Timberline Summer circa 1940

Timberline Summer circa 1940
Much has been written about how Welches, Oregon, got its name, but it isn’t the only town in the Mount Hood area that carries the legacy of its founding family. Just east of Welches and beyond the historic Zigzag Ranger Station, you’ll find Faubion Loop Road.
Although now a quiet residential area, it was once the home of the William J. Faubion family—early settlers who played a significant role in the development of the region. Their handcrafted log home and roadhouse, La Casa Monte, became a well-known stop for travelers along the old Barlow Road, which later became the Mount Hood Loop Highway.
In 1907, William and Anna Faubion moved their family to 80 acres just past Zigzag. The following year, in 1908, they built their home and named it La Casa Monte, meaning “The Mountain House.”
Like many settlers in the region, William Faubion made a living through timber work and hunting. He harvested the massive old-growth cedar trees on his land, cutting shake bolts to sell. To this day, remnants of this early logging can still be seen—several large stumps with springboard notches remain visible along Highway 26 near Faubion Loop Road.
Eventually, the family’s home evolved into something more—a place of hospitality and rest for weary travelers.
As traffic increased along the Mount Hood road, the Faubions converted their home into a roadhouse, similar to today’s bed and breakfasts. They called it La Casa Monte (“The Mountain House”), a fitting name for its rugged yet inviting presence in the wilderness.
The home itself was an architectural marvel for the time:
Inside, the rustic charm continued. Handmade furniture filled the rooms, and the walls were adorned with mounted animals, showcasing William’s skill as a hunter. The abundance of game in the area made hunting a necessity and a way of life for early settlers.
However, it was Anna Faubion’s cooking that truly put La Casa Monte on the map. Known especially for her huckleberry pies, she made the inn a favorite stop for early tourists heading to Mount Hood.
As the community around the roadhouse grew, it became more than just an inn—it became a settlement of its own. The addition of a store and post office turned Faubion into an official location.
The store and post office were operated by Aneita (Faubion) and Thomas Brown, William and Anna’s daughter and son-in-law. It became a popular stop for early motorists and adventurers traveling up the Mount Hood road.
Much like the Rhododendron Inn, La Casa Monte served a critical role in accommodating early automobile tourists, who at the time took hours to reach Mount Hood due to the primitive roads and slow vehicles.
William and Anna Faubion had seven children—three boys and four girls. Their oldest daughter, Wilhelmina Jane (Jennie) Faubion, was born in Gladstone, Oregon, in 1890.
At twenty years old, Jennie married William “Billy” Welch, the son of Barlow Trail pioneers who had homesteaded the area that later became Welches, Oregon. She lived there until her passing in 1985 at the age of 95, connecting two of Mount Hood’s most historic families.
Most of the other Faubion children remained in the area, becoming well known as an important part of Mount Hood’s history.
With the construction of the modern Mount Hood Highway (Highway 26), Faubion—like many other historic settlements—began to fade.
Although the original Faubion structures are gone, the community they helped establish continued to grow.
Despite the passage of time, residents of the area still recognize their community’s history. To this day, many locals proudly say they live “At Faubion.”
The story of La Casa Monte and the Faubion settlement is one of pioneering spirit, hard work, and adaptation. Like the Rhododendron Inn, Welch’s Hotel, and other historic mountain retreats, it was a vital part of early tourism on Mount Hood.
While nothing remains of La Casa Monte, the legacy of the Faubion family lives on in the land they settled, the stories they left behind, and the name that remains on maps today.
Discover More Mount Hood History
If you love learning about Oregon’s past, check out more stories at MountHoodHistory.com.
Do you have memories or stories about the Faubion family or La Casa Monte? Share them in the comments below!