. . . The new road approach which will be completed next season is one of the most powerful factors, having an influence on the general layout. Coming in at the western end of the area, traffic can be handled and distributed much easier than it is from the present approach.
The circulation system in our plan calls for a Rim-way walk with a dustless surface behind which would be the road way and parking area. After designing all necessary road ways and walks the intervening unused ground can be provided with a ground cover or other plant growth to stabilize the dust. The Rim walk will be one of the most important units of the Rim area development and its center of attraction will be at Victor Rock. The Kiser Studio now stands at the head of the trail leading to Victor Rock and in my mind stands on ground which should be given entirely to public use. With the studio moved to another location a far better development can be made at this point. The studio is now too small for present business and Mr. Kiser is already talking of an addition which will increase the volume of the building about three times. I realize that it is a difficult situation to move a concessionaire from such a strategic point, especially after he has been established there for a number of years. However, since we are just making the ultimate plan for the development of this area and since the concessionaire is planning additions on the present site, I believe that the present time will be our only opportunity to make the change and recommend that we sound out the Service and Mr. Kiser. The present Community House was too small the day it was finished but has served very well as a feeler for the type of structure needed at the Rim. It is of frame construction and necessarily not a long-lifed type of structure. You and I have decided to use a more permanent type of structure for all government buildings throughout the Park and as it will soon be necessary to make additions to the present community house I recommend that we work for a new building of larger dimensions and of a permanent type of structure, leaving the present building for other uses.
The housekeeping camp cabin unit I believe will best fit at the western end of the present auto camp and its headquarters building would necessarily be at that end of the Rim development.
I have in mind using the open desert area to the west of the Community House for a plaza development on which the new community house, the housekeeping camp headquarters with the general store and the Kiser Studio would form a unit of three buildings. This area places the buildings in a central location to serve the auto camp, the housekeeping camp, and those who come up to the Rim for the day, making it a logical location for the center of Rim activities. Furthermore, it places the unit sufficiently back from the Rim. The hotel leased area would stay as it is and will be beyond all other activities in the area.
Relative to the government camp area Vint noted:
The new road location through Government Camp which was decided upon last November makes a considerable change in the arrangement of the government general plan as we discussed it, a year ago. Now, the administrative unit will face a plaza adjacent to the present administration building, the utility group, and go in the trees to the west of the administrative area in the auto camp which was abandoned last season. The residence unit will go back of and above the present messhouse. The gasoline sales station will go in the junction of the Anna Spring and East Entrance road. At some future date a utility area for concessions may be developed in the trees to the south of the administrative unit on the site which we decided upon in the old plan for the Government utility site. This procedure may be necessary, due to the limited amount of usable ground and the limited water supply at the Rim area. This season we are building the new warehouse and have located it as the first building to go in the new utility site.
Vint had the following observations about the Anna Spring area:
The Anna Spring development is one of decreasing rather than increasing of facilities. The new road alignment provides the bridge across Anna Creek and a surfaced plaza area. The gasoline service station will be removed to Government Camp and the store abandoned at the end of this season. This will eliminate several structures, namely, the gasoline station and the cabins for Standard Oil employees, and the Anna Spring store buildings. The government development of that area is practically complete, includes the Superintendent’s residence and a small utility area, road crew quarters, warehouse, and barn, and a ranger station. The Superintendent’s residence and the utility group are as they will be for several years to come. The condemned white barn was razed this season and on the completion of the new ranger station the present obsolete type of building now in use can come down. [13]
In his annual report for 1926 Mather remarked upon the long-term development plan for the park. He noted that the “plan of development at Crater Lake is fortunately compact and simple and, as funds should become available soon, it is hoped that a five-year period will see development at this park completed except for camp ground developments, the limits of which can not be foreseen.” [14]
