp.

By 1921, it was operating under the name Government Camp Mineral Springs, with Charles G. Miller listed as manager. It’s clear that the property had already been developed into a small resort with basic accommodations and a pool by this point.

In 1925, the property changed hands. A June newspaper article reported that Boyd Summers had taken over what was now being called Mount Hood Mineral Springs. He expanded the resort, building eight new log cabins and a new bathhouse, with a crew of thirty men working to complete construction by July 1.

When the Name “Swim” Appeared

The name Swim first appeared in print in 1926, when a newspaper described Boyd Summers as the proprietor of “Mount Hood Mineral Springs at Swim.” It’s likely the name came into use around the time a U.S. Post Office was established on the site – a common reason for naming small rural locations at the time.

After that, the resort was simply known as Swim.

Ski Jumping and Swimming in the Snow

Swim’s short run as a resort included more than just cabins and spring water. A ski jump and toboggan slide were built nearby, and the area hosted winter carnivals that drew crowds from Portland.

One event occurred in February 1927, when over 600 people gathered to watch ski jumpers and swimmers. A newspaper photo showed two young women standing in the water while snow covered the ground around the pool. The water temperature was reported as 58 degrees Fahrenheit – likely cold spring water, perhaps heated slightly, though not hot by any standard.

Some locals claimed that a pipe ran through a cookstove to warm the water, possibly just enough to take the edge off in winter. Others remembered it being icy cold.

Changing Hands and Unfulfilled Plans

In late 1929, Boyd Summers sold the resort to Ray and Lewis Law, who operated it briefly and made plans for further development. But by 1930, the Law brothers had left the mountain, reportedly saying they’d return in a month. They didn’t.

Boyd Summers returned and later leased the property to Elliott Roberts, an outdoor enthusiast with ties to Oregon State College.

Then in early 1932, Summers sold the resort to Edward J. Wonder of San Diego. Wonder announced ambitious plans, including a hydroelectric plant, fish ponds, ski lighting, and a new lodge. None of those plans came to life.

That same year, the Swim post office closed, and the resort quietly faded out of existence.

What’s Left of Swim

Today, only a fragment of the concrete swimming pool and scattered remnants of brick foundations remains, tucked away in the woods near Still Creek. The cabins, ski jump, and bathhouse are long gone. There are no signs, and no markers – just a piece of concrete and the faint memory of a resort that came and went in less than a decade.

Swim was one of many early experiments in Mount Hood tourism and was a part of the rush to build roadside attractions and retreats along the new Mount Hood Loop Highway in the 1920s. Some succeeded. Most didn’t. But for a short time, Swim made a splash.

More Than a Footnote

Swim isn’t just a forgotten resort. It’s part of the larger story of Mount Hood’s winter sports development – one built on the promise of winter tourism and the effort to keep the roads open no matter what. Swim may have failed, but it helped set the stage for bigger successes, including Timberline Lodge and the thriving mountain culture we know today.

Sources

• The Oregonian, July 18, 1928 — “New Resort Planned at Swim, Near Government Camp.”
• The Oregonian, August 5, 1928 — Coverage of Boyd Summers’ promotion of the Swim development.
• The Oregonian, July 14, 1932 — “Swim Post Office Ordered Closed.”
• The Oregon Journal, August 1928 — Articles announcing the resort opening and advertising its amenities.
• The Oregon Journal, July 1932 — Notices regarding Edward J. Wonder’s purchase of the property.
• The Oregonian, July 1935 — Retrospective mention of Swim in coverage of Mount Hood resorts.
• U.S. Post Office Department records — Post office establishment and closure dates (Swim, Oregon).
• Grauer, Jack. Mount Hood: A Complete History. (Portland, OR: Self-published, various editions).
• Clackamas County property and plat records (Boyd Summers, Law brothers, Edward J. Wonder).